Always check your kids' car seats before you leave the carwash

Recently, I went alone to a local carwash after emptying my car of all the paraphernalia that comes with having three young kids- except for their car seats, which remained strapped into the car. I got my car washed and went on my way.

On the way home, I was lightly rear-ended at a stoplight.

After examining my bumper and determining that no real damage had been done, I soon realized that the accident had jarred my 2-year-old daughter's car seat off of the seat that it had been strapped to. It turns out that the carwash had unhooked all three of our car seats, unbeknownst to me. I don't even want to think about what could have happened if any or all of our daughters had been with me, which my 2yearold almost always is.

I called the carwash and spoke to the manager on duty who said that they do not unharness car seats unless the customer asks them to. When I told him that I absolutely didn't ask them to unhook them (anyone who knows how difficult they are to install correctly would understand why), he became very defensive.

After explaining their policy to me regarding car seats, which obviously isn't getting through to the employees, he eventually thanked me for my phone call and apologized.

I felt compelled, however, to let other parents know about my experience for the safety of their children.

In doing so, I've found other friends who've had the same thing happen to them at the same carwash.

Now I feel that it's important to share this experience with the larger community .

Always check to make sure that the people who wash your cars haven't disconnected your child's car seat. It certainly could happen at any carwash.

We're very thankful that our children weren't riding with me that day and would appreciate a greater measure of care on the part of the local businesses that we support to ensure that people- especially children- aren't put in a situation that could lead to serious injuries. Holly Butler Thousand Oaks