As part of Child Passenger Safety Week, Sept. 17-23, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning are offering guidance to ensure buyers are purchasing car seats that will keep their child safe in the event of a crash, including tips on how to identify counterfeit seats and verify the purchased seat meets U.S. safety standards.
Parents and caregivers should look for the following red flags when shopping for a car seat:
- Missing mandatory information, including minimum and maximum height and weight in English, model name and number, and date of manufacturing labeled clearly on the seat.
- Missing this statement on at least one label: “This child restraint system conforms to all applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards.”
- Foreign languages on the label that do not include English.
- Did not come with a car seat manual and/or a registration recall card.
- No five-point harness with chest clip (except for booster seats).
For individuals who purchase a car seat that has any of the red flags, there are additional ways to confirm the car seat is legal and safe for use:
- Find the label with the car seat manufacturer’s name, address and phone number and contact them directly about your seat.
- Get the car seat inspected by a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician.
- Verify the car seat is on the American Academy of Pediatrics 2023 Car Seat Product List.
For any additional questions, please contact a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician in your area.