- Don’t add extra layers between your child and their car seat. Regardless if you want to protect your child from warm plastic or the seat from getting damp after your child has been playing in the water all day, padding the seat with towels or blankets is not safe. The extra material can prevent the seatbelt and seat itself from restraining your child properly.
- Cool off the car before you get in. Either open the windows and doors or turn the air conditioner on a few minutes before you load the kids in. Not only are you getting some of that stifling hot air out of the car but you are also allowing the materials (metal buckets, leather, and plastic armrests) inside the car to cool off. We hope this goes without saying, but please never leave a child in the car alone especially on a hot summer day.
- Don’t rent a car seat. Bring yours from home whenever possible. You know exactly how it works, whereas a rented one might not be the same model, be expired (Yes, they expire!), or have been in a crash or not stored properly which could result in weak spots.
- Remember to use the “Inch Test” and “Pinch Test” every few uses. These tests are used to make sure both the straps and seat itself are snug in the right places.
Car Seat Ready For Summer!
Child car seat safety isn’t just about buckling up. Toyota wants to make sure your family is as safe as possible this road-trip season regardless of your destination. Take a look at the list below for some good rules of thumb to follow.
