How To Install A Belt Fitted 123 Car Seat Correctly

Although this channel is mainly about rear facing car seats, I also use it for general car seat information, and I think it's important to address common errors.
One of the most common mistakes I see is with these 123 car seats. A lot of people route the seat belt incorrectly. An incorrectly fitted car seat can be very dangerous, it will not do the job it was designed to do in a crash.
If you have one of these car seats (or a similar one, there are lots of different ones available), please watch this video to make sure yours is fitted correctly.
If you found this video helpful and would like to 'buy me a coffee', please visit www.buymeacoff...

[@Charley-qn4kc]

Thank you for showing this video. My friend has one for her daughter (2 years old) and I’ve always felt is incorrectly installed when put in my car. Will definitely save the video to fit correctly for future journeys x

[@RearFacingToddlers]

Glad I could help!

[@TigerLeadFont5]

Thanks for this, just got a cheap car seat for rare use in a second car and it's not isofix (old car) it was a 123 by halfords and after reading the instructions which were as clear as a muddy puddle, I cobbled it together and it turns out I did it wrong. This has put me right.. thank you :)

[@RearFacingToddlers]

You're very welcome. These seats are notoriously difficult to install and often done wrong, which is exactly why I made this video.

[@이남광-e8x]

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[@ffionhoneysett5703]

Yet you are recommending team tex car seats which are known to fall apart when in a crash?

[@RearFacingToddlers]

I am not recommending them at all, but as somebody who regularly does car seat checks and sees A LOT of these done wrong, I thought it was worth making this video. I cannot stop people from buying these seats, but I can at least try to make sure that they're fitted correctly.

[@jadebroadhurst3920]

Your absolutely bloody amazing. Absolute life saver.

[@RearFacingToddlers]

Thank you so much, I'm glad you found it helpful. :)

[@96seya]

Simplest tutorial I’ve seen online. Thanks a lot 🙏🏾

[@RearFacingToddlers]

Thank you very much.

[@lorraineholden9653]

Thank you for posting this video, it helped us fit the car seat properly and safely.

[@RearFacingToddlers]

You're very welcome.

[@tssb7]

Extremely useful, answered many questions. many thanks!

[@wink3194]

You’re amazing. Thank you so much for this video.

[@RearFacingToddlers]

Thank you!

[@marleneamara4864]

Thank you! This is better than the official instructions from the car seat

[@RearFacingToddlers]

Thank you very much!

[@imperfectly_perfect_mumimp1885]

Very good video

[@RearFacingToddlers]

Thank you!

[@LadyCheshire95]

Thank you for making this video my mum just got one of these for my niece when we take her out. Much to my objections on how they arnt great. At least I'm now able to show her it definitely isn't installed correctly.

[@RearFacingToddlers]

I'm really glad I could help. You're right, these aren't great at all, and also so easy to get wrong. That's why I made this video, not because I think they're any good, but simply because I see so many of them done wrong. And that makes them even worse.

[@sherrifers]

Really really helpful! I much prefer isofix but I need to take two of these type of car seats on a plane (and I don’t want to take my expensive ones!) so I’m purchasing two lower priced car seats and the seatbelt fixing was making me nervous but I feel much better having seen this. Thank you so much 😊

[@RearFacingToddlers]

You're very welcome. Enjoy your trip!

[@yusufbadat618]

Thanks! Extremely simple tutorial! Was starting to get a little frustrated until I come across this video!

[@RearFacingToddlers]

Thank you, I'm glad you found it helpful.

[@stefedwards3213]

Thank you for helpful and clear video 😁 My car seat does not have a top tether strap! is it possible to buy a top tether strap and add it??

[@RearFacingToddlers]

No, car seats that use tether straps come with them. You should never add anything to a car seat. Tether straps prevent forward and downward rotation in a crash. In a belt fitted seat the diagonal belt does that job, and most ISOfix seats and some belted ones, have a support leg.

[@adamwhite1556]

The one I’ve got just feeds through the back with a red catch for the diagonal part of the belt. Is this safe like this?

[@RearFacingToddlers]

It's very hard for me to comment without knowing which seat you have and how you've installed it. You're very welcome to send a few pictures to [e-mail] and then I will have a look.

[@epicfish5893]

Thanks, I'm glad you took the time and effort and I'm glad I checked before fitting.

[@RearFacingToddlers]

You're very welcome, I'm glad you found this video.

[@BabyPlayandLearn]

Very informative and helpful

[@RearFacingToddlers]

You're very welcome. :)

[@ቲቲግርማይ]

Thank you so much

[@tumisangmosekiemang356]

These is very loud and clear...thank you very much and may God bless you even more❤

[@RearFacingToddlers]

You are very welcome. :)

[@allseeingi]

Very informative and clear guidance 😀

[@RearFacingToddlers]

Thank you. :)

[@scottoliver252]

Very helpful thanks.

