Car seats are not complicated pieces of machinery. As long as you can read and follow instructions, then your child’s car seat can be installed correctly and safely! In this post we are going to discuss 5 common car seat myths that a lot of people don’t think about or overlook when using a car seat.

MYTH #1: Using a seat belt to install a car seat isn’t as safe as the LATCH system

Car seats are designed to be installed with the LATCH system OR a seat belt from the car. Most cars built these days will have a latch system installed, however, several older cars don’t have LATCH systems or the seat belt has to be used for other reasons. As long as the car seat is installed correctly then the seat belt is just as safe as the LATCH system. Make sure the seat belt is in the locked position so the car seat does not move, and always follow the car seat’s manufacturer instructions when installing.

MYTH #2: I can turn my baby forward facing after 1 year

Children should be placed in the rear facing position in a car seat for as long as possible. This is usually at least until 2 years old, or until they have reached the maximum height or weight requirement for a car seat. For more information please refer to this blog post about the importance of extended rear facing.

MYTH #3: Once installed, car seats don’t need to be adjusted

The car seat and your child’s straps should be adjusted every single time the car seat is used. Things can naturally loosen and move around as the car is moving. You should always make sure the car seat is securely installed and does not move more than 1 inch each direction, or according to the manufacturer’s instructions. The child’s restraint straps should also be checked each time to ensure they are snug and in the right position to keep them safe. ­

MYTH #4: I can keep my child’s coat on while in the car seat  

The child restraint straps need to be snug against the body for the child to be safe. If the straps are loose then the child can be ejected from the car with the force of an accident, or even slip out of the seat if the car rolls over. They should not be wearing any sort of winter coat or thick jacket while in their car seat. 1) it isn’t comfortable. Do you like being stuck in the car in a big marshmallow coat? 2) Wearing the jacket prevents the straps from being snug. While they may seem tight at the time, that coat is likely filled with feathers. During an accident the force will press down and compress the jacket leaving empty space between the child and the straps and making them more vulnerable to injuries or falling out. If needed, bring along a light jacket to wear in the car and save the big puffy coats for before and after being in the car seat. Being cold for a few minutes is better than falling out of the car seat!

Here is a before an after with my 5 year old son Jason. These pictures show just how much room there is when you have a winter coat on.

MYTH #5: Used car seats are just as good as new

All car seats have an expiration date that is generally between 5 – 10 years. Car seats are made out of materials that can break down and degrade over time. You also never know the history of the car seat and if it has been in any sort of accident. Any type of accident that has enough force to crack a window or deploy an airbag, has enough force to damage the inside of a car seat. It is always to be safe from the beginning, rather than be sorry later when the car seat did not protect your child. This is why it is also important to replace a car seat after an accident, even if the child was not in the seat at the time.