Installing a Car Seat Correctly
The correct installation of a car seat ensures it functions as it was designed to in the event of a car accident. First, always refer to your car seat instruction manual and follow the instructions precisely EVERY SINGLE TIME. Do not take shortcuts, installing a car seat so that it functions as it should in a collision is a science and precision is critical, so it requires discipline. You can also refer to the easy-to-follow stickers on the car seat and watch the manufacture’s installation videos online*. If you have misplaced your manual, you can check online, most manufactures have their car seat manuals available for free download or e-mail the manufacturer directly and ask them to send you the manual. Always place the manual in the car seat storage compartment for future use or make a copy of the installation section and store the copy in the car seat’s storage compartment and the instruction manual in a file at home for quick and easy reference. A car seat can only do its job and is only safe if it is installed 100% correctly – it will malfunction during a crash if it’s not installed correctly, resulting in potential serious or even fatal injuries.
*Warning:
Always make sure that you are looking at the manufacturer’s installation video. Make sure it is the European model of your car seat. Some car seats have an American version of the model and YouTube may refer to the American installation. When there is reference to LATCH and/or a chest clip, it is NOT referring to a European car seat. Also be aware of random people who do car seat reviews/installation videos; it’s best to rather follow the manufacturer’s instruction manual and stickers on the car seat.
Fact: 9 out of 10 car seats are installed (and used) so poorly that a child may be critically or fatally injured during a crash.
Fit / Compatibility
Not all car seats are compatible (fit) with all vehicles. Always ask a qualified salesperson at the baby store to correctly install the car seat into your vehicle/s before purchasing it, to make sure it installs optimally (see our article Considerations when choosing a car seat here). We offer in-store car seat purchase consultations and existing car seat installations, to check the correct installation and use of your car seat. See our services here.
In South Africa we follow European regulations regarding car seats (the orange ECE stickers on your car seat ensure it is legal to use in South Africa). However, European, American and Asian vehicles are available here. Therefore, it is important to familiarise yourself with your vehicle. Check whether it has 3-point seatbelts, how long the buckle stalks are (or are they embedded into the vehicle seat), if your vehicle has ISOFix anchor points, Top Tether anchor pints and a solid floor (no hollow underfloor storage compartments). Can the front passenger airbag be switched off / de-activated? Does your vehicle allow car seat installation on all seats or only certain seats? Are the vehicle seats very steep (i.e. adult’s bum sits lower than their knees)? Are there “wings” on the side of the vehicle seats that could prevent correct installation and/or rotation of a car seat?
Fact: An i-Size car seat will fit an i-Size vehicle (both the car seat and vehicle must have the i-Size logo)
ISOFix or Seatbelt installation?
A correct seatbelt installation is just as safe as a correct ISOFix installation, but unfortunately most people are very rushed, not detail orientated and take shortcuts. These user errors are often 1 or more of the following:
- incorrect routing of the seatbelt
- a twist in the seatbelt
- the seatbelt not being tight enough
This is why ISOFix is said to be “safer” because there is less chance of user error. It is very important to note that ISOFix reduces (not eliminates) installation errors.
We have found that many parents have a false sense of safety with ISOFix installations and assume that ISOFix is safer than a seatbelt installation and that it is not possible to install an ISOFix car seat incorrectly. However, very often only the two ISOFix arms are installed and not the third point of contact (Top Tether strap or Support Leg), meaning the installation is not complete and that the car seat can’t protect their child as it was designed to do. Without the Top Tether strap or Support Leg as the 3rd point of contact, the car seat (and your child) may tip forward or sideways, crashing into the hard parts of the vehicle and may result in critical or fatal head/brain/spinal cord injuries to your child.
The Top Tether strap is by far the most common feature of an ISOFix car seat that is misused or not used at all!
Good to know: When installing a car seat, both ISOFix (with Top Tether OR Support Leg) or Seat belt installations are safe, provided that it is installed correctly.
Always install a car seat exactly as per the instruction manual –
- Do not use two installation methods simultaneously, e.g., ISOFix and seatbelt, unless the instruction manual clearly states so. For example: the Safeway Falcon and Joie Bold’s internal 5-point harness can be used to 25kg forward facing if the car seat is installed with vehicle seat belt and ISOFix and Top Tether (all 3).
