Q: I heard we should go to a fire station to have our car seats inspected; is that true?

A: Not around here! In some parts of the USA, many Child Passenger Safety Technicians (CPSTs) are also first responders; however, not all first responders are CPSTs.

In the Seattle area, the vast majority of our amazing first responders have no formal car seat training. However, as civil servants, some will offer car seat assistance anyway. While fueled by well-intentioned kindness, this can lead to dangerous misinformation.

In the Seattle metro area, official car seat safety checks are almost exclusively available at sporadic public safety events or by private appointment.

Q: I’ve already installed my seat, and just want someone to look and make sure I’ve done it right. Do you have a service for this?

A: Yep, this is a Car Seat Academy moment. You might be confident the seat is installed right, but oftentimes you don’t know what you don’t know! Car seats are complex, highly engineered, life-saving devices that depend on correct use (not just correct installation) to be effective.

The CPST code of conduct and liability require that I educate all clients on how to achieve a correct installation, proper harnessing, adjusting, and other aspects of safe car seat use. Appointments at public safety events may be rushed for time, but all meetings with a CPST should cover the same topics.

I’ve met with hundreds of families over the past 16+ years, and every one has learned something from our time together. I offer three different Car Seat Academy appointments for various experience levels, so there’s an option for everyone!

  Q: Why do you charge a fee for your services? Shouldn’t car seat checks be free?

A: As an independent educator (not affiliated with any company or government agency), I charge a fee for my services for a multitude of reasons, including covering the costs related to maintaining my certification, travel, and compensation for my time.

By charging for my services, I’m able to offer private appointments at a time and location that is convenient for your busy life! No waiting weeks or months for an appointment at a public seat check event, traveling out of your way, or waiting around for your turn.

Q: I have three kids and a small vehicle. How do I know if they’re all safe?

A: Fitting car seats seats three-accross can be tricky to get right! It often requires specific seats to make them all fit. Each car seat must be independently secure (not held in place by a neighboring seat), and they can’t overlap. It usually takes advanced techniques to get it right!

If you don’t yet own all three seats, I’d recommend starting with one of my Car Seat Selection services! Fitting three-across is a great time to go with Selection Escort for all-in-one (selection and installation) assistance.

If you’ve already purchased three seats that seem to fit, go ahead and book a Car Seat Academy appointment for three seats. I’ll walk you through installing each seat and testing to be sure they’re safe both individually and as a group.

Q: What if I can’t afford your fee? Times are tough, and some people have multiple children.

A: If price is a concern, please let me know! I offer a discount for families who choose to travel to me instead of a standard appointment at their home.

If that cost is still out of reach, I’m happy to offer a limited number of sponsored appointments to families for whom my fee would be a hardship. Contact me for more information!

Q: What if I have a quick question, unrelated to installation or seat selection?

A: That’s exactly what Help Line appointments are for! Expert answers to all your car seat questions are just a quick call away.

Q: Do you have a recommendation for the best or safest car seat?