Is It Mandatory That the Base for in Infant Car Seat Be Used?

consult the manual for the car seat. It will explaine if there are any different ways the car seat can be installed.

If there is a place for them to put the seat belt thru to strap it in, then it was made to go either way. If their just sticking the belt over, then their not doing it right.

I do not believe it is mandatory, but it makes getting the car seat in and out of the car faster...literally snap and go.

It is not needed... at all. As long as they are buckleing it correctly they are doing just fine. Some studies actually show that the base makes it more likely that baby will fly from the car in an accident (only one study so not like there is alot of evidence... I don't pay attention until there are at least 3 or 4 saying the same thing!). She could have read up on that and decided to just bypass the base for safety reasons.

No. But it makes it so easy to use - just snap in the carseat - and ensures that it is at the correct angle. This latter point is very important because if it tips too far forward, an infact's head can fall forward and lose his/her airway. By taking time to ensure the base is at the correct angle, you don't have to worry about it every single time. Also - you can make it really snug in the carseat - something that might not be true if you are adjusting the seatbelt every time.

Have them check out Mighty Tite, it is a ratchet that helps make the seatbelt strap get as tight as possible.

http://www.babyearth.com/sunshine-kids-mighty-tite.html? gclid=CIT_3IzJpp8CFQukagodmGe01Q

It can be used with a base, a car seat alone or with a Sit 'N' Stroll my favorite carseat/stroller. I think I saw them for sale at Toys R Us or Burlington Coat Factory.

Good Luck!

For the carseat we owned, 6 years ago, it was 100% mandatory.

The base was a pia to get in there to begin with (even with the whole LATCH business... getting it in the right position so that the carseat would click in at the right angle was NOT eas)y. Then it had metal to metal latches with the carseat itself, in case of an accident metal to metal being way safer than metal to plastic, and it only took seconds to click the seat in and out once the durn base was in correctly.

The seat itself had a groove for a seatbelt to go through. The instructions on our seat said to click it into the base and then to run the seatbelt through the groove, click that as well, pull the strap until it "locked", and pull it tight. The instructions said to never (unless there was an emergency) to only use the seatbelt groove, although the seat could be used without the the belt. Click in the seat, run the belt = about 15 seconds. Just clicking in the seat = about 2 seconds.

This was 6 years ago. Can seats have changed since then? Sure. Have they? No idea.

Drop by the fire department to have them check. The numbers of incorrectly installed seats are ridiculous. It's more than half, I THINK last time I heard it was in the 80%s. We had ours checked, and it was good to go. They tested by looking to make sure the ball was in the green area, and then they YANKED on it, pushing it as hard as they could in 6 directions, and by shaking it. (<laughing> without the baby in it, of course). It didn't budge, and the ball stayed within the green zone.

The base isn't necessary. You just have to make sure that the seat is at the correct angle. Sometimes you can use a rolled up towel to make sure the angle is right. (REAR FACING!)

Your best bet is to call your local police or fire station. They'll usually do the car seat checks and probably know the laws in your local area much better.

I don't believe it's mandatory, but it is probably much safer in the event of an accident. We always used the base unless there was an emergency and couldn't.

It isn't necessary but it's more foolproof, safer, and a heck of a lot easier.

Hi S. -
It is not mandatory. The seat is fully capable to be strapped directly into the car. There is a gauge on the side of the seat to measure to make sure it it level, however you can strap it directly into the car with the seat belt and not use the base (although there is a clip that you will want to use to ensure the seat belt is positioned properly and doesn't retract - it kind of looks like a H and should have come with the seat).
The real question is why would they want to strap the seat into the car every time they have to put the baby into the car? The base is really a convenience. As long as you have properly strapped (or LATCHed) the seat into the car you do not need to be concerned that you are properly installing the seat belt each time.
Congratulations Auntie!

Hi, S.,

Technically, the base does not have to be used. However, when using the base it can be easier/faster to put the infant seat in and out of the car. When you use the base, you simply snap in the infant seat, and then either push a button or pull a lever to release the seat. When not using the base, you have to take the time, EVERY time, to buckle the seat belt around the infant seat, and then unbuckle it to remove the infant seat. I found that by using the base, it was easier for me to just snap in the infant seat, and then pull the release lever to take it out.

All in all, it is a personal choice for the user of the infant seat.

I hope this helps to answer your question.

Actually, I recall that the car seat is a little more secure when installed *without* the base. The only thing is that you must take the time to make sure the seatbelt is strapped on properly and tightly each time. The car seat must also be at the correct angle. (Usually there is an angle indicator on the carseat). So if they take the time to do it well then it should be fine. The base actually has the risk that it sometimes does not click in fully, so care must be taken with those too!

It's not mandatory, but it's safer and alot easier to out baby in and out. With the base, the car seat will be sturdier in place like it should. You will avoid the struggle of putting seatbelt on and off(which it gets very tiring). I used the base and I loved it. But it's ok to use it without the base
if you are riding in someone elses car. Because the installation of the base
is not as easy as unbuckling a seatbelt. Hope this helps

The base is not necessary. It's easier, since you don't have to strap the seat in every time, but you definitely can use the seat on it's own. It's probably also safer to use the base only in the sense that you can install it once and know it's done correctly, rather than have to make sure you properly install and strap in the seat each time you use it.

