With online shopping becoming more popular than ever, it is important to do your research when purchasing a child’s safety seat. Counterfeit car seats sold online are a real threat to children’s safety and can be found on major retailer sites that allow third-party sellers. The Car Seat Lady gives good advice reminding caregivers that one of the best ways to avoid a counterfeit purchase is to buy straight from the brick-and-mortar stores.
According to Safe Kids Worldwide, healthcare providers and car seat technicians have noticed an increase in counterfeit car seats when working in their communities. These seats are not at all safe to use.
To prevent parents and caregivers from using unsafe products, here is a list of things to look out for concerning counterfeit car seat:
1. Missing labels or grammatical errors
2. Missing parts
3. Manual and/or Registration card are not included
4. Issues with registering the car seat
5. Using a third-party seller
In addition to these tips, always beware of deals that are too good to be true or products sold from questionable sellers. Buying online can be quick and convenient but choose your purchases carefully. For a full detailed list of things to look out for visit: Safe Kids Worldwide
The Car Seat Lady has a great comparison photo (seen below) of how to spot a counterfeit seat:
If you have questions about your child’s safety seat, visit a fitting station and receive an inspection from a certified child passenger safety technician.