There is no magic number – the correct seat is based on a number of factors, including age, weight, height, and maturity.
Try NHTSA’s Car Seat Finder tool.
Find guidelines for choosing the right seat from Buckle Up NC.
Kids learn how to act on the road from you. As soon as you turn their car seats forward, they start learning how to drive – even at a very young age.
Anytime you are traveling – on foot, on a bike, or in a vehicle – show them how to be safe with your own behavior.
As you travel, talk with your child about what you see and do. The more you explain your thinking process, the more your child will understand about traffic safety.
Examples:
“Oh look, there’s a person trying to cross the road. I’ll stop and wave to let him cross.”
“There are a lot of people out today. I’m going to slow down and be safe.”
“I’m going to press this button and wait for the crosswalk signal. Now let’s look both ways to make sure it’s safe to cross.”