Cars.com: Here's How to Make those Car Seats Super Safe!

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That being said, some of the most serious injuries in car crashes occur with occupants of car seats. In fact, about 2 children under age 13 EVERY MINUTE are involved in a car crash. That's very sobering information for sure. One of the reasons that car seat injuries can be so severe is because many people think they have their car seats installed correctly, but really, they don't. It's hard! In fact, YOU probably don't have your car seats installed quite right. It's absolutely necessary to get a professional car seat check to protect those little bodies! 

Cars.com has a wealth of information about how they conduct a car seat check. Certified child passenger safety technicians conduct hands-on tests of a car’s LATCH system and check the vehicle’s ability to accommodate different types of car seats. 

One of the easiest ways to install a car seat is by using the LATCH system. Oh my goodness, it makes it SO EASY! Both of our Graco car seats have/had the LATCH system and it was easy peasy to get them installed in our Chevy Equinox. (Reviews for the MyRide65 and the SnugRide Click Connect 35 are on this site (click the links!) )

LATCH stands for Lower Anchor and Tethers for Children. Cars manufactured after Sept. 1, 2002, are required by the federal government to have a Latch system, which usually consists of two sets of lower Latch anchors and three top tether anchors. Some cars, such as convertibles, don't always have the tether anchors, and two-seat roadsters skip the whole system since they lack a backseat. (Info taken from cars.com )

The best thing to do when you get a new car seat is to READ THE MANUAL. Even if you've gotten another car seat from the same brand before, each one is different and has slightly different instructions. 

It's also necessary to register your car seat! This way, you are the first to know if there's any recalls or safety information. One of our car seats had a recall for the crotch belt buckle, and we were notified immediately and also received a free replacement very quickly! 

Once you do these two things, you NEED to GET IT INSPECTED! Even though it may look right and everything looks good, have a professional check it to make sure. This way, your little ones will be as safe as possible in the event of a car crash. This website HERE can help you schedule an inspection! 

Cars.com has an impressive-looking car seat inspection. They also have a plethora of videos about car seat checks for specific vehicles! 

It's important to also get booster seats inspected. Even though they don't use the LATCH system, they DO use the seatbelts of the car, so you need to make sure everything is in the right place for premium placement. (You also want to wait as long as possible to move your kids to a booster seat as they are a lot safer in a 5-point restraint car seat, and even wait as long as possible to move them to a forward-facing seat as they are much, much safer in a rear-facing seat. Your owner manuals will have the correct information for the weight and height requirements for your car seats. Make sure to follow them to the letter!) 

Cars.com also has their 2017 Car Seat Honor Roll post! This is very helpful if you're shopping for a new car and have car seats to think about! Check it out! 

Of course, cars.com also makes it very easy to shop for a new car or a used car. Cars.com is a leading online destination that helps car shoppers and owners navigate every turn of car ownership. A pioneer in automotive classifieds, the company has evolved into one of the largest digital automotive platforms, connecting consumers with local dealers across the country anytime, anywhere. Through trusted expert content, on-the-lot mobile app features, millions of new and used vehicle listings, a comprehensive set of research tools and the largest database of consumer reviews in the industry, Cars.com helps shoppers buy, sell and service their vehicles. (From their About Us page

*Mama Writes Reviews was compensated to write this article on www.mamawritesreviews.com