September is Baby Safety Month, so it's a great time to take another look at your baby's car seat. Vehicle crashes are the number one killer of kids under age 14, which means your baby's car seat is likely the most important piece of safety equipment you'll ever buy. When I work as a Child Passenger Safety Technician at car seat checklanes, there are some types of misuse that I see more often than others. The links below will help you figure out if you may be making one of these common car seat mistakes. I made several mistakes with my daughter's car seat when she was a newborn, so I know how easy it is to misunderstand the instructions, but I also know it's pretty easy to fix these car seat problems to improve baby's safety on the road.
If you know your child's car seat isn't correct and need some help to fix it, look for a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician in your area. You may be able to visit a car seat check event, or you might need to make an appointment at an inspection station. It's important to note that you cannot just stop by any fire station or police station to have your car seat inspected. Make sure the person who assists you with your car seat is a CPST. You can ask to see a current certification card if you're unsure.
It is great that you listed a few of the mistakes people could be making when installing a car seat! It is said that about 3 in 4 car seats are installed improperly. So listing the mistakes is a great way to avoid these problems! Thanks for sharing!