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Installing Car Seats & Correct use |
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Installing Child Restraints
The most common question we get asked is "What is the safest car seat?", and the answer is this, The safest car seat is the one that fits your child and car correctly, and is used correctly every time.
People often install car seats very quickly into their car, taking shortcuts that could cause serious harm to your child in the event of an accident. By taking it one step at a time, you can reduce the possibility of serious injury to your child - they will thank you for it later.
All in all, the car seat takes less than 5 minutes to correctly install, and the more you practice, the quicker it gets. I can have the car seat into and out of my car in less than 30 seconds nowadays.
Always read the instruction manual came with your car seat, if you are unsure of any aspect of using or installing your child's car seat you can either, contact the importer/reseller, or request a seat check by a Safe2Go technician, or a Plunket car seat rental staff member.
Please note: This page is to assist car seat installation and should not be used to replace information and physical checks that are carried out by technicians and other trained professionals. A correctly installed child restraint can reduce severe injuries by up to 70%.
Always have your car seat installation checked by a trained professional. Click here to contact a safe2go member in your area.
Lower tethers (aka Isofix/Latch)
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Firstly before installing your child restraint it is important to know what type of seat belt you have installed in your car (or cars) that the child seat will be being used in.
Seat belts that are joined to the door frame cannot be used along with child restraints.
There are two most common types of seat belts installed in cars sold in New Zealand these are the:
ALR seat belt - Automatic Locking Retractor
ELR seat belt - Emergency locking Retractor
Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) belts
ALR are belts also referred to as "restraint belts". These belts are deigned to function as both a normal seat belt, that locks when pulled down hard on, and also as belts that lock when used with a child restraint.
Once the car seat is installed you pull the top of the belt out fully, you will hear a clicking (ratcheting) sound. If you now try to pull more of the belt out the belt cannot be pulled out any more. This is now in "lock mode".
To get the belt out of lock mode you need to unclick the buckle and let the belt fully retract, it will now function normally.
| To know if your belts are ALR belts you can fully extend the belt, listen for the clicks and tug on it, or you can look for the white label attached to the bolted end of the belt (opposite the buckle). |  |
If your car has ALR seat belts, always use them in lock mode with a child restraint, if you find that the seat tilts when locked, switch the belts back to ELR mode and use a locking clip as shown below.
Lock mode can also be used with children in booster seats for extra security and to prevent slack and movement when in motion.
The video above is made by NZ Child Restraints to show you how to "lock" your restraint seat belts. The "clicking" sound is heard after the belt has been fully extended and released into itself, the belt cannot be pulled out until fully released as shown at the end of the clip.
Emergency Locking retractor (ELR)
Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) belts & locking clips
ELR belts will only lock when firmly tugged on, during a sudden stop, or accident. They do not display the above white label and they will not ratchet when fully extended. ELR belts should be used with built in car seat lock-offs, or a locking clip.
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Built in restraint lock-offs Rear facing lock off (left) and forward facing lock off (right) fitted on Safe-n-Sound car seats* *not all models. |
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Classic locking clip attached to latch end of lap/sash belt |
If a metal locking clip is not placed on the belt correctly it may slide and it will not function correctly. An easy tip is to remember "Wings Up, Belly Down" this means that the "hooks" at each end should sit on the top of the belt, while the bar should remain on the underside of the belt.
When using a locking clip to convert a lap/sash belt to a lap only, (when using along with a child safety harness), the locking clip sits must sit on the side opposite the latch plate - otherwise it always sits around 2.5cm (1 inch) from the latch plate end of the belt, as shown above.
Exactus locking clip | Safe-n-Sound 3 bar-grated clip | Classic locking clip
The Exactus clip simply snaps onto the seat belt much like a bread or cereal clip. Check before closing that the seat belt rests inside the edges of the clip so it does not catch when closing the clip. To release pull back on the tab at the front of the closed clip the same way you would open a bread clip. A "snap" will be heard when the clip is correctly closed.
The clip may come apart when opening, this is normal, if however it happens while you are closing the clip, with the seat belt inside, the belt is outside of the guide, place the clip back together and check guides before closing.
No clip is better than the other, some people find one easier than the other, do try them out before making your purchase, especially if you need to swap seats between cars regularly. Practice using the clip - the more you do, the easier it becomes.
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Next: Infant seat install
Jump to: Toddler seat install
Booster seat install
Improving your install
Installation video
Related pages: Top tether strap
Lower tethers
Correct child restraint use offers the best protection.
Shortcuts save time, not lives.
Don't be in a rush.