Installing a car seat can be a daunting task for any new parent. However, with the Britax Advocate Car Seat, it is surprisingly easy to install it rear facing. The Brixtax Advocate Car Seat can accommodate children weighing between 5 and 40 pounds in the rear-facing position. It features the patented ClickTight system making installation a seamless process. This post will walk you through the steps on how to install the Britax Advocate Car Seat rear facing to ensure your child’s safety.
The first step when installing the Britax Advocate Car Seat rear facing is to adjust the recline angle. Push down the recline handle located underneath the front of the base and pivot the base forward until you reach the appropriate angle that matches your vehicle’s slope. You should always consult with the manufacturer’s guidelines or instruction manual for specific guidance on this matter as some vehicles may have different angles.
Once you have confirmed the recline angle is set correctly, place the base of the seat onto the back seat of your car and ensure it sits flat against your car’s seat. Take the seatbelt you wish to use (either lap belt or shoulder/lap belt combo) and buckle it into the “click tight” compartment which provides an audible sound when securely fastened. Once buckled, close the compartment’s cover and pull it up tightly from under the car seat. Give the car seat a gentle tug to ensure it is correctly secured.
If you want to keep reading about the proper positioning of straps, harnesses, and headrests, then check out our full guide to How To Install Britax Advocate Car Seat Rear Facing? You Won’t Believe How Easy It Is!”
Preparing for Installation
Gather Necessary Tools
Before starting the installation process of the Britax Advocate Car Seat, make sure you have all the necessary tools with you. These typically include a screwdriver, pliers, and a ratchet or socket set. Ensure that these tools are in good working condition to avoid any inconvenience during installation.
Besides the tools mentioned above, you’ll also need the car seat itself along with its base and tethers. Keep them handy before starting the installation procedure.
Apart from these, it’s always advisable to keep a pair of scissors at hand as they can come in handy when trimming any loose threads on your car seat.
Read the Manual Carefully
The Britax Advocate Car Seat comes with an instruction manual; therefore, it is vital to read and understand it before proceeding. A thorough understanding of the instructions will help ensure proper installation and maximize safety measures available for the baby.
The manual includes diagrams and detailed explanations about every feature of the car seat and covers all aspects of rear-facing installation. It also helps enlighten users about how to adjust the car seats’ height, recline angle, shoulder straps, LATCH connectors, and other functions according to one’s requirement.
Reading fine print is tedious but worthwhile, especially when it ensures the child’s safety and comfort so dedicate time to this step.
Choose the Right Location
The right location for installing your Britax Advocate Car Seat is essential. The ideal place to install your car seat is the back center seat, making sure there are no airbags present. The car seat should be installed tightly and should not move more than an inch in any direction once anchored properly.
If the middle seat is difficult to access or not allowed in your vehicle model, the installation of a rear-facing car seat can also be done on the passenger side and away from the airbag. Before choosing any other location, make sure you consult with your manufacturer’s manual or customer representative.
Securing the car seat appropriately at the right position ensures that the child remains safe even in case of sudden brakes or impacts. Because children should remain seated backward until they reach two years old or no longer fit the weight restrictions for their specific seat, positioning the baby always deserves the utmost priority.
Installing the Car Seat
Adjust the Recline Angle
The first step to installing a Britax Advocate car seat rear facing is setting the correct recline angle. The Advocate comes with several adjustable positions, depending on your child’s weight and height. Check the user manual for specific instructions regarding proper installation.
Make sure that the level indicator is in the green range before proceeding to the next step. Adjusting the recline can help ensure that your child’s head doesn’t tip forward while riding in the car and can provide better support during long trips.
You may need to use rolled towels or pool noodles under the seat base or in front of the foot area to achieve the desired recline angle.
Secure the Car Seat with LATCH or Seat Belt
To secure the Britax Advocate car seat into your vehicle, you have two options: LATCH or seat belt. Choose one method based on what is available in your particular car and what feels easiest and most secure for you.
If using LATCH connectors, connect both lower anchors first by attaching them directly to the appropriate anchor points within your vehicle. Then, pull tight on the straps until there’s no slack left. Next, attach the top tether to its respective anchorage point and tighten it to remove any visible movement in the seat.
If using a seat belt, make sure that it passes through all routing points as instructed by the user manual. Lock the lap-shoulder belt retractor by either locking the seat belt buckle or feeding the shoulder belt back into the retractor itself once the belt has been fully extended. As always, test the security of either method by putting pressure on the installed seat post-installation.
Check for a Tight Fit
Last but not least, double-check that your Britax Advocate car seat is installed correctly and securely. Give the base a gentle wiggle, tug or pull to see if it moves more than an inch in any direction. If it does, tighten the tie-off coming from the belt routing path or straps. You’ll also want to check whether the harness fits snuggly around your little one’s body; make sure you can only fit one finger underneath it.
Try to recreate various driving conditions by pushing down on the seat— checking for any movement — and examine how much room is between the back of the front seats and the child restraint system’s shell: you should have one-to-two inches of clearance at all times.
If at any point you feel unsure about installing the seat properly, seek help from a child passenger safety technician who can teach you everything you need to know and ensure that you’re confident operating your Britax car seat system.
Adjusting for the Perfect Fit
Adjust the Harness Straps
When installing your Britax Advocate Car Seat rear facing, ensure that the harness straps are at or below the infant’s shoulders. This will provide maximum protection in the event of an accident. To adjust the straps, simply pull on the adjustment strap located at the front of the car seat.
