18 Common Car Seat Safety Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

September 2, 2025

Emily Gaylor

Every parent wants to do everything possible to keep their little one safe—especially on the road. And while car seats are one of the most important tools we have for protecting kids in the car, they only work when they’re used correctly. The truth? Even the most well-meaning parents (yes, the ones who’ve spent hours reading reviews and watching YouTube install videos) often make small but critical mistakes that can compromise safety. The good news is that most of these missteps are an easy fix once you know what to look for. Here, we’ll break down the most common car seat safety mistakes, and share expert tips to help you avoid them.

Your Car Seat Installation Is Too Loose

How to check: A correctly installed car seat should pass the “inch test.” Once it’s secured, give it a firm tug at the belt path (where the seat belt or LATCH strap threads through the shell or base). The seat shouldn’t wiggle more than an inch front-to-back or side-to-side at that point. Don’t panic if there’s more movement further away from the belt path—that’s totally normal.

The potential danger: A seat that isn’t snugly installed can shift forward in a crash, putting extra force on your child’s head and neck. Even a tiny bit of slack can make a big difference in how well the seat protects them.

How to fix it: Before you dive in, grab your car seat manual and your vehicle manual—they’re your BFFs during installation. Every car seat (rear- or forward-facing) has to be installed with either the seat belt or the LATCH system, not both. Keep in mind that LATCH has a weight limit (usually 65 pounds combined child + seat). The middle of the back seat is often the safest spot, but if you can’t get a rock-solid install there—or your car doesn’t allow it—the side positions are the next best choice.

And yes, installation usually takes some elbow grease! Even the so-called “easy install” seats usually need a bit of muscle. Press the seat base firmly into the vehicle seat and lean in with your full body weight (most parents find a knee works best). Rock it gently side-to-side as you tighten the belt or LATCH strap to get out every bit of slack. When using a seat belt, make sure it’s locked back into place before calling it a done deal.

With almost 3 out of 4 car seats installed incorrectly (according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates), it’s always worth having your work double-checked. Our certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians (CPST) can confirm your install is good to go. Didn't buy at Bambi Baby? Many local police or fire stations have them on staff, or you can find one near you at seatcheck.org.

You're Forward-Facing Too Soon

How to check: Both the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommend that children ride rear-facing for as long as possible, until they max out the height or weight limits of their specific car seat. (That means checking the label or manual for your exact model.) The AAP used to say rear-facing until age two, but in 2018 they updated their guidance: keep kids rear-facing beyond that milestone if their seat allows.

The potential danger: In a front-end crash, everything in the car lunges toward the point of impact. While an adult’s seat belt stops the torso, the head keeps moving forward, creating whiplash. For toddlers, the risks are amplified: their heads are proportionally much larger than their bodies, and their spines are still developing. That means a forward-facing toddler’s neck and spinal cord take the brunt of that motion. The result can be catastrophic injuries—even paralysis—in a crash that a rear-facing child would likely walk away from.

How to fix it: Stick with rear-facing until your kiddo truly outgrows the height or weight limit listed for your car seat. It might look like their legs are cramped once they get bigger, but here’s a reassuring truth: kids are naturally bendy. Crossing their legs or resting their feet on the seat back is completely safe—and far less risky than moving them forward-facing too soon.

You’re Using the Wrong Car Seat for Your Child’s Size or Stage

How to check: Car seats are designed with specific height, weight, and developmental limits—and they aren’t one-size-fits-all. Your child’s seat should match where they are right now, not just what’s convenient or what “seems” like the right stage. That means making sure your newborn is in a seat that reclines enough to support their airway, your toddler is still rear-facing until they max out the limits, and your older kiddo is in a harness or booster until the seat belt truly fits.

The potential danger: Moving your child to the next stage too soon—or keeping them in a seat they’ve outgrown—compromises their protection. A baby who’s too small for a convertible seat may slump forward and struggle to breathe; a preschooler moved to a booster before they’re ready may not sit still enough for the belt to work properly. Safety depends on matching the right seat to your child’s size and maturity.

How to fix it: Always check the label on your car seat (or the manual) for the exact weight and height limits. Transition only when your child maxes out those limits, not just because of age, peer pressure, or convenience.

Your Rear-Facing Car Seat Is at the Wrong Angle

How to check: Every rear-facing car seat comes with a built-in recline guide (sometimes a bubble level, a line on the shell, or a color-coded indicator) to help you set the angle correctly. A quick visual check: your baby’s head should rest comfortably against the seatback without tipping forward. And don’t forget to peek at your manual for specifics, each seat has its own requirements.

