In an era where online shopping is the norm, the alarming rise in counterfeit car seats poses a substantial threat to child safety. Families are unknowingly falling prey to substandard and illegal car seats. These counterfeit seats are unsafe and jeopardize the safety of their children.
This comprehensive exploration sheds light on the gravity of the situation, offering insights into the proliferation of counterfeit car seats, their potential dangers and the necessary precautions to ensure child passenger safety.
The Rise of Counterfeit Car Seats
As the digital marketplace expands, so does the prevalence of counterfeit car seats. Even renowned traditional models, such as the Doona, are not immune to replication. What makes these knockoffs particularly insidious is the difficulty in distinguishing them from genuine products through online images alone. Can you tell which one is the real Doona above?
Counterfeit car seats are often crafted from cheaper, flimsier materials that cannot withstand the forces of a crash. (Same thing applies to knockoff, cheap pregnancy seat belt positioners.) While they may appear safe at first glance, crash tests have revealed that these imitation seats can shatter into pieces, posing a severe risk to a child’s safety during an accident.
Concerns: Lack of Statistics and Global Marketplace
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) acknowledges the absence of national statistics on non-compliant car seats available for sale to US customers. Experts within the pediatric injury field express growing concern over the past five years.
“Unfortunately, we are seeing more of these counterfeit car seats across online marketplaces, often through third party retailers, so not through the manufacturers themselves, but other retailers that are selling them online,” said Emily Thomas, manager of auto safety at Consumer Reports.
We wrote an article in 2016 about the fake RideSafer-like “travel seats” (except not alike at all in function) which at the time were abundantly found on Amazon. And we updated that article a couple years later with additional information about other traditional car seat knockoffs. (We moved that information to this article.)
A Colorado hospital said they also have seen an uptick in counterfeit seats when they verify new parents have car seat in which to bring home their new baby. The hospital has to refuse discharging newborns until the parents go get and install a replacement.
The global marketplace exacerbates the counterfeit car seat issue, enabling consumers to purchase car seats from other countries. Foreign seats may not meet US safety standards. While some say it’s not against the law to use foreign car seats, in reality there are many state car seat laws that specify a seat has to be federally approved or certified to US standards.
Identifying Counterfeit Car Seats: What to Look For
Since it is hard to tell just by a picture whether or not something is a knockoff, here are some things to look for when selecting a car seat or checking a car seat you purchased:
1. Suspiciously Low Prices:
Price can be a key indicator. If a seemingly high-end model is available at an unusually low price, it’s likely a counterfeit. For instance, a Doona imitation selling for $250 should raise red flags. Notice how on the photo above the Doona (green one) actually says “Doona” on the side. Whereas the imitation (pink one) has a leafy picture on the side.
2. Unrecognizable Manufacturer Details:
Counterfeit seats often display an unrecognizable manufacturer with a foreign address and no U.S. phone number.
3. Label Discrepancies:
Counterfeits may lack labels altogether or display labels with discrepancies, such as foreign languages, grammatical errors, or a failure to mention FMVSS213. Authentic car seats certified in the US must adhere to stringent labeling requirements set by the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS213).
Specifically make sure this required information is on the label:
- Model Name or number
- Manufactured date
- Height and weight specifications for the use of the seat
- Manufacturer’s name, address and phone number
- The statement: ““This child restraint system conforms to all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards.”
- The statement: “For recall information, call the U.S. Government’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.NHTSA.gov.”
4. Manual and Registration Absence:
Counterfeit car seats often lack a manual and registration card. Legitimate products include comprehensive manuals and registration cards. Counterfeit products probably won’t.
Note: Fill out that registration card or register online. Registering your car seat with the manufacturer is the best way to find out about any future recalls or safety concerns right from the manufacturer.
I would say the manual should be clearly written but since legal departments usually have to clear them, they are not always so clear. However, it should be in English and have the manufacturer’s information and logo on it.
