Protect Your Child: Learn How to Spot Counterfeit Car Seats
The safety of our children is always a top priority. UVA Health has recently warned families about a significant increase in counterfeit infant car seats being sold online. These imitation seats may look like legitimate products, but they often lack required crash protection and safety testing, putting children at serious risk. Some have even been labeled for use with dolls rather than infants.
To help parents and caregivers make informed decisions, Charlottesville Family has created a comprehensive guide explaining how to:
Identify counterfeit car seats before you buy.
Recognize warning signs if you already own one.
Find trusted resources for obtaining a safe, certified car seat.
The guide is based on information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Safe Kids Worldwide, the Virginia Attorney General's Office, and child passenger safety experts.
Resources
English Guide:
https://charlottesvillefamily.com/counterfeit-car-seats/
Spanish Guide (Guía en Español):
https://charlottesvillefamily.com/asiento-de-seguridad-bebe-uva-health/
Printable Handout (English):
https://charlottesvillefamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Counterfeit-Cart-Seat-Handout_CF.pdf
Printable Handout (Español):
https://charlottesvillefamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Counterfeit-Cart-Seat-Handout_CF_espanol.pdf
We encourage all parents, caregivers, and community partners to review these resources and share them with others. Together, we can help ensure every child travels safely.