Proper use of car seats helps keep children safe. North Dakota Health and Human Services is committed to helping parents by connecting them with trained Child Passenger Safety technicians who can ensure car seats are the right fit for a child and installed correctly. See available resources and frequently asked questions below:
Frequently Asked Questions
Trained and certified child passenger safety technicians offer car seat checkups and work with the public to ensure children are restrained according to their specific needs. Find a car seat checkup event near you.
Car Seat Distribution Programs can assist you with car seat needs. State provided seats are distributed to the public according to North Dakota Health and Human Services and North Dakota Department of Transportation guidelines. Find a program near you.
Organizations around the state have infant car seat classes for new and expectant parents or caregivers. Find an organization near you.
Children should ride rear-facing as long as possible. There are two types of car seats available for rear-facing:
- Infant seats: Most can be used until the child is 22-35+ pounds. Use until the highest size limits or until the child's head is within one inch of the top of the seat.
- Convertible seats: Can be used both rear-facing and forward-facing. Most can be used rear-facing up to 30-40+ pounds. Use them rear-facing until the highest size limits allowed by the manufacturer.
Forward facing: After a child outgrows the rear-facing size limits, they may ride forward-facing in a car seat with a harness until they reach the highest size limits allowed by the manufacturer. Car seats with harnesses can be used up to 40-100+ pounds.
Boosters: After a child outgrows the harness in a forward-facing seat, they can move to a belt-positioning booster seat until they are 4'9" tall or until the seat belt is positioned correctly over the body. Most boosters can be used up to 80-120+ pounds.
Seat belt: After outgrowing a booster seat, children may use a seat belt if it fits over their body correctly. The lap belt must lie snugly across the upper thighs and be snug across the shoulder and chest. It should not lie on the stomach or across the neck.
Children younger than 13 should ride in the back seat.
More important tips for transporting children in vehicles can be found here.