Deadly Car Seat Safety Mistakes You Didn’t Know You Were Making

As many as 75% of carseats are installed incorrectly, according to AAA. Death due to to improper use and installation of a car seat is completely preventable.   Vision Collision has compiled a list of deadly car seat mistakes you could be making:   Failure to Read Your Child Seat's Manual Each and every manufacturer and seat has its own requirements for height and weight of the child it is designed for and proper installation requirements. Read your manual thoroughly. Many car seat companies have videos on youtube or on their website to supplement your reading and guide you through installation. If you have questions, call the manufacturer.   Failure to Check Your Vehicle's Manual Vehicles have different requirements for car seat use, too. For example, some vehicle manufacturers permit “borrowing” latches from side seats for middle installation, and others expressly prohibit it. Some have anchors in the floor, and others have them on the back of the seats. Some manufacturers allow three seats across a backseat, and others, only two. Always check your vehicle's specific requirements.   Using the Wrong Sized Seat Car seats have upper and lower height limits and weight limits. Make sure your child is not too large or too small for the seat he or she is riding in. Specific limits are found in your manual.   Loose Installation Your car seat should not move more than an inch side to side. Tight fit is achieved through following instructions. If your car seat moves more than this, it is not installed correctly.   Using Latch AND Belt Installation Simultaneously Modern car seats have two methods by which you can secure them to the vehicle with the LATCH system, or by feeding a seat belt through the belt path. While it might sound like common sense to use BOTH methods for most secure fit, this actually prevents the seat from giving where it needs to give in order for the seat to absorb the impact instead of your child's body. Both methods are safe: use the ONE that will give the best and safest fit for your vehicle, and which complies with the weight limits. Never use LATCH and belt installation at the same time.   Improprer Chest Clip Position

The clip that joins the two straps together is called a chest clip. It's not a belly clip or a chin clip. The proper location for the chest clip is approximately even with the child's armpits. Make sure you are not buckling it too high or too low.   Loose or Twisted Harness Straps

When buckling a strap, you should not be able to pinch two pieces of the same strap together. If you have enough slack to pinch it away, the strap is too loose. The straps also need to lie flat, and untwisted all the way through the seat.   Improper Harness Strap Position Tightness and straightness are not the only factors in correct installation. Depending on if the carseat is rear facing or forward facing, reclined or straight, where the straps come out of the seat in relation to the child's shoulders will change. Read the manual for specific instructions, and revisit this every time a change is made to the seat or child's position. In rear facing installations, the straps must come from at or below the child's shoulders.

  For a forward facing car seat, the straps need to come out of the seat at or above the child's shoulders.

