How to Replace a Child Safety Harness

A child safety harness in a car seat is the critical element that keeps your child restrained in a vehicle. Sometimes a safety harness in a car seat must be replaced because it becomes damaged over time or becomes soiled. Changing the harness in a car seat is not difficult if you follow the manufacturer's directions. Most product manuals are available online or can be ordered by calling or writing to the manufacturer.

Remove Old Harness

• 1

  Place the car seat on the floor, buckle the harness and lower the chest buckle to the lowest position.

• 2

  Lift the harness lever on the front of the seat. Pull the straps to the maximum length so that the straps are loose.

• 3

  Cut the straps in the front of the car seat with sharp scissors.

• 4

  Remove the straps from the yoke on the back of the car seat.

• 5

  Pull the straps through the slots from the front side of the car seat.

• 6

  Turn the car seat upside down and then remove the retainers that hold the straps in place. Cut the harness strap to remove the restraint by using sharp scissors.

• 7

  Remove the clips and pads for use on the new harness straps.

Install New Harness

• 1

  Install the abdomen pad (if your car seat has one) that you retained from the old harness.

• 2

  Push the buckles on the straps through the top slots in the front of the car seat. Do not twist the straps.

• 3

  Pull the straps from the front of the car seat to secure the retainers against the back of the car seat. Make sure that the release button on the harness is facing outward.

• 4

  Install the chest clip and pads on the new harness. Make sure that the straps lie flat and are not twisted.

• 5

  Push the harness retainer on the straps through the bottom slots in the front of the car seat.

• 6

  Connect the straps to the yoke on the back of the seat.