Don’t Be Gullible Utah: Here’s How To Spot Fake Car Seats

Non-Compliant Car Seats Are Being Sold to Unsuspecting Parents 

A story from KSL about a woman who was leaving the hospital with her newborn baby when she discovered her new car seat was counterfeit. It had been purchased online by a grandparent but did not comply with safety standards and would not have protected the child in case of a crash. 

This is a fairly new problem as companies manufacture these car seats at a discount and sell them through major retailers as a third party. Fortunately, there are some things to look for and in the case of the woman in this story, a quick check from hospital staff revealed the truth. 

How to Know if the Car Seat You Own is Compliant. 

This information from Safe Kids gives details on how to spot a cheap knock off when it comes to car seats.  

1. It Should be Labeled Properly. There should be manufacture information detailing where it was made and that it fulfills government standards. There should also be information to register it. 

2. Compliant Features. It should have a five-point harness and chest clip. There should also be information about the weight of the child and how to adjust it properly. 

3. Things That Look Off. Is it second hand? Do you recognize the company? Are there misspelled words on the labels? You should also question a price that is too good to be true. All can indicate a counterfeit seat. 

Read More: Frugal Utah Grandpas And A Frozen Chicken Recall

It seems pretty callused to take advantage of new parents by offering an inferior item. That these manufacturers would take advantage is disheartening. The more parents, grandparents and friends are aware of this problem it will limit the possibility of a tragedy.