When your baby is ready to start using a car seat, it’s important to make sure you install the seat in a way that’s best for them. One common mistake parents make is installing the seat forward-facing instead of rear-facing. Here’s a quick guide on how to install a Graco car seat forward-facing.
What you will need
To install a Graco car seat forward facing, follow these steps:
1. Secure the car seat to the vehicle with the LATCH system.
2. Attach the shoulder belt and make sure it is tight enough to distribute your child’s weight evenly across your chest and shoulder.
3. Place your baby in the car seat and buckle them in. If you have a Graco SnugRide 30 or 40 infant-toddler car seat, check the fit first by pressing down on each side of theInfant insert to see if it clicks into place. If not, press down on both sides of the toddler insert until it does click into place. The infant carrier should fit snugly but not too tightly against your baby’s body. You may need to adjust the straps on either side according to your child’s height and weight.
4. Buckle your child’s safety belt properly, using two round buckles on each side of their waist or one round buckle behind their back (depending on their size). Look for labels that show how many kg (2 lb) each buckle can hold securely.
How to install the car seat
There are a few different ways to install a car seat. The most common way is to install it in the passenger’s seat using the LATCH system. If your vehicle has an auto-dimming mirror, you can also install the car seat in front of the driver’s seat. Finally, you can install the car seat using the included straps if it doesn’t have LATCH or an auto-dimming mirror.
To install a forward-facing car seat using LATCH, follow these steps:
1) Make sure that your child is securely fastened into their car seat and that all buckles and straps are properly tightened.
2) IMPORTANT: Position the rear facing belt so that it crosses over or under the child’s middle back. The belt should be tight enough so that it won’t come off easily, but not so tight that it cuts off circulation.
3)Open either door on your vehicle and pull out and extend the shoulder belt from step 1). Insert one end of shoulder belt through one of the buckles on your child’s carseat and adjust it as needed (see photo below). Repeat this process with the other side of the shoulder belt. Buckle both belts in place by pulling down on each buckle until they click into place (photo below). You may now close either door.
4) To use LATCH with an auto-dimming
When to use a forward facing car seat
If you are installing a forward-facing car seat in a vehicle that is not a convertible, your car seat must be base-mounted. You will also need to use the LATCH system to secure the car seat to the vehicle.
To install a forward-facing car seat in a convertible, first remove the rear-facing child restraint from the convertible and place it on the ground beside the vehicle. Then mount the forward-facing car seat using either of these methods:
1) If you have a base-mounted carseat, simply tighten its straps and snap it into place in front of the rear-facing child restraint.
2) If you have an economy+ or premium grade forward-facing car seat, remove its safety belt and tether strap(s). Place it so that its bottom cushion is on top of or next to the lower anchor point on the back of the rear-facing child restraint. Then attach its shoulder belt by positioning it over your child’s upper chest, pulling it tight, and snapping it into place. Finally, reattach the lower tether strap.