Thanks for caring, Mom and Dad!

As your kids grow up, their willingness to buckle up goes down, which is why seat belts really are the most important thing you can nag your kids about. Every trip, every time.

That's why we urge you to make sure you keep your most precious cargo safe:

by following recommendations from safety experts to make sure your kids are safe in a vehicle no matter what their age, height or weight
by setting a good example and always buckling up yourself, and
by reminding and requiring your kids to always wear their seat belts

These Statistics Tell the Story:

Nearly one-third of children killed in crashes each year in Colorado are "tweens" between the ages of 8 and 12. And 6 out of 10 were not buckled up when the accidents occurred. As kids in this age group develop their independence, seat belts are often forgotten or are no longer considered "cool". That's why it's important for parents to remind (nag) tweens and set down rules that are non-negotiable.

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children age 3 to 14 in the U.S. and in Colorado.
In 2007, 6,532 vehicle occupants age 14 and younger were killed in traffic crashes nationwide.
Over the past five years in Colorado, 108 children ages 0-14 have been killed in traffic crashes, and 62% were not properly restrained in a child safety seat or seat belt.

Get More Information Here!

Mom-Tested Tips for Getting Tweens to Buckle Up Properly
Find Out Why Back Seat is Best
Think Your Tween is Too Old for a Booster Seat?
Rear-facing? Forward-facing? Booster?
Find a Fitting Station Near You!
Learn the Colorado's Child Passenger Safety laws

Mom-Tested Tips for Getting Tweens to Buckle Up Properly

Getting tweens to buckle up properly in the back seat requires discipline - and a little creativity - to establish important life-saving habits for years to come. Try this mom-tested trick next time you're in the car:

Let them pick the radio station. Tweens are eager to make their own choices, and choosing tunes in the car is often high on their list. Make this deal with your tween: "Sit buckled properly in back, and control the radio dial - or else suffer through mom's pre-set easy listening stations!"

Get more great tips and advice here

Simply buckling up isn't the only thing that's important. Kids often click their seat belts, but put the shoulder harness behind them. This can cause serious spinal injuries in a crash so make sure they use the entire seat belt correctly.

Back Seat is Best

Research shows children are 40% more likely to be injured in a front seat than if they had been seated in back. Experts recommend that kids under the age of 13 should always sit in the back seat. It's the safest spot in a car and protects their smaller frames from the impact of an air bag during a crash.

Think your tween is too old for a booster seat?

Actually, it's not a question of age. It's a question of height. Kids 4'9" and under still need a booster seat to fully protect them during a crash. Don't assume your 8 to 12-year old should wear a seat belt only! To graduate to a seat belt, your child should be able to sit back against the seat back with knees bent naturally at the edge of the seat, the shoulder belt comfortably crossing the shoulder between the neck and arm, and the lap belt low on the hips, touching the thighs. The child should be able to stay seated this way for the whole trip. Click here to learn more about proper seat belt use for older children.

Rear-facing? Forward-facing? Booster?

The difference could mean life or death. If you have little ones, it's important to know which child safety seat will keep your children the safest. Check out the 4 Steps for Kids guidelines from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for determining which restraint system is best suited to protect children based on age and size. You can also visit www.carseatscolorado.com

Colorado Fit Stations

Of course, having the right seat is one thing, installing it correctly is another. When it comes to keeping your children safe, leave no room for doubt - let the experts show you how. Find a free car seat fitting station or event near you.