By Jill Wheaton

With summer upon us, plenty of families are hitting the road for their vacations. But before you head out, make sure your family will get there and back safely.

We all want to protect our children but don't always know all the laws pertaining to vehicle safety. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends all children 12 and under should be in the back seat. All 50 states and the District of Columbia have child restraint laws, which require children to travel in approved child restraint seats. Requirements for older children differ by state. For laws in your state, check out this guide to seat laws in the U.S.

There are four basic steps to follow, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Step One: Rear Facing Seats

Newborns and Infants up to 20-35 pounds.

Babies must ride rear-facing until one year of age AND at least 20 pounds.

Seat can never be forward facing.

Step Two: Forward Facing Seats

Children over one year of age AND at least 20 pounds.

Face forward only.

Most can be converted to a belt positioning booster after child reaches 40 pounds.

Step Three: Booster Seats

For children over 40 pounds.

Must be used with lap and shoulder belts.

Lap belt fits low and tight across hips.

Should belt crosses the collar bone and center of chest.

Step Four: Seat Belt

Age 6 or older or over 60 pounds

Must be in the back seat unless exempt

NHTSA recommends all children 12 and under should be in the back seat.

Make sure your seat is installed correctly and the harness is snug to your child. They might complain it's too tight at first but if it's loose, they could slip through in an accident.