🚨 Top 10 Car Seat Mistakes Parents Should Avoid 🚨

Keeping your child safe on the road starts with proper car seat use. Here are the most common mistakes we see—and how to fix them:

1️⃣ Rear-Facing Too Soon: Max out the seat! Long legs aren’t a reason to turn forward-facing.

2️⃣ Chest Clip Misplacement: Always align it at armpit level.

3️⃣ Loose Items: Unsecured objects can become dangerous projectiles. Stick to soft-sided toys only.

4️⃣ Head Height: Your child’s head should stay within the seat shell—check your seat’s top height rule.

5️⃣ Infant Seat Placement: Out of the car, place it on the ground or in a stroller. Never on elevated surfaces.

6️⃣ Top Tether Use: When forward-facing, always use the top tether correctly—it’s life-saving.

7️⃣ Strap Positioning: Rear-facing = straps at/below shoulders. Forward-facing = at/above shoulders.

8️⃣ Harness Pinch Test: No slack! If you can pinch the strap, it’s too loose.

9️⃣ Booster Timing: Most kids need a booster until 10–12 years old. It’s about size, not age.

🔟 Seat Tightness: At the belt path, the seat shouldn’t move more than 1 inch in any direction.

👶 Safety starts with YOU. Let’s keep our youngest passengers protected every mile of the way.

📚 Resource:  To ensure your child is safe in the seat and your seat is installed in the vehicle correctly, FREE car seat check appointments with a certified car seat technician are available. 📅 To schedule your appointment, contact Corporal Robert E. Burns at RBurns@LancasterTownshipPolice.org or call (717) 892-5873.