[@RearFacingToddlers]

You're welcome!

[@MJ-pm8pb]

This is fantastic! Thank you.

[@RearFacingToddlers]

You're very welcome!

[@DJBrianW80smusic]

Thank you so much really helpful

[@RearFacingToddlers]

You're welcome!

[@barbarayoung5234]

Helpful but unpleasant to hear that foreword facing seats are not recommended. I only have forward facing seats in my car so no option. I can’t afford to buy another car ☹️

[@RearFacingToddlers]

Rear facing child car seats are much safer, and they will fit in any car. You don't need to buy another car. rearfacingtoddlers.com/pages/why-rear-facing-is-safer

[@dragos-ioancraciun9810]

Very useful for me

[@RearFacingToddlers]

Thank you.

[@elbaobab22]

Thank you that was very helpful

[@RearFacingToddlers]

You're welcome!

[@TheAngryManc]

Remeber, round the back the belt should always go under the lap belts as it can restrict the lap belt otherwise.

[@RearFacingToddlers]

I'm not sure what you mean. The way I did it in this video is correct, it can't go any other way.

[@MrSonysoman]

Well explained. Thank you

[@RearFacingToddlers]

You are welcome!

[@johnboyle8452]

You are a life saver. Thanks

[@RearFacingToddlers]

Aww, thank you! You're very welcome. :)

[@valleystaff7031]

Mine doesnt have the holes though.

[@RearFacingToddlers]

What's the make and model of your seat?

[@safiyekocamangok9617]

Thank you for this video. Stupidly my car seat didn't come with any instructions

[@RearFacingToddlers]

That's odd... Maybe they don't to save paper, but they should all be available online on the manufacturer'swebsite.

[@UnMeilleurMonde]

Thanks. Now THIS is a good video with crystal clear instructions !

[@RearFacingToddlers]

Thank you so much. :)

[@malintha123]

Thank you❤

[@RearFacingToddlers]

You're welcome 😊

[@hjtw6]

Hi Thank you very much for these videos. I have a seat which swivels and be be rear or front facing. I obviously want to be as safe as possible and remain rear facing, but my 2 year old has started to get quite car sick rear facing and often will vomit unless placed forward facing. It has become such a dilemma between wanting to be safer or having the vommiting situation every time.. Do you have any advice on this or experienced this problem please?

[@RearFacingToddlers]

This is a very difficult problem. Some people will be car sick, forward facing as well as rear. It's not necessarily the case that you're more likely to feel sick rear facing or that forward facing will always fix it. You can try things like making sure she doesn't eat too much before going out, planning to go out when she's due a nap, and not giving her toys or a tablet to look at in the car. You're less likely to feel sick when you look out of the window, but it remains a tricky problem with no easy solution.

[@bobbyrutz9402]

We are using an Evenflo Symphony all in one. The manual shows installation of the seat belt you way you first showed, the wrong way. Just threaded in one hole and out the other, pulled tight. On the seat itself, though, it actually says "lap belt goes here" on the sides of the seat, the way you showed as being the correct way to install it. I'm not sure where to put the shoulder strap after installing it your way, and the straps bunch up the padding on the seat. I'm a little confused.

[@RearFacingToddlers]

Evenflo is an American brand, and I am in the UK. The Symphony is not a seat that we have here and US seats are very different to ours, so please don't use my videos for your car seat, none of my advice applies to your seat. I've Googled the manual for you and the belt does go through the back when forward facing, the "lap belt goes here" refers to the rear facing belt routing. This is the Symphony's manual. images.salsify.com/image/upload/s--aDroLZ3_--/oxpqze63vtc1ao8i26bz.pdf

[@sagedrummer]

Thanks, I couldn’t figure out how to get the car seat installed overseas in a Citroen that didn’t have the ratcheting lock seat belt. This video helped me immensely

[@RearFacingToddlers]

I'm really glad that you found it useful.

[@RobManser77]

Really clear and informative - thank you. How does this compare in safety to isofix?

[@RearFacingToddlers]

In rear facing seats ISOfix is no safer than a belt fitted seat, but these belt fitted forward facing seats will move quite a lot in a crash, so in forward facing seats ISOfix is better. But of course rear facing is always safer, I made this video because a lot of people get these seats wrong, but I don't actually recommend them.

[@JP-wk5wt]

Thank you Margaret, very helpful and well explained.

[@RearFacingToddlers]

Thank you!

[@robertburns3097]

I was doing it wrong. I thought it didn't seem tight enough . I will do it this way now.

[@RearFacingToddlers]

I'm really glad that my video was able to help you.

