Don't risk your child's safety with an improperly installed child seat

Did you know more than 80 per cent of all child car seats are installed incorrectly? When it comes to keeping your child safe in the car don't risk it. Leave it to the pros. And while there are trendy baby shops offering installation services at costly prices - skip them. You can save cash and feel safe by turning to experts like your local or provincial police department. The Ontario Provincial Police, for example, offer car seat safety clinics and inspection services for free. Before you make an appointment with them, here are 10 steps to follow on how to install a car seat.

1. Read the manual - this includes both your vehicle owner's manual and the car seat manual from the manufacturer. Check the instructions for the proper installation as well as other important information such as the weight and height limits for the seat. This data also appears in French and English on the car seat.

2. There are different types of seats depending on the child's age and weight. If an infant is less than nine kilograms, they should always travel in a rear-facing car seat. Toddlers who weigh between nine and 18 kg and are about one year old should ride in a forward-facing seat. Pre-school kids weighing 18 kg - 36 kg who are less than 145-cm tall should use a booster seat until the age of eight. And remember, children less than 13 should not ride in the front passenger seat - they're always safest in the backseat.

3. To begin, properly thread the seat belt or Universal Anchorage System (UAS) through the child car seat, following the manufacturer's instructions. Cars manufactured after September 1, 2002 are equipped with UAS and lower anchorage bars which provide another option for securing the child car seat in the car.

4. Kneel on the child car seat to push it into the vehicle's seat. Use muscle power to tighten the seat belt or UAS. Make sure the base of the car seat is tight, too. Grab the seat and shake it side to side. It shouldn't move more than an inch or 2.5 cm from left to right. Kelly Chiu says "One time my husband installed it and the car seat was shaky so we decided to go with someone professional. It's safer to have someone check the car seat for me." That's why she went to the OPP car seat clinic in Aurora, Ontario.

5. Keep in mind, in a rear-facing child car seat you may need to use a tightly rolled towel or foam bar under the base of the seat to adjust the angle of the seat to 45 degrees, which will keep the child safely secure in the event of a collision. For forward-facing seats, make sure it's tight against the seat and supported properly in the back with a tether strap.

6. Put the child in the car seat and tighten the straps. Check the tension on all straps - they should be tight enough so you can only fit one finger between the child and the straps. All straps should lie flat against the child's body and the chest clip should be positioned at armpit level.

7. Check for flying objects in the vehicle - even a bottle of windshield wiper fluid or an umbrella could be potentially deadly in a crash. Make sure all loose objects are securely stored in your car.

8. Never use a car seat if it has been in a collision. "It's a dumpster special. The insurance companies in Canada helps cover the cost for a new one - check with them," says John Kelcher, Auxiliary Constable and Child-Seat Restraint Instructor with the Ontario Provincial Police. He adds, "We do not recommend you use another person's car seat. You don't know what the child has done in the seat and you don't know if it has been in collision."

9. But some parents like Patrick Smith have borrowed infant seats from family or friends. "It's a loaner from some friends so I know its history but we don't have the manual. I took a run at it myself but I decided to get the experts to do it instead." If you borrow from a friend, check the seat carefully. Make sure it has all instructions and hardware, it has no discolored stress marks or cracks, the harness is not worn or torn, and it has a properly working buckle and latch. Also, check for the Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standard sticker (CMVSS) on the seat. And double check the manufacturer date, too, which is printed on the seat. You should never use a car seat that's more than seven years old. Look up recalls by contacting the manufacturer or visiting Transport Canada's website at www.tc.gc.ca.

10. Remember drivers are responsible for ensuring passengers under 16 are wearing a seat belt, child car safety seat or booster seat. If they're not, the driver is subject to a fine and demerit points. But a child's safety is more important. "We do this for free. My time is free. What do I get out of it? To see a child safe - that's what we're here for," says Kelcher.