Ohio Department of Health Ohio.gov

Make Your Child’s Trip a Safe and Happy One

Ohio’s Car Seat Law
Ohio law requires children younger than 4 years and less than 40 pounds to be in an approved, properly used, child seat while riding in vehicles registered in Ohio.

For Example:
These children still need to be in a child safety seat:

  • If your child is 5 years old and weighs just 35 pounds, he still must be in a child safety seat.
  • If your child is only 3 years old and weighs 45 pounds, he still needs to be in a child safety seat.

Check with your local health department to see if there are certified child passenger safety (CPS) technicians in your county. They can provide parents with child car seat information.

Important Points to Remember about Car Seat Safety
The back seat is the safest place for children. All children age twelve and under should ride in the back seat.

  • Be sure to read and follow all of the instructions for using your car seat and the vehicle owner’s manual.
  • Make sure your child is within the height and weight guidelines for the car seat you buy. For more information call 1-800-755-GROW (4769) or call the car seat information line at (614) 645-7748.

Rear Facing: Up to at Least 20 Pounds and up to 1 year old

  • A rear-facing car seat cannot be used in the front seat with an air bag.
  • If your baby is less than six pounds, talk to your doctor or nurse about special positioning directions or using a car bed.

Forward facing: Between 20-40 Pounds and over 1 year old

  • The harness must be threaded through the top slots unless the instructions state otherwise. Using the wrong slots could cause severe injury.
  • If the child must ride in the front with an air bag, adjust the vehicle seat as far back as possible.
Booster: Children over 40 pounds and about 4 years old.
  • A belt-positioning booster must be used with a lap and shoulder belt.
  • If you have a lap belt only, call the Ohio Help Me Grow Helpline at 1-800-755-GROW (4769) and ask to be transferred to Trina Dickerson at the Ohio Department of Health for a referral to a child passenger safety seat technician or instructor based in your county.

This page last updated on 4/14/08.