Common Mistakes Parents Make with Child Car Seats and How to Avoid Them

When riding in your car, there is nothing more important for the safety of your children other than their car seats. Recent studies from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) show that almost 60% of car seats are not used properly. The result of this is that nearly 1,000 children are injured in car accidents every year.

The issue is, of course, that car seats are often used improperly. Learn the largest and most pertinent mistakes that parents make with child car seats, as well as how to avoid them, so that you can keep your little ones safe.

Choosing the Wrong Car Seat for Your Child

NHTSA Information also shows that properly used car seats are able to reduce the risk of fatal injury for infants by 71% and by up to 54% for toddlers. However, one of the first and most common mistakes that parents make is choosing the wrong car seat based on the child’s age and size.

There are three main types of car seats: rear-facing, forward-facing, and booster seats. Rear-facing car seats are generally best for toddlers and infants as they provide essential spine and neck support, whereas forward-facing child seats, on the other hand, are often best for preschoolers and toddlers who need added protection that is provided by a harness. Finally, booster seats are designed for older children who need just a bit of added height to ensure that their seat belts fit properly.

To ensure you choose the right car seat for your child’s height, weight, and age, read the car seat manual. You should then match its specifications to your kid. It’s recommended that children use rear-facing seats for as long as possible, though, as these are proven to provide maximum safety.

Improperly Installing the Car Seat

The effectiveness of your child’s car seat will all depend on installing it properly, but this is something many parents also get wrong. Some of the most common problems include not securing the base tightly, belts being too loose, and improper use of the LATCH system.

Parents often use both car seat belts and the LATCH system at the same time, thinking it’s more effective, but this is actually an issue that can greatly reduce the safety of the car seat.

Although this may seem minor, a car seat that is not properly installed can move during an accident. This can potentially cause serious injury to your child due to diminished protective capabilities. When a car suddenly breaks or suffers a collision, improperly installed car seats can lead to injury or death for this reason.

How to Install a Car Seat Correctly

Here are step-by-step instructions on how to install a car seat properly:

1. Read both your vehicle and car seat manuals.
2. Depending on the type of car seat being installed, place it in the correct position.
3. Use the LATCH or seat belt system, as called for by your specific car seat.
4. Make sure that the car seat can’t move more than an inch in any direction.
5. Adjust the recline according to the manual.
6. For forward-facing car seats, attach and tighten the tether strap.
7. For professional assistance, go to a car seat inspection station in your area.

Not Adjusting the Harness Correctly

Another crucial mistake that many parents make is not adjusting the harness correctly. Parents often leave the straps twisted, position the chest clip too low, or leave the harness too loose, all of which are issues that can have severe consequences.

If the straps are twisted, as an example, or if the chest clip is too low, it can cause serious injuries to your child. In other cases, a loose harness could cause your child to be ejected from the seat during a collision.

To ensure proper harness positioning, lay it flat against your child’s body with the chest clip at armpit level. Make sure it’s tight without any slack. To bolster maximum security, remove thick jackets and other bulky clothing items to remove any gaps between the safety harness and your child.

Transitioning to the Next Seat Too Soon

The next mistake that can cause serious injuries is transitioning to the next car seat too soon. Babies and infants should always be in rear-facing car seats, as they provide neck and spine support as mentioned. Transitioning too soon can lead to neck and spinal injuries in the event of a collision. Although forward-facing car seats are ideal for small children and toddlers, they don’t provide the same kind of neck support as rear-facing child seats.

Similarly, while booster seats are ideal for ensuring that seat belts are at proper heights, they don’t provide enough support for young children. Children should be kept in rear-facing car seats until they outgrow the limits of the seat. Children should also not be upgraded to booster seats until the upper height or weight limit of a forward-facing seat is reached.

Using Expired or Second-Hand Car Seats

Although car seats may not be perishable, they certainly have expiration dates. Using an outdated car seat can have disastrous consequences. Car seat materials do degrade over time which reduces their effectiveness. An expired car seat is likely to not be able to withstand the same kind of impact as a newer one.

This is also the case with secondhand car seats. In fact, these may be even worse at times as they may have missing parts or pre-existing damage. Make sure you verify that all parts are present and in good condition, that there haven’t been any recalls, and that your car seat is not expired. Remember, using expired car seats is not legal in some states.

Failing to Secure the Car Seat Properly

Although it may seem like a small mistake, another one is not checking the security of the car seat before each and every single trip. The simple solution here is of course to check your child’s car seat before every trip, making sure that it is stable, secure, and that the harness is snug.

Ensure maximum safety for your child

With the right car seat installed and adjusted properly, you can ensure that your child is safe and secure on every single trip. Make sure that you don’t transition children to the next stage too quickly, secure the seat before every ride, and regularly check it to make sure that it’s still in good condition. You can always use local inspection stations in case you aren’t confident that you’re doing it properly.