The potential danger: The recline angle isn’t just about comfort—it’s about safety. When a car seat is too upright, your baby’s head can slump forward, which may block their airway and make it harder to breathe. This is especially risky for newborns and preemies, whose neck muscles aren’t strong enough yet to keep their heads in a safe position.

How to fix it: Double-check that the recline matches your child’s age and stage—many seats need to be more reclined for infants and can be more upright as babies get older. Most car seats include adjustable recline settings or come with a recline wedge/foot to help you get it right. Parents often worry that a more reclined angle means the car seat is less safe in a crash. The good news: if you’re following the seat’s indicators, you’re giving your baby both the crash protection and the airway protection they need. Comfort and safety can go hand-in-hand here.

Harness Positioning

Your Harness Is Too Loose

How to check: The simplest way to confirm the harness is snug enough is the “Pinch Test.” Once your little one is buckled, try to pinch the strap at their collarbone. If you can grab any slack between your fingers, it’s too loose. A properly fitted harness should lie flat and snug against their body.

The potential danger: A loose harness can give your child room to shift or even slip out of the seat during a crash. And while some parents worry about making the straps too tight, the truth is that snug is exactly what keeps your kiddo safe. If the straps pass the pinch test and your child can breathe and wiggle their arms, you’re in the safe zone. That firm, secure fit is what keeps the harness working the way it’s designed.

How to fix it: Each time you buckle your child in, pull the harness until it’s smooth, flat, and passes the pinch test at the collarbone. A well-adjusted harness is like a comfortable but secure hug: tight enough that it stays put, but not so tight that your kiddo is uncomfortable. Taking those extra seconds every ride makes all the difference for safety.

Your Chest Clip Is in the Wrong Place

How to check: The chest clip belongs at armpit level—that’s the sweet spot where it holds the harness snugly across your child’s shoulders. Slide it up or down until it’s in line with their underarms. A common misconception is that the chest clip’s main job is comfort, but really, it’s a positioning tool that keeps the harness where it needs to be.

The potential danger: If the chest clip rides too low, the harness can slip off your kiddo’s shoulders, creating enough slack for them to come out of the seat in a crash. If it’s too high, it can press against the neck, leading to injury during a sudden stop or collision. In other words, being “close enough” isn’t actually close enough. The right placement makes a big difference in crash protection.

How to fix it: Each time you buckle in, take a quick second to slide the chest clip to armpit level before hitting the road. It might feel repetitive, but that tiny adjustment is what keeps the harness doing its job.

Your Shoulder Straps Aren't Properly Positioned

How to check: Shoulder strap placement depends on how your child is riding. When they’re rear-facing, the straps should come from at or just below the shoulders. Once they’re forward-facing, the straps need to be at or just above the shoulders. This ensures the harness holds your little one's body securely against the car seat in a crash. Parents sometimes assume the slots can sit “close enough,” but proper placement is key for keeping the harness effective.

The potential danger: If the straps are too high when rear-facing, or too low when forward-facing, your child has extra wiggle room in the harness. That means more forward movement in a collision, which increases the force on their neck and spine. Even a small gap in the wrong direction can lessen the seat’s ability to do its job.

How to fix it: Check the shoulder slots every so often as your child grows, since kids can size out of a setting faster than you realize. Adjust the straps to the correct height based on whether they’re rear- or forward-facing, and always make sure the harness lies flat with no twists. It’s not something you’ll have to do every week, but it’s worth keeping an eye on during growth spurts.

You're Not Using the Top Tether

How to check: Many forward-facing car seats come with a top tether strap—a length of webbing attached to the top back of the seat that clips onto an anchor point in your vehicle (usually behind the seat or on the rear shelf). It’s easy to miss, especially if it was tucked away when you first unboxed the seat.

The potential danger: Without the tether, your child’s head can pitch forward as much as six inches in a crash. That may not sound like much, but it can be the difference between your child’s face hitting the seat in front of them—or staying safely contained. Some parents think the tether is “optional” since the seat feels secure with just the lower anchors or seat belt, but it’s actually an essential piece of the safety system.

How to fix it: Every time you install a forward-facing car seat, attach the tether to the designated anchor in your vehicle and tighten it until there’s no slack. Check your vehicle manual if you’re not sure where the anchors are—they can be in different places depending on your car's make and model. Using the tether takes only a few extra seconds, but it dramatically reduces the risk of head and neck injuries in a crash.

