Child safety is a top priority with parents, and this is reflected in the amount of time and money they are willing to spend on a car seat for their child. Yet according to a multi-year study done by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, approximately 79.5 percent of all car safety seats for children were used incorrectly.

By failing to properly use the safety restraints, the study reports, many parents unknowingly put their child in peril. The most common mistakes found were loose harness straps and safety belt attachments. These mistakes, the ones that almost every parent makes and are the ones that the NHTSA report as being the most "critical".

Initially, your should definitely make sure your child is strapped into a car safety seat that is made for his or her weight and height and that it is in the correct position. Don't make the mistake of placing your child in a newborn car seat that faces the rear if he is over a year old, or weights more than 20 pounds. Seats that are specially designed for infants are smaller and they fit more tightly around the baby. Infant car seats should always be used in the back seat, as should all child safety restraints, and only ever in the rear-facing position.

Convertible seats provide a good opportunity to get the most bang for your buck, because they fit infants and still allow the baby to grow. Growth of the child is accommodated through the heavier convertible car seat. Infants, who are placed in the convertible seats, if they are under 20 pounds and less than one year old, are placed facing the rear of the back seat. You can go ahead and place any child that is 20-40 pounds in a front-facing position.

It is of the utmost importance that every parent should know how to use whichever seat they pick. There are two reading pieces that should help you learn how to do use the seat properly: the manufacturer guide that came with the seat and your own car's vehicle guide. Remember to double check the buckle that straps in the car seat and the restraints that hold the baby in place.

Many parents find harness straps annoying and confusing, but they merely need to accomodate the size of your baby, comfortably, yet tightly, around the chest area and fit into the correct slot. Convertible and infant-only car seats have different requirements for harness strap slot positions; aim above the shoulder for convertibles and below the shoulder for the infant-only ones. Other things that matter in using the harness are the proper placement of the harness clip, around the armpit level, always check the owner's guide to confirm the exact placement, and having non-twisted straps.

Also consult your owner's guide as you strap in the seat belt, making sure it goes through the right path, and tilt the seat back by 45 degrees. Some parents put a rolled up towel under the seat's base as well. Tighten the seat belt, as needed, to ensure the restraint is secured to your vehicle. For any car that has LATCH systems, the owner must take note of that and make sure their seat is installed the way their car seat guide and vehicle ownership guide detail. The seat should be in good condition, so if you purchase a used one, double check the label for age. For age, keep your seat under five years old, and never purchase any seat that does not include a set of full manufacturer's instructions. Know your seat's history, including whether or not it has been in any accidents, and make sure it has all its parts.