DENVER, Colo. -- Did you know that booster seats expire and its condition deteriorates?

Here are just a few ways to determine whether your child safety seat is safe.

Make sure the safety seat is less that 10 years old -- preferably less than five -- the expiration date stamped on the plastic has not passed, and it has never been used in a crash.

You can't be sure about the history of a used safety seat unless you got it from a friend or relative.

You will need the detailed instruction booklet. If you're missing the booklet, it can be ordered from the manufacturer. The book will tell you if the safety seat has all of its parts and will also tell you how to use it correctly.

You will also want to check for possible damage, such as cracks in the plastic, frayed straps, stiff buckles or harness adjusters.

Even if the safety seat passes all of these criteria, you still need to check for possible recalls.

How do you know if the car seat you have has been recalled? Check CarSeat.org.