Never buckle an infant or child into the front seat of a car with passenger-side air bags. If possible, put the seat in the middle of the back seat, the safest place, according to SafetyBeltSafe U.S.A., a non-profit safety organization. Children in infant-only seats should ride facing the rear for the best head and neck protection. After age 1, experts say, a child can ride facing front. Thread the car's seat belt all the way through the correct channels of the seat.
Some belts are too short or the anchors are too close together to secure wide-based seats.
Bucket seats may allow certain seats to slide around dangerously. At least 80 percent of the safety seat's base must rest on the vehicle's seat. Do not place a safety seat with a motorized self-buckling belt. Make sure you send in the manufacturer's registration card in the event of a recall or replacement parts are mandated. Belo Interactive Inc., All Rights Reserved.