Virtual car seat checks: September’s National Child Passenger Safety Week

“Should I install my car seat with LATCH or the seat belt?”

“Which harness slot should I use and how do I move it?”

“What is a tether?”

Car seats are hard. Harder than they have any right to be, honestly. Why else would at least 4 out of 5 parents do it wrong? I’ll tell you a secret — I chose my baby’s first car seat just because it matched the color of my car (please don’t do that). But that was before I became a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician in 1999 and all my questions were answered! Well, not quite. Car seats and vehicles (and laws, see below) are constantly changing, and our job is to keep up to date and keep learning. This year that means learning how to teach car seat safety in the age of COVID-19.

MultiCare Mary Bridge Children’s has been offering car seat inspections for well over 20 years at events where we educate families right at — and in — their car. Those community events have paused for now, but we are offering an exciting new option: Virtual car seat checks.

During a virtual check, you can video chat with one of our experienced technicians from the comfort and safety of home. Point your webcam at your car seat, and we will walk you through adjusting the harness and installing it in your car. You get a customized educational session, at no charge, thanks to the generous support of the Mary Bridge Foundation.

Washington’s car seat law changed in January 2020 and now requires:

• Rear-facing car seat up to age 2.
• Harnessed car seat up to age 4.
• Booster seat up to 4’9” tall.
• Ride in the back seat until age 13.
• Follow all manufacturer instructions.

Child Passenger Safety Week, Sept. 20-26, 2020, is a great time to schedule your virtual car seat check. For more information, visit the Mary Bridge Children’s Center for Childhood Safety Car Seat Inspections page, or email our team at [email protected] with your safety questions.