Kids, car seats and school trips

Plain guides for car seats, safer school trips and caring for a child after a crash

Children depend on adults to keep them safe in and around cars. This page brings together our guides for parents and caregivers, school staff and bus operators, from choosing the right car seat to caring for a child after a crash.

Pick your starting point below, or use the On this page menu to jump to a topic. If a child is hurt or left alone in a hot car, call 911.

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I need the right car seatRear facing seats, boosters and state lawsSee these guidesI want kids safe around carsHot cars, backovers and rear seat remindersSee these guidesI drive kids to schoolSchool buses, school zones and drop off linesSee these guidesI work at a school or bus companyStop arms, bus cameras, crossing guards and checksSee these guidesMy child was in a crashCar seat replacement, warning signs and fearsSee these guidesMy child rides a bikeChild bike seats, trailers, helmets and lightsSee the bike safety guides

Car seats and booster seats

The right seat depends on your child’s age, weight and height. These guides explain each stage, how to check the fit, what your state requires and why kids are safest in the back seat.

Start hereCar seats and booster seats: a guide to every stageWhen to switch seats, how to install one tight and where to get a free checkRead the guideRear facing car seats: how to choose, install and use one until your child outgrows itPick the right seat type, set the recline and track growth against each limitRead the guideBooster seats: high back or backless, the belt fit check and when to move onPick a booster, test belt fit in every seat and tell when your child is readyRead the guideSpecial needs car seats, car beds and vests: choosing a specialized child restraintMatch a car bed, cast seat, vest or wheelchair setup to your child’s medical needsRead the guideChild passenger safety laws by state: legal minimums vs. best practiceWhat car seat, booster and front seat laws require and where best practice goes furtherRead the guideAir bag safety: seating position, kids in back and safe repairsHow to sit safely, where kids ride and what to do after an air bag deploysRead the guideSeat belt safety: correct fit, back seats, pregnancy and mythsHow seat belts protect you, how to wear one right and which myths to ignoreRead the guideBaby's first ride home: car seat safety for newbornsHow to choose, install and buckle a car seat for your newborn's first trip homeRead the guideCar seat registration and recalls: how to keep your child's seat safeHow to register a car seat, check recalls and know when a seat must be replacedRead the guide

In and around the car

Some of the worst dangers come when the car is parked or backing up. Learn how to prevent hot car deaths and backovers, and what rear seat reminders can and cannot do.

Start hereHot car deaths and backovers: how to keep kids safe in and around carsSimple habits that prevent hot car deaths, backovers, rollaways and trunk trapsRead the guideRear seat reminders and child detection systems: how they work and what they missSee which alerts guess and which sense, how to test yours and where the rule standsRead the guideParking lot, driveway and backing safety: beat your blind zonesWhat your blind zones hide, what cameras miss and the habits that prevent backing crashesRead the guideFamily carpool rules: a safety agreement for parents and driversThe car seat, driver and pickup rules every family carpool should agree onRead the guideYouth sports carpools: a safety plan for teams and parentsHow teams and parents can plan safe rides to games, practices and tournamentsRead the guideExtreme heat and driving: how to protect your car, your kids and yourselfHow heat endangers kids in cars, strains your vehicle and makes breakdowns riskyRead the guideNew parent tiredness: how sleep loss affects drivingHow newborn sleep loss raises crash risk and simple ways new parents can stay safeRead the guide

School buses, school zones and drop off

Know when to stop for a school bus and how to keep crosswalks, bike lanes and bus zones clear in the drop off line. If your child rides with you on a bike, one guide covers child seats and trailers.

Start hereSchool bus and school zone safety: when to stop and how to protect kidsWhat school bus lights mean, when you must stop and how to keep kids safeRead the guideSchool bus stop arm and school zone laws by state: 2026 guideWhen to stop for a school bus, how school zone limits work and what violations costRead the guideSchool pickup and drop off: how to keep crosswalks, bike lanes and bus zones clearHabits that keep kids safe in the car line, near crosswalks and around the busRead the guideParking near crosswalks: how far back to park, and why daylighting mattersHow far from a crosswalk to park, and how clear corners help everyone seeRead the guideChild bike seats and bike trailers: when your child is ready and how to ride safelyCheck readiness, pick the right seat or trailer, fit a helmet and load with careRead the guide

For schools and bus operators

For school staff, transportation directors and safety groups. Learn how stop arms, bus cameras, crossing arms and child check systems work, and how to plan car seat checks and safety events.

Start hereSchool bus stop arms and warning lights: how the system works and who keeps it workingWhat federal standards require and how to buy, test and maintain bus signal systemsRead the guideSchool bus stop arm cameras: how enforcement programs work and what the evidence showsHow stop arm camera programs are set up, reviewed and kept fair and reliableRead the guideSchool bus mirrors, cameras and proximity detection: how drivers see the danger zoneWhat the federal mirror rule requires, what cameras and sensors add and what to askRead the guideSchool bus crossing control arms: how they guide children away from the front blind areaWhat the arm does and cannot do, who decides and how to fit, train and inspectRead the guideBus child check reminders and passenger detection: why a walk through still comes firstHow reminders and sensors work, where they miss children and how to check every seatRead the guideCrossing guard stop paddles and safety vests: what to look for and how to use themHow to choose, use and care for paddles and labeled vests at school crossingsRead the guidePassenger lifts and wheelchair securement on buses: how the systems work and what to askHow lifts, straps and belts keep wheelchair riders safe on school and transit busesRead the guideTraffic safety events that work: a planning guide for organizersHow to plan car seat checks, helmet fittings and safety fairs that change behaviorRead the guide

If your child was in a crash

Get your child checked first. Then these guides help you replace the car seat, watch for concussion signs and help a frightened child feel safe riding again.

If a child was just in a crash

Call 911 if anyone is hurt. Have a doctor check your child even if they seem fine, because some injuries show up hours or days later.

Start hereWhen a crash means your child needs a new car seatHow to tell if a car seat needs replacing after a crashRead the guideA seat belt mark across a child’s belly after a crashWhy a seat belt mark on a child's belly needs a medical checkRead the guideConcussion in a child after a car crashSigns of concussion in children and how to support a safe recoveryRead the guideSpotting concussion signs in a baby or toddler after a crashConcussion signs to watch for in babies and toddlers after a crashRead the guideHelping a child go back to school after a concussionHow to plan a gradual return to school after a child's concussionRead the guideRiding home safely with a child in a cast or braceHow to transport a child in a cast or brace safely and comfortablyRead the guideHelping a frightened child without promising that nothing bad will happenHow to comfort a scared child after a crash with honest words, routines and playRead the guideHelping a child who is scared to ride in a car againGentle ways to help a frightened child feel safe riding in a car againRead the guide

More to read

Want to read more? Browse every car seat and child passenger guide in our library, or see all our guides for children after a crash.

Browse child passenger guidesChildren after a crash

These guides offer general education, not legal or medical advice. Car seat and school bus laws differ by state, so check the rules where you live and follow your car seat and vehicle manuals. In an emergency in the United States, call 911.

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Safe Driving Resource Center

Guides, self-checks and articles for drivers, parents of new drivers, and families recovering after a crash.

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