You Moved to a Belt-Positioning Booster Too Soon

How to check: Most convertible car seats allow kids to stay harnessed until at least 65 pounds forward-facing (and some all-in-one seats go even higher). The AAP recommends keeping children in a harnessed seat as long as they’re within the height and weight limits—because a five-point harness distributes crash forces more effectively than a seat belt alone.

The potential danger: Many parents assume once their kiddo hits preschool or kindergarten, it’s automatically time for a booster. But here’s the reality: most kids under 5 or 6 aren’t mature enough to sit properly with just a seat belt. If they wiggle, slump, or push the shoulder belt behind their back, they’re not safely restrained. Even if they’re technically big enough, they may not be ready behaviorally—and that can leave them underprotected in a crash.

How to fix it: Keep your child in a forward-facing harnessed seat until they reach the seat’s max limits, both height and weight. When they finally graduate to a booster, it should be because they’re truly ready, not just because of their birthday.

You Stopped Using a Booster Seater Too Soon

How to check: According to the NHTSA, more than a quarter of kids ages 4–7 are moved out of their booster seats too soon. While it’s tempting to ditch the booster when your child insists they’re a “big kid now,” the safest time to move on is when they can pass the five-step test without it:

They can sit with their back against the vehicle seat,
Their knees bend naturally at the seat edge,
The lap belt lies flat across the tops of their thighs (not their stomach),
The shoulder belt rests between the neck and shoulder, and
They can sit that way for the whole ride without slouching, leaning, or playing with the belt.

The potential danger: Without a booster, the seat belt often doesn’t fit smaller kids correctly. The lap belt can ride up on their belly, or the shoulder belt can cut across their neck. In a crash, that poor positioning puts kids at a much higher risk for serious abdominal or spinal injuries. Many parents assume a child’s age alone determines booster readiness, but body size and maturity matter just as much.

How to fix it: Keep your child in a booster until they truly pass the five-step test—most kids need a booster until they’re between 10 and 12 years old. It may feel like a long time, but the booster ensures the seat belt is doing its job properly. Letting them move on too soon might look “grown up,” but it doesn’t mean they’re safer.

You're Using an Expired Car Seat

How to check: Every car seat comes with an expiration date, usually somewhere between 6 and 10 years from the date it was made. You’ll typically find it stamped or printed on the underside of the seat, the base, or in the manual. It’s worth hunting it down so you know exactly when your seat ages out.

The potential danger: Car seats aren’t meant to last forever. Over time, the plastic and other materials can weaken, safety technology improves, and older models may not meet today’s crash-test standards. An expired seat might look perfectly fine, but it may not give your child the protection they need in an accident.

How to fix it: Take a quick look at the expiration date on any seat you’re currently using (or one you’re considering using for a younger sibling). If it’s expired—or close to it—it’s time to retire it and replace it with a current model that meets today’s regulations. Some parents assume expiration dates are just a marketing ploy to get you to buy another seat. In reality, they exist because materials degrade and safety standards evolve. Swapping out an expired seat isn’t about selling you something new, it’s about making sure your little one’s protection is up to date.

You're Using a Used Car Seat

How to check: Hand-me-downs can be a lifesaver for baby gear—but car seats are one area where you need to be extra cautious. Before accepting a used seat, make sure you know its full history. Ask yourself: Is it expired? Has it ever been in a crash? Has it been recalled? And is it still registered with the manufacturer? If you can’t confidently answer yes to those questions, it’s not worth the risk.

The potential danger: A car seat that’s been in an accident or is missing recall fixes may look perfectly fine, but its safety could be compromised. Unlike a stroller or high chair, you can’t always see the damage. And while a hand-me-down might feel like a money-saver, an unsafe seat puts your kiddo at risk when it matters most.

How to fix it: Reusing a seat you bought new for an older sibling is fine, so long as it hasn’t expired, been in a crash, or been recalled. But if you don’t know the seat’s complete backstory (like with marketplace finds or distant relatives’ castoffs), it’s best to pass. Car seat safety is one area where cutting corners just doesn’t pay off.

Your Car Seat Is Recalled

How to check: Every car seat has a model name, number, and serial number printed on the shell or base. With those details, you can search the NHTSA recall database to confirm your seat is up to date. An even easier option? Register your car seat with the manufacturer right after purchase so they’ll contact you directly if a recall happens. Double bonus: registering quickly will often extend your car seat's warranty, too.

The potential danger: Over the years, millions of car seats have been recalled—sometimes for small fixes, but sometimes for serious safety issues. If your seat is affected and you don’t know it, you could be strapping your child into a product that isn’t performing the way it should in a crash.

