Driving is a daily task many of us don’t even think about anymore. From driving to the grocery store to running errands, it’s a massive part of everyday life for parents. New parents are often told a good car seat is one of the most important investments they can make when raising their children, and for good reason. Car seats help keep children safe in the car in the event there is an accident, and what is more important than child safety?
However, you are not alone in making car seat mistakes. Research shows a potential 70% of parents unknowingly make car seat mistakes, putting their children at risk. Some of these mistakes include improperly positioning the seat in the car, poorly fitting seat straps, and not tracking safety recalls. Parents need to be properly educated on basic car seat safety and what they can do to avoid these common car seat mistakes.
Most People Get Car Seat Installation Wrong
You spend hours researching the safest car seat for your child and spend countless hours making sure it is the right one for your car. Even after all of this, around half of car seats are installed incorrectly by both new and experienced parents alike. Do not panic, you have come to the right place. Read on for the most common car seat mistakes and what you can do to fix them.
Most Common Car Seat Mistakes Most Parents Are Making
And How To Avoid Them
Mistake #1: Improper Car Seat Installation
One of the most common car seat mistakes parents make is installing the seat improperly in their car. This can include following the wrong seat belt path on the car seat, not securing the chair properly, and not installing a proper top tether. When installing a child’s car seat, make sure to properly follow the manual and abide by the safety precautions from the manufacturer.
Mistake #2: Front-Face Too Early
The general rule of thumb that gets passed around is to keep your child in a rear-facing seat until they are 2 years old. However, it’s safer to choose the seat’s orientation based on your child’s height and weight. No two 2-year-olds are going to be the same height or weight, and children’s car seats have height and weight requirements meant to keep them safe.
Keep your child in a rear-facing seat for as long as possible, until they outgrow the height and weight requirements for those chairs and can be upgraded to front-facing seats.
Mistake #3: Low Chest Clip
The chest clip in a car seat is designed to keep the harness in the proper position in the event of an accident. If the clip is in the wrong spot, the whole harness can shift and lessen the chair’s ability to protect your child in the event of an accident. Make sure the chest clip is positioned at armpit level on your child.
Mistake #4: Buckling Up Your Child The Wrong Way
Securing your child in their car seat is more than just connecting the clips and going on your merry way. Properly fitting the harness can help better protect your child in the event of an accident. It should be snug enough that you cannot pinch any of the webbing between your fingers near your child’s shoulders, and the harness should be positioned at or near shoulder level.
Mistake #5: Getting A Used Car Seat Without Doing Your Homework
It is not generally advised to purchase a used car seat, as you never truly know what it has been through and if it’s still up to safety standards. Car seats expire, and if you don’t know how old the seat is or whether it has been in an accident, this puts the safety of your child at risk. Do adequate research on a chair before you make the purchase.
Mistake #6: Straps That Are Too Loose
As mentioned earlier, the straps and harnesses on your child’s chair are meant to keep them secured in the safety of the chair in the event of a car accident. Make sure they are snug enough so your child cannot wiggle out of the seat, and you cannot pinch any of the straps near your child’s shoulders.
Mistake #7: Placing Toys, Mirrors, Or Other Items In Or Around A Car Seat
While you may want to give your child a toy to play with in the car or position a mirror where you can see them if they are in a rear-facing seat, these objects can quickly become harmful to your child in the event of a car accident. Be sure to keep the area around your child’s seat clear of any clutter or loose objects.
Mistake #8: Improper Angles/Recline In Rear-Facing Seats
For younger children in rear-facing seats, the angle of the seat is important in keeping your child safe if there is an accident while also keeping their airway clear. Babies don’t have the muscles to properly hold up their heads, so the angle of their seats is important in keeping them safe. Check the angle indicator on the seat to make sure it is the appropriate angle for your child’s age and make adjustments as they get bigger.
Mistake #9: Shoulder Straps Are At The Wrong Height
The shoulder straps of your child’s car seat should be at a different height depending on the age of your child. In a rear-facing seat, the straps should be at or below the shoulders. For front-facing seats with older children, the straps should be at or above your child’s shoulders.
Mistake #10: Wrong Type Or Size Seat For Child
Different car seats have different height and weight requirements. Many have a minimum and maximum height and weight range, and it’s important to choose the right size of chair for your child. Make sure your child’s height and weight are within the range the chair can safely seat.
Mistake #11: Not Adjusting Straps As Child Grows
As your child gets bigger, parents need to adjust the length and height of their car seat straps to make sure they continue to stay in the proper position. Children grow like weeds, and parents should keep track of their children’s growth and make sure their chair straps are in the proper position.
Mistake #12: Not Registering Your Seat And Tracking Recalls
Registering your car seat will allow you to get real-time updates from the manufacturer about any new alerts or potential recalls. Tracking recalls can ensure that your seat abides by the proper safety standards and your child is safe in the car.
Mistake #13: Using An Expired Car Seat
Yes, you read that right. Car seats can expire like a carton of milk from the grocery store. The average lifespan of a car seat is 6 to 10 years after the manufacturing date, and most chairs have an expiration date stamped on the bottom of the seat.
Mistake #14: Keeping A Car Seat After An Accident
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a car seat should be considered damaged and replaced after any moderate or severe accident. Even if there is no visible damage to the seat, the safety of the chair could be compromised, and it should be replaced as soon as possible.
When to Change Your Child’s Car Seat
There is no exact age or timeframe in which you are supposed to change your child’s car seat. When determining if you need to change your child’s seat, keep these factors in mind:
- Does your child still fit within the seat’s height and weight limits?
- Does the seat still fit properly in your car while still being secure?
- Can the seat be properly installed in your car according to the seat’s safety manual and instructions?
If you answered ‘no’ to any of these questions, then it’s time to consider getting a new car seat for your child.
NHTSA Cites Child Car Seat Safety Studies
According to a handful of international research studies referenced by the NHTSA, a car seat does not need to be immediately replaced after a minor vehicle accident. Even with minor visible stress on the seat straps, they were still able to perform adequately in further crash simulations.
While everybody lives by the rule that a car seat needs to be replaced after any and all accidents, research shows that it only needs to be replaced after moderate or severe accidents. A fender bender is not going to ruin the structural integrity and safety of your child’s seat.
How Our Los Angeles Personal Injury Attorneys Can Help
Parents can do everything right, from following installation instructions and properly securing their child’s safety harness, and sometimes accidents still happen. Car seat recalls can lead to faulty chairs ending up on the market and causing harm to your child even when all safety measures are taken.
Looking for a Los Angeles car crash attorney after an accident with a faulty car seat? Compass Law Group, LLP is ready to point you in the right direction. Our team of personal injury lawyers in Los Angeles will fight for your rights and get you the compensation that you deserve. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning that you do not have to pay us a penny unless we win your case.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation or to speak with one of our attorneys!
