Becoming a new parent is a very exciting time, it is also stressful. Let’s face it you’re learning as you go and it’s okay to make a mistake here and there, totally understandable. One place you don’t want to make a mistake is in the car. Too many parents aren’t properly strapping in their children and their child’s seats. New mommies and daddies, it’s not just you! Actually, moms that have been doing this for a while are also doing it wrong so don’t get upset! Instead, check out our hacks for the biggest car seat mistakes and never second guess if you are properly strapping your child in for a ride again!

1. The child is turned face-forward too early:
   1. Babies must ride facing the rear until they are at least 1 year old and weigh 20 pounds, preferably longer! Keeping your baby rear-facing for as long as possible is the safest way for them to sit
2. The seat isn’t installed tightly enough:
   1. Lot’s of parents stress about making the seat belt too tight and hurting their baby
   2. An easy way to know if the beat is tight enough is to jiggle it in the area where the safety belt is pulled through, the chair should not move more than 1 inch in any direction.
3. Harness straps are too loose.
   1. Again, parents stress about the tightness of the straps, but leaving them too loose is extremely dangerous, as the child could slip out or tip over during an abrupt stop
   2. The straps should be tightened so that slack can’t be pinched between an adult’s thumb and forefinger.
   3. Regardless if the child says it’s too tight, this is the correct way to strap them in
4. Infant seat angled incorrectly
   1. It must be reclined just enough so the child doesn’t flop forward, but no more than 45 degrees from vertical.
   2. If the child is positioned at more than that, they could be thrown out between the straps headfirst.
5. Harness straps are in wrong slots:
   1. In the rear-facing position, straps should be in slots at or just below the shoulder.
   2. In forward-facing position, straps should come through the uppermost slots (unless a particular car seat instructions specify otherwise).
   3. It is always important to READ the car seat direction because every seat is different!
6. Harness retainer clip is out of place:

         1. The clip should ALWAYS be at the child’s armpit level!

7. The locking clip is out of place:
   1. If needed, it should be positioned no more than an inch from the safety-belt latch.
8. The safety belt isn’t in locked mode:
   1. Check vehicle’s owner manual to determine what type of belts you have.
   2. Follow directions regarding how they must be used with a child-safety restraint.