Are car seats safe? They can be when you use them correctly. This photo of an infant in a car seat, with the harness clip way too low (it should be at armpit level), shows how common it is for car seats to be installed incorrectly though.But even if you are using your car seat correctly, there are some new concerns that it may not be as safe as you think. Consumer Reports recently tested 12 infant car seats and put them through the same crash tests that are used for most new vehicles. These crash tests are more vigorous than current car seat crash tests and the majority of the car seats did not perform well.
While many professional organizations are dismissing the Consumer Reports article, I think it is important if it highlights that we can have even safer car seats for our children. Of course car seats save lives, especially when used correctly, but it is a good thing if tougher testing and standards will get us even safer car seats. And hopefully all of the attention the study is getting will help to raise awareness about the importance of using car seats correctly.
Related: Car Seats | Booster Seats | Car Seat Inspector | Car Seat Quiz
Photo (c) Renee Lee