[@intercityfirmuk32]

Thank you for the very in formative video as I have just recently changed cars and have issues trying to attach via Isofix without ripping the rear seats apart (which from frustration trying was very close). Seeing how its done rather than reading the small hand book that came with our child seat has made it so simple to install which means we spend more time with our grand daughter than spending time scratching heads, muttering and shaking our fists at the moon.

[@RearFacingToddlers]

Thank you. You are very welcome!

[@juleskandola7625]

Amazing

[@RearFacingToddlers]

Thank you!

[@stevehoppy]

Hi, can you recommend a car that will fit 3 child seats? We have 2 with seatbelts (over 5 years old) and one in harness, all front facing. Our current car takes 5 minutes to buckle a child in as almost impossible to teach the seat belt buckles in-between the seats. Thank you!

[@RearFacingToddlers]

I currently have a Citroen Grand C4 Picasso which has three full size seats in the middle. Any large MPV such as the Ford Galaxy or SEAT Alhambra will have a wide enough middle seat, and that is what you need. Alternatively you can leave the seat belts buckled in, and then just let the children climb in under the belts and pull them tight.

[@stevehoppy]

@@RearFacingToddlers hi, thank you for the reply. That idea of climbing in is actually genius. My Ford Grand Cmax just squeezes the seats in, but a real struggle to buckle in the seat belt so this could be a genius move. Unfortunately with the price of second hand cars now changing up probably isn't option.

[@fayc1104]

Is the car seat installed correctly if it can still move slightly? I have followed steps but I can still wiggle the seat a bit

[@RearFacingToddlers]

These types of seats are very hard to get tight. You just have to do the best you can... If you happen to have a car with reclining back seats, it can help if you recline the seat a little before you install the child seat, and then sit it more upright again once it's in. But I appreciate that that is not an option in every car.

[@Proud2Be12]

ive been trying to see how to install car seat last hours. i have those car seat and have been installing them wrong. thank u so much

[@RearFacingToddlers]

You're very welcome!

[@mistery00t29]

What car is this please? Or maybe van? 😃

[@RearFacingToddlers]

This was a Toyota Alphard, a Japanese import that I had a few years ago.

[@flange06joj]

You're a star. I knew I'd done it wrong!

[@RearFacingToddlers]

Thank you! I'm glad you found my video.

[@Kalhan482]

My seat does not have a hole through the back

[@RearFacingToddlers]

If you tell me the make and model of your seat, I will be able to help you.

[@Kalhan482]

@@RearFacingToddlers thank you. Its the puggle lockton 360 rotate, it has a gap through the back to feed seatbelt through as per instructions however car seat is very loose when moving to make sure it is snug

[@nicoljazz8778]

Can you place this 123 seats rear facing?

[@RearFacingToddlers]

Unfortunately not, these seats are forward facing only. Children need to rear face until they are about 25kg or 125cm tall and that is one of the reasons why I would not recommend these seats. I made this video because a lot of people use these seats incorrectly and I thought that it was important to address that.

[@faocompany4815]

Thank you it’s really helpful !

[@RearFacingToddlers]

You're welcome!

[@montisino]

Very informative and straight to the point 👍🌹

[@RearFacingToddlers]

Thank you.

[@ronikaprasad230]

I just reseat the seat for my toddler thank u so much 💓

[@RearFacingToddlers]

You’re very welcome 😊

[@joshstewart1527]

Good luck getting a 5 year old rear facing

[@cloudedcolour5329]

if thats all they know, they dont have a reason to have an objection. They're not the parent, the adult is and thats who gets to make the rules.

[@RearFacingToddlers]

There are a lot of seats available that rear face up to about six or seven years. These seats are perfectly comfortable for the child and much safer. This may seem unusual or even odd to people who have never come across it before, but I can assure you that older children can and do rear face very happily. rearfacingtoddlers.com/pages/why-rear-facing-is-safer

[@theoncasty7229]

Thank you. This video save me time.

[@RearFacingToddlers]

You're welcome!

[@poppyjodie1]

Could you show the Joie Elevate please? I'm guessing it's the same?

[@RearFacingToddlers]

No, it isn't actually. I don't have an Elevate, but that seat doesn't have a 'snake path' like the seats in this video. The belt just goes straight through the back and is locked into place with a red clip at the top. The way it's installed is similar to the Every Stage and Stages forward facing. I would imagine that Joie will have an Elevate video on their own channel.

[@poppyjodie1]

@@RearFacingToddlers Thank you for the response. I will double check how it's been fitted but by the sounds of things, it's okay.

[@hamadal-shuaili9909]

Thank you very much. Very clear.

[@RearFacingToddlers]

You are welcome!

[@jensenhenry8788]

Thank you, so very helpful

[@RearFacingToddlers]

You're very welcome!

