How to Install a Clek Car Seat Rear-Facing

Which Clek seat you have changes the steps

Clek sells two broad types of seats that can be used rear-facing, and the installation process differs between them. Features and limits have also changed between production years and markets, so check the labels on the seat shell and the manual that came with it before relying on any general description.

Seat type | How it installs rear-facing | What to confirm in the manual; Convertible (Foonf, Fllo) | The seat installs directly to the vehicle using lower anchor connectors or the vehicle seat belt routed through the rear-facing belt path | Which lower anchor connectors are approved for rear-facing use, the recline setting, and whether the included anti-rebound accessory is required or optional; Infant seat (Liing) | The carrier usually clicks into a base installed with lower anchors or the seat belt; a baseless seat-belt installation may also be allowed | Base installation method, load leg adjustment if equipped, carrier angle, and the approved baseless belt routing

The Foonf and Fllo are known for a narrow footprint, which can help in three-across seating, but they are not identical seats. Hardware, recline mechanisms and approved installation methods can differ between them, and between earlier and later versions of the same seat. Treat the descriptions here as an overview, not a substitute for the instructions for your specific seat.

Before you start

Choose a seating position. Your vehicle owner's manual shows which positions have lower anchors and which allow car seat installation. Never place a rear-facing seat in front of an active frontal airbag. Check the child's size against the seat's rear-facing limits. Weight and height limits are printed on the seat's labels and in its manual. Find the rear-facing belt path. It is usually marked with a color code or label on the shell. Rear-facing and forward-facing paths are not interchangeable. Remove any aftermarket mats, cushions or organizers under the seat unless the car seat manufacturer specifically approves them.

Lower anchors or seat belt: choose one method

The lower anchors are metal bars built into the crease of the vehicle seat. In the US, they are part of the LATCH system, which stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children. When used correctly, the lower anchors and the vehicle seat belt are equally safe. The better choice is the one that gives a tight, correctly angled installation in your vehicle.

In most cases, use only one method, not both together, unless the manufacturer instructions specifically allow it. Lower anchors also have a weight limit based on the combined weight of the child and the car seat. The car seat manual tells you when to stop using the lower anchors and switch to a seat belt installation. This matters more with heavier seats, because the seat itself takes up part of that combined limit.

Rear-facing installation steps for a Clek convertible

1) Set the recline to the rear-facing position specified in the manual before placing the seat in the vehicle. Some adjustments are difficult or impossible to make once the seat is tightened. 2) Attach the anti-rebound accessory if your seat includes one and the manual calls for it. This is typically a bar or panel that braces against the vehicle seatback to limit rebound in a crash. 3) Place the seat rear-facing on the vehicle seat, pushed fully back toward the seatback. 4) For a lower anchor installation, route the approved rear-facing connectors through the rear-facing belt path, attach them to the vehicle's lower anchors, and remove slack while pressing down firmly on the seat. 5) For a seat belt installation, route the lap and shoulder belt through the rear-facing belt path exactly as shown in the manual, buckle it, and lock it. Use either the vehicle's locking retractor or a lock-off on the car seat, if equipped, according to the manual. 6) Check the recline indicator once the seat is tight. If the angle is outside the acceptable range, loosen the seat, correct the recline, and reinstall. 7) Do the tightness test described in the next section.

Seat belt routing is where errors happen most often. A belt that passes through the forward-facing path, is twisted, or is not locked can make a seat feel secure in the driveway but fail to hold it properly in a crash. To lock most modern vehicle belts, pull the shoulder belt all the way out until the retractor switches to locking mode, then feed it back in while removing slack. Your vehicle manual will confirm whether your belts work this way.

Installing a Clek infant seat base rear-facing

With an infant seat, the base is the part that needs to be tight. Install the base with either the lower anchors or the seat belt through the base's marked belt path. If the base has a load leg, which is a support that extends from the base to the vehicle floor, adjust it so it rests firmly on the floor. The manual will say which seating positions and floor types it can be used with, such as positions over in-floor storage compartments. Check the base's level or angle indicator. Then click the carrier in and pull up on it to confirm it is latched. If you need to install without the base, for example in a taxi, follow only the baseless belt routing shown in the manual.

How to check that the installation is tight

Grip the seat at the belt path, meaning the spot where the lower anchor strap or seat belt passes through it. Do not grip the top of the shell. Using moderate force, push and pull side to side and front to back. A properly installed seat should move less than about one inch in any direction at that point. Movement at the top of a rear-facing seat is normal and does not indicate a loose installation. If the seat moves more than an inch at the belt path, put your weight into the seat, remove more slack, and test again.

Top tether and rear-facing use

The top tether is a strap from the top of a car seat to an anchor point in the vehicle. In the US, it is primarily used for forward-facing installations, where it reduces head movement. Whether a top tether can or should be used rear-facing depends entirely on the car seat manufacturer, and approaches differ between brands and markets. Do not improvise a rear-facing tether setup. Use one only if your Clek manual describes it for your seat and configuration.

Getting the harness fit right

Shoulder straps: for rear-facing use, they should come from slots or a headrest position at or slightly below the child's shoulders. Harness tightness: once buckled, you should not be able to pinch a horizontal fold of strap material at the child's collarbone. This is often called the pinch test. Chest clip: position it at armpit level. Clothing: bulky coats and snowsuits can compress in a crash and leave the harness too loose. Buckle the child in regular clothing, then add a blanket or put a coat on backward over the harness. Head position: the child's head should stay within the seat shell, below the limit shown in the manual.

When to get a hands-on check

If you cannot get the seat tight, cannot get the recline indicator within range, or are unsure about the belt path, a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) can inspect the installation with you. These technicians are trained to work with specific car seat and vehicle combinations, and many community programs offer checks for free. Have one look at the seat before relying on it, especially for a newborn. Recheck the installation periodically, and again any time the seat is moved to another vehicle or seating position.