How to Avoid Common Car Seat Installation Mistakes

Don’t use nonapproved covers and cushions.

Do: Use only covers and cushions that have been approved by the car seat manufacturer for use with that seat. These items have been crash-tested with your seat to meet compliance standards. As a rule, don’t place additional padding between the seat and your child or between your child and the harness straps.

The NHTSA study also found that the most common misuse of booster installations was placing the lap belt high on the belly or rib cage rather than low across the hips and upper thighs. If you have a booster seat, check our car seat buying guide for more information on how to properly secure your child in it and how to decide whether your child is ready for a vehicle’s seat belt alone.