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Pointers for parents on child passenger safety: 3 things to know

As a parent, you may be unsure about what car seat to get for your kids or how long they are supposed to ride in back.

In this post, we will inform you about three points that will help you take care of your kids with the right seating arrangements based on their ages.

Safety groups have recommendations on car seat usage for kids.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and traffic safety advocacy groups advise that young children use seats and passenger restraint systems appropriate to their age and size.

The AAP also has recommendations on car seat usage for kids. This includes, for example, when it is appropriate for children to transition from rear-facing to forward-facing seats and when to move from a booster seat to a seat belt.

Minnesota has a specific law on child passenger safety.

Beyond the national standards, however, there are also specific laws in each state.
In Minnesota, the law on child passenger safety provides:

  • Children under eight must sit in a booster or car seat. If the child is 4’9″ or taller they can sit without a special seat in the back seat.
  • The driver has a responsibility to keep children in compliance with this law.
  • Car seats are to be used in accordance with manufacturer specifications and retrains systems must meet federal standards.

The statute number is 169.685.

Age 13 is a key transition point for getting to sit in front seat.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, once your children are four feet nine inches tall or over eight years old, they can transition to an adult seat belt. But the AAP recommends that children under 13 should sit in the back seat with a seatbelt on.

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