You’re a parent, grandparent, or babysitter installing a car seat, and you start to wonder: This kiddo has grown so much… Does this seat still fit? How long can I use it? How do I lock this seat belt? Where does this tether go? Can I take out this insert? Or maybe you’ve been guilty of this one: I took apart this seat to clean it or adjust the straps, but I don’t remember how it went back together. Now it’s a tangled mess! What do I do?!
You head down to your local fire station. That’s where you go, right? Maybe not! Your local fire station may not have anyone on staff certified to inspect and install car seats. To make sure you’re getting help from someone with the proper training and knowledge, look for a Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST). The good news? They’re easy to find! Check out the SafeKids Worldwide Find a Tech page. Here in Nevada, there are CPSTs in all 17 counties of the state.
Even better, some CPSTs host car seat events or work at organizations that offer free or reduced-cost car seats. The organization I work for, the Ron Wood Family Resource Center, has five CPSTs on staff (myself included!) and keeps car seats on hand so that children in need in our community can leave safer than they arrived. But what if you already have your own car seats – is it still important to get professional help with installation? You may have heard that around half of all car seats are misused, and it’s true. There are a surprising number of factors that go into keeping kids safe, including:
- State laws and car seat requirements
- Recalls, expired seats, seats that have been in a crash, secondhand seats with an unknown history, and even counterfeit seats
- Properly fitting and adjusting harness straps
- Choosing the right car seat for a child’s height, weight, and developmental needs
- Finding the best fit when installing multiple car seats in one vehicle
- Following both car seat and vehicle manufacturer instructions
- Avoiding other risks, such as loose objects that can become projectiles, heatstroke, and bulky clothing
- Troubleshooting installation problems and addressing unique situations, including children with special needs
There are some great resources online, but make sure the information comes from a reputable source. One excellent resource to check out is a fellow Nevadan CPST’s website, The Car Seat Pros. And when in doubt, give your local CPST a call! At the Ron Wood Family Resource Center, our appointments take an hour or less, our car seat inspections, installations, and education are free, and the peace of mind is priceless.
Take the time this month to get your car seat checked!
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