(Toledo News Now) - With so many options, navigating the market for a child's car seat can be confusing. Safety advocates recommend some simple questions before traveling with little ones on board.
"Check to make sure you're doing everything right," said Kate Carr, president and CEO of Safe Kids Worldwide. "Is the seat in the right direction, in the right place? Is it the right seat for your child? Do you have the harnesses correct?"
After a purchase, parents and caregivers can seek the help of a certified technician to make sure the seat is installed correctly in the car. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has a car seat inspection station locator on its website, and several northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan police and fire departments and hospitals will install them correctly for free.
Hand-me-downs may save money, but an out-of-date car seat may put children at risk.
"The other thing that parents may not realize is that car seats expire," Carr said. "There's a certain lifetime to a car seat, so don't be afraid to check for an expiration date on your car seat, and know that if it's been around for awhile, it might very well be an expired car seat. "
The expiration date can be found on the seat.
After children are out of car seats and booster seats, parents can continue to keep them safe by setting a good example.
"Our kids will do what they see us do as parents, so parents, if you're not buckling up, it's going to be really hard to keep your child buckled up," said Carr.