[@saraabreu3819]

Thank you for this video 🥰

[@RearFacingToddlers]

You’re welcome 😊

[@blurayne9691]

Could you please make a vide on seats that go up to 25kg, I have the Joie 360 which will last till 4

[@RearFacingToddlers]

I have several video on seats up to 25kg already, they are the Axkid Minikid and Move, the BeSafe iZi Plus and the Diono Radian 5.

[@blurayne9691]

Thank you 😊

[@koy89buziaczek]

4:08

[@RearFacingToddlers]

I have watched it back, and I installed the seats exactly as they should be. The belts are in the right place and wouldn’t be able to go any other way.

[@anonymousbeaumonte4947]

Very helpful thank you

[@RearFacingToddlers]

You're welcome!

[@topbanana4943]

You are amazing Margaret x

[@RearFacingToddlers]

Thank you. :)

[@The-Mandolorian]

Brilliant and clear instructions! I am sure that with all the views that this video has had you have definitely helped some children avoid serious injury. Great work...

[@RearFacingToddlers]

Thank you so much!

[@nikoceballostube]

Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!

[@RearFacingToddlers]

You're welcome!

[@eastyorkshirejack]

Thankyou

[@RearFacingToddlers]

You’re welcome 😊

[@kevinfisher7142]

thank you.

[@RearFacingToddlers]

You're welcome

[@jaanimeah8330]

Thank you!

[@RearFacingToddlers]

You're welcome!

[@Inniebin]

Great video Margaret as always! :)

[@RearFacingToddlers]

Inniebin Thank you! Although not about rear facing, I thought it was important to do this.

[@Inniebin]

@@RearFacingToddlers I agree, I think it was good content! :D

[@eaglegummybears7112]

Fantastic

[@RearFacingToddlers]

Thanks!

[@monicahorner48]

Thank you so much I've been doing it wrong and always felt my daughter was unsafe thank you thank you!

[@RearFacingToddlers]

You're very welcome.

[@GloriosusMiles]

Thank you for this! I’ve used this and another of yours to successfully install two different seats. Your content is really well put together, simple, effective and easy to follow visually. Makes much more sense than the manufacturers instructions and videos! Much appreciated!

[@RearFacingToddlers]

Thank you so much, that's really good to hear. A lot of car seats are installed incorrectly, and with these videos I hope to make it as easy as possible.

[@redblaze954]

I'm just saying with the rear facing car seat the child's leg will be awkwardly on the chair. The legs would be going up the seat. My kid is 3.5 years old, 33lb.

[@RearFacingToddlers]

There are plenty of car seats available that rear face up to 25kg which is around six or seven years. These are much safer and not uncomfortable for the child at all.

[@blurayne9691]

Could you do a video on all the seats that go into 25 kg?

[@lucywilkinson6045]

See, exactly what I said on your other video about unsafe team tex car seats, that mothercare seat and the high back booster both of them are team tex seats re branded by other manufacturers, your channel is promoting rear facing which is amazing but then your promoting unsafe car seats I don't get it, I know you'll probably just delete my comments but I hope you don't I hope you take on board what is being said, if you join A to z of rear facing on Facebook you'll see alot of information and photos of these team tex seats breaking in crashes, I really hope you remove the videos promoting these seats and change your ways because these seats will kill children their not safe !!!!

[@lucywilkinson6045]

I've reported this video to KZbin because it shouldn't be on here promoting unsafe seats

[@RearFacingToddlers]

Thank you for your concern Lucy. As much as we do not like these seats, people do use them. I would love to tell everyone not to buy them, but that is not realistic. As long as they are available people will buy them. I made this video, because I see lots being used incorrectly. At least if I can show people how to get it right, I think that's a lot better than leaving them to use an already not great seat, incorrectly. Thank you for suggesting that I join a Facebook Group that I am one of the admins of. A lot of the car seat groups and pages on Facebook are closely linked and run by the same people.

[@edgypdiddy]

Rear Facing Toddlers Hi, great video. Found it very helpful & I did listen carefully to what you said, so I know you mentioned on numerous occasions that you don’t recommend forward facing seats, I guess some people only hear what they want to hear. Like you said people will still purchase forward facing seats, so if your advice helps make them safer it can only have a positive effect. Keep doing what you do. Kind regards

[@katieparris9887]

As she said she doesn’t like these seats. Unfortunately people will still buy them if they’re available. She’s only done the video to show how they can be fitted wrong and making sure people who buy them know the correct way

[@bearsy2826]

This video is totally pointless ive reported it too. Regardless of fitting in a crash even at 30 these seats have been shown to have the harnesses ripped through the plastic backs just from the force of stopping so the child goes through the windscreen or into the back seat and dies instantly! There is nothing that will make these seats safe they guarantee death and shouldnt be sold at all