The District is hosting a child car seat check this Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Southwest vehicle inspection station as part of a national safety push. Walker is a motor vehicle inspector who has been helping keep D.C. kids safe in their car seats for eight years. What’s the biggest mistake you see parents make when they install car seats?
Basically, seats might not be tight enough or the seat’s harness straps might not be adjusted correctly. And sometimes it’s just the wrong seat for the child. And then you run across no seats at all for the kids. That’s the biggest worry.
What makes for the right seat?
Usually everybody starts out with the infant seat. Some people get the convertible seat, which is sometimes not a good fit for the infant. … It’s too big. Sometimes the harness is too tall for the baby’s height.
What advice do you have for parents on finding a car seat?
All seats don’t fit all cars. You have to do car seat shopping just like you do the car shopping. It’s trial and error with a lot of it.
The people who come to you already believe in car seats. Do you ever have anyone who resists?
No, most people are welcoming of any help you can give them. But you have some that feel like they’re in some type of trouble. So you have to reassure them it’s about the child’s safety and not about them being in trouble.
Do you ever see people when you’re not at work who don’t have their car seats installed properly?
Yes, and I always try to make sure that it is done properly. It’s more than just a job for me. It’s become a passion.
— Kytja Weir
