Home & Family Facts and Notes

Any time you decide to buy a car seat for your child, you should make an effort to stay up to date on any product recalls. That means you’ll need to check on the news often. Visit websites that will keep you notified of any car seat recalls in effect.

But what should you do if the frightening happens, and your child’s car seat is recalled?

First, visit the website for the recalled seat, or call the toll-free number. The manufacturer will likely have a special webpage or phone line set up strictly for the recall.

You can be sure that whenever there’s a recall, car seat companies won’t dawdle. They’re going to want to make sure your child is safe. Be sure to follow the instructions you get from the website or the phone line.

Be sure to have your child’s cat seat on hand when you call or visit the website. It’s possible you’ll need the model name or the serial number–you can usually find the model name in the instruction manual.

You will probably be advised to keep using the car seat until you receive your repair kit. In almost all cases, it is much safer for your child to be in a recalled car seat than it is for your child to ride in a car with no safety restraints at all.

Another way to stay on top of car seat recalls for your child’s car seat is to register the seat with the manufacturer when you purchase it. All car seats (like many products) come with a registration card.

Most people just throw these away. When it comes to a product like this, it is important to register it and give the company a way to contact you.

While you can’t ensure they won’t use your address for advertisements and the like, at least you’ll know that you will be contacted should any recalls occur.

Just remember that if there is a recall, don’t panic: It doesn’t mean it’s a bad seat, period. There are always errors in manufacturing, and when errors are discovered in a car seat, the manufacturer typically works to correct them quickly.

If you’re still concerned after hearing about a car seat recall, speak to a company representative. They can probably give you peace of mind and might even be able to give you sound advice.

Tags: pets, home accessories