Child Safety Seats

The four keys of child passenger safety are: 

• Use a car seat on every trip, every time. 

• Keep children in the back seat until age 13. 

• Use the correct safety seat for the child’s size. 

• Use child safety seats and seat belts correctly. 

Child Safety Seat Recommendations

Rear Facing Seat 

• To 2 years of age, or until the highest weight and height limit allowed by the car seat manufacturer. 

Forward Facing Seat 

• To upper height and weight limits of car seat, age of 4 years and weight range of 40-65 pounds. 

• The top tether should be used until child weighs 40 pounds. 

Booster Seat 

• From approximately 4 to at least 8 years old or 4’9” 

• Use a high back or backless belt positioning booster 

• Lap-belt only seating positions should not be used with booster seat 

Adult Seat Belt 

• Age 8 or older and at least 4’9” 

• Lap belt lays across upper thighs and shoulder belt across chest; knees bend at seat edge 

Become a Child Safety Seat Technician

Child Passenger Safety Technicians train to properly fit child safety seats. Out of the thousands of child safety seats installed in vehicles, over 80% of them are incorrectly installed, according to National surveys conducted by NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration). The NHTSA Standardized Child Passenger Safety Training course is designed to certify child safety advocates as Child Passenger Safety Technicians. The course provides attendees with the knowledge and skills necessary to provide parents with accurate and consistent information regarding child car safety seats. 

The Idaho Office of Highway Safety recommends this valuable training course. The Idaho CPS program provides free Child Passenger Safety Inspection Stations through our hospitals, fire departments, police departments, and District Public Health Department offices. At these locations, parents and caregivers can learn how to safely transport children by using the properly fitted child safety seats. 

If you wish to take this course, you must register online at the National SAFE KIDS. This site describes policies and administrative requirements for course registration and certification for the National Standardized Child Passenger Safety Training Program. For those contemplating taking the course, please keep in mind that this is not an easy course and is physically exerting. It is a full 3 or 4 day course with a child safety seat check, hands on skills and Checks for Understanding that must be passed. It also requires the physical ability to climb in and out of cars, placing pressure on car seats to install them properly. It is not recommended for persons with back problems to take this course. To register you will need to be prepared to use a credit card to charge your registration fee of $95.00. This registration fee includes your manual and your 2-year NHTSA National Child Passenger Safety Certification. To remain current CPS technicians must recertify every 2 years. 

The WHALE Program – In Case of an Emergency 

Emergency service personnel across Idaho have a tool available to help identify small children involved in motor vehicle crashes. The WHALE program “We Have A Little Emergency” gives instant identification of a child in a car safety seat in the event that an adult in the car is injured and unable to talk. 

The WHALE identification card provides emergency personnel information to identify young children involved in a crash. Sometimes just knowing a child’s name can help rescue workers comfort young patients. Rescue workers can refer to an identification card attached to the safety seat and find the child’s name, medical information, and who to contact in case of emergency. Stickers affixed to car windows and the safety seat also alert emergency workers that the child’s information is close at hand. 

The WHALE Kit includes: 

• An Identification Card — containing a space for a photograph of the child and important information about the child in the safety seat, such as the child’s name, date of birth, pertinent medical information, and whom to contact in an emergency. 

• Two WHALE (seat) Stickers — the WHALE logo, to be attached to each side of the child safety seat. 

• Two WHALE (window) Stickers — featuring the WHALE logo, to be attached to the lower rear corner of the vehicle’s windows. 

For more information on distribution points or to get a WHALE Kit in English or Spanish, please contact: