I recently moved back to my home state, which means I get to spend more time with my nieces, who are seven and four years old. When I proposed they spend one weekend with me every month, we were all very excited! I set up a place for them to sleep and play in my office, bought their favorite snacks, and started researching what type of car seats they needed. One of the biggest factors in car seat safety is making sure they are installed correctly, and I decided to make it easier on myself and their mom by installing car seats in my car for them, rather than having to shuffle things around. Once I found two seats that were perfect for their sizes, I started watching videos on how to install them correctly in my car. It took some trial and error, but after a lot of research, the seats were just right and ready for my nieces!
It’s Child Passenger Safety Week, which makes this the perfect time for all of us to freshen up on car seat installation. Mistakes are pretty common, as I found out first-hand. The good news is that most of the common mistakes are easy to fix!
Here are 10 of the most common car seat installation mistakes to avoid:
- Loose installation. The seat shouldn’t wiggle more than an inch side-to-side or front-to-back when tested at the belt path. A snug fit keeps it secure in a collision.
- Harness straps too loose. If you can pinch extra strap material at the shoulder, it’s not tight enough. Harnesses should fit snugly against the child.
- Chest clip too low. The chest clip belongs at armpit level, not on the belly or neck. Correct placement helps spread crash forces over stronger parts of the body.
- Wrong harness slot. For rear-facing seats, straps should come from at or below the shoulders. For forward-facing seats, they should come from at or above the shoulders.
- Skipping the top tether. Forward-facing seats should always use the top tether in addition to the seat belt or lower anchors. This reduces forward movement in a crash.
- Using add-ons not approved by the manufacturer. Extra padding, strap covers, or aftermarket accessories might seem helpful but can interfere with the seat’s performance in a collision.
- Using a secondhand or expired seat. If a seat has been in a collision, is expired, or is missing parts, it should not be used. Always check the labels for dates and recall information.
- Moving to the next stage too soon. Children are often transitioned out of rear-facing seats, forward-facing seats, or boosters earlier than they should be. Following height and weight limits is key.
- Placing the seat in the wrong spot. The safest position is usually the back seat, ideally in the center if the seat fits properly there. Never place a rear-facing seat in front of an active airbag.
- Skipping regular checks. Even if you’ve installed a car seat before, it’s easy to make small mistakes. Having a certified car seat technician check your installation can give you peace of mind.
When I finished installing my nieces’ seats, it was such a relief knowing that they were secure and ready to go. It took some effort to get it right, but the peace of mind was worth every minute. Now when they climb into my car, I know we can focus on the fun weekend ahead.
Child Passenger Safety Week is a reminder that car seats are complex and must be installed correctly. As kids grow and vehicles change, adjustments are often needed. A few extra minutes spent on installation now can make every trip safer.
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I recently moved back to my home state, which means I get to spend more time with my nieces, who are seven and four years old. When I proposed they spend one weekend with me every month, we were all very excited! I set up a place for them to sleep and play in my office, bought their favorite snacks, and started researching what type of car seats they needed. One of the biggest factors in car seat safety is making sure they are installed correctly, and I decided to make it easier on myself and their mom by installing car seats in my car for them, rather than having to shuffle things around. Once I found two seats that were perfect for their sizes, I started watching videos on how to install them correctly in my car. It took some trial and error, but after a lot of research, the seats were just right and ready for my nieces!