How to install a car seat

Installing a car seat correctly is essential to ensure children’s safety while travelling. In this guide, we will look at the main installation techniques, from traditional seatbelts to modern Isofix systems, and how to position them to ensure optimal protection for your little ones.

Currently, two European regulations are in force, which establish that every vehicle must be equipped with approved restraint systems:

• – ECE R14: Establishes standard vehicle type approval requirements for seat belt anchorages and Isofix anchorages, and defines the correct positioning.

• – R16: Defines the tests that seatbelts must pass to prove their effectiveness and establishes how to position the car seat correctly, both when using traditional seatbelts and with the Isofix system.

In addition to the statutory regulations, when it comes time to choose a car seat, it is advisable to do a compatibility test, as the model you have your eye on and would like to buy may not be suitable for your car. For example, older cars may not be equipped with Isofix attachments, in which case the only solution is to fit the car seat with the seat belt.

To install the car seat with the seat belt correctly, please pay attention to the following steps:

• – Place the seat in the back seat of the car.

• – Adjust the height of the upper protectors so that the child’s head never exceeds the edge.

• – Use the car’s seat belt and insert it along the guides provided by the manufacturer, which are usually marked with coloured areas, and fasten it firmly.

• – Make sure that the belt is sufficiently tight and that the seat does not move more than one centimeter in any direction.

Isofix attachments consist of two lower anchorage points located between the backrest and the rear seat of the vehicle, and two connectors located at the base of the car seat. In addition, there is a third anchorage point, known as an anti-tip, such as the Top Tether in universal models or the support foot for semi-universal models.

To install the Isofix car seat, you need to follow these basic steps:

1. Locate the Isofix attachments: these are generally hidden between the backrest and seat of the car seat and are marked with Isofix labels. In more modern cars these points are more visible than in older cars.

2. Hook in the two connectors: these overhang from the backrest towards the Isofix attachment holes, push them in until you hear a ‘click’ – this indicates that it is correctly hooked in. On some models there is a coloured indicator that changes from red to green when correctly fitted.

3. Check stability: check that it is properly secured by pulling it back and forth, it should remain firm and not move.

4. Secure the third anchorage point: the Top Tether attaches to a ring or hook located behind the rear seat of the car, and is designed to withstand stress and prevent the restraint from tipping over. After securing the seat to the Isofix points, the top tether strap should be pulled towards the designated anchor point and firmly hooked. If the vehicle does not have an anchorage point for the top tether, the same function is performed by the support foot that secures to the vehicle floor.

Once compatibility has been verified, the next step is to determine where to place the car seat.

The choice of place inside the vehicle is crucial to ensure maximum safety when travelling, so let’s see together what is the best position in order to ensure safety:

– Rear centre seat. This is generally considered the safest position, as it is away from side impacts. However, not all cars have Isofix attachments or three-point safety belts on this seat.

– Rear passenger seat. In the event that the middle rear seat does not qualify for a child seat, the right rear seat is a good alternative as it allows the child to get in and out of the car from the curb side.

– Driver-side rear seat. This position, in addition to being more exposed to side impacts due to our left-hand drive, may make it more difficult for the child to enter the car from the side of the road.

– Front seat. This is the least safe solution compared to the rear seats, even though it is often chosen by parents to keep an eye on their child. If there is no other alternative, as in the case of two-seater vehicles, it is important to follow certain precautions required by law: if the child seat is positioned rearward-facing, the passenger airbags must be deactivated; if it is positioned rearward-facing, the airbag can remain active, but the seat must be moved as far back as possible.