Of all the "baby gear" you buy, your child's car safety seat may be the most important — and the most confounding. Properly installed child safety seats reduce the risk of death by 71 percent for infants and by 54 percent for toddlers. Sadly, more than half of the children under 5 who died in vehicle crashes were unrestrained; of those who were restrained, 20 percent were merely buckled into adult seat belts.

Although all child safety seats currently on the market meet federal safety standards, hand-me-down seats may not. And not every type of seat is a good match for your particular vehicle. A good place to begin your search is with the owner's manual of your vehicle. It will offer information about the kind of seat belts in your car, which will be important to know when you're selecting the best safety seat for your youngster.

No matter how safe the car seat, it has to be used properly. And the stakes are high. In 2000, according to the National Safety Council, 2,067 children from birth to age 15 died in motor vehicle crashes, and another 296,000 more children were injured. In 1999, nearly six out of 10 children who died in crashes were not restrained.

Buying the right safety seat and using it even for short trips are critical. But equally important is ensuring that the safety seat is properly installed in your car. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that eight out of 10 child safety seats are installed incorrectly. Are your palms sweaty yet?

Don't worry. To find out if your child safety seat is properly installed you can visit an NHTSA-certified inspection center in your area. They will inspect your car seat and show you how to install it properly in your vehicle.

Car Seat Basics
There are four basic types of child safety seats:

Infant-only seats:

• Used rear-facing only.
• For babies up to 20 to 22 pounds.
• Never placed in the front seat with a front passenger air bag.
• Place harness straps at or below the baby's shoulders and keep them snug.
• Place chest clip at infant's armpit level to secure harness straps.
• If needed, place a rolled towel around the baby's head and neck for support.
• Do not put heavy clothing or jacket on the baby or put cushioning under the baby. Secure the infant in the seat, then put a blanket over him (but do not cover his face with it).
• Get more infant car seat use and installation tips from the NHTSA.