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Car Seat Installation Tips:
- It is important to follow the user manuals from both the child car seat manufacturer and the vehicle manufacturer in order to achieve a proper installation.
- Use a car seat that makes installation as simple as buckling a seat belt. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, three out of every four car seats are installed incorrectly. To address this concerning fact, the new ClickTight installation technology in Britax convertible car seats gives any caretaker the confidence to correctly and securely install these seats in just a few easy steps.
- The safest place for your child in any vehicle is in the back seat. The center of the rear seat is preferable to outboard (window) positions — as long as you can achieve a tight installation — because it is the farthest from a side impact. Research has shown that children under the age of 3 have a 43 percent lower risk of injury when restrained in the center of the rear seat compared with the rear outboard positions. However, keep in mind that if you’re not able to install your car seat in the center position, a properly installed car seat in an outboard position will still provide excellent protection for your child during a crash.
- Tips to avoid loose car seat installation:
- After installation, grasp the seat near the belt path to check for excessive movement, which is movement of more than one inch side-to-side or front-to-back at the belt path.
- If you have trouble installing your car seat securely, try the following:
- Install the car seat in another seating position in your vehicle. For example, if you can’t install it securely in the rear center seat, try an outboard position.
- Install the car seat using another installation method. For example, if you’re not able to get a secure installation using the LATCH system, try to install with the vehicle seat belt and tether.
- The process of seating and removing your child along with the motion from your vehicle moving can shake your child seat loose over time. This makes it critical to check the fit often and reinstall your child seat periodically.
- Using a technology like ClickTight, which uses seat belts for installation, also eliminates any parental worry about the 65-pound LATCH capacity and when to switch a growing child away from it.
- I encourage all parents and caregivers to have their car seat installations checked by a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician. To have your car seat installation checked, visit www.safekids.org to find an inspection station near you.
Additional Car Seat Advice:
- Don’t forward-face too soon
- According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, 75 percent of parents and caregivers transition their child to a forward-facing car seat much earlier than advised.
- The American Academy of Pediatrics and Britax recommend children should travel rear-facing for as long as possible—ideally until they are at least 2 years old and their developing neck muscles have grown stronger.
- Rear-facing seats protect the neck and head by distributing the force of a frontal collision along the back of the seat.
- Know the lower anchor weight capacity
- Many caregivers don’t know that if you’re using the lower anchor tethers (LATCH system) of a car seat, the maximum weight capacity is 65 pounds – that includes the weight of the child PLUS the weight of the car seat, together.
- When the weight of child plus car seat reaches 65 pounds, you must use the seat belt – not LATCH – to install the car seat.
- Use harness straps correctly
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) revealed that nearly 60 percent of child harnesses were too loose.
- Loose harness straps leave your child vulnerable to injury during a crash because they may allow your child to move out of proper position. They can even lead to ejection from the car seat during a crash.
- A perfect harness sits comfortably in a straight line without sagging and doesn’t allow any slack.
- To determine if your child’s harness is snug enough, perform the simple “Pinch Test”:
- Secure your child in the car seat, buckle the harness, and tighten the harness by pulling on the harness adjuster strap.
- Then, using your thumb and pointer finger, try to pinch one of the harness straps at your child’s collar bone level.
- You should not be able to pinch any excess harness webbing. If you’re able to pinch the strap, the harness is too loose.
If you have additional questions, please see Car Seats 101 page in the Britax Learning Center.
About Sarah Tilton, Britax Child Passenger Safety Advocacy Manager, and organizer of the Britax Car Seat Events:
Sarah Tilton is the Child Passenger Safety Advocacy Manger representing Britax in the western hemisphere. As an active CPS Technician (2002) and Instructor (2004), Sarah participates in child passenger safety activities at a local, state and national level. She is also a member of the NC Child Passenger Safety Training Committee, the National Child Passenger Safety Board representing the At Large population and the Chair of the Manufacturers Alliance for Child Passenger Safety. Sarah serves on the new product development, technical writing and marketing teams at Britax. In addition, she managed and developed the training curriculum for the Britax Consumer Services department and organized and implemented a permanent checking station at Britax during more than 12 years with the company. Sarah is active with the Safe Kids South Carolina, Safe Kids York County (SC), Safe Kids North Carolina, and Charlotte Mecklenburg (NC) coalitions.
One of you can win a Britax Advocate ClickTight car seat. Please feel free to enter using the RC form below. Thank you and good luck! Ends March 25, 2015.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I’d use it for myself, I am expecting in Septemeber.
I would give this to my friend.
I would give it to my in-laws.
I would use this for my son.
I would give it to my daughter.
I would love this for my toddler!
I’d love to win this for my cousin.
I would give to my parents so that they have one in their car for the grandkids.
