JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – They may look legitimate, but counterfeit car seats are flooding online marketplaces and putting infants’ lives in danger.
A Jacksonville mom learned that lesson the hard way when she unknowingly buckled her newborn into a fake car seat, thinking it was safe. Now she’s sharing her experience to help other parents spot the red flags.
Lola Laguerre, a first-time mom, had no idea the car seat her daughter was riding in was a knockoff until a nurse with Healthy Start flagged it.
“It was really scary because you want to be the best mom,” Laguerre said. “I didn’t think that something that was purchased would have been unsafe for my child.”
Laguerre had selected the car seat for her baby registry because it looked stylish. It was a gift from her father-in-law, purchased through a third-party seller on Amazon.
Now, the counterfeit seat is being used as an educational tool by Safe Kids Northeast Florida, an organization that helps teach families about car seat safety.
“To someone that doesn’t do this all the time, you can look at these two car seats and really not recognize there’s anything different,” said Jessica Winberry, with Safe Kids.
Experts warn the problem is growing with the rise of online retailers and third-party sellers.
“The family purchased this through Amazon. So, how many of us go onto Amazon and just buy things and it shows up at our house and we use it?” Winberry said. “We always want to make sure, when we’re purchasing a car seat, we buy it through the retailer so that you don’t run the risk of getting it through a third-party source, which is how this family unfortunately got the seat.”
News4JAX reached out to Amazon about the product and a spokesperson provided the following statement:
“Third party sellers are independent businesses and are required to follow all applicable laws, regulations, and Amazon policies when listings items for sale in our store. We have proactive measures in place to prevent noncompliant products from being listed and we continuously monitor our store. Those who violate our policies are subject to action including potential removal of their account. The car seats in question were removed from the Amazon store earlier this year.”
Amazon spokesperson
How to Spot a Counterfeit Car Seat
Laguerre’s story has since turned into a teachable moment. Safe Kids and Healthy Start shared these three key red flags parents can use to spot fake or unsafe car seats:
- Missing or incorrect safety labels – Authentic car seats must include warning labels, a registration card, and language confirming compliance with federal safety standards.
- Typos and poor translations – Some fakes are labeled for “dollbaby” use or contain other odd grammar or spelling mistakes like “Never left child unattended.”
- Missing parts or poor construction – All U.S.-approved car seats must have a 5-point harness, chest clip, and splitter plate. Counterfeits may be lighter and lack these safety elements.
“Oftentimes, we’ve noticed when we’ve got a counterfeit, it may be lighter,” Winberry said. “That can seem like a plus when you’re carrying it, but it’s not a good thing for safety.”
Healthy Start ultimately provided Laguerre with a new, crash-tested car seat, free of charge. The Florida Department of Health program is available to all pregnant and new moms in the state.
“I felt guilty. I was like, ‘Whoa, I’m a bad mom,’” Laguerre said. “But Tanya from Healthy Start told me, ‘No, you’re not. You just didn’t know.’”
Where to Get Help
If you’re unsure whether your child’s car seat is safe or properly installed, Safe Kids Northeast Florida offers free one-on-one appointments with certified technicians.
To schedule a car seat safety check, call (904) 202-4302.
Appointments are available at:
- San Marco area: Select Tuesdays
- Subaru of Jacksonville: Select Fridays
- St. Johns County: Once a month (call for scheduling)
For more information, click here.