How to fix it: Take a few minutes to register your seat with the manufacturer (it also activates your warranty). If you discover your seat is under recall, don’t panic! Manufacturers typically send out a repair kit or replacement part free of charge. The key is making sure you’re on the list so you don’t miss the notification.

Your Car Seat Was Involved in a Crash

How to check: If your car has been in a crash—even a minor one—it’s important to check both your car seat manual and the NHTSA guidelines. Many manufacturers require replacing the seat after any collision, while some follow the NHTSA’s “minor crash” criteria. Either way, you’ll want to know your seat’s specific policy before putting it back in the car.

The potential danger: A car seat can be compromised in ways you can’t see. Even if it looks fine on the outside, crash forces may have weakened the structure, making it less effective in protecting your child the next time. Some parents assume that if the car seat “looks okay,” it’s safe to keep using, but the damage isn’t always visible.

How to fix it: Always follow the manufacturer’s crash replacement rules for your specific seat. If it needs to be replaced, contact your insurance company—many will cover the cost of a new seat after an accident. It may feel frustrating to swap out a seat that looks untouched, but it’s one of the simplest ways to make sure your kiddo is safely cruising.

You’re Using Aftermarket Car Seat Accessories

How to check: Aftermarket accessories are anything that didn’t come in the box with your car seat—strap covers, extra headrests, seat protectors, or inserts you can buy online. Before adding anything, check with your car seat’s manufacturer to see if it’s approved. If it’s not listed in the manual or on their website, it probably hasn’t been tested with your seat.

The potential danger: It’s easy to assume that if a product is sold for car seats, it must be safe. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Third-party accessories aren’t crash-tested with your seat, which means there’s no way to know how they’ll affect performance in an accident. Something as small as a strap cover can change how the harness fits and compromise your little one’s protection.

How to fix it: Stick to the accessories your seat’s manufacturer specifically approves or includes. If you need more comfort or protection for your car’s upholstery, look for products listed in your manual. It might feel limiting, but approved accessories are the only way to be sure your car seat is working exactly as designed.

You’re Misusing Infant Inserts

How to check: Most infant car seats (and some convertible seats) come with a padded insert or head support designed for smaller babies. These should only be used if they came in the box with your seat and are listed in the manual. If you’ve added an extra insert you bought separately—or if you’re still using the newborn insert after your baby has outgrown it—it’s time to reassess.

The potential danger: Using inserts that weren’t crash-tested with your seat can change how the harness fits and affect how the seat performs in an accident. Even approved inserts can become unsafe if they’re used past the recommended stage (for example, once your baby reaches a certain weight). The risk is a harness that doesn’t hold your child securely in a crash.

How to fix it: Double-check your car seat manual to confirm when and how the insert should be used—and when it should be removed. Stick only with the inserts your seat’s manufacturer provides or approves. It may feel tempting to add “extra comfort,” but the seat was engineered to be safest exactly as it was designed.

You Didn't Remove Your Child's Winter Coat

How to check: Bulky coats and outerwear (or blankets) can prevent your child’s harness from fitting snugly. The puff and fill in heavy coats may give the appearance that your harness passes the pinch test when it doesn’t.

The potential danger: The impact of crash forces is extreme, and a coat’s inner filling will compress during a collision. Once compressed, the straps will be loose, and your child could break free from the harness.

How to fix it: If you live in a cold climate, layer clothing, consider buying a car seat pod or cover that allows for safe harnessing, or use a blanket or coat over your kiddo once they’re securely buckled.

You’re Covering the Car Seat with a Blanket

How to check: It’s common to see a blanket draped over an infant car seat as a quick solution for naps, cold weather, or blocking out sunlight. But if the blanket is fully covering the seat, especially when rear-facing, airflow can become restricted inside.

The potential danger: A covered car seat can trap heat and limit ventilation, leading to overheating. Babies also run the risk of rebreathing their own exhaled air under that enclosed space, which can lower oxygen levels. Even a lightweight muslin blanket can create a warmer, less breathable environment than you realize—especially in a warm car or on a sunny day.

How to fix it: Instead of fully draping a blanket, use a breathable car seat canopy that allows for plenty of airflow, or attach a shade designed specifically for your car seat (always one the manufacturer approves). For warmth, dress your baby in layers and add a blanket on top after they’re harnessed. The goal is to keep them cozy while ensuring fresh air can circulate freely.

Additional Resources

These organizations have tons of information on car seat safety, recalls, and changing regulations:

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