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According to the National Safe Kids Campaign, 80 percent of car seats are installed incorrectly. Here's what you need to know:

Read the car seat installation manual and your car manual to make absolutely sure you install the car seat correctly. Take the time to do it right. Visit a trained car-seat technician in your area to help you; to find one near you, call 800-441-1888 or visit www.safekids.org.

Always secure your child in the car seat. It doesn't matter how short your ride may be; a car seat cannot save your child's life if he's not in it. The base of the car seat must be snugly strapped into the car; it should not be able to move more than one inch.

Always use a car seat that is appropriate to your child's current age and size. See "Which Car Seat. When?" (below left) to find out what type of car seat you need for your child now.

Be sure that your child is harnessed into the car seat and that the car seat is buckled into the seat of the car. The harness must be snug against your baby's hips and shoulders. The chest clip should be level with your baby's armpits. The car seat must be installed at a 45-degree angle so that your baby is in a semireclined position; his head must not be able to flop forward. Even when your child outgrows a booster seat, have him sit in the back seat until age 13. This is the safest spot in the car.