Congrats on your new niece!
K.
http://oc.citymommy.com

The base just ensures you install your car seat properly. If when they strap the seat in every time they get in the car properly then to each their own. I just know that I was never strong enough to strap my car seat in properly.I had to either have my husband to help me or a really great ratchet thing for car seats. Most parents don't realize that it is worse to put their child in a improperly installed car seat. The car seat should not move more than an inch from side to side. The American Red Cross has some great videos of what could happen when your car seat is not installed correctly. They scared me enough to take the extra time to ensure my son was safe every time he got in the car.
I think it is great that you are concerned and asking questions. I see so many people that do not install their car seat correctly and I just want to slap them. I have always wondered why parents do not care enough or if they are just ignorant. Hope you can get them to do the right thing and install their car seat correctly.

I would think that your brother and his wife have already done the research on them. But, nope it's not mandatory. I had the base in my car and my husband just strapper it right in with the seatbelt.

The base, although more convenient is not necessary. However when using a seat belt to secure the car seat, be sure to use the metal clip to make the belt is as tight as possible. The car seat should come with one, if not, go to a local police station or babies r us and get it.

It isn't necessary, but if they have the latch system in their car (I think it's only in cars 2003 and newer, probably not in all of the cars more than a few years old), they should use the base with the latch system, since that is safer than using a seat belt. I always used the base in my car, and used just the seat in other people's cars. It is a pain in the butt to put it in without the base, I don't know why anyone would choose to do that.

We had a bad T-bone car accident (someone hit us on the driver's side) and I am so glad we were using the base. The base had visible damage from the force of the hit and the strength of the latch system holding it, if my son's seat had not been in the base, his seat probably would have taken the brunt of that, and him along with it (he had no injuries at all, which I was pretty surprised at).

Although it may not be mandatory, It can not be secured as safely as it would be with the base. If they won't buy a base for the carseat, buy it for them as a gift.

It is not mandatory to use the base; we've had to use ours without when in a different vehicle, or traveling out of state. It has (I presume) slits in the sides for use with a seatbelt. I felt *safer* using the base, but it is ok not use it.

Also, if it were MANDATORY, the carseat WOULD NOT have instructions for use without the base printed on the side, as mine does.

I don't think it's mandatory at all. My experience is that it simply makes it easier to switch the carseat from one car to another and not have to hassle with strapping the seat down each time you take it in and out of the car. My husband and I each had a carseat base in our separate cars and so all we had to do was snap the seat into the base and off you go. Otherwise, you have to strap down the seat with a belt each time you get in the car. Just not as convenient.

Please have them go for a free carseat check asap. Most people use carseats INCORRECTLY (not saying your bro is O. of them) so better safe than sorry. Go to:
www.carseatcheck.org
to find a nearby consultant.

Hello, I don't know if it is mandatory to use the base or not. However, if they are taking the seat in and out without using the base, I would doubt that they are getting it in properly each and every time. We have been taught by an officer who does this on how to install the base and later the front facing carseats/bases. There should be NO wiggle room once the seat/base is in the car. If there is, the seat is not safe. Many police and fire departments have people who have been trained on how to install a seat and/or base properly. They do not charge for a parent to come in and have this done. They might need to make an appointment to make sure the right person is there. I can't imagine why they are not using the base unless it is that they don't know how to use it, or they don't want their car seats ruined. There are seat protectors which can be used under carseats and bases. I would rather have marks on my car seats than to have something happen to my baby.
On a funny note, even knowing how to install the seat properly, it took me a long time trying to put one into our 16 month old grandaughter's father's car when she was ready to go home from the hospital. He and I went out to his car and every time I would almost have it in tight, he would undo the seatbelt. I finally told him that if he did it again, I was coming through the car after him. I had to stop and go out the next day and do it alone. My daughter and I had already installed the other base in her car.
Good luck with this and it is great that your niece has you.
K. K.

Personally, I would go with what the manufacturer of the infant seat says. Also, I would have them set up an appointment with their local police or sheriff's department for a carseat installment check. We did this and found out that we had inadvertantly missed an important safety step.

For me it was just EASIER because the base stays strapped in with the belt, and you pop the carrier in and out. Plus the base ensures the angle of seating the manufacturer intended. db

Just like everyone said, it's not mandatory but once the base is installed correctly, it is afer and it sure is easier!

The truth is that there is not one answer to this question. Some car seats that come with a base can be used without the base and some cannot. The only way to tell is by reading the manufacturers instructions. Another tell-tale sign is to see if the car seat itself has a belt-path (a place specifically created on the carseat itself where the seatbelt is routed). It is more difficult to get a good installation if you do not use the base and that is often the concern of people in the professional community I work within (I am a child passenger safety technician and instructor). We usually encourage people to use the base as once you install the base correctly, you do not have to worry about more then checking it every few days to make sure it remains tight, etc. and clicking in the car seat.

not mandatory, but definately more convienent!! I would imagine it is safer too since you can do it right once and then not have to worry about it (especially with LATCH).