• The five point harness is the safest type of harness.child in the car image by Natalia Pavlova from Fotolia.com
  
  Child car seat laws vary by state, but generally, the law requires that a child use a car or booster seat until age 8 or 80 lbs. The type of car seats and the requirements vary by age, but according to the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration, 80 percent of child restraints are used incorrectly. Car seats reduce the risk of death in car accidents by 71 percent for infants and 54 percent for children ages 1 to 4.
  
  

Harness

• You car seat should offer a safety harness to keep the child in the car seat in case of an accident. The safest type is the five-point harness, which has thick straps extending over the hips, shoulders and between the legs. The harness should be adjustable to keep it snug and avoid injury.
  
  

Rear facing

• Rear-facing car seats are safer as the seat then cradles the child during frontal impact, rather than the straps taking the force and causing whiplash. This is especially important for infants and very young children. Install the car seat in the back, not the front of the vehicle to prevent injuries caused by air bags.
  
  

Weight

• Car seats have weight limits and age limits. Choose a car seat suitable for the weight and age of your child; once he grows, you may need to buy a new car seat. Infants use baby seats and progress onto child seats then boosters.
  
  

Second-hand

• Although second-hand car seats may seem a good money-saving idea, they may not meet current safety regulations, or they may have been in an accident. If you can afford to buy a new car seat, you will be sure it has been vigorously tested to meet all current safety requirements.