It turns out, it's a little older than you may think.

Car Seat Safety

Car seat safety is a topic that may seem like a snooze fest, but it's really important to make sure your child is as safe as possible when riding in the car.     My husband is a paramedic, and with the things he has seen, plus my anxiety about making sure my child is as safe as possible, car seat safety is a top priority for us.  So how long do we need to keep kids restrained in car seats or boosters?

How Long Do Children Need to be Restrained in a Safety Seat?

According to the Indiana State Police, all children must be properly restrained in a child safety seat or booster seat until the age of 8 years old. 

• Indiana law requires all children under the age of eight to use a child restraint system in accordance with the child restraint system manufacturer’s instruction, which are based upon the child’s height and weight. The child restraint system normally used by children in this age group is the booster seat.

Now each state has different laws, so if you don't live in Indiana you'll want to look up your own state's laws on child passenger safety. The Indiana State Police have a lot of great information about car seat safety, and rules to follow when properly restraining your child in a car seat, you can read those here. 

Free Car Seat Inspections

If you want to ensure your child is properly restrained and your car seat is properly installed, the best thing to do is talk with a Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST).  Indiana has Car Safety Seat Inspection Stations all over the state where you can book a FREE appointment with a CPST and they will help ensure your child is properly restrained.

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Child Safety Seat Inspection Stations are places where parents and caregivers can make an appointment to have their child safety seat inspected by a certified child passenger safety technician. The certified child passenger safety technician will evaluate the way that the child is currently traveling, check the child's current restraint for recalls, proper fit and proper installation. The parent or caregiver is instructed on how to properly use and install the child restraint.

If you want to find a Child Safety Seat Inspection Station near you, you can check out Indiana's interactive map of free inspection stations, here.