1. After you've checked that the car seat is installed correctly (see "Car Seat Security Tips," on facing page), gently place your newborn in the seat, being careful to support his head and neck as you lay him in it.

2. If his head flops forward (which can cause breathing to be obstructed), wedge a rolled-up blanket or towel under the front of the seat so it reclines at a more comfortable 45-degree angle. Check the level guide (right) on the side of the seat to be sure the angle is correct.

3. If your baby's head flops from side to side, use a car seat head-support pillow designed for newborns (available at baby supply stores).

4. The car seat's straps should be threaded through the slots level with or slightly below the top of your baby's shoulders. Before buckling your newborn in, make sure the straps are lying over his shoulders, not under his arms. Also check to see that the straps aren't twisted. Use the harness adjustment lever to pull the straps comfortably snug (if you can pinch a section of the straps between your fingers, they're too loose). Next, slide the plastic harness clip up to the level of your baby's armpits.

Car Seat Security Tips
Don't buy a used seat. Secondhand seats may have been designed to meet outdated safety standards, been recalled for safety violations, or been involved in an accident that affects their integrity. And be sure to fill out and mail in the product registration card that comes with your new seat; that way, you'll be alerted if there are any problems with the seat.

Read the car seat manufacturer's instructions carefully and check your vehicle owner's manual before installing your baby's seat.

Place the car seat in the center of the backseat (or if you drive a van, in the middle bank of seats). Never let your baby ride in the front seat, especially if you have a passenger air bag.

Because infants have weak neck muscles, they're safest riding in rear-facing seats, which support their head and neck in the event of a crash. Choose between infant-only seats, which are designed to fit babies up to about 20 pounds, or convertible seats, which are designed to face the rear when your child is an infant and forward when he's a toddler. Don't turn your baby to a forward-facing position until he is at least 12 months old and weighs 20 pounds; the longer you keep him in a rear-facing seat, the safer he'll be.

Buckle your baby into his car seat every time he rides. Most accidents occur close to home, and a serious or fatal crash can happen even if you're just heading out "for a minute."

For more information on car seat installation, contact SafetyBeltSafe U.S.A. (www.carseat.org) at 800-745-SAFE. To arrange for a free car seat inspection, contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (www.nhtsa.dot.gov) auto safety hotline at 888-327-4236.

  ©2004 The Parenting Group Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be copied or reproduced without permission from The Parenting Group Inc. PARENTING is a registered trademark of The Parenting Group Inc., a Time Inc. company.