New York States says beware of counterfeit child car seats

Parents and caregivers searching online for a car seat to keep their children safe can enhance that protection by making sure it's the real deal, according to the state department that looks out for consumers.

There are a "rising number of counterfeit car seats" in online marketplaces, said a news release Tuesday by the New York State Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection.

State law requires children who are younger than 8 years old or shorter than 4-foot-9 ride in a front-facing car seat, while all children under 2-years-old must ride in a rear-facing car seat.

While legitimate child car seats meet federal safety standards, knockoffs pose potentially life-threatening risks "due to lack of proper testing, inadequate safety features and poor construction," the release said.

"One of the biggest red flags" that can expose a car seat as a counterfeit is a low price tag that is "too good to be true," the consumer department said in the release.

In a statement, New York Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley said "money saved on an illegitimate car seat is never worth the cost of a child’s life."

Other red flags indicative of a counterfeit car seat are labels with "significant grammatical errors" and reliance on "flimsy" materials like plastic with little or no metal parts, according to the state.

Buyers should avoid car seats that use a three-point contact harness or do not have a chest clip. Federally-approved seats have a five-point contact harness and a chest clip.

Legitimate car seats, state officials said, also have user manuals for installation, a registration card so the manufacturer can notify the buyer of a product recall and a label with the following statement: "This restraint system conforms to all applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards."

The state department recommends parents buy car seats directly from manufacturers or through major retailers. Buyers should beware of shopping for car seats through online "businesses that operate third-party marketplaces," including Amazon and Walmart, the consumer protection division said. Shoppers should verify a product’s authenticity by confirming it with the manufacturer’s website.

The state does not recommend buying used car seats through garage sales or thrift stores as they could be damaged, recalled or expired. Purchasers can view the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee Used Child Safety Seats Checklist for guidance.

"As New Yorkers look for ways to save, I urge parents and caregivers to avoid including the car seat on the list of cost cutting expenses," Mosley said.

The state department cites Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data noting car crashes "are a leading cause of death among children in the U.S., but many of these deaths can be prevented by using car seats that meet federal safety standards and are properly installed."

"It is important for parents and caregivers to know what to look for when shopping for a car seat and to understand the dangers of buying a counterfeit, which are often made with cheaper materials that will not hold up in a crash," Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner Mark J.F. Schroeder said in a statement.

More information regarding child car seats, including information for spotting counterfeits and free car seat installation events, is available through the New York State Department of Health website.