FAMILY SAFETY

Experts share tips on how to spot a fake car seat

Sep 3, 2024, 1:13 PM

Child safety advocates at Intermountain Primary Children's Hospital warn that they've seen an uptic...

Child safety advocates at Intermountain Primary Children's Hospital warn that they've seen an uptick in fake and counterfeit car seats. (Intermountain Primary Children's Hospital)

(Intermountain Primary Children's Hospital)

SALT LAKE CITY — Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital’s child safety advocates are seeing an uptick of fake and counterfeit car seats coming through their doors.

Two weeks after giving birth to her baby, Jillian Davis discovered a shocking truth: the new car seat her dad bought from Walmart’s website was a fake.

While securing her baby in the seat, a hospital car seat tech spotted the issues.

“My first thought was how have I never heard of this? And what did I miss?” Davis said.

“There was a clasp missing on the front. And there was a clasp on the back that was missing so that could adjust the straps,” Davis said.

How to spot a fake car seat

Although Davis’ dad got the car seat from Walmart’s website, he found out it actually came from a third-party seller.

Child safety advocates at Primary Children’s said that’s something to avoid.

So how can parents ensure their car seats are real?

The first step to getting a legitimate car seat is buying directly from reputable stores and manufacturers.

Experts also pointed out that legitimate car seats should have warning labels in both English and Spanish, with correct spelling.

Another dead giveaway; authentic car seats feature a five-point harness, not a single buckle.

Advocates said parents wanting to check their car seats can find a technician through the National  Highway Traffic Safety Administration website. Parents can also schedule an in-person or virtual car seat check through Primary Children’s Hospital.

KSL 5 TV Live

Family Safety

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 30: In this photo illustration, social media networking apps are di...

Daniel Woodruff

Utah Senate committee approves requiring app stores to verify users’ ages

Children and smartphones took center stage at the Utah Capitol Tuesday as a Senate committee voted unanimously to require app stores to verify the ages of users.

10 days ago

...

Emma Benson

Maternal health awareness: Lowering risk for pregnancy-related complications

Finding a trusted maternal health provider and following their recommendations can help women stay healthy and deliver healthy babies.

15 days ago

My Auntie's House in Salt Lake City, which aims to heal domestic violence offenders and try to brin...

Mike Anderson

Domestic violence program focuses on healing offenders

My Auntie's House is a residential domestic violence program that focuses on healing the offenders and bringing families back together.

2 months ago

thanksgiving turkey meal...

Sam Herrera

Practice kitchen safety to avoid a fire this Thanksgiving, Red Cross says

Thanksgiving cooking safety should be top of mind, according to the Red Cross. Thanksgiving has more home cooking fires than any other day.

2 months ago

South Jordan city officials are recommending people buy natural gas detectors in the wake of a Sout...

Brian Carlson

South Jordan encouraging homeowners to purchase gas detectors after deadly blast

Inspections have wrapped up on the scene of last week's deadly home explosion in South Jordan, and the area is deemed safe. Now city officials are focused on trying to prevent another tragedy like this from happening again.

3 months ago

Helping thousands of young mothers and children: The Utah Department of Health and Human Services, ...

Karah Brackin

Utah celebrates 50th Anniversary of WIC, which has helped countless families in need

Helping thousands of young mothers and children: The Utah Department of Health and Human Services, (DHHS), is celebrating a milestone anniversary. 

5 months ago

Sponsored Articles

holiday gift basket with blue tissue paper and gingerbread cookies...

Kneaders Bakery & Cafe

Holiday hacks for a stress-free season

Get more out of your time with family and loved ones over the holidays by following these tips for a stress-free season.

2 computer techs in a computer shop holding up a computer server with the "hang loose" sign...

PC Laptops

A comprehensive guide to choosing the right computer

With these tips, choosing the right computer that fits your needs and your budget will be easier than ever.

crowds of people in a German style Christmas market...

This Is The Place Heritage Park

Celebrate Christkindlmarket at This Is The Place Heritage Park!

The Christkindlmarket is an annual holiday celebration influenced by German traditions and generous giving.

Image of pretty woman walking in snowy mountains. Portrait of female wearing warm winter earmuff, r...

Lighting Design

Brighten your mood this winter with these lighting tricks

Read our lighting tips on how to brighten your mood in the winter if you are experiencing seasonal affective disorder.

A kitchen with a washer and dryer and a refrigerator...

Appliance Man

Appliance Man: a trusted name in Utah’s home appliance industry

Despite many recent closures of local appliance stores, Appliance Man remains Utah's trusted home appliance business and is here to stay.

abstract vector digital social network technology background...

Les Olson

Protecting yourself against social engineering attacks

Learn more about the common types of social engineering to protect your online or offline assets from an attack.

Experts share tips on how to spot a fake car seat