Are you thinking of how to install a safety 1st car seat so that you can provide superior comfort and protection for your baby? Then this post is for you.
As a parent or caregiver, your baby’s safety should be your priority, hence the need to learn how to install safety 1st car seat.
No parents or caregivers would want anything bad to happen to their baby.
Hopefully, the easy steps mentioned in this article will help ensure your baby’s safety when you are driving your baby in your car or on a road trip.
How Long Are Safety 1st Convertible Car Seats Good For?
The answer to this question isn’t straightforward but dependent on the manufacturing year of your safety 1st convertible seats.
If the manufacturing date of your safety 1st convertible car seats was before January 1, 2014, then the car seats are good for 6 years.
After 6 years, your Safety 1st convertible car seats expire if it was produced before January 1, 2014.
Then for convertible car seats whose manufacturing or production date is after January 1, 2014, their expiration date becomes 10 years.
It’s pertinent to be aware that the Safety 1st restraints imprinted on these car seats have a 6 to 10-year expiration date.
How to Install Safety 1st Car Seat: Rear-Facing
Latch
- The car seat should be placed at the proper recline angle.
- Thread the LATCH belt through the rear-facing belt path.
- The LATCH hooks should be attached to your vehicle’s lower anchor points.
- Press firmly on the car seat, and pull the LATCH belt to tighten it.
- Twitch the car seat to be sure that it’s installed securely.
If you are having difficulty installing and think that there is a need for more assistance, here is an installation video for you on how to install your Safety 1st convertible car seat in the rear-facing position using the LATCH system.
Vehicle Seatbelt
- Place your vehicle seat in the right recline position.
- Draw the seatbelt through the rear-facing belt path, and fasten it (make sure it’s in “lock mode”).
- Push down firmly on the vehicle seat, and pull the seatbelt to fasten it and remove any excess slack.
- Wiggle the car seat to ensure the car seat is installed securely.
If you are having difficulty installing and think there is a need for more assistance, then you can watch an installation video online to get a visual guide.
How to Install Safety 1st Car Seat: Forward-Facing
Following the guide below will help you install your safety convertible car seat:
Latch
- Place the car seat in your vehicle and make sure it’s pressed against your vehicle’s seatback.
- Loosely attach the top tether to the tether anchor.
- Draw the LATCH belt through the rear-facing belt path.
- Attach the LATCH hooks to your vehicle’s lower anchor points.
- Push firmly on your vehicle seat, and pull the LATCH belt to fasten it.
- Tighten the tether.
- Wiggle the car seat to ensure that it’s installed securely.
Suppose you are having difficulty in the installation and you think there is a need for more assistance.
In that case, you can watch an installation video online to get a visual guide or aid on installing your Safety 1st convertible car seat in the forward-facing position using the LATCH system.
Vehicle Seatbelt
- Place the car seat in your vehicle and make sure it’s pressed against your vehicle’s seatback.
- Loosely attach the top tether to the tether anchor.
- Thread the vehicle seatbelt through the rear-facing belt path, and buckle it (make sure it’s in “lock mode”).
- Press firmly on the car seat, and pull the seatbelt to tighten it and remove any excess slack.
- Tighten the tether.
- Wiggle the car seat to ensure that it’s installed securely.
Suppose you are having difficulty installing the installation, and you think there is a need for more assistance.
In that case, you can watch an installation video online to get a visual guide or aid in installing it.
Read Also: How To Get Mold Out Of Fabric Car Seats
How to Adjust Straps on a Safety 1st Convertible Car Seat?
- The metal adjuster should be pressed down under the seat pad.
- Loosen the harness straps by pulling.
- Rotate the QuickFit handles inward.
- Lift the headrest to your desired position.
Suppose you are having difficulty in the installation and you think there is a need for more assistance.
In that case, you can watch an installation video online to get a visual guide on adjusting the harness straps on a Safety 1st convertible car seat.
Read: How to install safety 1st cabinet and drawer latches
How to Assemble a Safety 1st Convertible Car Seat
- Firstly feed the buckle’s metal retainer through the opening on the seat pad.
- Pull slightly on the buckle to ensure it’s secure.
- Thread the harness strap through the aide opening on one side of the car seat.
- From the lower part of the seat, pull the harness strap down and across the car seat.
- Thread the harness seat strap back up into the seat cover. Ensure that the harness straps are equal.
- Slide 1 harness guide on every one of the harness straps, and press the aides into the opening of the seat cushion and shell. Ensure they snap into place
- Thread the harness straps through each buckle’s tongue.
- Thread the chest clip.
- Thread the harness straps through the spaces in the headrest.
- Slide the harness straps onto the splitter plate.
Suppose you are having difficulty in the installation and you think there is a need for more assistance.
In that case, you can watch an installation video online to get a visual guide on reassembling your Safety 1st convertible car seat.
Read Also: How To Put Baby Mirror in Car Without Headrest
How to Remove a Safety 1st Convertible Car Seat Cover for Washing
- Raise the adjustable headrest.
- Remove the elastic hooks from the plastic clips located around the car seat.
- Remove the seat pad.
- Undo the elastic straps on the back of the car seat.
- Remove the elastic straps from the plastic hooks located underneath the headrest.
- Remove the headrest cover.
- Remove the seat covers on the side of the car seat.
How to Put Safety 1st Convertible Car Seat Cover Back On
- Firstly, you must place the seat covers back on the side of the car seat.
- Also, place the seat cover back on the headrest.
- Then reinstall the elastic hooks on the plastic clips under the headrest.
- Put back the elastic straps on the plastic hooks on the back of the car seat.
- After that, place the seat pad back on the car seat.
- Reinstall the elastic hooks to the plastic clips found at the car seat’s base.
- Reinstall the elastic hooks to the plastic clips found around the car seat.
Suppose you are having difficulty in the installation and you think there is a need for more assistance.
In that case, you can watch an installation video online to get a visual guide on removing and replacing a Safety 1st convertible seat cover.
How to Clean Safety 1st Convertible Car Seat
If the fabric of your safety 1st convertible car seat is machine-washable, then you can wash the car seat cover with cold water and then tumble dry for 10 to 12 minutes on low heat.
If the fabric isn’t machine-washable, wash with warm soapy water, and let it air dry. Do not stick your padding in the washing machine and dryer if it’s not machine-washable.
Use a damp, warm cloth and mild soap to wash your harness and buckle. Avoid using bleach on your materials. Ensure all car seat accessories are completely dried off before reinstalling your car seat.
Read Also: How To Protect Car Seats From Child Seats
Other FAQ’s
Where Can I Find The Safety 1st Convertible Car Seat Expiration Date?
There are places on the car seat models where one can find the expiration dates, but it all depends on the model of the safety 1st convertible car seat models.
For most of the Safety 1st convertible car seat models, the expiration date can be found inside the car seat shell.
For newer models, the instruction manual contains the expiration dates.
Should My Baby Seat Go Behind Driver Or Passenger?
For ease of convenience and keeping an eye on your baby, one of the most common spots for a baby’s car seat is the rear passenger side.
Studies have shown that children under age 3 seated in the center of the back of a car seat had nearly half the risk of injury in motor accidents than kids seated in either of the other positions.
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Conclusion
I hope that your question on how to install a safety 1st car seat has been answered, and I am confident that you can install the first car seat without any hassle if you follow the instructions.
However, if you get stuck or confused along the way, the internet is your friend. You can always watch an online video about the installation and proceed with your task.