buckle up mn

Information for Caregivers

It takes a knowledgeable village to keep our children safe as passengers in vehicles. While parents often manage the bulk of transportation, grandparents, other family members, friends and licensed caregivers also play crucial roles in ensuring children are safely secured on the roadway.

Keeping that precious cargo safe starts with ensuring every child is properly secured in the back seat, using the correct car seat, booster seat, or seat belt.

Grandparents, family members, and friends

Driving children safely is a significant responsibility, especially when entrusted with their care as a family member or friend. It’s essential to stay informed about current child passenger safety laws and the proper installation and use of car seats, booster seats, and seat belts.

Understanding Changes in Safety Standards:
Vehicles safety features and car seat technology have changed significantly over the past few decades. Today’s child passenger safety laws and car seats differ greatly from those in place when grandparents were raising their own children.

The Importance of Proper Restraints:
Correctly installing and using car seats or booster seats is essential for safety. This process may require time and patience, especially for those who don’t regularly transport young children.

Tips for Grandparents, Family Members, and Friends:

  • Stay Informed: Car seat laws and recommendations change over time. Familiarize yourself with Minnesota’s current child passenger safety laws and guidelines.
  • Practice Installation: Take the time to practice installing car seats and booster seats correctly. If you’re unsure, consider having a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician check your installation.
  • Lead by Example: Always wear your seat belt and ensure every passenger in your vehicle does the same.
  • Educate the Children: Teach children about the importance of correct car seat, booster seat or seat belt use and staying safe in the vehicle. Make it a rule that everyone must buckle up before the car starts moving.

Start by checking out these resources

Licensed childcare and foster care providers

In Minnesota, all licensed childcare and foster care providers must complete a child passenger safety training program to transport children under age nine. Starting in 2025, the Basic Education for Safe Travel (B.E.S.T.) Program will replace the existing C.A.R.S. Program as the state’s required training. The B.E.S.T. Program follows a hybrid format with two steps: an online course (Step 1) that covers essential car seat safety, and an in-person, hands-on skills evaluation (Step 2) to practice proper car seat installation and child harnessing techniques. Providers must complete the program every five years to ensure they meet state requirements. To get started, find a B.E.S.T. Facilitator and check out the flyer for more details.
Locate a B.E.S.T. Facilitator

Interested in becoming a B.E.S.T. Facilitator?
To become a B.E.S.T. Facilitator, you must be a certified CPST-Proxy or CPST-Instructor, and follow a series of steps to gain approval. Review this flyer for more details on how to become a B.E.S.T. Facilitator.

Adaptive Transportation: Ensuring Safety for All Children

Every child deserves to be safe while traveling in a vehicle, but some children may have medical conditions or developmental needs that require special consideration when selecting appropriate restraints. Adaptive transportation focuses on ensuring the children with unique health care needs are properly secured in car seats, booster seats or seat belts that suit their specific requirements.

Understanding Adaptive Restraints

Regardless of whether a child’s medical condition presents short-term or long-term challenges, they should always travel in a restraint system that provides optimum protection. Oftentimes, a conventional car seat can meet the safety and positioning needs of a child with special health care needs. These conventional restraints can be purchased at retail stores and are not specifically designed for children with special requirements. In some cases, however, an adaptive restraint may be necessary to ensure proper support and safety.

Importance of Proper Restraint Use

Importance of Proper Restraint Use:
Using the right adaptive restraint is crucial for ensuring the safety and comfort of children with special health care needs. Properly installed adaptive restraints can prevent serious injuries in the event of a crash, providing support for the child’s body and ensuring they remain securely positioned.

Resources for adaptive transportation

  • American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP): The AAP provides guidelines on transporting children with special needs, emphasizing that all children, regardless of their abilities, should be properly restrained in a vehicle.
  • Indiana Automotive Safety Program: This program outlines best practices for transporting children with special health care needs, including the development of “Safe Travel for All Children,” which focuses on individual needs.
  • Safe Travel for All Children (STAC): This course is for child passenger safety technicians (CPSTs) who are interested in learning more about adaptative transportation. For guidance, consult a CPST in your area who has been specifically trained on STAC practices by searching on the Safe Kids website.

Disclaimer:
The information and materials found on this website are intended for reference and education. To ensure all passengers are using vehicle restraint systems correctly, please consult with a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician, as well as your vehicle’s owner’s manual and your child restraint owner’s manual.