Car Seat Recalls - What You Should Know

Recall is a scary word - you never want to think that your child is/has been unsafe! You cannot possibly foresee or do anything to avoid recalls - nearly every manufacturer has had a recall of some kind. All you can do is make sure your child's seat is installed correctly, that they are harnessed appropriately, and...you can register your car seat!

When you register your car seat (either on the manufacturer website or using the registration postcard that comes attached to the car seat), the manufacturer will be able to contact you directly about recall information as soon as they become aware of it. They can provide you with instructions for how to remedy the recall or what you should do if the recall cannot be fixed with a new part. They should provide this information and/or replacement part free of charge to you.

Remember that not every recall means you have to stop using the car seat. Don't panic! As soon as you hear about the recall, contact your manufacturer (there is contact information in the car seat manual and on the car seat labels) and they will help you determine next steps.

If you haven't done it, register your car seat! If you still have it, you can register your car seat using the registration card that came with the seat and send it back to the manufacturer. You can also register your car seat on the manufacturer's website. Google the car seat manufacturer and car seat registration (e.g. Chicco car seat registration) and you should find the webpage that allows you to register your seat by providing your contact information along with the product information (model number, serial number, date of manufacture).

NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) has an app called SaferCar that allows you to register for recall alerts for your vehicle AND car seat(s) on your phone. It’s a convenient way to be notified immediately in the event of a recall for your child’s car seat.