Installing a child safety seat can feel complicated but the Hyundai dealership near you is here to help. Car Pros Hyundai in Renton wants to share some tips on how to install a rear-facing infant car seat for our Seattle, Kent, and Bellevue, Washington customers. Whether you are looking to install your car seat with a seat belt or lower anchors, our team is here to help you discover best practices for ensuring the seat is properly installed.
For seat belt installation:
- Begin by reviewing your vehicle’s owner’s manual and the car seat’s instruction manual, paying close attention to information on how to lock your seat belt. Each vehicle and seat is different, affecting the way you will need to install your specific seat
- Put the car seat base in the back seat of your vehicle. In the event of an accident, the back seat is the safest place, and rear-facing car seats allow for additional protection for your child’s head, neck, and spine
- Thread the seatbelt through the rear-facing belt path. Verify that there are no twists in the seat belt.
- Buckle the seat belt
- Lock the seat belt
- Firmly press on the car seat base and tighten. The base should not be able to move side to side or front to back more than one inch
- Ensure your car seat base is installed at the correct recline angle
- Attach infant carrier to the base
- Infants must ride sitting at a semi-reclined angle to keep the airway open
- Most infant car seats have a built-in angle indicators or adjusters to help you
- As children grow, the angle may need to be periodically adjusted, so make sure to check your manufacturer’s instructions
For lower anchor installation:
- Begin by reviewing your vehicle’s owner’s manual and the car seat’s instruction manual, paying close attention to information on how to lock your seat belt. Each vehicle and seat is different, affecting the way you will need to install your specific seat
- Put the car seat base in the back seat of your vehicle. In the event of an accident, the back seat is the safest place, and rear-facing car seats allow for additional protection for your child’s head, neck, and spine
- Find the lower anchors in your car
- Connect lower anchor attachments on the car seat base to the lower anchors, ensuring the straps are not twisted
- Firmly press on the car seat base and tighten. The base should not be able to move side to side or front to back more than one inch
- Ensure your car seat base is installed at the correct recline angle
- Attach infant carrier to the base
- Infants must ride sitting at a semi-reclined angle to keep the airway open
- Most infant car seats have a built-in angle indicators or adjusters to help you
- As children grow, the angle may need to be periodically adjusted, so make sure to check your manufacturer’s instructions
In addition to proper rear-facing infant car seat installation, there are also important best practices to take into consideration when making sure your child is fitted correctly in their car seat. Some of these considerations include:
- Ensure children are placed with their backs flat against the car seat
- Place the harness straps over your child’s shoulders, ensuring the harness straps are lying flat, rather than being twisted. These straps should be placed through the slots located at or below the child’s shoulders
- Buckle the harness and chest clip, then tighten until snug. The harness has been sufficiently tightened when no extra material can be pinched at the shoulder
- The chest clip should be placed level with the armpit. This holds the harness straps in place on the child’s chest and shoulders
Bulky clothing and blankets should be placed over the top of the harness as these items can prevent the harness from fitting properly. Thick padding should also not be placed behind a child unless it is recommended by the car seat manufacturer. If a child needs additional support, fill empty spaces with small, rolled blankets on each side of a child’s shoulders and head.
Car Pros Hyundai is here for our Washington area customers. You can schedule your next service appointment online anytime. The Hyundai dealership near you is here to help you find a new Hyundai, a quality Certified, or pre-owned vehicle to better accommodate your transportation needs. Our service technicians are also available to help with any of your service repairs and maintenance needs. Come by and visit our dedicated professionals at 201 S 7th St, Renton, WA 98057 or give our professional team a call at (425) 226-1275.
