Car Seat Safety

Children pay with their lives if you don't protect them with proper car seat use. Dozens of children die or are injured each year in Minnesota in motor vehicle crashes because they were not properly restrained.


Minnesota Child Car Seat Law and Steps

  • All children must be in a child restraint until they are 4’9” tall, or at least age 8, whichevAdobeStock_296395998er comes first.
  • Keep your child rear-facing as long as possible. Your child should remain in a rear-facing car seat until he or she reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat’s manufacturer.
  • Once your child outgrows the rear-facing car seat, your child is ready to travel in a forward-facing car seat with a harness and tether. Keep your child in a forward-facing car seat with a harness and tether until he or she reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat’s manufacturer.
  • Use booster seats after a child outgrows a forward-facing harnessed restraint.
  • Use seat belts when children can sit with their back against the vehicle seat and have their knees bent comfortably over the edge with their feet touching the floor.


For the safety of your children 

  • Be an attentive driver
  • Always buckle up
  • Always secure your children in the proper restraint for their age, height and weight.
  • Always have your children sit in the back seat.


Car seat clinicschild-seat-graphic

Regions Hospital offers community car seat and booster seat safety clinics in partnership with local fire departments. This year’s clinics are at local fire departments from 4-7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Appointments are required. Call 651-254-3564 or email carseatinfo@healthpartners.com to make an appointment.

2022 clinics:

  • June 16 — Stillwater
  • July 25 — Hastings
  • Aug. 22 — White Bear Lake
  • Sept. 15 — Vadnais Heights
  • Nov. 14 — New Brighton
  • Nov. 28 — Forest Lake
  • Dec. 10 — Bayport (9 a.m. to noon)

Need help with a car seat?

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