When it comes to our children, ensuring their safety is always a top priority, especially while traveling in a vehicle. A car seat is designed to protect them from harm, but using it incorrectly can be very harmful. With so many factors to consider, from installation to harness positioning, it’s not uncommon for parents to unintentionally overlook important details, potentially putting their child’s safety at risk.
In this article, we’ll get into the 7 common mistakes parents make with car seats. We will discuss the negtive impat of these mistakes and also go over ways to mitigate and correct them. By raising awareness about these errors and offering guidance for proper car seat usage, we aim to ensure that every child stays safe and secure on the road.
1. Incorrect Car Seat Installation
If you want to put together IKEA furniture based on the picture and not the included instructions, that is fine. Let’s just not use this method when it comes to car seats and their installation.
All car seats are required to include a manual (some may be digital-only now). These instructions lay out step-by-step guidance on installing, removing, and inspecting your child’s car seat for proper use. You should also refer to your vehicle’s manual for specifics that may apply based on the make and model that you own.
The two most common issues noticed by the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) are the install angle and strap tightness. Please follow the manual completely to ensure these two are never an issue.
If you would like to learn more about installing your car seat or would like a professional’s guidance, please check out cert.safekids.org. This website has a listing of Certified Passenger Safety Technicians (CPS) in every state. In most states, police and fire departments will also have one or two locally. The technicians are a great resource for understanding and ensuring proper safety for your child.
2. Choosing the Wrong Car Seat
Car seats come in tons of different sizes and weight tolerances. Some are designed for the future and some are specialized for a certain age group. Selecting the right one for your child’s height and weight is an important part.
Utilizing the wrong seat for your child can result in inadequate safety. This is caused by your child not being properly seated or at an incorrect angle. Plus, it is very uncomfortable for them. Giving them a car seat that meets their needs can also help save them in the case of an accident.
Related Article: Best Car Seats for 2023
Be sure to read and research different car seats and find one that is best suited for the age, weight, and height of your child. Keep in mind that tons of features are just nice to have (i.e. cup holders, sun visors). The ones that you NEED to look for are safety ratings, user-friendliness ratings, and NHTSA reports.
3. Tether Straps for Forward-Facing Seats
Tether straps, or anchor straps, are a crucial component of forward-facing seats. These straps help keep the head and neck portion of the seat from moving too chaotically in the event of a crash.
In a study conducted by the NHTSA in 2018, it was recorded that more than 40% of parents either did not use the anchor or did not even know what it was. Please locate and use this anchor when forward-facing your child. Look for the symbol below in your car:
All vehicles (US only) manufactured after 2002 are required to have anchor and tether points for car seat installation. Your vehicle may also have a LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) hookup if manufactured after 2012. While these are not required, they are a great way to add extra security and safety. You can find them near the bottom of the seatback on most vehicles. Checking your owner’s manual should also help you locate them.
4. Incorrect Harness Position and Tightness
Proper harness positioning and tightness are essential for keeping your child secure in their car seat. Having the traps too high or low or too tight or too loose can make the seat unsafe and uncomfortable for your child.
The harness straps should be at or slightly below the shoulders for rear-facing seats and at or slightly above the shoulders for forward-facing seats. The chest clip should align with your child’s armpits to keep the harness in place. Ensure the straps are snug, but not too tight – you should be able to fit only one finger between the strap and your child’s collarbone. Regularly check the harness for signs of wear or damage and replace it if necessary.
Again, always refer to the manual for specifics on install and fit of harnesses. Most harness assemblies are the same or at the least very similar. However, some may require different positioning due to design.
5. Going Forward Too Soon
The debate about when to switch from rear-facing to forward-facing is a long and drawn-out argument. I am not an expert in vehicle crashes, I am not a pediatrician, and I certainly do not understand anything when it comes to the physics behind anatomy in motion. I say that to say this, I have to trust the people in those fields.
At the end of the day, I only care about my child being safe. It is not about winning an argument or having the “know it all” attitude.
According to a 2007 study published in the journal Injury Prevention, children under the age of 2 are 75% less likely to be severely injured or die in a car crash when they are in a rear-facing car seat compared to a forward-facing one.
In response to this evidence, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) updated its recommendations in 2018, advising parents to keep their children in rear-facing car seats until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by their seat. This typically means keeping children rear-facing until around age 2, or even longer for some children, depending on their growth and the specific car seat they are using.
By keeping your child rear-facing as long as possible, you provide better support for their head, neck, and spine in the event of a crash, significantly reducing their risk of injury.
6. Using a Second-Hand Seat
Using a second-hand car seat may seem like a cost-effective option, but it can also pose risks to your child’s safety. A study conducted by Safe Kids Worldwide in 2016 found that 86% of used car seats purchased or acquired by participants had been in a crash, were expired or broken, or had been recalled.
Car seats have expiration dates, usually around 6-10 years from the date of manufacture, as their materials can degrade over time, compromising their ability to protect your child adequately. Additionally, a car seat that has been in a crash should never be used again, as its structural integrity may be compromised, even if there is no visible damage.
If you choose to use a second-hand car seat, make sure it has never been in an accident, is not expired, and still has all its original parts and instructions. Check the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website for any recalls on the specific car seat model you’re considering. Check out this link and select Car Seats for more information.
7. Neglecting the Booster Seat
As your child grows, it’s important to recognize when it’s time to transition from a forward-facing car seat to a booster seat. According to a study published in the journal Pediatrics in 2009, children using booster seats were 45% less likely to sustain injuries in a crash compared to those using seat belts alone.
Booster seats are designed to elevate your child so that the vehicle’s seat belt fits correctly across the lap and shoulder, providing better protection in the event of a crash. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that children use booster seats until they are at least 4 feet 9 inches tall and between 8 and 12 years old.
Before transitioning your child to seat belts alone, make sure the seat belt fits correctly and does not rest on the neck or face, which could cause injury in a crash. The lap belt should lie snugly across the upper thighs, and the shoulder belt should cross the chest and collarbone.
Sources
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). (n.d.). Car Seat Misuse. Retrieved from https://www.nhtsa.gov/equipment/car-seat-misuse
Henry, B., Sherwood, C. P., Crandall, J. R., Kent, R. W., Vaca, F. E., Arbogast, K. B., & Bull, M. J. (2007). Car safety seats for children: rear facing for the best protection. Injury Prevention, 13(6), 398-402. doi: 10.1136/IP.2006.015115
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). (2018). AAP Updates Recommendations on Car Seats for Children. Retrieved from https://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/Pages/AAP-Updates-Recommendations-on-Car-Seats-for-Children.aspx
Safe Kids Worldwide. (2016). Ultimate Car Seat Guide: Car Seat Tips. Retrieved from https://www.safekids.org/ultimate-car-seat-guide/tips/used-car-seat/
Arbogast, K. B., Jermakian, J. S., Kallan, M. J., & Durbin, D. R. (2009). Effectiveness of belt-positioning booster seats: an updated assessment. Pediatrics, 124(5), 1281-1286. doi: 10.1542/peds.2009-0908
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2019). Child Passenger Safety: Get the Facts. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/child_passenger_safety/cps-factsheet.html
