Is Your Car Seat Installed Wrong?

By Lucy Bennett

Car seats are supposed to keep your child safe, but they can’t do their job if they’re not installed correctly.

Three out of four car seats is installed wrong, according to AAA.

“Child safety seats will save lives, but only when they are installed and used properly,” Pennsylvania State Police Lieutenant Colonel George L. Bivens said.

This is National Child Passenger Safety Week.

Pennsylvania law says that any child younger than 4 must be in a federally approved car seat appropriate for the child’s age, height and weight. Children 4 to 8 must be in a booster seat if they are too big for a car seat.

To make sure your seat is installed correctly, you can stop by free checkpoints, listed below. State police also offer these tips:

•Read and follow the car seat and vehicle manufacturers’ instructions

•Use the car’s seat belt to anchor the seat to the car unless you are using a child safety seat with the LATCH system

•Fill out and return the registration card for your seat so you'll know if it is recalled because of a problem

•Make sure the seat’s harness fits snugly

•Use a tether strap if the seat requires it

These videos from The National Highway Traffic Administration can also help parents correctly install the seats.