Did you know that children should remain in a belt-positioning booster seat until they reach a height of 4 feet 9 inches and are between 8 and 12 years of age?

Those standards were put into place to guard against what is termed "premature graduation." Parents frequently want to advance to the next car seat long before their child is ready for that change. However, you lose some protection as you move from one stage to the next, so it's important for your child to stay in the right seat as long as possible, up to the recommended weight and height limits.

Visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's websites (nhtsa.gov and cert.safekids.org) for information about car seat checkup events near you. Take advantage of these resources and you'll have a head start toward making each drive in your car a safe, secure trip for your child.