Whether it’s a quick drive to the grocery store or a long trip to the cabin, keeping kids safe while in the car is top of mind for parents.
Proper restraint systems like car seats and seat belts can greatly reduce childhood injury from car crashes.
Car seat safety laws and tips
In 2024, Minnesota updated their laws for transporting children in vehicles to match the best-practice standards set by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Here’s what the new law recommends:
Infants and toddlers
Parents should keep their children in rear-facing car seats as long as possible, at least until age 2. Children should stay in their rear-facing seat until they are too large, either by weight or height.
Toddlers and preschoolers
Once children have outgrown a rear-facing car seat, they should continue to ride in a car seat until they reach the seat’s length and weight limits, which is usually 65 pounds or more.
School-aged children
When kids outgrow their car seat limits, they should ride in a belt-positioning booster seat until at least age 9 and remain in a belt-positioning booster until a seat belt will fit them correctly.
Vehicles vary in design and children who fit properly in a seat belt without a booster in one car may not fit in another car. Use the five-step seat belt test below to determine if the seat belt fits your child properly.
Adolescents and teens
Once kids exceed the limits of a booster seat, they can use the vehicle seat belts alone, but should always use both the lap and shoulder belt. All children under the age of 13 should remain in the vehicle’s rear seats and not sit in the front passenger seat.
Proper seat belt fit test
Here is the five-step test to determine if a seat belt fits properly.
- Kids and teens should be able to sit in the vehicle seat with their back all the way against the back of the seat.
- Their knees should bend at the edge of the seat.
- The lap belt should fit low and tight across the tops of their thighs, not on their stomach.
- The shoulder belt should fit on the strong bone between the neck and shoulder.
- They should be able to remain seated this way for the duration of the entire ride.
Our experts can help
If you have questions about what car seat or booster seat is right for your child, or if your child’s travelling circumstances are unique and you’d like additional guidance, you can email our car seat experts at [email protected].
You can also ask your pediatrician at your next well-child check. Schedule your well-child exam today.
Dr. Chawla on WCCO
Dr. Gigi Chawla discussed the new Minnesota guidelines for car seats, booster seats and seatbelts, as of Aug. 1, 2024, with WCCO.
