If you buy a used car seat or get a hand-me-down, check with the U.S. Department of Transportation Auto Safety Hotline to see if there have been any recalls on the particular model you're going to use. The toll-free phone number is (800) 424-9393. Have the manufacturer's name, the model number and the date manufactured handy. If your car seat is at least ten years old, you will be advised to destroy it and throw it away. Destroying it will prevent someone else from using it after it has been discarded. After the years of use, a car seat has seen enough wear and tear that the materials are beginning to break down and your child's safety may be compromised. If you are getting a used one, be sure to get the instructions and the owner's manual that go with it so you can be sure to use the car seat properly. Keep the owner's manual with the car seat at all times for handy reference.

When you purchase a new seat, send in the registration so you can be notified of any recalls or product information. Keep in mind that a used car seat may have hidden damage from an accident that could make the car seat unsafe for your child.

Although there are laws in all 50 states requiring children to be restrained in car seats, automobile accidents are the leading causes of injuries and deaths in infants and children. There are several things you can do to be sure you are installing and using a car seat correctly to reduce the risk and severity of injury to your child:

Size
Different car seats are designed for infants and children of different heights and weights.  There are seats for infants weighing up to 20 pounds and seats for children weighing more than 20 pounds. Some car seats are manufactured so that an infant car seat can be converted to fit an older child also. Be sure to check the owner's manual of the car seat for size and weight restrictions.

When a child reaches 40 pounds in weight or 40 inches in height (around four years old), he will be ready for a booster seat. Always use an approved booster seat; never use pillows or phone books. The lap belt must fit low and tight, and the shoulder belt must align over the shoulder. This is to ensure a comfortable fit and to avoid serious injuries in an accident. It is recommended that toddlers use a booster seat until they are about 80 pounds in weight or 48 inches in height (around 8 years old). Recent studies have found that although children ages 4 to 8 may fit with a vehicle's regular seat belts, they are much safer using a booster seat and will sustain fewer and less serious injuries in an accident.

Position
The absolute safest place for a child to ride in a vehicle is in the center of the back seat. An infant weighing less than 20 pounds must face the rear of the vehicle and a child weighing more than 20 pounds must face the front.

After you have correctly positioned the car seat in the vehicle, you must secure it properly with a seatbelt. After threading the seatbelt through the car seat and locking it in the buckle, be sure that the other end of the belt is also locked so there is no slack and the car seat is firmly imbedded in the seat.

Kneel into the car seat and wedge it into the vehicle's seat while locking the seatbelt to get the tightest fit. It should not be able to move side to side or back to front by more than two inches. The idea is to make the car seat a part of the vehicle, so that in a sudden stop or crash the car seat does not pull away from the vehicle's seat.

Your car manual will tell you how to properly use the seatbelt for strapping in a car seat. If your seatbelts do not lock, you may have to get a special locking device. You should receive one with your baby's car seat, or you can check in your car manual or with a local car dealer to find out where you can get one. This locking clip normally looks like an H-shaped buckle in which both the lap and shoulder belts are woven together through the clip to prevent little, if any, slack in the event of a sudden stop. This locking clip will not work in a center-positioned seat that is not equipped with a shoulder belt. Not all car seats will fit the vehicle's seat properly. You may have to try several car seats before you find one that is a good fit for your vehicle.

Straps
When you load your child into the car seat, secure the harness straps properly according to the manufacturer's instructions. The straps should fit snugly (even if you have an overhead shield on the car seat) so that there is only two finger's width room between the straps and your child. As your child grows, remember to adjust the straps for his height. Do not twist the straps to take up slack. If the weather is cold enough that your child needs to be bundled up with more than just a coat, strap him in the car seat first and then add blankets. This is the best way to secure him in his seat, and as the car warms up, it will be easier to remove the blankets.

Air Bags
Never place a rear-facing baby in a seat with an air bag. No exceptions. If the air bag is deployed, the explosive force can kill a rear-facing infant. Forward-facing children (even as old as eight) have been injured, maimed, paralyzed and even killed by air bags. Air bags were not designed for children, but for larger adults. Always do what you can to keep children out of a seat with an air bag. Remember, the back seat is the safest. Although it is currently illegal to disable an air bag, the government will issue an exemption in certain circumstances (such as if you have a truck which obviously does not have a back seat, or if your infant must ride in the front seat to be constantly monitored by the driver because of a medical condition). To get an update of the current laws regarding the disabling of an air bag or to inquire about an exemption, call the U.S. Department of Transportation Auto Safety Hotline at (800) 424-9393. If a forward-facing child must sit in a front seat with an air bag, be sure he is secured in his car seat and the vehicle's seat is pushed back as far as possible.

Here are some other tips that will help make your auto travels safer and more comfortable for everyone:

**Never allow your child out of the car seat while the vehicle is in motion. If your child must get out, pull over and park in a safe location. If your child is always belted in from birth, he will not know it is an option to be out of the car seat. If you follow all safety measures, your child has an excellent chance of surviving even the most serious accident.

Always set a good example and buckle up yourself--every time. Never use a regular carrier for a car seat, unless it is specifically designed to convert into one. Never travel with your baby in your arms. For any other information or to answer questions about using a car seat, call the U.S. Department of Transportation Auto Safety Hotline.

**Another consideration is whether to attach personal identification information to your child's car seat. The Department of Transportation of some states distribute free stickers for the back of the car seat or under the cushion in front on the right. Information included on this sticker are the child's name, address, parents' names, phone numbers, pediatrician's name and another contact person's name and phone number. You may also want to list any allergies. In a serious accident, emergency personnel are trained to look for these stickers so they have the child's personal information if the driver is unable to provide it.

It also provides identification if your child is riding with someone other than a parent.

Check with your state's Department of Transportation or make a label of your own and place it out of plain view of the window, but in an area where emergency personnel will find it. Not all states have this program yet, but more are beginning to implement one.

**Watch that your child's fingers, hands and feet are clear of windows, doors and trunk lids before closing them.

**In the summer heat, if your vehicle is parked in direct sunlight, cover your child's car seat with a blanket or towel to prevent it from getting too hot. Your baby's skin could actually burn if he is placed in a hot car seat or if he touches the hot buckles.

**Secure loose objects in your vehicle so they don't injure your child (or yourself) in a sudden stop.

Some organizations provide car seats free or at a reduced cost. Midas Muffler Shops sell car seats at a reduced cost (usually less than $50) at all retail shops nationwide. Also check with your local health department, police department, highway patrol, or hospital to see if they provide car seats free or for a small charge. Because of these resources, cost should not be an issue, so there should be no reason why your child is not buckled in when he rides.