Do You Need an Infant Seat?

In the United States, parents are required to have car seats to protect their infant and toddler children in the event of car crashes. Parents and caregivers searching for an infant car seat that meets their budget may be tempted to get a used one... or a new one that is offered by unverified online retailers at lower prices. This is a risky choice since you may end up with a seat that doesn't meet standards and doesn't really fit in cars designed for the American market.

Meeting Federal Standards
Every car seat sold in the United States is supposed to meet federal safety standards. Within these guidelines, how critical safety information is conveyed to buyers through labels and instruction manuals is specifically spelled out along with information about how each seat performs in crash tests.  Because those federal safety mandates are so specific and restrictive, the number of noncompliant car seats available for purchase online or seen at car-seat check events is quickly rising. This raises significant concerns from safety advocates, and of course from parents.

How do you know if your infant seat meets US standards? It all comes down to information on the label. Here’s what to look for on it:

• This explicit statement: “This restraint system conforms to all applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards. This restraint is certified for use in all motor vehicles and aircraft.” This wording should be easy to spot. It means the seat has been tested to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213, which regulates child seats. (Note that the reference to aircraft will appear only if the car seat meets the requirements of a required “inversion” test or isn't a booster seat. Booster seats aren't certified for use on airplanes because there are no shoulder belts on a plane.)
• Basic instructions for the seat’s use on the seat and in the manual. 
• Manufacturer/distributor’s name and contact information.
• Date of manufacture. These labels provide the necessary information needed to check if a recall applies to your car seat.  

For more information, you can check out the article on Consumer Reports: How to Know If Your Child Car Seat Meets U.S. Standard.

Infant Seat Mistakes
Even if you have an infant seat that meets federal mandates, this still doesn't guarantee your child's safety. There are several reasons why infant seats are ruled unsafe. Among those is excessive wear and tear on a previously used infant seat, and incorrect seat placement or installation. For more information on the nine most common infant seat mistakes, you can read this article from the Mayo Clinic, Car seat safety: Avoid 9 common mistakes.


Keeping Baby Safe
To see how to properly install a baby seat, watch this video below:




To check out which car seats have received high ratings in 2020, check you the following:

• Best infant car seats 2020 from "babycenter"
• And if you are a member of Consumer Reports, Best Infant Car Seats of 2020.