Car Seat Safety Tips for Parents - Seatbelts

Always read your vehicle manual to see what type of seatbelt system you have, where it is appropriate to install the child restraint and how to use the belt to secure it.

A seatbelt consists of webbing, a latch plate and buckle. Many seatbelt systems also include a retractor.

The first step is to discover how your seatbelt system locks. If a lock exists, it could be located in the buckle system, or the retractor system.

Your vehicle owner's manual should be very helpful to you in discovering your locking system.

Buckle locks include locking latch plates, cinching latch plates and switchable latch plates, that must be activated to use in the locking mode.

Locking Latch Plates: Locking latch plates are commonly found in the middle rear seating position of lap only seatbelts. They can be identified by a locking bar at the back of the latch plate. This bar locks the seatbelt in place, but can be loosened by changing the angle of the buckle. When installing child restraints with this type of lock system, check the angle of the latch plate. If the angle allows the seatbelt to slip, flip the latch plate 180 degrees and insert the latch plate in the buckle receptor backwards. If the receptor does not accept the latch plate, twist the latch plate 360 degrees and try again.

Cinching Latch Plates: Cinching latch plates lock the seatbelt length by squeezing the belt with a sliding bar. Once the child restraint is installed, check for loosening. If the seatbelt loosens, install a locking clip one-half inch behind the latch plate and secure again.

Switchable Latch Plates: Some models of cars have a button on the back of the latch plate that allow the latch plate to lock when the button is moved to the lock position. To install a child restraint, ensure this button is moved to the lock position first.

Retractor locks include automatic locking retractors and switchable retractors, which must be activated into locking mode.

To use the switchable seatbelt system with a child restraint, the seatbelt must be switched to locking mode. Pull the seatbelt out of the retractor all the way. While holding the seatbelt webbing, slowly retract a small portion of the belt, stop and gently pull back. If the seatbelt locks right away, the seatbelt is in locking mode. You may also hear the ratcheting noises of the lock as you retract the belt. In order to keep the belt in locking mode, you must continue to hold on to the webbing until the latch plate is buckled, put a lot of weight in the child restraint and retract the excess webbing. If it is done correctly, the child restraint will be secure, with no more than 1 inch movement in any direction.

Automatic locking retractors may be found in older model vehicles. These seatbelt systems automatically lock in place and will hold a child restraint in place very effectively.

If a seatbelt has a shoulder and lap belt but has no locking mechanism in either the buckle system, or the retractor, a locking clip is required.

A locking clip can often be found on the back of the child restraint. The locking clip is a metal H-shaped bar. If you do not have one, they can be purchased at most stores that sell child restraints.

The purpose of the locking clip is to keep the lap portion of the seatbelt at a pre-determined length, ensuring that the child restraint will be held secure when the retractor locking mechanism is activated by a sudden stop or crash.

When using a locking clip, hold both portions of the seatbelt (shoulder and lap) webbing together and thread the locking clip onto the seatbelt as close to the latch plate as possible. The locking clip should be within one-half inch of the latch plate.

If a lap belt has a retractor but no lock in either the retractor or buckle, a belt shortening clip is required.

Universal Anchorage System/LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children):

Newer vehicles may be equipped with the latch system, also known as the Universal Anchorage System. It is a standardized system that sometimes makes installing child restraints easier than using the vehicle seatbelts.

To see whether your vehicle has this feature, read your vehicle owner's manual. In a latch-equipped vehicle you will find at least 2 back seating positions with the anchors. They are located in or near the seat bite (between the vehicle seat back and the lower seat cushion). Check the vehicle manual to see whether the middle back seating position is equipped with anchors.

When installing your child's restraint, always read the vehicle owner's manual and the restraint manual to install the LATCH system safely. Connect the LATCH attachments on the child restraint to the lower anchors in the vehicle. Adjust and tighten the latch attachments according to the manufacturer's instructions. Check that the LATCH system is secure. You will hear or see that the connectors are attached.

Once the seat location and locking mechanisms have been identified, the child restraint should be ready for installation. If you are not using the Universal Anchorage System, read the child restraint manual to find out whether they should be removed or secured to the restraint so they are not loose.

Often, two people are needed when installing car seats. One person pushes firmly down on the child restraint or base portion of the restraint, while the other person pulls the seatbelt (or UAS attachment) tight. There should be no more than 1 inch of movement in any direction when you are finished. Test for movement where the belt path on the child restraint is located.