Child safety advocates at Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital are raising concerns about an increasing number of parents unknowingly purchasing counterfeit car seats online. These fake products, often sold at steep discounts, can put children at serious risk of injury or even death in the event of a crash.

These counterfeit seats are typically bought online and are particularly attractive to parents due to their lower prices compared to well-known brands. What makes the situation more confusing is that these counterfeit seats are often sold through third-party sellers on the websites of major national retailers.

“It’s hard to tell a car seat is counterfeit from a small picture online, and many parents think they found a great deal from a major retailer,” said Michelle Jamison, community health program manager at Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital. “Once they realize there’s a problem and try to return it, the site they got it from has already been taken down.”

Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital has long provided both in-person and virtual car seat checks to educate parents on proper installation and correct use. Recently, caregivers have noticed a disturbing trend of counterfeit seats, or those failing to meet U.S. safety standards, being brought in for inspection.

These counterfeit car seats, while they may look legitimate and often come with a hefty price tag, lack crucial components that ensure a child’s safety in a crash. The hospital staff fears that using these seats could result in fatal consequences.

One such parent is Jilian Davis, who received a car seat as a gift during her pregnancy. The seat was purchased online from a major retailer by a family member. After giving birth in late June, her daughter spent two weeks in the NICU at Intermountain LDS Hospital & Intermountain Primary Children’s before they were ready to go home. It was then that a car seat technician helping them realized the seat was counterfeit.

“It’s completely shocking because this is my fourth child, and I’ve never heard of this being an issue,” Davis said. “It’s scary to think I could have been driving around with my child in a car seat that’s dangerous.”

Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital provided Davis with a replacement car seat, but she is now determined to warn other parents about the risks of unknowingly purchasing a counterfeit product.

Experts advise that the safest way to avoid counterfeit car seats is to buy directly from the manufacturer’s website or to visit a store in person. These methods ensure that the car seat meets all safety standards.

“Parents may think an in-store purchase is more expensive but what they’re really getting is the peace of mind [that] their child’s car seat is safe,” Jamison said. “While some models are pricey, there are less expensive ones that are still crash tested and safe.”

To meet stringent federal safety standards, car seats sold in the U.S. must include a manufacturer’s label detailing the car seat’s name, date of manufacture, branding, model number, and expiration date. This information is crucial for registering the car seat, allowing manufacturers to notify owners of any recalls. Counterfeit seats often lack these details, rendering them ineligible for registration.

Additionally, car seats in the U.S. are required to have warning labels in both English and Spanish, typically found on the back of the seat and near where the baby’s head rests. Counterfeit seats often omit these labels or include them in other languages, sometimes with grammatical errors.

A missing chest clip is another clear indicator that a car seat may be unsafe. These clips are mandatory in the United States but not in every country, which is why they are often absent in counterfeit models.

“If you determine that you have a counterfeit car seat, stop using it immediately and contact the retailer to notify them that they sold a counterfeit car seat,” Jamison said. “You may be able to recover the cost of the seat if you used a credit card or purchased through a major retailer.”

Parents are also encouraged to report counterfeit seats to STOPfakes.gov, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), or the U.S. Department of Commerce. Reporting to the state’s consumer protection agency is also advised.

For those seeking assistance in evaluating or installing a car seat, Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital offers both virtual and in-person checks. Appointments can be made by calling 801-662-CARS.