Tips for installing an infant car seat

[AmyG89]

I obviously plan on reading both the instructions that come with the car seat and my vehicle manual but I was just looking for some quick tips on safety. I have the Graco SnugRide30 infant car seat and will be installing it next week. Is the middle of the backseat the safest or should it be installed behind one of the seats? I have a mid-size SUV and it has the latch system but not sure if the latch system is just located behind the seats or if it's also in the middle, I'll have to check on that. I thought my local fire stations did car seat checks but my hospital is telling me that is not the case anymore and we need to make sure it is 100% installed correctly and no one will double check it for us. So any tips on installing an infant car seat?

[trying43]

Sorry y'all wasn't trying to be snippy! :)  Lol this subject is just a touchy one for me because I have seen first hand what happens when a seat isn't properly installed.  The results can be tragic and totally preventable. Just  want everyone to have safe babies. ;)

[sherrycoup]

What i did with my dd was I bought the "base" for the infant car seat and it stays in the vehicle all the time - so the car seat will just click in and out.  It was so much easier.  I put in the rear middle as an infant but when i moved up to bigger carseat i put on rear passenger side.  Its too hard to reach over to the centre.  Teh best way to get the seat in good and tight is to actually stad in front of it putting your knee into it and tighten that way the seat won't move at all on you!!    YOu can find local car seat clinics around but they usually only have them every few months.  One store that can help you is ToysRus!!  Tehy do hold them.  I know here in canada St. John Ambulance holds them and occasionally CAA.  Do a google search on car seat clinics in your area.  Sometimes the police station will at least know of one happening in your area.  !!!  Just ask around  Good luck.  It really isnt that hard once you get use  to it

[Mommyjeep11]

When I had a small car I put my son in the middle. The carseat was too big to fit anywhere else and it didn't have side airbags and things like that. My haband then got me a Tahoe with only 2 seats jn the 2nd row so there wasn't much choice on that. But I did learn that if there is not a lath system assigned to that seat you should not use the ones next to it. And you should never hook up more than 1 car seat to each latch hook. But you could still put the baby in the middle just using the seatbelt. Also don't use the seatbelt and the latch system. Alot of parents do it but according to the manuals on carseats and owner manuals for cars they are wrong. The carseat shouldn't move more than an inch in any direction and you may have to lean on it while pulling the seatbelt/latch system to get a snug fit. I would always lean on the seat while my husband pulled. And typically the carseat would not move at all. If you google the carseat laws for which ever state you are in the most common mistakes will be listed and there should be videos. I looked it up for Texas a couple weeks ago before I bought my son a high back booster seat. It had all the other states on a link there too I just can't remember what the website was.  Good luck!!

[NicMom]

I do the passenger side back seat myself. I know the middle is the safest, but it's also harder to reach when your putting the baby in the car. Also I don't know what suv you have, but with my envoy I couldn't fit the seat in the middle with the latch system. It only worked on the side.

About the fire departments I tried to find the same thing out and I know here there is only one station per district that is approved to do carseat inspections. You'll have to call.

[AmyG89]

Thank you both! Very helpful. I thought it was weird that the fire stations don't do them anymore. I will check with the police department. Thanks again!

[Ashelen]

Well I stand corrected...bluntly :-P. LOL

[trying43]

Hi my husband was the infantseat expert with the police department for two years.  The middle of the backseat is the safest spot in any vehicle period.  Check with your local police department and see if they have someone who can assist further. Most of the larger departments have someone who is trained.  
Good luck

[Ashelen]

Your fire station doesn't do checks anymore??? that's bizarre...I would call to confirm. The hospital may have gotten secondhand information from someone that's incorrect.

But anyway...well i have a van, so my kids are obviously in side bucket seats. BUT...when we had a car, we put my daughter behind the passenger seat anyway. it was easier to see her and reach her when i was driving by myself, ironically...you don't have to twist as far as you do if she's RIGHT THERE, you know?

But I honestly think it's up to you. I put her in a few places when we had the car, and once or twice she was in the middle without a problem ....and with a large SUV you might have better luck reaching your baby if the seat is in the middle, unless you're a LOT taller than me because I know that trying to reach my children in the suburban is a nightmare, lol.

I don't really think any one seat is necessarily safer than the others...assuming they all have the LATCH.