http://i.ehow.com

While driving it is very important your child be correctly safely strapped into a car seat. It is worth the extra few minutes to make sure they are safe. Making sure your child is safely and correctly strapped into their car seat can and will save their life.

Infants at all times must all be placed in a rear facing car seat. The car seat must be placed in the backseat and never is there an exception. Make sure your car seat is the right size for your child. Infants and newborns should be in a car seat that allows them to lie back comfortably. If your baby can not support their head, make sure you buy the appropriate head cushions to support their head. They carry these head cushions in different sizes. Make sure you have the right size cushion for your growing child.

There are many car seats out there to select from. You might think that all car seats are created equal but not in this case. You want to look at the consumer reviews. This way you can get a pretty good idea of what safety seat is preferred by most parents. Some seats are designed to double as part of a stroller. These types of seats are great for a Mom and or Dad on the go but make sure to do research on what car seat is best for you and your child before going to the store. As well as finding a seat that works for you and your child it is important you check out the car safety seat recalls. When doing your research make sure that it is accurate and is coming from a reliable source. Buy approved safety seats only. Any car seat that you consider for your child should meet all of the safety requirements set by your state or country. If it does not meet those safety standards, chances are that it is not fit to protect your child. Never compromise in this situation. To do so could lead to injury or a fine due to the use of an improper safety seat.

Read and study the car seat instructors carefully before installation. It might not seem like rocket science but the majority of car seats are installed incorrectly. Make sure you go to your local fire department before taking your new born home from the hospital. They can insure that your car seat is properly installed to state codes.

In Virginia, the safety state law states that children under age 8 should be riding in an appropriate, federally approved car seat or booster seat. The Virginia child passenger safety state law also requires that children ages 8 to 15 be properly restrained in a federally approved child safety seat, booster seat or seat belt, no matter where in the vehicle the child is riding.  By Virginia's law,  the driver is responsible for making sure that all passengers are properly restrained or buckled. Virginia officers can stop vehicles if children up to age 16 are improperly restrained.