Car Seat Base Installation-How to Do it for Back Facing Car Seat
Hi! I am Alina Jones. Today I am here to talk about rear facing car seat base installation. There are two ways you may set up or install a rear-facing car seat base with or without a seat belt. Here I am showing you both the systems step by step to set up rear facing car seat base.
But, before I tell you the steps of “car seat base set up,” let us know – what is a car seat base? And why should you use this base in your rear facing child safety system?
What is the Infant rear-facing car seat base?
A car seat base is a removable part for use only on rear-facing baby seats. This type of infant back-facing safety seat system is also portable and needs to be set up on a base. This base is installed in the back-side passenger seat by Lower anchors of the back-side seat or by using the existing seat belts. This base is set-up firmly to hold the car seat tightly like a baby in a shell. It gives safety to your baby on a hard brake or crash.
How to select the appropriate position for car seat base installation?
The car seat base system is for your new baby or for your toddler, who is moving on to a new stage. First things first, we need to confirm that we’ve got the correct seat positions, so that you can have a proper view of your child from your seat.
It’s necessary to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines when it comes to the child safety seats that you would want to choose. Here, we’ve got our infant-seat which has a carrier and a base. The base needs to be installed into the vehicle before setting up the carrier.
How to set up the base of only rear-facing car seat for infants?
When you install this rear-facing car seat, you need to set up the car seat base first. Only the car safety seat anchors its base by using either the seat belt or the latch webbing and connectors.
Here, I am showing you how to install a rear-facing car seat base on the back-side passenger seat.
First, you should attach the base to the car seat. That’s why you should use a seat belt or lower attachment, whichever one you choose is safe.
Fitting your car seat base by lower attachments / ISOFIX
Since 2002 every vehicle has the ISOFIX system. So, most of the cars have little anchors at the back side of the seats. It is a little metal hook installed underneath the passenger seat and the back of passenger seat. So, you can lock the car seat with the help of those hooks.
The entire process is pretty simple-
Step-1: First of all, from the back of the base, you should detach the clips and place it on the passenger seat.
Step-2: The clips are simple like usual clips. Now find out those lower attachment universal anchors and lock them with these clips. You will hear the click when it is locked.
Step-3: Now, you will tug and move side to side to make sure that it’s fully connected to the base. You should do the process on both sides of the base, keeping it nice and loose to confirm.
Step-4: This step is very simple. All car seat base has a position indicator. The only thing you got to do is get the angle indicator in between the two lines. For this, the base has a switch to move it up and down. Use that switch to fix the indicator.
Step-5: Now, we need to tighten up this base down to the point where our goal is when you grab this seat right above the anchor, it will set up tightly and will not be able to move less than an inch.
Step-6: To do this step, you can get a person to push the base hard against the back seat as well as press down on it.
Step-7: At that time, you will pull the latch straps slowly.
Step-8: When you pull the strip, the base will become tightened. This way you’ll attach the base firmly to the seat.
Final Step: The final step is to set your rear-facing car seat on the base properly. When you do it you can hear the clicks on it.
Now your seat is ready to keep your baby!
How do you install a car seat base without a latch?
1-Step: If you’re using a seat belt, pull it all the way out and test it to make sure it’s locked.
2-Step: Then press it down with your hand to put weight in the car seat base and pull up the vehicle shoulder belt to remove all slack from the lap belt . Tighten the shoulder belt and lock off it.
3-Step: Next, check the angle indicator to ensure that your child’s head is properly reclined.
4-Step: Finally, take the inch test. If your car seat base moves more than an inch side to side or back to front while pulling that means your base setup is done not perfectly.
5-Step: Then you should open the lock, again press down the car seat base and tighten the seat belt then lock it up.
6-Step: Now again check your car seat base when pulled at the strip path move it back to front and left to right. If it does not move more than an inch that means your base setup is perfect.
7-Step: Now set your rear-facing car seat shell. When it is set properly on the base you hear a click on it.
Now you’re ready to go, have a safe ride!
FAQ for Rear facing car seat set up
I know you have many questions in your mind. Here are some common questions answered for you-
1. How to check the angle of back facing car seat?
Answer: It is important to have a rear-facing car safety seat at the correct angle to prevent your baby’s head from flopping forward. The exact angle can vary depending on the specific model of the seat. So, it’s important to read the instructions and understand how to determine that the reclined angle is correct. All car safety seats have angle indicators and many newer seats have adjusters that can help achieve the correct angle.
2. How to adjust the angle of back facing car seat which doesn’t have any angle adjusters?
Answer: If your seat doesn’t have an angle adjuster you can install the car seat at the appropriate angle by putting a rolled towel or other firms. You should pad down something like a pool noodle under the base of the seat near the point where the back and bottom of the vehicle seat meet many rear-facing seats come equipped with inserts.
Final words…
Finally, I would like to say the first time when we decide to go outside with my 2 months old son by car, we faced those problems and then did lots of research to find out the best one. Though it is so easy to detach the car seat base from installation, it’s a little bit annoying too. That’s why many parents purchase more than one car seat base so that they can use the seat in multiple vehicles. It helps to save time and money for you instead of purchasing several seats.