As a car seat technician, one of the most common questions I hear is: am I doing this right? And this question can be in relation to any number of topics related to child passenger safety:
How do I know if my installation is correct?
Does my child look right in the harness?
Did I choose the right car seat for my child?
Every September, we celebrate National Child Passenger Safety Week. There’s no better time to dive into some car seat resources so you can feel more confident in doing this “car seat thing” the right way.
How to Pick the Right Car Seat
Feel confident in your car seat research by looking to the experts for guidance. The American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the National Child Passenger Safety Board are all excellent resources for child passenger safety education. Each website includes tools to help you understand what type of car seat is right for the age and size of your child, as well as additional information on other topics related to keeping your child safe in and around your vehicle. Additionally, a free online training module is available to help you understand the basics of child passenger safety.
How to Install a Car Seat
The best resource for technical product information is your car seat manufacturer. Once you’ve selected a car seat for your child, the adventure begins. Learning how to install and use your car seat is a big task – your car seat manufacturer is ready to help you every step of the way. At Evenflo, we provide installation and how-to videos to complement our product instructions so you can follow along with each step of your product use. Our ParentLink Consumer Care team features nationally certified car seat technicians who are ready to help you via chat, email or phone. We also provide free, live video installation appointments where we can walk you through your installation one-on-one when it’s convenient for you. Most car seat brands offer similar resources – so take advantage of the learning opportunities available for your car seat.
How to Check Car Seat Installation
Find a local car seat technician to give your confidence a boost. There are over 35,000 nationally certified car seat technicians across the United States. It never hurts to have someone give your installation a double-check. Car seat techs may be available for local in-person or virtual appointments, so you can feel confident that your child is ready to ride safely!
