What's the Right Age To...?

When should you teach your child to tie his shoes or give him an allowance or a pet? We quizzed the experts for the most up-to-date advice.

Like many parents, we always want to do what’s best for our kids. But, certain topics arise as they get older that we sometimes don’t know how to handle. Here’s help:

When to ...

Stop Using a Highchair

Feeding a toddler in a highchair is convenient — it keeps your child in one place and helps contain the mess. Generally between 2 - 3 years old a child will become proficient in safely climbing in and out of a regular chair. Your child can stop using a highchair when she can safely climb out of it.
— Mark Krakauer, M.D., a pediatrician at St. Thomas Medical Group and board certified in pediatrics and internal medicine.

Teach a Child to Tie His Shoes

Most children have the manual dexterity to tie their shoes by age 5. But don’t give up and resort to Velcro if your child doesn’t catch on quickly; it won’t help him master the skill. Just keep practicing. There are even books available that have shoelaces in them, along with step-by-step lessons.
— Mark Krakauer, M.D.

Move a Child to a Big-Kid Bed

Not until you absolutely have to! A crib is the best way to contain a very active toddler during the quiet times of sleep and naps. Most toddlers make this move sometime between age 18 months and 3 years. There is no age limit for this transition, but parental guidance is required! A good indicator is when your child repeatedly expresses a desire to move into a bed.
— Jeremy Friedman, M.D., author of The Toddler Care Book (Robert Rose; $29.95)

Teach Kids to Floss

According to the American Dental Association, children are usually ready to floss on their own by age 8. If a child can tie his shoes, he may have the manual dexterity to floss, too. Each child is different, and supervision is key. But don’t ignore flossing until your child can do it himself. Once his teeth come in close together, it’s time to do the flossing for him.
— Kimberly Harms, D.D.S., a consumer advisor for the American Dental Association

Let a Child Bathe Alone

Deciding whether to let a child bathe by himself depends not only on his physical skills but on his good judgment as well. Even if your 4-year-old is a terrific swimmer, you’d never leave him alone in a pool. Of course, there’s less water in a tub, but a child can drown in a very small amount. A bathing child should have an adult in the room with him until he is old enough to swim and climb out of the tub by himself. Some recommend that the child not bathe alone until he is old enough to use a shower, at around age 5.
— Mark Krakauer, M.D.