Choosing the right car seat for your baby and registering it might be one of the most crucial decisions you’ll make as a parent. Both steps have the potential to save lives. That’s what a couple of studies funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found.
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The NHTSA found “that between 2005 and 2009, an estimated 230,918 child restraints were recalled.” The NHTSA study adds that “as of September 30, 2018, a total of 150 manufacturers have submitted 173 recalls affecting 2,161,653 units of child restraints.” Not all recalls are life-threatening, but most are serious enough to merit the recalls in the first place. And the vast majority of problems do not show up until after the child restraints have been used over a period of time.
Why registering is powerful and important.
- Prompt, Timely Notifications: While it doesn’t happen often, car seats can be recalled. If a manufacturer discovers a problem, it is required to take steps to let owners know, but how it chooses to do what it must is a matter of judgment. The “direct line of communication” with the registered owner is the quickest, most effective way to deliver the message. All that being said, it’s not hard to imagine a world in which technology could offer even more precise, more timely methods of keeping parents informed.
- Keeping current on safety information is important. Sometimes just being aware of recalls is not enough when it comes to your child’s car seat. Manufacturers may go beyond recalls and issue safety updates or even notices that inform you of a problem with the car seat design of your child’s specific model. These timely updates often come when manufacturers are aware of an emerging problem because of actual incidents that have occurred.
- Having your car seat registered can speed up the somewhat slow process that investigators go through while trying to identify the model of a car seat involved in an accident, and then contact the manufacturer if necessary. Even though the identification of a particular car seat rarely if ever decides the outcome of an accident investigation, it is not for lack of trying that investigators don’t often do so rapidly. What identifying a car seat by model in more of a timely fashion can do, however, is allow investigators to consider whether the design of that seat might have played a part in the accident and thus might need to be part of any future accident analysis.
- The chance of being rewarded with discounts is an opportunity worth considering. A few companies even go so far as to reward you for registering, offering either straight reductions off the prices of new products or straightforward access to future discounts. Though not the main impetus for an individual to register, these possibilities do make doing so seem as good as—a bit like getting a private shopping privilege card.
How to Register Your Infant Car Seat
Registering your car seat is an uncomplicated procedure consisting of a few basic steps:
Step 1: Locate the Registration Card
Most car seats come with an attached card for registration. If you can’t find it, don’t worry. You can visit the manufacturer’s website or contact their customer service for a duplicate or in order to register by phone instead.
Step 2: Fill Out the Form
Enter your accurate information on the registration form—you want to get notifications that will actually reach you, after all! This includes your name, address, phone number, and the like. You’ll also need to provide your car seat’s unique model number, which is typically printed somewhere on or near the car seat. Additionally, you should note the month and year of the seat’s manufacture, and the name or nickname of your little one who’ll be using the seat.
Step 3: Submit the Form
You can usually register online or by mail, although some manufacturers may offer alternative means of registration (e.g., via a QR code). It’s really up to you which way you want to register, as long as you actually do it.
Step 4: Keep a Copy
Make a photocopy (or snap a photo) of the filled-out form so you have a record of what was submitted. That’s it! You can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that you’ve fulfilled all of the car seat registration requirements.
Act now; sign up today!
Although it may seem optional, registering your baby car seat is a small act with a large impact. Just a few minutes of your time can mean a world of difference in your child’s safety. Registering your seat allows the manufacturer to take note of you, their new customer, and keep you in the loop should any recall event arise. Why is this important? A lot can occur in the short time between when a car seat is first manufactured and when your baby gurgles contentedly in it.
Conclusion
The seat your baby is in, when you’re driving them around, is not just any piece of equipment—they are being kept safe in it. Why is this so important? What can you do to make sure your baby’s car seat is always a safe place for them to be? One of the simplest yet most effective steps you can take is to register the car seat when you first purchase it.