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Injuries from car accidents cause more deaths than anything else for Americans between 1 and 34 years old.  Therefore, you must do what you can to ensure that you and your child are protected in case of an accident.  As a driver, you can make sure that you are always buckled in properly and that you drive defensively.  Children under 12 should always ride in the backseat, and young children should sit in correctly installed child safety seats in the middle of the backseat.

• Never put your baby in the front seat! Place the car seat in the center of the back seat. Secure the seat soundly with the safety belts.  Read both the car manual and car seat manual for complete instructions.

• Each time you put your child in the car seat, double check the straps to make sure that they are tight.  All straps should fit snugly and lie flat. 

• When choosing a car seat, make sure that it meets or exceeds Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213.  This certifies that the car seat meets specific requirements for child restraint systems used in motor vehicles.
  
  

• If you buy a used car seat, avoid buying one with cracks or one that looks worn. Seats made from vinyl tend to get hot, so find a seat material made from fabric that will keep your child cooler and more comfortable.
  

• Children under one year old and less than 20 pounds should sit in a rear-facing car seat in the middle of the back seat of your car.  By riding backwards, your baby’s whole body is cradled and cushioned by the seat in case of a crash.

• If your child weighs more than 20 pounds before turning one, you should use a special heavy infant seat to ensure the best neck protection.
  
  
• After your child outgrows the rear-facing infant seat (over 20 pounds and about one year old), she is now strong enough to be put in a forward facing car seat.  Your child should continue to use a forward-facing seat until she is about 4 ½ years old.

• The National Safe Kids Campaign estimates that four out of five car seats are used incorrectly, which puts your child at great risk in case of an accident.  There are many places you can go to have your car seat installation checked for free by professionals.  Learn about child safety laws and regulations, receive saftey tips, find coalitions and events near you, and more.
  
  

For more information on car safety and correctly installing car seats, take a look at some of these web sites:

SafetyBeltSafe U.S.A. is a national, non-profit organization dedicated to child passenger safety. Their mission is to help reduce the number of children who suffer from serious and fatal traffic injuries by promoting the correct and consistent use of safety seats and safety belts. This site is devoted to keeping children safe in motor vehicles.

The Proper Child Safety Seat Use Chart, developed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, United States Department of Transportation, is a useful chart that explains how infants, toddlers, and young children should be seated while riding in a vehicle.