Keeping your child safe is top priority of any parent, but many parents don't realize their child's car seat has been installed incorrectly.

To make sure your child is properly strapped in, Parent Link and Seat Savvy are coming together to host a car seat clinic November 19, at Cochrane Protective Services.

At the clinic they will take you through the right way to install your car seat whether it's for infants, toddlers, or school-aged kids and correct mistakes parents make.

Angie Aben, Child Passenger Safety Association of Canada, Safety Technician/ Owner of Seat Savvy, said to follow your car seat manual. Even though it may be awkward for a parent to load a larger or taller toddler into a rear facing seat, it is strongly recommended that babies be rear facing from birth until the age of two years old.

“Legally in Alberta you need to follow what the manual says for your car seat. We still have outdated laws on the books that say you can turn a child after the age of one and is 22 lbs. However, that's really outdated and we are starting to see seats that don't allow forward facing before age two.”

Aben said staying rear facing protects babies necks and spinal cords from irreparable damage in the event of a collision.

If you were wondering about borrowing or purchasing a second hand seat, know the parameters in which it can be used.

“If a seat has been manufactured after January 1, 2012 and the history of the seat is known, all of the components are there and the seat isn't recalled, the seat can be passed on or obtained as a second hand seat.”

If used incorrectly, improper installation and use can run you a traffic ticket of $155.00.

Other car seat common mistakes:

  • Loose installation
  • No tether strap
  • Chest clip too low
  • Harness set at the wrong height for baby's torso
  • After market products added to infant seats
  • Infant seats handle left in the wrong position

To register your spot for the clinic, call Angie Aben at Seat Savvy (403) 980-7328 or email: angie@seatsavvy.ca.