But let's assume the worst happens and your child's car seat is recalled: What now?

First, visit the website for the recalled seat, or call the toll-free number. The manufacturer will likely have a special webpage or phone line set up strictly for the recall.

Car seat companies do not mess around with recalls - they want your child to be safe! Follow the instructions on the website or phone line.

Be sure to have your child's cat seat on hand when you call or visit the website. It's possible you'll need the model name or the serial number--you can usually find the model name in the instruction manual.

You will likely be advised to continue using the seat until a repair kit reaches you. Remember, in almost every case, it is safer for your child to ride in a recalled seat than to ride in a car with no child safety restraint.

Another way to stay on top of car seat recalls for your child's car seat is to register the seat with the manufacturer when you purchase it. All car seats (like many products) come with a registration card.

Most people just throw these away. When it comes to a product like this, it is important to register it and give the company a way to contact you.

While you can't do anything to ensure that they won't send advertisements to your address, you can at least rest assured that you'll be contacted in the event of a recall.

However, a car seat isn't automatically bad just because of a car seat recall. There are always errors in manufacturing, and when these errors occur in a car seat, the company acts quickly to fix the problem.

If you're still concerned after hearing about a car seat recall, speak to a company representative. They can probably give you peace of mind and might even be able to give you sound advice.