- Do not wrap the seat belt around the car seat for an “additional layer of safety” in a ISOFix installed car seat.
ISOFix installations with Support Leg must be installed on a solid floor only. If your vehicle has hollow under floor storage compartments, best is to rather opt for a Top Tether installation. Check with the car seat manufacturer if you may open the lid and extend the support leg down to the solid floor of the storage compartment; however, many support legs are not long enough to reach the bottom and should not be used like this. Special fillers for storage compartments are available overseas but are not always available locally. DO NOT attempt to fill the storage compartment with any product not provided by the vehicle manufacturer.
The right car seat for your child’s weight, height and age
Start by making sure the car seat is right for your child. Check the weight or height limits on the orange stickers on the bottom/base/back of the seat (R44/04 in kg and R129 in cm – for example, most infant (group 0 / 0+) car seats can be used until 13kg or 75/85cm (approx. 1 year old). The weight and/or height is important; the age is merely an indication. Never be in a rush to move to the next stage of car seat, max out your car seat limits but never exceed them. It is very important to stay within these weight or height limits, otherwise the car seat cannot protect your child, e.g., the car seat buckle may fail during a crash if your child’s weight exceeds the weight limit of the buckle.
Car seats tested under ECE R44/04 and older certifications, use only a weight limit, however most children outgrow their seat in height first. Check our FAQ’s here on how to determine if your child has outgrown their car seat in height.
European car seats have a recommended life span. If the car seat is over the recommended life span or has been in an accident, donate it to Wheel Well (NPO) at Wheel Well’s showroom in Randburg or any Supa Quick dealer nationwide to recycle, repurpose or dispose of the car seat safely.
Right place
Kids are VIP’s, just ask them. All VIP’s ride in the back seat until they are 13 years old. Please note that in some countries it is against the law to have a child under a certain age on the front seat. Always check a country’s car seat laws before travelling overseas. Link to our Travelling overseas article
In South Africa there is no law prohibiting a child under 12 years old on the front seat, but the safest practise is to keep them on the back seat, buckled up, in the appropriate car seat or high back booster seat for their weight / height.
Right direction – rear or forward facing?
The following is applicable to all types of harnessed car seats (e.g., your child is restrained using either a 3-point or 5-point internal harness, not the vehicle seat belt):
- Dedicated infant seat (capsule/carrier) – rear facing only.
- Dedicated toddler seat – rear or forward facing.
- Multi-stage seat in infant / toddler harnessed mode (infant mode rear facing only; toddler mode rear facing or forward facing).
Latest regulations stipulate a child must remain rear facing to a minimum of 15 months old; safest practise is at least 24 months old, but longer if possible.
We highly recommend that you max out car seat limits, thus keep the car seat in a REAR facing position until your child reaches the maximum weight or height limits of your particular model (refer to the instruction manual). Take note that many multi-stage car seats which convert from an infant or toddler seat to a booster seat, can usually only rear face until 13kg (approx. 2 years old). We highly recommend purchasing a car seat that can rear face to 18kg/105cm (approx. 4 years old).
Interesting fact:
Dedicated infant seats (carrier / capsule) and many multi-stage seats have the same rear facing weight limit, namely 13kg. 13kg is the weight of an average 2 year-old, however, the average child outgrows an infant seat at around 12 to 15 months old in length, though many times still well within the weight limit. Toddler or multi-stage car seats in toddler mode have the same rear facing limit of 13kg, but because of the design / bigger seat, the child will not likely outgrow the seat in length before reaching 13kg. Max out the car seat’s weight/height limits. If the car seat can rear face to 13 or 18kg, keep rear facing to 13 or 18kg before switching to forward facing.
A note on airbags
A rear facing car seat may only be installed on the front passenger seat IF the airbag is switched off (de-activated) AND the car seat manual allows it AND the vehicle manual allows it. Airbags deploy at around 350km/h and your child may be critically or fatally injured when the airbag deploys and contacts the back of the car seat.
For forward facing car seats or high back boosters, the airbag does not need to be switched off; however, it is recommended to move the front passenger seat as far back as possible from the dashboard. Statistically, the front passenger seat is the most dangerous. Keep children under 13 years old buckled up in their car seats or high back booster seats on the vehicle back seat.