I would keep it to use for my grandchildren.
I would like to give this to my cousin who just had a baby.
I would keep it for my son
I would give this to my son
I would give this to my daughter or daughter in law!
I would keep it for my son, his needs to be replaced soon.
This would be a fantastic spare seat for my family! My husband doesn’t have any seats in his car, and this would work for that or for my mom’s car, she watches my kids often.
My husband and are planning on having another child soon so I would keep this to use for our new baby!
i’d give this to my sister, who just announced her pregnancy!
I would give this to a family that needs one – Mine!
My sister who is fixing to have her first baby.
my sister in law
This would be for my daughter. She has been using an old hand-me-down. It would be nice to know she has a good, safe one.
i would keep this. i have a hand me down carseat now that has straps always getting tangled and i just dont know if i really trust it and hate taking chances.
This would be great for my son. I would keep it!
I would give this to my daughter who is expecting
I would give this to my niece! She would LOVE this
I would give this to a friend who has children and need it
I would keep it and use it so we can take my granddaughter with us. Right now we only have a car seat for her 5 year old sister. If we had this we could take the baby with us too.
This would be for my niece!
I would give this to my sister-in-law. She’s due in July.
I would use this for my 12 month old.
This would be for my daughter who is 7 months old.
I would be keeping for my youngest
I would use this for my little one who is growing and needing to move to the next stage.
This would be for Big Earl!
My BF Stacy
I would keep this for me as I have an 11 month old and a 2 year old.
I would use this for my daughter!
I’d keep it to use for my daughter.
like it for new grandson
just right for new grandson
I would keep it for myself. I have kept this little girl for over a year now and plan on watching her for another 3-4 years. It would be nice to have a car seat and easier then switching one back and forth with her parents.
I would keep this for my son. Thank you!
I would keep for myself…I’m a new grandmother.
I would give this to my little guy!
I would keep this and use it for my youngest daughter or give it to my cousin for her 1 yo son.
I would give this to a new mother in need..
I would give this to my daughter. She is expecting her first child.
I would keep it for us. I’m about to have 3 under 3 so we need all the help we can get.
I would give to my sis for the niece
I would give it to my sister
I would use it for my son.
I would give it to my best friend, at her babyshower. 🙂
If I won this would be for my 3 year old daughter.
I’d give this to my nephew (sister).
I’d give it to my sister for my niece who is ready to get out of her convertible seat.
I would keep it for my baby arriving next month! 🙂
I would give this to my daughter, she is expecting a baby in June and she really needs it.
I would give this to my daughter.
Looks so easy to install! I’ve been looking at this one and love it’s long expiration date—future kiddos???
I would keep this for myself.
I would use it for my niece. Just what I need to pick her up after school.
I would give it to my sister!
for my grand son
I’d use this for my daughter.
I would use this for my daughter 🙂
i would love this for my son
Would use this for my little man!
I would use this myself!
Id keep it for my littlest!!! This is a fantastic carseat!!
I would give this to my rear-facing 2 year old.
Would love this for my 2 year old! So nice! We love Britax!
I would give this seat to my newborn baby boy due in May!
Good luck everyone!!
I would love to win this for my daughter!
i would keep it! i am having my first baby in 2 months.
I would give this to my son!
I would use this myself!
I would give this to my friend. she is due in March.
this would be for either my son or daughter.
whoever needs a new car seat more.
Thanks!
I would replace one of our other seats with this seat, since it’s much safer!!
We could definitely use this!
I would keep it for my son Cooper to use.
I would give this to my sister for my nephew.
I would give this to my daughter who has a birthday in 2 days and just outgrew her seat!!
I would keep it for my almost three month old guy, Jude. He would love it!
Id keep it for my youngest son.
My daughter is about to grow out of her infant car seat so this would perfect!
I would give this to a charity that could give it to someone in need.
This would be for my daughter!!
I would use this for my daughter.
I would give this to my son!
I’d keep it for myself. My wife and I are trying to conceive.
my daughter
id give it to my 1 year old little boy to use!!
My little one 🙂 Thanks for the chance to win!
Perfect for my 2.5 yr old daughter …. as we have another baby girl on the way!
We’re expecting baby #4 in sept so it would be for him or her
It would be for my son who just turned 1!!
This car seat would go to my 2 1/2+ year old son. We used a Britax B-Safe when he was an infant and currently have a different brand “toddler sized” car seat. He grew out of his infant seat pretty quickly (he’s a tall boy). Would love to continue with the Britax line of car seats and their extraordinary safety standards.
It would be for my 3 1/2 year old daughter!
I would keep it and give this to my daughter.
I would love to win this car seat! My son would love this! Will be needing a new car seat soon
I would love this seat for my son!
