Think you know all there is to know about car seats? Buckle up.

No matter your role – new or experienced parent, childcare provider or grandparent – it’s important to stay up to date on car seat safety, says Maureen Johnson, a certified child passenger safety technician instructor at University of Vermont Health – UVM Medical Center.

Johnson is part of the Child Passenger Safety (CPS) Program, which offers car seat inspections, education and outreach to help keep kids safe on the road. Called the “Rear-Facing Car Seat Queen” by her peers, she is a regional expert who has created four CPS guides and serves as president of the Safe Kids Vermont Coalition.

“My passion is protecting people, especially the most vulnerable,” she says.

Johnson makes regular rounds on the Mother Baby Unit at UVM Medical Center to talk with families, answer questions and ensure they have a car seat. She also conducts car seat checks by appointment.

“We also encourage folks to get their car seat needs taken care of before their child is born,” Johnson says. “I offer prenatal appointments, and we participate in the Vermont Department of Health’s car seat program for income-eligible families.”

Common Car Seat Mistakes to Avoid

In recognition of the more than 4,000 car seat checks Johnson has performed in her decade with UVM Health, here are four common mistakes she sees:

• Tighten it up. Many car seats are not secured properly. Follow the one-inch rule: At the “belt path” where the seat belt or lower anchors connect, try to move the seat (or base) side to side and front to back. If it moves more than an inch, it’s not tight enough. And always use a tether to properly secure a forward-facing car seat.
• Lose the puffy winter coat. Dress your child in thin layers or place a blanket over the harness. “A puffy coat can compress in a crash, leaving the harness too loose to protect the child,” Johnson says.
• More is not better. Do not use a seat belt and lower anchors at the same time when installing a car seat. “That’s not in line with most manufacturers’ instructions, and one method can interfere with the other,” Johnson says. Keep in mind that lower anchors have weight limits that include the weight of the car seat itself.
• Don’t rush transitions. Use a seat that fits the child’s age and size. Follow federal guidelines for the four stages of child passenger safety – rear-facing, forward-facing, booster and seat belt – and avoid “graduating” too soon. There are laws in Vermont and New York that specify the ages for these transitions. Also, make sure your seat meets federal safety standards: Cheap counterfeit seats don’t.

Keeping Up with Car Seat Safety

Overall, Johnson says families are trying to do the right thing. Still, she sees misuse rates around 60%, with higher rates nationally.

That’s why she works with people of all ages, including through the UVM Medical Center injury prevention team’s “Grandparent Refresher” course.

Even if you did it right with the last car seat, or you did it right when you had an infant, things constantly change.There’s always something to learn.

For more information, see UVM Health’s car seat safety page and the American Academy of Pediatrics car seat information for families.