Denver, CO. (Ivanhoe Newswire) — You’ve heard of counterfeit money but what about counterfeit car seats? Some unsuspecting parents are buying them and putting their child’s safety at risk.
Hospitals say there’s been an uptick of these imitation seats being sold online via marketplaces and third-party retailers.
“The danger is that they won’t protect your child and could even harm your child,” explained Kirsten Dehmlow, Parent Education Coordinator from Presbyterian/St. Luke’s, Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children.
Counterfeit car seats may appear safe at first glance, but they’re often made of cheaper materials, and they aren’t crash tested.
“So, we don’t know even if they’re durable enough. They could just crumble in a crash,” said Dehmlow.
To ensure your baby’s seat is legit, look up the name brand. Be sure the company has an official web site. Avoid buying from third-party sites. When the car seat arrives, check for a guidebook and registration card. Counterfeit seats are often missing these documents. Also make sure that infant seats have a five-point harness, and the seat should have official stickers on the sides that provide warnings, instructions, and manufacturing dates. Counterfeit seats often display foreign addresses with no U.S. phone numbers and they are usually cheaper!
“If the deal seems too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true,” explained Dehmlow.
If you think you bought a counterfeit car seat, you can report it to STOPfakes.gov or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s website.
Contributors to this news report include: Julie Marks, Producer; Bob Walko, Editor
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Sources:
https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/car-seat-safety-how-to-spot-fake-counterfeit-child-seats/
https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/warning-colorado-parents-watch-out-counterfeit-car-seats/
https://saferide4kids.com/blog/counterfeit-car-seats-on-rise-navigating-threat-to-child-safety
