Jeff Lupient: How to Fix Car Seat Safety Mistakes

 

Jeff Lupient: Four Car Seat Mistakes to Avoid

Car seats are complicated, says Jeff Lupient. That's why it's unsurprising that almost half of all car seats are used or installed incorrectly, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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Of course, we don't want to put our kids in danger intentionally. As parents, our children's safety is our top priority, especially in the car, where crashes remain one of the leading causes of death for children. The good news is that while car seat mistakes are quite common, there are many things we can do to keep our kids safe in the car.

Jeff Lupient rounds up expert tips on common car seat safety mistakes and how to prevent them.

The Car Seat is Too Loose

Jeff Lupient notes that car seat installation mistakes are very common. The car seat is often not securely attached to the vehicle or installed properly.

The Solution: Ensure the car seat is securely installed by confirming that it moves less than an inch in any direction when checked at the belt path.     The Chest Clip is Too Low or Too High

Harnessing mistakes are also common, Jeff Lupient says. Details matter about the overall adjustments of harness straps, the tightness of the straps, and the crotch buckle, as well as the chest clip placement, if your car seat has one. All these details must be spot-on for your car seat to properly protect your child in a crash.

The Solution: Place the chest clip at the top of your kid's armpits. It ensures that the shoulder straps will remain firmly planted on the top of your kid's shoulders.

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Moving Forward-Facing Too Soon

Another common mistake parents make is moving their child to the next stage of a car seat too soon, Jeff Lupient points out. It puts a child at risk, so parents are encouraged to take this slow. 

The Solution: Keep your child's car seat rear-facing until they have reached the weight or height limit the car seat manual allows.

Wearing Puffy Coats

A puffy coat may keep your child warm. Still, the extra padding of the coat provides a false sense of tightness—it creates space between your child's body and the harness that allows for movement that could cause life-threatening injury or even death in a crash or collision, notes Jeff Lupient.

The Solution: Buckle your child securely into the seat without additional layers. Use a blanket tucked snugly around their body or hand them their coat to use like a blanket to keep them warm, explains Jeff Lupient. 

 For more discussions on car seat safety, features, and other related topics, follow this Jeff Lupient page.