Common Car Seat Mistakes Parents Make That Can Hurt Your Child

A new baby can be so exciting! And stressful. With each new stage of your child's development comes new things to learn for yourself, as well. While you can't always predict the future, and as parents, you have a lot to learn along the way, it's best to be prepared. Informing yourself on safety procedures, such as common car seat mistakes or learning some of the best tip and tricks like what to know about potty training while traveling, can save you a lot of headache, stress, and perhaps even your life.

As a new parent to a newborn, tackling the adolescent stage with your little ones, or anywhere in between, it's important to be aware of common car seat mistakes, and more importantly, know how to avoid and solve for them.

Not Securing the Car Seat

When you’re installing a car seat, be sure to properly secure the seat belt into the car seat hooks. Lazy attachment is one of the most common car seat mistakes that can be deadly depending on the situation. According to Parenting magazine, common installment issues include routing seat belts incorrectly, forgetting to use a tether (for front-facing seats), not putting the seat belts in lock mode, not putting enough weight on the seat as its being installed, and connecting the lower anchors and tethers of the LATCH system to the wrong point of the car i.e. cargo hooks. Don’t take the risk; secure your child properly according to the car seat's instructions.

Facing a Child Toward the Front Too Early

Having your child in a forward-facing car seat, especially before they’re ready, is a big no. You may have been aware of this number one rule for new babies, but it’s the number one for a reason. Babies are safest facing the rear because in case of an accident, the front seat and part of the car seat shield the baby away from force. A rear facing seat is crucial for your child because it supports the head, neck, and spine and shock is more evenly distributed. This is the most secure spot for your little one so keep them safe by facing their car seat away from you until they weigh up to 20 pounds or are around one year of age.

There’s no excuse for not choosing the right seat for your child’s height, age, and weight. While it can be frustrating to find the right one—especially when they grow so quickly—your child’s safety is on the line so take your time to research what’s best for your child, your vehicle, and you.

For starters, don’t buy a used seat, as tempting as that price may be. Without instructions or a warranty, you have no way of telling if the seat is a fit. Additionally, you may not know if the car seat has been in a previous crash. This is important because it is recommended that you replace car seats and/or boosters after a moderate or severe car accident.

The Cosco Comfy Car Seat is a great all-around choice because of its excellent safety rating, easy installation, and the way it changes to accommodate your little one as they grow. Better still, it's affordable enough for parents on a budget.

Not Properly Securing the Harness

It seems like there are endless parenting tips for toddlers. From tantrums to schooling, how to raise them and their learning milestones, people always have so much advice to offer. However, one piece of advice you should follow is the correct way to strap your child into a forward facing car seat, as it is very important to strap your child in correctly.

The harness that goes around your child and the seat is often overlooked by parents. This common car seat mistake can be fixed by securing a harness at armpit level on your child, across the breastplate. It’s important to not attach the harness too high or too low as incorrect placement, plus the pressure of your vehicle, can cause bruising or worse. Also be sure the straps of the harness are tight enough over your child's chest. This will help the harness clasp stay in the correct place. While they may claim it's too tight, or they are uncomfortable, this can mean life or death in the result of a serious accident. Remember "snug as a hug" when adjusting the harness to ensure the safety of your child.

Tossing the Booster Seat Too Early

Bigger kids want to feel like grownups, we get it, but taking them out of their booster seat too early is a very common car seat mistake. Look for a non-intrusive booster seat, like one with low or no arms. But make sure their height and weight are appropriate for an armless seat first! Of course, if your child is about ready to go sans- car seat, have them go through the Safety Belt Test, a five-step test that will tell you if your child is ready to shed the seat.

Not Wearing Your Own Seatbelt

While it may sound odd that one of the common car seat mistakes is related to the parent, it’s still a constant mistake. Not wearing your own seat belt not only displays improper safety techniques, it shows your children that it’s OK to not strap into a moving vehicle. Spare yourself the argument and always tether yourself in after you’ve secured your child. After watching you do it so often, they'll get the routine.

Letting Kids in the Front Seat Too Soon

Similar to allowing a child to face forward before they’re ready, try not to encourage front seat sitting until your children are over the age of 13. Although you may think an accident won’t happen, they always seem to happen at the worst time. Try not to make a common car seat mistake by letting them sit in the front seat until they're of age.

Not Traveling With a Car Seat

While it can seem damn near impossible to remember everything to pack when you're embarking on a trip, a must-follow tip for traveling with kids is to bring your car seat along! It’s impractical to think you’ll hold your baby if they’re under three on your lap the entire time. Rather than running the risk of relying on rental car dealers or transit officials, bring your own seat with you. Plus, some airlines or trains don’t allow children under a certain age to travel without their size and age appropriate seat, so save yourself any future worry by always packing the car seat!

Fix those common car seat mistakes.

Don’t fall into these common mistakes, set a good example for your child by always wearing your seatbelt, and be sure to research the best options for your child for whatever age they may be. If you can avoid these common car seat mistakes you’ll have a happy, healthy, and safe family!