Warning
A rear facing car seat should NEVER be used in front of an active airbag. The airbag must be switched OFF / de-activated. Airbags deploy at more than 300km/hour and may cause critical or fatal injuries to a baby/child in a rear facing car seat when contacting the back of the car seat.
Correct recline position
Check the recline position of the car seat. For newborns it should be 45 degrees, this stops their heads from falling forward (also known as head flop*) where their chin rests on their chest. This restricts their airways – which can ultimately result in positional asphyxiation. If your car seat offers more than 1 recline position in rear facing mode, check the manual for the correct recline position to use for the weight/age of your child. Generally speaking, the older the child is, the more upright their car seat should be.
NOTE: The recline position differs between rear facing and forward facing mode.
Infant – install the car seat parallel (level) with the vehicle seat. Please note that the bottom of the car seat is rounded and it is normal that there is a gap between the rounded bottom and the vehicle seat. Some infant seats have a level indicator. This could be either be a blue line or a blue bead – similar to a spirit level or just a solid / dashed line which you line up, parallel to the vehicle seat.
Toddler – most mainstream toddler car seats have only 1 (one) recline option for rear facing (indicated with blue and is the most reclined position). Forward facing recline options are indicated with red and there are usually a few options. Choose the option your child is the most comfortable in. Generally, the older the child, the more upright the seat should be.
Multi-stage – most mainstream multi-stage car seats have only 1 (one) recline option for rear facing (indicated with blue and is the most reclined position). Forward facing recline options are indicated with red and there are usually a few options. Choose the option your child is the most comfortable in. Generally, the older the child, the more upright the seat should be.
The more high-end car seats such as Volvo Maxway, Axkid, BeSafe, Cybex and Maxi Cosi have between 3 and 7 recline positions. Generally, the most reclined position is used until the child is 2 years old (rear facing recommended until at least 2 years of age), thereafter you can put it in a more upright position, the older the child gets. If your child has head flop* when more upright, you can use a more reclined position.
*Note: head flop is only dangerous when a baby / child has little or no head control due to very weak neck muscles, generally the first 6 months of a baby’s life or children with special needs, such as Down Syndrome or Dwarfism.
Correct installation: ISOFix installation (separate base or integrated base):
ISOFix installation: Make sure you hear the audible clicks and see GREEN indicators on both sides. Try to “pull” the seat out to make sure it is indeed securely installed and that the indicators stay GREEN.
VERY IMPORTANT:
It is never ever only ISOFix installation (it provides only 2 points of contact). There should always be 3 points of contact. This is established by either a Top Tether strap OR Support Leg (also called a Load Leg).
Top Tether strap: route as per instruction manual, attached to the Top Tether anchor (not to be confused with cargo hooks). Tighten correctly until you see the indicator turn GREEN.
Support leg: extend down all the way to the floor and make sure the foot is level with the floor making contact everywhere, no gaps, and the indicator must turn GREEN. Support legs may only be installed on a solid floor; no hollow under floor storage compartment.
Once the ISOFix and Top Tether or Support Leg have been installed, give the base / car seat a light shake with your non-dominant hand, at the base of the seat (not the top). It should not move more than 1 inch (2.5cm) at the anchor points. It is normal to have slightly more movement the further away you go form the anchor points.
Important Note:
An indicator that is RED, means that the seat has not been correctly installed and is unsafe for use. The seat will malfunction during a crash and your child may suffer from critical or fatal injuries.
Correct installation: vehicle seatbelt installation
Infant specific car seats – also known as an infant carrier / capsule
Infant car seat
For infant carriers the vehicle seatbelt routing is as follows: vehicle lap belt over the legs (under the blue / green seat belt guides). Vehicle shoulder belt around the back of the car seat (under the blue / green seat belt guide). Make sure there are no twists in the seatbelt and push down on the seat with your body weight while pulling the seatbelt to remove all slack. Make sure the car seat is level with the vehicle seat. Generally, the carry handle must be in an upright position (like when you carry your baby in the car seat). See below
- The carry handle
For most infant car seats, the carry handle should be upright (like when you carry the car seat). Some carry handles must be against the vehicle backseat. Check your instruction manual for the correct position. When in the upright position, it acts as roll over protection and prevents debris from coming down on the baby. The Doona car seat / stroller combo, Safeway Snug n Safe Orbit, Peg Perego Viaggio and BeSafe iZi Sleep are examples of infant car seats where the carry handle must rest against the vehicle backseat, in this instance the carry handle acts as an anti-rebound bar. Always refer to the manual to determine the correct position for your car seat model.
