Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Pratt.
Hi Michelle, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Like most of the amazing people in the Safe in the Seat community, I’m in the trenches of raising young kids. I became a nationally certified child passenger safety technician and started Safe in the Seat because years ago, as a first-time parent, I found little support around one critically important aspect: car seats.
Driving and car crashes are one of the riskiest day-to-day things we do with our children, yet the education, support, and resources are confusing, complex, and hard to find. I became the expert I needed to feel car seat confident and now I share that knowledge with parents and caregivers on Safe in the Seat’s Instagram and Facebook pages, through online courses, and in personalized consults.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
When I started Safe in the Seat, I never expected it to be what it has become. It wasn’t that I didn’t think the need was there or that I wasn’t capable of building it, it was more about my life circumstances at the time not aligning with me starting, building and growing a company.
A lot has changed in my personal life since becoming nationally certified and starting Safe in the Seat. Those changes have brought countless obstacles and challenges both personal and professional my way – and still do every single day! Nothing about this journey has been smooth sailing. It’s because of the support and encouragement of the community of amazing mamas I serve that I keep showing up. It’s also because I get to do it my way. I’m not playing by someone else’s rulebook. I’m a woman on a mission who is lifted up by so many who are cheering me on.
When I’m having a bad day or going through something personal, I don’t hide it. Through that transparency, and by the nature of my platform, I get to help others through the good, the bad, and the ugly by not pretending it’s smooth sailing. And that same philosophy applies to the work we are doing at Safe in the Seat. If something doesn’t go as planned, I’m not hiding it, I’m talking about it, owning up to it, and working hard to fix it. If you listen to Brene Brown or know who she is you’ll understand when I say what I do every day is an FFT (Google it!). I’m not perfect; I won’t always get it right and I’m determined to not let that stop me from putting stuff out there then growing, learning, and striving to keep doing better.
If I had to pick one thing, my biggest struggle is time. I’m newly divorced, navigating co-parenting, all while trying to build a business. That means there are never enough hours in the day and I feel like I’m always letting someone down. I’m getting better at prioritizing, learning to say “no” so I can make room for a bigger “yes,” and trying to give myself grace. I’m a work in progress!
We’ve been impressed with Safe in the Seat, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Parents think you need to simply buy the best car seat to keep your child safe. But when you open the box, install the seat, and buckle your child in for the first ride home, you’re overwhelmed and fearful. And to make matters worse, that anxiety doesn’t disappear as your child grows.
At Safe in the Seat, we believe that you shouldn’t have to feel anxious or overwhelmed about your child‘s car seat because car seat safety is within your control. As a mom and Nationally Certified Child Passenger Safety Expert, I’ve helped thousands of families feel car seat confident through online courses and 1:1 consults with their car seats.
There is so much to be proud of – two appearances on Good Morning America, sticking with building an online course on a subject matter that is so complex and technical that it would have been easy to give up and stop a million times over – especially doing it while getting divorced an in a global pandemic! But honestly, none of that compares to the pride I experience when a mom reaches out to me with a personal story of how my work made her feel empowered, brave, confident, and oftentimes how the skills she learned from Safe in the Seat resources saved her child’s life. Hands down, there’s nothing better than that.
What sets me apart is my mom-friendly, compassionate, judgment-free, and shame-intolerant approach. It’s embodied on my social channels and best summed up in two brand promises:
This is a safe space.
Safe in the Seat not only keeps kids safe in their seat, but it’s a safe space for parents to figure things out. We know that car seats are complicated and instruction manuals are confusing. We also know that planning a nursery is way more fun than understanding your vehicle latch system.
We won’t call you out.
Safe in the Seat educates publicly but corrects privately. We’ll never call anyone out publicly for using their car seat incorrectly. But you better believe we want to make sure you learn everything you need to know about using your car seat safely.
Contact Info:
- Email: hello@safeintheseat.com
- Website: www.safeintheseat.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/safeintheseat
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/safeintheseat
