Safety issues: how to properly assemble a child car seat after washing?
The child car seat is designed to protect the child while in the vehicle. To prevent it from becoming a source of spreading germs and dust mites, it must be cleaned regularly.
For this, the device is completely disassembled. After washing, assemble the car seat according to the user manual.
Otherwise, it will not be able to fulfill its main function - to ensure the safety of the little passenger who will be in it.
Let's take a closer look at how to assemble a child car seat after washing, what problems you may encounter and how to solve them correctly.
Content
Assembly instructions
Before proceeding with the assembly, you need to familiarize yourself with the instructions that come with each chair. It provides a sequence of actions for a specific model.
If for some reason it was not at hand, you can focus on the following algorithm:
- First you need to thread the belts into the bottom of the chair. There are special holes for them in the cover and on the seat on the sides.
- When the straps are in place, you need to straighten the soft lining that is located under the cover. It should lie flat, without lumps or wrinkles.
- The next step is to clip the cover to the hard base. The fixing method may differ depending on the model. Covers are fastened with buttons, buttons or clips, and sometimes fastened with Velcro.
- Then the upper cover is pulled over the back of the chair and fastened. It also has strap slots. When they are in place, they are put on soft pads.
- Completing the assembly is to pass all the straps through a metal buckle that will bring them together.
How to assemble a car seat after washing, video instruction:
Possible problems and how to fix them
Sometimes, after assembling the car seat, certain problems arise. For example, a child may feel uncomfortable with an inconvenient positioning of belts or covers.
His complaints cannot be ignored. Problems need to be fixed.
Car seat not assembled correctly
The main reason for incorrect assembly of the chair is a violation of the procedure. This happens when, at the stage of parsing, the person did not remember their sequence.
To prevent this situation from happening, you need to record your actions using a video or camera... In the future, the recording will help you easily collect all the details.
It is good if you have at hand a user manual for a specific car seat model. The rules may differ depending on the manufacturer and device design. Although there is no significant difference in the sequence of actions.
If after washing the covers you cannot assemble the chair yourself, you can contact your friends who have experience of similar work... Help can be provided at the store where the purchase was made. As a last resort, you can try to write to the manufacturer's website, to the service support.
Belts are awkward
If, after installing the seat in the car, parents notice that the seat belts cause discomfort to the child, the problem should not be ignored. When they press too hard, they need to be loosened. If the belts are long, they are shortened. For this they are equipped with special regulators.
When there is no money to purchase an expensive device, you can temporarily get out of the situation by pulling out the lining. This will provide more space for the child.
Sometimes the belts fall uncomfortably due to the fact that soft pads are strained or bent on them... They must be removed, straightened (in some cases, the fabric must be steamed) and put back on.
It is uncomfortable to sit on it
After washing the covers, the child may complain of discomfort while sitting. Most often this happens due to the fact that the pad is not located on the chair correctly.
Parents should check whether it lies flat, whether there are folds and bumps on it, areas of loose tissue... Be sure to inspect the reliability of fixing the covers. All rivets and locks must be closed.
Another reason for discomfort is a small part that has got under the lining. It may be a small toy that the child has hidden and forgotten. You may need to remove the cover and remove the interfering element.
Covers deformed
The deformation of the covers occurs when the rules for caring for them are not followed. This can be caused by washing in very hot water, spinning intensively and drying on a radiator. The situation can be corrected by repeated washing.
Incorrectly attached
After washing, you need to not only properly assemble, but also install the seat in the car. If it is not fixed according to the instructions, then the device will not be able to ensure the safety of the passenger. If defects are found, they must be eliminated immediately.
It must be remembered that regular seat belts do not provide a rigid fixation of the chair, but it should not stagger... Only slight fluctuations are allowed, no more than 2 cm.
Belts should not dangle or press on the child's body. The optimal clearance between them and the body is 3 cm (about 2 fingers).
The standard tape is passed through all the guides that are available in a particular model car seats. The strap should pass over the shoulder and thighs of the small passenger, not shift towards the neck.
Correct installation of the child car seat, video instruction:
Recommendations
Parents should consider the following guidelines:
- Covers are washed as needed. Don't be afraid to disassemble the car seat. Its assembly is simple and accessible to everyone.
- If the dirt is not too intense, you can refuse to shoot covers. They are treated with soapy water and a sponge directly in the car.
- It is better to dry clean the soft lining under the covers. It can deform due to moisture.
- During the assembly process, you need to monitor the condition of the lining. It should lie flat, not stray into a lump. Otherwise, the chair will need to be disassembled again.
- It is convenient to assemble the bottom of the chair if you place it horizontally. This will make it easier to thread the belts through the holes.
- Only dried covers can be worn on the chair. Molds may develop in the damp cloth and cause an unpleasant odor from the device.
Conclusion
When assembling a child car seat, you must strictly follow the instructions. Failure to comply with any subparagraph will lead to the fact that the child will feel uncomfortable in the device.
Having completed this procedure once, in the future, parents will have no difficulty in cleaning and assembling the car seat.