Car Seat Checkup: The Rise of Fake Car Seats

Reading Hospital's maternity team is raising awareness about fake car seats after noticing a growing number of people purchasing them during the past year. Since 2023, staff identified 38 fake/counterfeit car seats that families and caregivers brought to the hospital to transport their newborn home.

Counterfeit car seats are often made with flimsy materials and mimic well-known brands, tricking the buyer into thinking they are getting a good deal. In reality, these products may not meet the rigorous safety standards required by law, and they pose serious safety risks to child passengers.

"Too often, we see well-meaning parents come in with noncompliant car seats," Heather Enright, MSN, RNC-MNN, ICCE, said. "At discharge, we have a responsibility to assure our babies are in a car seat that is compliant with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to help keep them safe."

Motor vehicle crashes are one of the leading causes of injury and death for children, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). When it comes to the safety of your little ones, a compliant car seat is one of the most important safety devices to have in your vehicle. Research by the CDC shows that proper use of a car seat can reduce the risk of fatal injury in a crash by up to 71 percent for infants and by 54 percent for toddlers.

"Child safety is a responsibility not to be taken lightly," Enright said. "We want to raise awareness and warn the parents and caregivers in our community about the increase in counterfeit car seats so they can keep their loved ones safe. The right car seat can make a difference between life and death."