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Safety Technicians Help Install Child Car Seats At Twin Cities Auto Show

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Safety experts released information that shows child car seats often putting children in danger rather than keeping them safe. Experts said the majority of car seats aren't put in properly or parents are making other mistakes that are putting their children in danger.

This weekend certified safety technicians are doing car seat checks outside of the auto show at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

"Nine out of ten seats that we see typically have something wrong with them," Travis Holt, a father and certified car seat safety technician, said.

Holt said most often the problem is the base of the seat.

"A car seat shouldn't move side to side more than an inch," Holt said.

Safety experts said don't add any warm covers or cushions to the seat, a blanket on top works best.

"People want to bundle their kid up really nice and tight and they don't realize manufacturers don't crash test the car seat with anything that doesn't come with the car seat," Holt said.

"You know we have this little blanket in here, in the seat, and that's really not a good idea," CeCe Webb, a local parent, said.

Holt said even if you think you know what you're doing, it's worth your time to double check.

"You learn something every time," Holt said.

The American Academy of Pediatrics is now recommending children stay in rear facing car seats until the age of two.

Safety technicians will be at the auto show again Sunday.

They'll be outside the Grant Street entrance from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

Every parent who stops, gets a free child's admission ticket for the show.

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