  These photos are provided as examples only. Read your carseat manual for specific instructions.   Placing a Car Seat in Front of an Airbag Car seats belong in the back seat, away from front impact airbags. When possible, place the car seat in the middle of the backseat. If you have a vehicle that only has one row of seats, disable the airbags before putting a seat in front of them.   Failure to Observe Expiration Dates Car seats expire. Each manufacturer's seat lasts a specific amount of time. The date of manufacture of your seat will be somewhere on your seat. Check with your manufacturer for specific ranges. Plastic can become brittle or fatigued, and therefore not be as strong in a collision if the seat is too old. Additionally, technology changes rapidly, and new, safer technology often becomes available. Expiration dates help ensure that older technology is phased out as new, safer technology is introduced.   Buying Used Car Seats Safety experts recommend against buying used car seats. While buying used can save you money, there is no way to guarantee that the seat has been properly cared for, has all pieces attached, and has not been in a collision. If cost is an issue, check with your community to see if there are options for free or discounted seats. In Arizona, you can pay $35 to attend a class, and when complete the course, you will receive a new car seat. More information on the program (CAPP) is available here. If even $35 is too much, call Vision Collision for a sponsorship.   Using a Car Seat After a Collision If your car seat has been in an accident, immediately discontinue use. Report the car seat to the insurance company covering the damage and they should replace the car seat. Check your car seat manufacturer for specific accident guidelines. If the accident is moderate or severe, you will need to replace the seat, even if the child was not in the seat at the time of the accident. For more information, check this article from The Car Seat Lady. If your car seat has been in a collision and your insurance company won't replace it and you cannot afford a new one, please call Vision Collision. We can help.   Using Bulky Clothing or Blankets Between Straps and Seat While rarely relevant in Phoenix, it is important to note that it is not safe to wear bulky clothing while in a car seat. If a child is wearing a big jacket or blanket, the impact of a collision will compress that extra fabric, creating extra space between the child and the straps, meaning the straps will not be tight enough against the child and will not restrain him or her properly. In cold weather, keep a small blanket in the car that you can put on top of the child and the straps after he or she is safely buckled.   Turning a from Rear Facing to Front Facing Too Soon Turning a child around from rear facing to front facing too soon is a very common problem. While most states require rear facing until 1 year of age, safety experts recommend rear facing until at least age 2. A common argument is that a child's legs will be cramped, uncomfortable, or at risk of breaking with extended rear facing. However, turning a child around too soon, before the neck can sustain impact, puts them at risk for internal decapitation. While the risk for broken legs from extended rear-facing is small, a broken leg is always better than a broken neck. Keep your child rear-facing as long as the seat allows. Look for a seat with high rear facing weight and height limits when purchasing one. Our son rear-faced until after he was 3, when he became too tall for the rear-facing limits. He never complained of discomfort due to rear-facing. For more information on internal decapitation and extended rear facing, click here. On the same token, after turning a child from rear facing to forward facing, keep the child in a 5-point harness seat as long as your seat height and weight requirements allow.   Washing the Straps We know-car seat straps get gross, especially after they've been spilled or spit up on. But washing them or submerging them compromises their safety. In doing so, you can erode the fiber strength with the chemicals in your detergent, and you can remove the fire retardant that would protect your child in a fire. To clean them, wipe them down with a damp cloth. Check your manual to see if it allows for a gentle cleaner in a spot application. If you have already washed your straps, call the manufacturer. Most will send you new straps as a courtesy. Using After-Market Add-Ons While there are lots of products on the market designed to make a car seat cuter, or warmer, or more comfortable, or any other number of "improvements," a general rule of thumb is that if it didn't come with the car seat, don't use it. Add-ons change the way a car seat is installed or worn, and therefore, compromise its safety in use. These things also void the manufacturer warranty in case of failure. Failure to Register Your Car Seat You know those little post cards that no one ever fills out? In this case, do it (or go online). Letting your manufacturer know you exist and own one of their seats allows them to notify you if your seat is ever recalled. Failure to Read Your Manual We cannot stress enough how important it is to read your manual to make sure you are using your seat correctly. Children change, and so the way to use their seat properly will change, too. For example, when a child reaches a certain weight and height, it will be time to move him or her from rear facing to forward facing. In some seats, there is a maximum weight that the LATCH system will allow, requiring a switch to belt installation. At another height and weight limit, he will need to discontinue using that seat altogether. Regularly revisit your car seat safety instructions to make sure nothing has changed. If you've lost your manual, check online for a pdf copy, or call your manufacturer to request a replacement. If you have questions, ask If you still are unsure if your seat is installed correctly, call the manufacturer. Check your community for free inspections from Certified Technicians. Many hospitals, fire stations, and civic groups will provide inspections or sponsor clinics. You can click here to find a Certified Car Seat Safety Technician. This page has a list of stations and events in your area offering free inspections. When in doubt, always ask for help. You can't take too many steps or be too careful when it comes to the safety of your child.   Pop Quiz Time:   Can you spot the mistakes in this photo?

Disclaimer: This article is designed to provide guidelines and information. It is NOT designed to replace following your car seat and vehicle specific instructions. If any information in this article conflicts with the written instructions of your car seat manual, defer to the manufacturer. Always consult a professional Car Seat Safety Technician for advice and instructions on proper installation. Vision Collision assumes no liability for improper car seat installation or use.