Buckle Up: 6 Smart Car Seat Safety Rules

Car Seat Safety Don'ts

• Let a child under age 13 ride in the front seat. She could be seriously injured if an air bag deploys, and she's closer to dangers (such as the dashboard and windshield) if you're in a crash.
• Ride with a child on your lap -- ever. Even for a short taxi ride, it's not worth the risk.
• Buy a used car seat, and only accept a hand-me-down if you're certain it has never been involved in an accident and the seat is less than 6 years old (the date of manufacture should be on the label).

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Copyright © 2008. Used with permission from the March 2008 issue of Parents magazine.