Make sure that the straps fit snugly against the baby’s body and cannot be pinched away from their skin. You should not be able to fit more than one finger between the strap and the baby.
It is recommended that you check the straps regularly as infants grow quickly and may require adjustments frequently.
Ensure Proper Buckle Placement
The buckle should be centered across the infant’s lap, and not digging into their stomach or hips. If it is too tight, loosen the straps a bit to allow some slack. If it is too loose, tighten the straps until it fits comfortably without being overly tight.
Use the built-in lock-offs on either side of the car seat to secure the belt securely for proper installation. Double-check after tightening the buckles to make sure there is no wiggle room between the car seat and vehicle seat.
Once again, keep checking this whenever you install the car seat to have the perfect fit every time.
Use the Built-In Level to Check for Proper Installation
The Britax Advocate Car Seat has a built-in level system that helps during the installation process. If the bubble is outside the “safe” zone or if the car seat doesn’t seem flush with the vehicle back seat, readjust its installation until it’s level.
A well-fitted car seat should not wiggle upwards, downwards or sideways, so it’s worth taking the time to ensure that everything is as secure as possible.
Follow these steps carefully and take your time installing the Britax Advocate Car Seat rear facing. Ensure that you always refer back to the owner’s manual for specific instructions related to your car seat model.
Final Safety Checks
Test for Movement
Before installing the Britax Advocate car seat rear-facing, ensure that your vehicle is stationary and turn off the engine. Securely attach the lower anchor connectors or install using the seat belt. Then test for any excessive movement by tugging on the car seat at the base near where the buckle is located.
If there is minimal to no movement of the car seat after testing, it is installed correctly and safely. However, if you notice a significant amount of movement or looseness in the installation process, re-secure and test again until you have met all safety standards and guidelines before hitting the road.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that correct usage of child restraints reduces the risk of fatal injury by 71 percent among infants under one-year-old in passenger vehicles.
Check for Proper Harness Tightness
Ensure that the harness straps are at the right height according to the baby’s shoulder level. Adjust the strap heights regularly as your baby grows taller. Buckle the harness making sure it passes flat and snug across the chest without gaps or slack and fasten the clip at mid-chest level.
To check proper tightness, try to pinch the bottom of the harness webbing at the collar bone. If you can easily pick up a fold of material, then adjust it tighter by pulling the slack around the back of the seat while pressing down firmly with your other hand. Ensure that the straps lie flat against the child’s upper legs, with no twists, so they’re properly positioned over the hip bones.
The more tightly a car seat is installed or the better fit-to-child achieved, the less likely injuries will occur during accidents.-Parents Magazine
Double Check All Connections and Attachments
Before you hit the road, double-check all connections, including the lower anchor connectors or seatbelt, tether strap, harness straps, and chest clip. Ensure that all adjustments are correct as per your installation instructions manual.
If everything is in order, press down firmly on the car seat while pulling up at the base with one hand to check its stability below. Then give it a gentle jiggle side-to-side and front-to-back to ensure maximum security. This final safety check guarantees that you have correctly installed the Britax Advocate car seat rear-facing and minimized the risk of injury during accidents.
Your child’s life is worth taking a few extra moments to make sure they’re buckled up properly.-KidsHealth.org
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the steps for installing the Britax Advocate car seat rear facing?
Before installing the car seat, read the car seat manual and car owner’s manual. Adjust the recline angle, and ensure the seat belt is in good condition. Place the car seat in the back seat, and thread the seat belt through the rear-facing belt path. Push down on the car seat while tightening the seat belt. Check the installation by attempting to move the car seat side-to-side and front-to-back. Adjust the installation as necessary.
What tools are needed to install the Britax Advocate car seat rear facing?
No special tools are needed to install the Britax Advocate car seat. However, a towel or pool noodle might be used to adjust the recline angle. A locking clip might also be required if the car has a lap belt only. Ensure that the locking clip is properly installed, and read the car seat manual for detailed instructions.
What are the weight and height limits for rear-facing installation of the Britax Advocate car seat?
The Britax Advocate car seat can be used rear-facing for infants weighing 5 to 40 pounds and up to 49 inches tall. The car seat is designed to support head and neck protection for infants and toddlers.
What are the safety features of the Britax Advocate car seat rear-facing installation?
The Britax Advocate car seat features SafeCell Impact Protection that absorbs energy, a steel frame that provides strength, and a V-shaped tether that minimizes movement. The car seat also has a harness that adjusts easily and a no-rethread harness system for easy height adjustments. Additionally, the car seat is certified for use on aircraft and has been tested for side-impact and rollover crashes.
What are the common mistakes to avoid when installing the Britax Advocate car seat rear-facing?
Common mistakes to avoid include not tightening the seat belt enough, not adjusting the recline angle correctly, using the wrong seat belt path, and not properly routing the tether. It’s also important to avoid using aftermarket products like strap covers or headrests that are not approved by Britax, and to ensure that the car seat is installed in the back seat of the car.
How do I ensure that the Britax Advocate car seat rear-facing installation is done correctly?
To ensure correct installation, read both the car seat manual and the car owner’s manual. Use the appropriate seat belt path, adjust the recline angle, tighten the seat belt until the car seat cannot move more than one inch side-to-side or front-to-back, and ensure that the tether is installed correctly. It’s also a good idea to have a certified child passenger safety technician check the installation.