When it comes to recommendations and our child's safety, less isn't more. Researchers at the Ohio State University College of Medicine have determined car seats don't align with a vehicle's seat 42 percent of the time. That should be enough to make you stop what you're doing and take note.
The study also mentions that less than 6 out of 10 rear-facing car seats fit on the vehicle's seat.
Researchers involved with the study point out the problem isn't with the car seat, considering they do pass federal safety requirements. Instead, they want parents to pay close attention to the models they buy, as unfortunately there doesn't appear to be a one-size-fits-all scenario for everyone. Depending on the type of vehicle you have, your child's car seat may or may not properly align with the actual seat of the car -- and that can lead to some people using random objects to prop it up.
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Honestly, the idea of using a blanket or pool noodle underneath a car seat is foreign to me as it seems unsafe. Yet, there are many parents who find it's the only way to fit their child's unit on the seat. As you might've guessed, this practice is not only dangerous but needs to stop.
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I can recall time spent researching the latest and greatest baby products for my first child. Perhaps I should've asked the store if I could take the model to my car to see if it would fit, but honestly, the thought never crossed my mind. However, one thing my husband and I did do was take our car to a child car seat inspection center so a certified "installer" could make our minds rest a little easier (all right, just mine) about our child's safety.
Car seats can help save your child's life, but only if they're properly installed. Hopefully this study will be a wake-up call to us all.
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