5. Build Quality:
Genuine car seats are well-constructed to make sure they pass US crash standards. However, counterfeit counterparts tend to be flimsy. Assessing the materials and structural integrity can help identify knockoffs. Can you bend the plastic?
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The Threat of Common Counterfeit Car Seat Models
Notable counterfeit car seats encompass fake Doonas Infant Car Seats (like shown above), imitation infant car seat bassinet systems, and counterfeit Chinese “booster” seats.
People sometimes lump in the RideSafer travel vest with these Chinese “booster or travel” seats. However, the RideSafer is a safe and legal child restraint, having been certified in the US since 2004.
We see these seats often, especially in Facebook ads and being sold on Amazon. Familiarizing oneself with these common knockoffs can aid in making informed purchasing decisions.
Dispelling the Chest Clip Misconception
A lot of counterfeit seat warnings say to look for a chest clip. Contrary to popular belief, US-sold car seats are not legally required to have a chest clip.
However, almost every harnessed car seat in the US market includes one. The absence of a chest clip in a purported US-sold car seat could indicate a counterfeit or foreign product, rendering it illegal for use in the United States.
What to do to Avoid Purchasing a Counterfeit Car Seat
1. The Role of AAP’s 2023 Car Seat List
For parents seeking reassurance, the American Academy of Pediatrics’ (AAP) list of approved car seats serves as a valuable resource. And, yes, the RideSafer is on the list (under travel vests).
Verifying a car seat against this list ensures compliance with safety standards for use in the United States.
2. Go to a physical store, when possible
Every counterfeit car seat we have seen was purchased online.
The decline of traditional brick-and-mortar stores, like Babies-R-Us, selling car seats, coupled with the allure of online bargains, contributes to the proliferation of counterfeit car seats. Parents seeking cost-effective solutions online may unknowingly compromise on safety, lured by deals that are too good to be true.
It’s not always easy to find car seats in stores. For instance, RideSafer vests are only sold online except for a few small shops in various places around the US. But car seats sold in stores are purchased by the retailer direct from the manufacturer. Big box stores usually offer some of the most common car seats. Specialty baby stores may offer lesser known or more expensive brands.
The bonus to going to an actual store to buy is most of those store will allow you to test car seats in your car prior to purchasing. This is a good idea to make sure 1. it fits in your car and 2. you can figure out how to install it in your car.
If you have to buy online, confirm with the manufacturer you are purchasing from an authorized retailer.
3. Ask an expert
If you aren’t sure if it’s real or a counterfeit, call the manufacturer. They should know what retailers are carrying their seats and be able to tell you.
If you already purchased and aren’t sure, visit a certified child passenger safety technician to check it out. Bonus, if it is a legit seat, they can check the installation or teach you how to install it.
Call to Action: Reporting Counterfeit Car Seats
Given the prevalence of counterfeit car seats in online marketplaces, consumers play a pivotal role in curbing this menace.
Whether you accidentally bought a counterfeit seat or saw one while shopping, report incidents to:
- STOPfakes.gov
- a Child Passenger Safety Technician,
- the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
- Go to NHTSA.gov and click on report a problem in the upper right corner.
- Choose Non-Vehicle, then Child Restraints and enter in the information. Choose “Other” if the brand is not in the drop down menu. Also
- the U.S. Department of Commerce via their contact form.
Prioritizing Child Safety on the Road
The road to child safety is paved with awareness and proactive measures. As the issue persists, heightened awareness, vigilant consumer behavior and collaborative efforts are essential to combat the menace of counterfeit car seats.
Prioritizing child safety on the road involves not only understanding the potential dangers posed by counterfeit seats but also taking proactive measures to verify the authenticity of purchased car seats. Together, we can fortify the defense against counterfeit car seats and pave the way for safer journeys for our little passengers.
By Amie Durocher, Creative Director at Safe Ride 4 Kids and certified CPS Tech since 2004
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