My new baby due in October.
We have a two year old so that’s who we’d “give” it to 🙂 Thanks.
One of my twins!
I would probably use this car seat for my little one, due in April. Great blog post, btw! Car seat safety is my current obsession.
I’d keep it for myself. We’re trying to conceive #3!
My son or daughter?
This would be for my little boy!
My grandson is ready to transition from his infant seat
My son desperately needs a new carseat! This would be for him. And then it would be passed down to my nephew-to-be when he outgrows it. 🙂
Our baby #2 will be here is June so we will be in need of a new car seat! I love Britax’s safety standards!
I would use it for my son!
I would give this to my daughter, for my granddaughter, who is currently in an infant car seat
My daughter!
I would give this to my daughter she is 3.5 years old and need a new seat badly!
My daughter.
We are foster parents so this would be used by many but for now our little that we are trying to adopt.
I’d give it to my youngest son.
I would give this to my little guy, who is turning 1 next month! He is in the B Safe 35 right now, and we love it! So sad he is growing so fast, but I am happy that Britax can grow with him, happy with their products!
My mom for my 4 year old!
i would keep it!!
I would keep it! My second baby is due tomorrow!
If i won my son would use it!
I would love this seat for my baby girl – she’s currently using a carseat passed down through both of her brothers and it expires later this year.
I would give this to my granddaughter
I would definitely be using this for my son!
Selfishly, I would keep it for myself. We are expecting our 1st in October, after 4 years of trying 🙂 SO excited!!!
I would save this for our first child! I agree that having a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician check it out is a good idea, just to be sure everything is done properly!
I would keep it for myself
I would be giving this to my brother for my new niece!
I like the Complete Side Impact Protection! I would be giving this to a good friend of mine if I won.
I would give this to my daughter for her to have for my granddaughter.
I’s put this in my car for my granddaughter.
I would give it to my sister.
my toddler!
I would give this to my friend for her daughter!
I would let my 3 year old daughter use this. It’s time for us to change her car seat into a newer one. 🙂
I would give it to my daughter for her baby shower in April. She is due with her first baby in May.
My son who’s almost outgrown his infant car seat!
I would keep this for my son to use
Great review. This seat would be for our 4th child, when he outgrows his infant carrier.
I have 3 nieces that are giving birth to baby girls in the spring…I would give this to one of them!
I would give it to my sister
this would be great for my first grandchild!
I would give to my son.
This would be for my sister in law who is expecting her first baby!
I’m pregnant with my first baby so I would definitely keep this for my baby!
I would give this to my very pregnant daughter in law
I would keep it, we could use a new car seat!
my son needs car seat for his daughter! so this is ideal 🙂
my child
I Would Gift This To My Sister Who Is Expecting Her First.
It would be for my grandson when he is born.
Oh I would keep it and use it in my car! Carters car seat is getting a little small and this would be perfect!
I would keep it and use it for my son!
I really would keep it for my daughter, her’s is in dire need of replacing!
i’d keep this, my son needs a new car seat.
I would keep it for baby #3. thanks for the chance
I would keep it in my car for my granddaughter.
I would give this to my brother for my nephew.
This NaNa needs her own car seat! I would keep this for my car!! Thank you so much for the chance. I sure hope I win!!
I would give this to my sister and niece.
I would put it in my husbands truck. I have a car seat but he doesn’t. so he would have NO excuse not to take my son.
This would go to my stepson and his wife for the baby they’re expecting in Sept!!!
I would give this to my nephew.
I would give this to my sister in law.
This would be given to my granddaughter.
I would save it for my first child!
I would give this to my sister in law who has a new baby
I would put it in our second car so that we aren’t constantly moving the car seat back and forth.
this would be for my daughter
This would be for my son.
Not sure what we’re going for here, but I like the Tahoe fabric selection on the carseat.
flavor?? didnt know car seats came in flavors,,i prefer a dark print that doesnt show dirt and grime so easily
It depends on my mood, but I often prefer butterscotch! =)
Complete Side Impact Protection MAX features external cushions for maximum crash force absorption and a foam headrest to keep your child’s head and neck secure.
I like the Onyx fabric.
Not sure what the question is. If it is about a tip I like the Install the car seat using another installation method. For example, if you’re not able to get a secure installation using the LATCH system, try to install with the vehicle seat belt and tether.
I like the Know the lower anchor weight capacity. I never knew this and it so important!
Wrong question?
My favorite tip you posted is The center of the rear seat is preferable to outboard (window) positions — as long as you can achieve a tight installation — because it is the farthest from a side impact.
I always feel safer with little ones in the middle of the backseat if the seat will buckle in there correctly.
I really like how the head rest adjusts. It is interesting that they should rear face until two so their neck muscles can strengthen