General for all seatbelt installations:
- Follow the seatbelt routing precisely – pay very close attention to the images in the manual
- No twists and no slack in the vehicle seatbelt – make sure the seatbelt is flat with no twists and pull out as much slack as possible. The tighter you can get the seatbelt, the more solid the installation will be. The car seat should not move more than one inch (2.5cm) when you shake the seat with your non-dominant hand.
- Read the manual carefully to determine whether only the lap belt or both the lap and shoulder belt should go under the lock-off clip/s. Regulation R44/04 and older regulations use blue seat belt guides or lock-off clips for rear facing installations and red seat belt guides or lock-off clips for forward facing. Some lock-off clips can even be a two-tone blue and red combination.
- The newer Regulation 129 car seats use green seatbelt guides.
Note: if a car seat can be installed with ISOFix or vehicle seatbelt, choose only one method, unless the manual clearly instructs otherwise. Never use both to try to achieve more safety. Some car seats that can use the internal harness to 25kg must be installed with the seatbelt, ISOFix and top tether (the Safeway Polar and Joie Bold for example) in a specific mode and within the maximum limits.
When installing a car seat rear facing, refer to the instruction manual to check whether the back of the car seat may touch the front seat (or dashboard if installed on the front passenger seat) or if there should be a gap. Some car seats may lightly touch the front seat without tilting the seat, while others must have a gap – please check your manual to ascertain what the correct gap size should be between the car seat and the front vehicle seat/dashboard.
Note: if a car seat can be installed with ISOFix or vehicle seatbelt, choose only one method, unless the manual clearly instructs otherwise. Never use both to try to achieve more safety. Some car seats that can use the internal harness to 25kg must be installed with the seatbelt, ISOFix and top tether (the Safeway Polar and Joie Bold for example) in a specific mode and within the maximum limits.
Inch Test
1 inch = 2.5cm.
Once the car seat is installed, give it a firm shake at the belt path. Can you move it more than an inch in any direction? A correctly installed seat will not move more than an inch (2.5cm) in any direction.
Very important:
Seat belt installation: always follow the correct routing and pull out all slack from the seatbelt.
ISOFix installation: always install with 3 (three) contact points – which is the 2 (two) ISOFix arms plus either the Top Tether or Support Leg, depending on design. Never ever use ISOFix on its own.
Buckle crunch
Check that there is no buckle crunch. The vehicle seatbelt buckle / plastic area should never bend over the car seat.
Buckle crunch is the term used to describe the position of the vehicle seat belt buckle when resting against or bending around the body (hard plastic shell) of the car seat. If the vehicle is in a collision, the force of the car seat against the buckle of the vehicle seatbelt may cause the buckle to break and the car seat to dislodge, resulting in the car seat being loose in the vehicle, which is extremely unsafe for all the passengers and the baby / child in the car seat.
Buckle crunch is becoming less common now that most new vehicles have very short buckle stalks or are recessed completely. Buckle crunch usually occurs in older vehicles with long buckle stalks.
Legal considerations
According to the law, your child must be buckled up (and harness tightened – see our Correct Use of car seats and high back boosters’ article here) EVERY SINGLE TIME the wheels start turning. A child can be killed instantly if their head hits any part of a vehicle at a speed of as little as 20km/h.
Most accidents happen close to home within a 5km radius. Accidents can happen anywhere, anytime and when least expected. Always buckle up no matter how short or long the drive.
Did you know? It is illegal not to buckle up your child.
The driver is legally responsible to make sure all the occupants are buckled up and can be charged with culpable homicide (equivalent to manslaughter in other countries) if a passenger is killed. Most children ejected from a vehicle are killed and those who survive may have critical head/ brain/ spinal cord injuries. While not all accidents are survivable, many deaths and disabilities can be prevented by buckling up your child in the appropriate car seat and older children in high back booster seats until they are 1.5m tall, roughly 10 to 12 years old.
Be a law abiding and responsible parent and buckle up your children. Remember how important you are too, keep yourself safe and set a good example by always buckling up yourself as well.
Remember: A car seat is only effective if installed and used correctly every, single time the vehicle is in motion.
