You may not know this, but in 2018 (at the advice of a car seat manufacturer) I became a Nationally Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST). That means that I’m trained and certified to help families understand how to use car seats, booster seats, and seat belts correctly and to help families ensure that kids are riding as safe as possible every time they’re in the car. Every two years I am required to re-certify, which I have done. November is always my recertification month, so child passenger safety is always top of mind around this time of year.

If you’ve ever tried to install a car seat and ended up sweating, Googling, (swearing...?), or calling a friend or spouse for help, you’re not alone. Car seats can be confusing. Even parents with the best intentions sometimes find out that something they’ve been doing for months isn’t technically “correct.” That’s exactly why CPSTs like me exist: to help, not to judge. The internet is already full of judgement, no need for more of that.

💡 The “Good, Better, Best” Philosophy

In CPST training, we were taught a framework that guides every interaction I have with parents. I’s called Good, Better, Best. To this day, I rely on this when I talk to friends and neighbors who ask me car seat questions. There is always a 'good' and safe solution. There is also oftentimes a 'better' and 'best' solution.

Here’s what it means:

• Good is a choice that’s acceptable and safe.

• Better is a choice that adds another layer of protection or fits your situation a little more closely.

• Best is the gold standard, and the ideal choice that offers the highest level of safety based on what we know from research.

But here’s the takeaway: every family’s situation is different, and every choice along that spectrum matters. If I'm being perfectly honest, there are times when I myself (as a CPST) have opted for 'good'. Why? Because it's more convenient. Or we're in a rush. Or we're traveling with fewer resources. My job isn’t to shame anyone for being in the “good” category, especially when I've been there myself. My job is to help families understand how to move closer to “better” or “best” when and where you can. Especially on longer road trips when you're driving longer distances or at greater speeds. More information allows people to make better choices.

🚙 Real-Life Example

Here are an example of what this looks like:

• Good: Your 3 year old is riding forward-facing in a properly installed seat, and the harness is snug.
• Better: That same 3 year old is still rear-facing because they’re within the height and weight limits for their rear-facing seat. You could turn it forward-facing, but you know that frontal crash outcomes improve when children have the shell of the car seat to protect their developing neck and spine.
• Best: The 3 year old is rear-facing and you're closely monitoring the height of the harness straps as they grow to make sure that they are always at or below their shoulders. As the child grows, you make adjustments to keep the seat fitting them properly.

All three protect your child.

❤️ No Judgment

Parents sometimes tell me they’re nervous to have someone “check” their car seat because they don’t want to be told they’ve done it wrong. I get it. That’s why the Good, Better, Best approach is helpful because it first focuses on what’s working. From there, we can build toward small improvements that make a big difference. 

I believe that all caregivers truly want to do what’s best for their children. My role as a CPST is to make that journey easier and armed with knowledge.

🧠 Sharing knowledge

In upcoming posts, I’d like to share practical, judgment-free advice to help you:

• Understand the stages of car seat use (rear-facing, forward-facing, booster, and beyond)

• Avoiding common installation mistakes

• Learn how to choose the right seat for your child and your vehicle

• Feel more confident every time you buckle your little one in

If there’s one thing I want every parent to take away, it’s this:

The best car seat is the one that fits your child, fits your car, and that you can use correctly every single time.

And if you’re doing that, you’re already doing a good job.

(Cover photo is from 2018 with our old friend and fellow CPST, Jamie Grayson. You can find awesome CPS content on his social channels.)