Keep your child rear-facing as long as possible. It’s the best way to keep him or her safe. Your child should remain in a rear-facing car seat until he or she reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat’s manufacturer. Once your child outgrows the rear-facing car seat, your child is ready to travel in a forward-facing car seat with a harness and tether.

Refer to the video above for a general overview of rear-facing car seat installation and see the below step-by-step guide.

1. Read your car seat’s instruction manual and your vehicle’s owner manual. Pay close attention to the information about your vehicle’s seat belt system, and how to “lock” the seat belt. Every seat and vehicle are different, which affects the way you’ll install your particular seat.
2. Place the car seat in the back seat of your vehicle, in the rear-facing position.
   • For rear-facing-only infant car seats, place the base in the back seat.
3. Carefully thread the seat belt through the rear-facing belt path. Check to make sure there are no twists in the seat belt.
4. Buckle the seat belt.
5. Lock the seat belt using the vehicle seat belt system OR the car seat lock-off.
6. Press down firmly on the car seat and tighten.
   • You should not be able to move the car seat side-to-side or front-to-back more than 1 inch.
   • For a rear-facing-only car seat, press down firmly on the car seat base and tighten the straps.
7. Make sure your car seat is installed at the correct recline angle.
   • Most car seats that can be used rear-facing have built-in angle indicators or adjustors to assist you.
   • As your child grows, the angle may need to be adjusted, so be sure to read the car seat instruction manual.
8. For a rear-facing-only infant car seat, follow the additional step below:
   • Attach the infant carrier to the base. 

1. Read your car seat’s instruction manual and your vehicle’s owner manual. Pay close attention to the location of the lower anchors, and directions on how to use this vehicle hardware.
2. Place the car seat in the back seat of your vehicle, in the rear-facing position.
   • For rear-facing-only infant car seats, place the base in the back seat.
3. Locate the lower anchors in your vehicle.
4. Connect the lower anchor attachments on the car seat to the lower anchors, making sure the straps aren’t twisted.
   • For a rear-facing-only car seat, connect lower anchor attachments on the car seat base to the lower anchors, making sure the straps aren’t twisted.
5. Press down firmly on the car seat and tighten the straps. You should not be able to move the car seat side-to-side or front-to-back more than 1 inch.
   • For a rear-facing-only car seat, press down firmly on the car seat base and tighten the straps.
6. Make sure your car seat is installed at the correct recline angle.
   • Most car seats that can be used rear-facing have built-in angle indicators or adjustors to assist you.
   • As your child grows, the angle may need to be adjusted, so be sure to read the car seat instruction manual.
7. For a rear-facing-only infant car seat, follow the additional step below:
   • Attach the infant carrier to the base.

1. Place your child in the car seat with the child's back and bottom flat against the car seat.
2. Place the harness straps over the child’s shoulders. Harness straps should lie flat, not twisted, and be placed through the slots located at or below your child’s shoulders.
3. Buckle the harness and the chest clip and tighten until snug. The harness is snug enough when you cannot pinch any extra material at the shoulder.
   • Bulky clothing or blankets can prevent a snug harness fit. Always buckle the child in the seat first, and then place coats or blankets over the harness.
   • If your baby needs support, fill the empty spaces with small, rolled blankets on each side of the baby’s shoulders and head.
   • Never put thick padding under or behind the baby unless it is recommended for use by the car seat manufacturer.
4. Place chest clip at armpit level. This holds the harness straps in place on the child’s chest and shoulders.

Rear-Facing Only Infant Car Seat

When your child outgrows the infant car seat, switch to a convertible or all-in-one car seat and use it in the rear-facing position. These seats typically have weight and height limits for the rear-facing position that allow you to keep your child rear-facing longer. If a baby under 1 year old grows too tall or too heavy for an infant car seat, a car seat with a higher rear-facing size limit is strongly recommended.

Convertible and All-in-One Rear-Facing Car Seats

Read the car seat manual carefully and remember that children should ride rear-facing until they reach the top weight or height limit of that seat.