A new study calls into question the safety of Infant car seats.

Guess what, don't leave the carrier on the counter - with your baby in it.  Put them on the floor, or better yet, take the child out and hold her/him.

Though they've  saved countless lives, the same seats are also responsible for injuring thousands of youngsters when improperly used outside a vehicle, the new study finds.

The study's author, Dr. Shital Parikh, a pediatric orthopedist at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center says, "These injuries are not common compared with some other causes, but they are significant enough to take notice."

Parikh presented the research Monday at the American Academy of Pediatrics' annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

More than 8,700 babies are hurt every year because of car seat problems- outside the car!
Most of the problems happen when car seats fall off high surfaces, and when babies aren't buckled in the right way.

More than 43,000 infants in the United States required emergency room care between 2003 and 2007 after falling in car seats that were improperly placed on tables, counters and other elevated surfaces.
Accidents were even reported after seats rolled over on soft surfaces, such as beds and sofas.