“We're seeing a large amount of counterfeit or non-compliant car seats come on the market, and they are a real safety hazard because they don't meet the testing standards,” said Sharon Evans, trauma injury prevention manager at Cook Children's Health Care System.

Evans says the health care system has seen more than 15 counterfeit car seats since 2021.

The Hidden Cost of "Cheap" Seats

Experts from Cook Children's Health Care System, Viviana Esparza, program coordinator at the Center for Community Health, and Evans warn that while fake seats save money upfront, they fail when it matters most.

“The health and wellbeing of our children is of highest concern,” said Esparza. “The cost of a car seat doesn’t compare to the safety of a child.”

While counterfeit seats appear to be bargains, the price difference is often deceptive. Evans and Esparza recently encountered a knockoff Doona car seat at a safety event that cost $300, compared to the $650 retail price for a legitimate model.

“Often, parents are buying these from third-party sellers on TikTok Shop and Amazon,” Evans explained.

Red Flags: How to Identify a Fake

When shopping for car seats, Evans advises parents and caregivers to watch for counterfeits of popular brands. These knockoffs are often cheaper than their legitimate counterparts anddo not meet regulations to protect a child in the event of a car crash. 

Look for these warning signs:

• Materials: The plastic shell may feel thin, flexible, or even hollow.

• Harnesses: The chest clip may be missing, or the harness straps may not conform to U.S. width standards.

• Missing Documentation: Instructions may be missing or provided only in foreign languages.

• Lack of Labeling: Legitimate seats must have side labels with installation guides, weight limits, and manufacture dates. Fakes often have no labels or labels with poor grammar and typos.

Three Steps to Ensure Your Seat is Safe

• Buy Direct: Buy directly from the manufacturer or a reputable retail store.
• Call the seat manufacturer: They can help you determine if it’s a knockoff and will sometimes ask you to submit photos.
• Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST): Take your car seat to be checked by a certified child passenger safety technician. They are trained to help determine if it’s fake. 

Where to Get Help

Evans recommends parents and caregivers with a new car or booster seat, schedule a free inspection with a CPST.

• Visit freecarseatcheck.org and click “Book your appointment”
• Find a child passenger safety technician at safekids.org
• Find an inspection station through The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

If you discover the seat is a fake, stop using it immediately. Report the seller to the retailer and file a report at StopFakes.gov or with NHTSA.

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In 2025, Cook Children’s Health Care System saw on average, 38% of children injured in a major vehicle accident were unrestrained or improperly restrained. 

“Many of these resulted in deaths or severe injuries,” said Sharon Evans, trauma injury prevention manager.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Texas law requires children under the age of 8 and those under 4 feet 9 inches should be in a child safety seat. A child must be 8 years old or taller than 4’9” to use a seat belt. Failure to properly restrain a child can result in a ticket of up to $250. NHTSA data shows more than 300 children under the age of five have been saved due to their car seat.  

What to know before hitting the road:

According to the National Safety Council more than 54 million vehicles on the road have an open safety recall. Almost one million cars have an open child seat anchor safety recall. The LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) is the built‑in anchoring system required in most vehicles since 2003, designed to secure child seats without relying on seat belts. These anchors keep child seats firmly in place.

• Drive alert: Avoid tired, distracted or impaired driving.
• Check for recalls: Visit the website Vehicle Recall Check by VIN or License Plate | Check to Protect to see if your car has an active recall.
• Secure every passenger: Make sure every passenger is secured by the correct car seat or seat belt on every ride.
• Take breaks: If your children are fussy, don’t let them out of their car seat or seat belt while the car is moving. Instead, stop at a safe location where they can run around and burn off energy.  
• Pack safely: Pay attention to how and what you pack.  Remember everything becomes a flying projectile in a sudden stop or crash.
• Use cargo tools: If you have an SUV, use the cargo cover or net to secure your luggage.

Know the Four Stages of Car Seats

Trauma Injury Prevention and the Center for Community Health share some tips on keeping your little one safe.

1. Rear-facing

Rear-facing car seats are the first stage of restraint for children ranging from newborns to preschoolers. This stage supports their head, neck, and back while riding in a vehicle until they meet the maximum weight OR height of their car seat. According to Evans, it is highly recommended by experts to keep your child in a rear-facing car seat for as long as possible, as it is the safest option available.

2. Forward-facing

Forward-facing is the second stage of car seats for preschoolers through school-age kids. Children should remain in a forward-facing car seat with a five-point harness until they meet the maximum weight OR height before moving to a booster seat.

3. Booster

Children must be at least five years old before transitioning into a booster seat. The booster seat stage is crucial for children who have outgrown a harnessed car seat, but do not yet fit safely behind a lap-shoulder belt. Still, booster seats are skipped over all too often. Evans said many kids between the ages of 4 and 8 get seriously injured due to being put in seat belts too soon.

4. Seat Belt

A seat belt is the final stage of restraint. The safest time to transition to a seat belt is when your child is at least 4’ 9”, or 57 inches tall. Though the law states children can transition to seatbelts at eight years old, Evans cautions that many children won’t reach 57 inches of height—and should therefore remain in a booster seat—until closer to 10 or 12.

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