Child safety is our priority – especially when it comes to riding in the car. That's why we're committed to helping parents and caregivers learn the ins and outs of proper car seat installation. How To Install a Rear-Facing Car Seat Securely 1. Pick an Installation Method: LATCH vs. Seat Belt When installing a car seat in your vehicle, you can use either the vehicle seat belt or LATCH system. (LATCH stands for "lower anchors and tethers for children.") Both methods are equally safe, so choose the one that gives you a confident, tight and secure fit. Check the owner's manual for your vehicle and your child's car seat manual for details and specific instructions. For forward-facing car seats, always supplement your installation with the top tether.3 LATCH installation is only approved up to a certain weight. Refer to the labels/manual for your child's car seat and switch to seat belt installation when the time comes. 2. Test the Car Seat Install: The Inch Test To ensure your installation is secure, do the "inch test" by giving the car seat/base a tug forward and from side to side. If it moves more than one inch in any direction, uninstall and start over.4 3. Get Help (Car Seat Installation Events & Resources) If you have questions or want hands-on assistance, sites like SafeKids.org can help you find a car seat checkup event in your area or contact a local child passenger safety technician (CPST), giving you peace of mind. You can also get in touch with a nearby CPST via www.nhtsa.gov. Chicco KeyFit Max Infant Car Seat - Installing the Base with LATCH Learn how to correctly install the KeyFit Max Infant Car Seat Base with LATCH. Installing with LATCH Chicco KeyFit Max Infant Car Seat - Installing the Base with the Vehicle Seatbelt Learn how to correctly install the KeyFit Max Infant Car Seat Base with the vehicle seatbelt. Installing with the Vehicle Seat Belt How to Install a Forward-Facing Car Seat Securely 1. Confirm Your Child’s Readiness for a Forward-Facing Car Seat Before transitioning to a forward-facing position, ensure your child meets the car seat's minimum requirements for weight and height. These can be found on the side of the car seat and in the car seat’s manual. 2. Choose an Installation Method: LATCH vs. Seat Belt You can install the car seat using either the LATCH system (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) or the vehicle's seat belt. Both methods are effective when executed correctly. The Chicco OneFit™LX All-in-One Car Seat features the LeverLock® Self-Tensioning Lock System to help ensure a secure forward-facing seat belt installation. Always choose the one that provides a secure and tight fit in your vehicle. Reference your car seat and vehicle manuals for more installation instructions specific to your vehicle and car seat. 3. Use the Top Tether Always use the top tether when installing a forward-facing car seat. The top tether reduces forward movement in the event of a collision, enhancing your child's safety. Locate the tether anchor in your vehicle (refer to your vehicle's manual for the exact location), attach the tether hook, and tighten the strap to remove slack. 4. Perform the Inch Test After installation, perform the "inch test" by firmly pulling the car seat at the belt path forward and side-to-side. The seat should not move more than one inch in any direction. If it does, uninstall the car seat and start over. Chicco OneFit All-in-One Car Seat - Securing Child: Forward-Facing Once your child is between 25-65 lbs. and up to 49" tall, you'll need to convert your OneFit All-in-One Car Seat to Forward-Facing mode. Learn how to correctly secure your child in this stage. Securing Child: Forward-Facing Chicco LeverLock Self-Tensioning Lock System For forward-facing installation, OneFit LX features the innovative LeverLock Self-Tensioning Lock System. LeverLock provides a secure forward-facing vehicle seat belt install with minimal effort. LeverLock Self-Tensioning Lock System Did you know? Car Seats Can Expire Check the seat for a label or imprint indicating the date of the car seat expiration. Often it's 6-10 years after its date of manufacture.5 Car Seat Installation FAQs Should I install the car seat on the driver or passenger side of the backseat? When considering where to install your car seat in the vehicle, here are some questions to ask: How much legroom does the driver need? If the driver’s vehicle seat has to be positioned farther back and reduces the room of the car seat, then you will need to pick another location. Do you park your car on the street? If so, then you may want to consider behind the passenger side so that you can take your child out via the sidewalk. Is the center seat the safest? The safest position in your vehicle is where you get the best installation. Often there is a hump or the center seat is not as wide causing a challenging center seat installation. What angle should my car seat be installed at? For all Chicco Car seats they should be installed using the angle indicator. The bubble level needs to be within the lines as dictated by your instruction manual. For more information check out our installation videos. How do I check that my car seat is installed tight enough? Grab your car seat at the belt path (This would be where the Lower anchors are located or where the seatbelt path is). Move the seat from side to side and back and forth, it should not move more than an inch. For more information please view our installation videos. When do I switch my child from a rear-facing car seat to a forward-facing? A rear-facing car seat helps to protect a child’s head, neck and spine in the event of a crash. Generally, if you are currently using an infant only rear facing car seat like the KeyFit30 you would then transition to either a Convertible like the Nextfit or an All-in-one like the OneFit. The recommendation from the American Academy of Pediatrics is to rear face until you reach either the weight or height limit of the car seat for Rear Facing. When can my child use a booster seat? Booster seats help the child fit in the vehicle seat belt correctly. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics you should switch to a booster seat once your child outgrows their harness car seat in weight or height whichever comes first. We recommend a minimum of 4 years old, 40 lbs, 38 inches tall, and have the ability to sit relatively still and properly in a seat belt at all times. Do I need to use the lower anchors during installation on my KidFit car seat? You do not need to use lower anchor installation for booster seats. Their purpose is to help keep the car seat in position for your child as they get in and out of the vehicle and to help prevent it from being a projectile in your vehicle in the case of a crash when it is not in use. You should always buckle the seat belt around your booster seat when it is not in use. The back of my booster seat is angling away from the back of my vehicle seat. Is that right? You may have the lower anchors installed too tightly. Booster seats do not have to have less than an inch of movement side to side and back and forth. The lower anchors are just helping keep the car seat in place when it is not in use. In a crash, the vehicle seat belt and safety systems will do all the work. Footnotes 1. Child Passenger Safety 2018.2460, Child Passenger Safety 2018.2461 2. Why Kids Should Stay Longer in Rear-Facing Car Seats, Rear Facing Car Seat Myths Busted 3. Installing Basic Tip #3 4. Installing Basic Tip #3 5. Car Seat FAQ’s