When it comes to child car seats, most parents are trying to do everything right. We all want to keep our kids safe, especially in the car, but even with the best intentions, mistakes can happen. And with car seats, even small mistakes can have big consequences. The tricky thing is that a lot of the common car seat mistakes aren’t always obvious, which is why it’s so important to pay attention to the details. Let’s go over the top 5 mistakes parents make with child car seats and, more importantly, how to avoid them.

One of the biggest mistakes parents make is installing the car seat too loosely. You might think, “It feels tight enough” after giving it a little shake, but a car seat needs to be installed very securely to actually protect your child in an accident. The car seat shouldn’t move more than an inch in any direction once it’s installed. To get it snug, you’ll probably need to use your weight – lean into the seat with your knee or push down with your hand while you tighten the straps or seatbelt. If you’re using the seatbelt method, remember to pull the seatbelt all the way out to activate the locking mechanism, then slowly feed it back while pulling it tight. It might take a little more effort than you expect, but that extra step could make all the difference in keeping your child safe.

Another common mistake is moving your child to a forward-facing seat too soon. It’s understandable—parents are excited to see their little one grow and reach new milestones, and a forward-facing seat feels like a big step. But rear-facing is much safer for younger children because it offers better support for their head, neck, and spine in a crash. The recommendation now is to keep your child rear-facing for as long as possible, up until they outgrow the height or weight limit of their rear-facing seat, which can be well past two years old depending on the seat. It can be tempting to switch them to forward-facing as soon as they turn two, but rear-facing is still the safest position, even if they seem too tall or their legs are bent. It might look uncomfortable to you, but for most kids, it’s not an issue.

Improper harness use is another mistake that’s all too easy to make. It’s not just about buckling the harness—how it fits matters a lot. The harness should be snug enough that you can’t pinch any of the strap material at your child’s shoulders. If it’s too loose, your child could be ejected from the seat in a crash, which is obviously the worst-case scenario. The chest clip is also critical for keeping the harness in place. It should be positioned at armpit level, not down by their belly. If the chest clip is too low, the straps could slip off your child’s shoulders, leaving them unprotected. A good rule of thumb is to check the harness every time you buckle your child in, even if it feels like a hassle.

Skipping the top tether when installing a forward-facing seat is another common mistake. The top tether is designed to prevent the seat from tipping forward in a crash, which could cause serious head or neck injuries. Most parents remember to use the LATCH anchors or seatbelt to secure the base of the car seat, but the top tether often gets overlooked. It’s usually located on the back of the car seat and attaches to an anchor point in your car, which can be found on the back of the seat or in the ceiling or floor, depending on your vehicle. It’s an extra step, but it significantly reduces the risk of injury in a crash. Always make sure the top tether is attached when using a forward-facing seat.

Lastly, moving your child out of a car seat or booster seat too soon is a mistake many parents make. A lot of parents think their child can graduate to just using the seatbelt once they reach a certain age or weight, but the real test is whether the seatbelt fits properly. Most children need to stay in a booster seat until they’re about 4 feet 9 inches tall, which usually happens around 8 to 12 years old. The seatbelt should lie flat across their upper thighs, not their stomach, and the shoulder belt should cross their chest and rest on their shoulder. If the seatbelt doesn’t fit correctly, your child isn’t ready to ride without a booster. Riding without a booster before they’re ready can put them at greater risk of injury in a crash, so it’s important to be patient and wait until the seatbelt fits properly.

Car seats are one of the most important safety devices for children, but they only work if they’re used correctly. By avoiding these common mistakes, you can make sure your child is as safe as possible every time you’re on the road. It’s worth taking the extra time to double-check the installation, harness, and fit, and if you’re ever unsure, don’t hesitate to reach out to a certified child passenger safety technician for help. They can show you how to install your car seat properly and give you peace of mind that your child is riding safely.

Comments are disabled.