Parents react to Minnesota changing its child car seat laws

CALEDONIA, Minn (WKBT)-- Amber Bell is a mother of two young kids and she's a little concerned about Minnesota's car seat laws changing

"With her being taller I'm thinking he'll be a little taller too. He probably won't be able to fit very well until age two in the rear facing," she said.

Sarting Aug. 1, kids will need to remain in a rear facing seat until they're at least two years old and have outgrown the seat by height or weight. They then can be forward-facing with an internal harness.

Once a child is at least 4 years old and meets the height and weight requirements, they can use a belt-positioning booster seat, using the lap belt and shoulder belt.

"It's a good age to start with the booster seat. Before that, they should still fit in the five-point harness ones," Alexis Pitts said.

The new law is based on child seat recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

In Minnesota from 2019 to 2023, of the nearly 13,000 children ages 0 to 7 involved in crashes who were properly restrained, 89 percent were not injured while another 10 percent only suffered minor injuries, the state's public safety department says.

Bri Ceasar is the health educator for Houston County. She says the new law brings a new barrier to parents, having to explain to their kids why they need to be in a car seat longer.

"From personal experience, my son will say why do I have to be in a car seat. It's just taking the time to educate our kids and say keeping you in this harness longer is going to keep you safer if we were to get into a crash," she said.

When a child is nine or older and can pass the five-step test to demonstrate the seat belt fits correctly, they can ride without an additional car seat. Children under 13 must sit in the backseat whenever possible.

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