Ask A Trooper

Sgt. Jesse Grabow

Question: I am a new parent and I am not sure if I am doing this child car seat thing properly. Is there somewhere I can go to find out if I am doing it right? Thank you.

Answer: Congratulations on parenthood! I know the feeling and there will only be more questions as time goes on. For child passenger safety, the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety has a map that you can click on for your area, and it will bring you to a “car seat check.” https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/ots/child-passenger-safety/Pages/car-seat-checks.aspx

If this doesn’t work out, a person can always check with their local police department/sheriff’s office, local public health department or any hospital and clinic. If they are unable to help, they should be able to point you in the right direction.

Minnesota Child Car Seat Law and Steps

• In Minnesota, all children must be in a child restraint until they are 4’9” tall, or at least age 8, whichever comes first. 

• Rear-facing child seats – 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.

• Forward-facing seats – 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.

• Booster seats – Use after outgrowing a forward-facing harnessed restraint; safest to remain in a booster until 4 feet 9 inches tall, or at least age 8, whichever comes first. 

• Seat belts – Use 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.

Keeping Children Safe

• From 2016-2020, 20 children (ages 0–7) were killed in motor vehicles and only 40 percent of the victims were known to be properly secured. 

• Of the 86 children (ages 0–7) seriously injured in motor vehicles in the past five years, only 50 percent of the victims were known to be properly secured.

• Of the 15,672 children ages 0–7 who were properly restrained in the past five years, 88 percent were not injured, and another 9 percent sustained only minor or possible injuries.

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. 

If you have any questions concerning traffic related laws or issues in Minnesota, send your questions to Trp. Jesse Grabow – Minnesota State Patrol at 1000 Highway 10 West, Detroit Lakes, MN 56501-2205.  (You can follow him on Twitter @MSPPIO_NW or reach him at, jesse.grabow@state.mn.us).