Infant Car Seat No Base Installation for Easy Travel

With or without the base, that is the question!

Many first-time parents often wonder if their infant car seats can be used without the base (I had the same question back when I had my first baby). And yes, you can use them without the base!

So, let’s go through the infant car seat no base installation and look at how to use it safely. I’ll also be illustrating why the base is important and how a car seat is more secure with it.

Why Use Infant Car Seats Without Their Base?

• Usually, this need crops up when parents want to use public transport, like a bus, taxi, Uber, or Lyft.
• It’s safer to keep your little one strapped in the stroller while taking the bus, but taxis or Ubers are a different ball game. That’s where the base (or the lack of it) plays an important role.

Several infant car seat brands even crash-test with and without the base. So, just know that a base is optional if you plan to take your little one on a day out. 

Infant Car Seat No Base Installation Guide

Step 1

Secure the infant car seat into the vehicle. Most car seats don’t come with lower anchor connectors, that’s why you need to use the seat belt to hold them securely in place.

Step 2

Lock in the car’s seat belt using the built-in lock in your car. Don’t worry about not having the lock system because all cars manufactured after 1996 come with the system.

Pull the seat belt all the way out, until you hear a ratchety sound – it indicates the seat belt is in locking mode. It is specifically used to secure car seats in a vehicle.

Step 3

Guide the lap belt through the lap belt guides on the car seat. Please ensure your little one is securely strapped inside the car seat because the lap belt will directly go over their legs.

Step 4

Pull out the shoulder belt completely to activate the locking mode, and simultaneously push on the seat to create tension and secure the seat in its place. I like to get between the back of the car seat and the front seat’s backrest and use my body weight to secure it.

If you have a European car seat such as a Maxi Cosi, Chicco, or Nuna, it will have the European belt path. The shoulder belt will go behind the head of the car seat. However, in the American belt path, the shoulder strap simply rests against the seat.

Safety Considerations

Now, here are a few things I want you to consider for your new baby’s safety:

• Please check your car’s owner manual to understand how the seat belt locking system works.
• Please ensure that the seat is locked in its place by wiggling it a little – it shouldn’t move more than an inch.
• Read the car seat’s owner manual to understand how to install it without the base because different seats may have distinct methods.
• The European belt path is safer compared to the American belt path, as it reduces the impact on the baby’s head and neck.

Are you flying with your baby? Learn how to use car seats on flights in my post – Flying With Infant Car Seats.

Benefits Of Using Infant Car Seats Without The Base

Some kids love being outdoors. It’s what excites and stimulates them the most. But what do you do when your regular car is in the shop? You either rent or get a taxi. Either way, installing car seats without their base can be quite helpful in such moments.

But that’s not all, here are a few more benefits of using a car seat without the base:

1. Emergencies – If you don’t have access to your regular car and need quick transport, you must know to strap your little one safely in, without the car seat base.
2. Flexibility – Opting for an infant car seat that can be used with or without the base gives you more freedom while traveling. You can carry your stroller or the travel system wherever you go, but bringing the base is challenging.
3. Cost Effective – If you’re a two or multiple-car household, you don’t need to buy different car seat bases for different cars. You can simply strap in the seat in whichever vehicle you choose. Moreover, I found that quite a few of these bases cost as much as the seat. So, if you’re okay with strapping the car seat in every time you have to go out, skip the base!
4. Ease of Use – Investing in a base can be a chore if you’re driving a rental and changing your car every few months. You’ll have to transfer the base every time you switch cars or vehicles.
5. Vehicle Compatibility – I was surprised to learn that every car doesn’t offer the LATCH system. Hence, you can’t install the car seat base properly. Moreover, sometimes in smaller cars, installing the base is difficult due to space issues. Infant car seats with no bases can be more compatible with these vehicles.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that over 50% of infant car seats aren’t installed correctly. 

My Tip: Take the advice of a professional car seat technician if you’re a first-time parent. They will walk you through the process with and without the base.

How Does The Base of an Infant Car Seat Help?

But please know that the base is important. It’s fine to use the car seat without the base for some situations, but there are crucial safety reasons why car seats were designed with the base in the first place.

Here are a few safety issues that arise if you do not use infant car seats with their base:

1. Improper Installation

• Improper installation of the infant car seat is the leading cause of infant injuries and fatalities in a vehicular accident. 
• Other than convenience, the base is also used to indicate correct installation, as soon as you strap the car seat on it.

Further Reading: 2 Secure Ways to Install an Infant Car Seat Base

2. Wrong Recline Angle

• The base provides an even and stable platform for the car seat, regardless of the vehicle. 
• However, when you can’t use the base in taxis or public transportation, frequently check your little one’s recline in the car seat. They must be in a semi-recline position with their airways open.

3. Reduced Retention

• When you’re not using the base, you must manually install the car seat into your vehicle every time. So, if you are ever rushing, the risk of faulty installation and retention is higher. 
• However, installation gets easier with the base, reducing the retention and the impact of belt-retention in case of an accident.

4. In Case of An Accident

• If your infant car seat has a base, and you’re not using it deliberately, you could be in trouble, especially in case of accidents. 
• Following the manufacturer’s instructions is key to car seat safety and installation.

Recommended Reading: Infant Car Seat Crash Test Ratings

Wrapping Up: Do Infant Car Seats Have to Have a Base?

While using the infant car seat base is not always necessary, you need to know how to install the car seat safely without the base. 

Being responsible for your little one’s safety is tough, especially when the rules keep changing! 

That’s why it’s smart to always check the manufacturer’s guide. And if it’s confusing, don’t just wing it—seriously, that’s where most mistakes happen.

Hire a professional to learn how to install a car seat with and without a base, and be ready for anything. It’s also important to understand when you can skip the base and when the bases become useful as well. 

Happy road tripping!