Are you a low-income family in Minnesota in need of a car seat for your child? If so, you’re in luck. This state has a number of programs that provide free or low-cost car seats to families who qualify.
In this article, we’ll provide an overview of the different programs available, as well as some tips on how to find a free car seat program in Minnesota that’s right for your family. We’ll also share some information on the car seat laws in Minnesota, so you can be sure your child is properly restrained while riding in your vehicle.
In Minnesota, there are a number of programs that offer free car seats to those in need. The Office of Traffic Safety provides a directory of these programs, which can be used to find out who has free car seats available and exactly whom to contact in your area. These programs can help to reduce the number of child fatalities due to car accidents and are therefore a valuable resource for families in Minnesota.
List of Free car seat programs in Minnesota (2022)
Everyday Miracles
If you don’t have much money, Everyday Miracles is a great way to get a free car seat. If you qualify for a free car seat through a government-funded program like Health Partners, Blue Plus, or UCare, you can request one through this link.
Wakota Life Care Center
Wakota Life Care Center offers free car seats to those who attend two classes and the car seat safety seminar. This is a great way to get a free car seat and learn about car seat safety.
UCare, Baby Blanket, and Vadnais Heights fire department
SEATS by UCare, Baby Blanket, and the Vadnais Heights fire department all offer great resources to get a free car seat for your kids. These programs are essential to ensuring the safety of your children while they are in the car. Please refer to the individual programs for contact information and eligibility criteria.
Sherburne County
Sherburne County offers a reduced-cost car seat program to help keep children safe. To receive a new child safety seat, attendees must participate in a 90-minute class. Distribution classes are scheduled twice a month. To find out if you are eligible and to enroll in the next class, call 800-433-5237 or 763-765-4112.
Mille Lacs County
Mille Lacs County offers a free car seat program to help keep children safe. To participate, please contact Nikki Herr at [email protected] or 320-983-8208.
Meeker County Public Health
Meeker County Public Health offers free child passenger safety checks for pregnant women or families and caregivers with children of all ages. To learn more about this program, or to schedule a check, please call MCPH at 320-693-5370.
Carver County Public Health
Carver County Public Health has a program in place where families that meet specific income requirements can get a free car seat. To learn more about the program, or to see if you qualify, you can call Carver County Public Health at (952) 361-1329.
Alternative programs to get a free car seat in Minnesota
There are a few alternative programs to get a free car seat in Minnesota. Safe Kids Worldwide is an organization that is committed to keeping children safe from injuries. There are over 400 different Safe Kids coalitions throughout the United States. It has partners in 30 different countries to promote safety for children.
If you’re approved, a CPST will deliver a seat to your home or the hospital of your choosing, completely free of charge. Another beneficial resource, some hospitals offer car seats at a significantly reduced price. In order to be discharged from the hospital after having a baby, parents are required to have a car seat readily installed. Your OB/GYN may also have resources to help you find what you need.
Local government departments catering to women and children are an invaluable resource when it comes to things like this. They exist to help women and children get the help they need. Your local Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) office or the Department of Child Services are two of your best options.
“211” is a bit of a hidden gem for anybody struggling out there. Not just with finding an affordable car seat, but other basic needs like food and rent assistance as well. It’s basically a way to find help without making a million phone calls to different departments. This service is run by United Way and it works just like “911” does. When you dial 211, it will connect you to your closest 211 call center.
You can also find solace in your local CPST, or “child passenger safety technician”. These car seat experts are trained by Safe Kids, mentioned above, to help parents and parents-to-be with everything to do with car seats. If you’re struggling to find out where to obtain a car seat on your budget, CPSTs may be your biggest help.
You’ll find that in many places, some police and fire professionals are also certified CPSTs. Even if they aren’t, most police/fire departments have the resources needed to help you find the right place to go. This is probably less likely than your other options. However, it’s worth a call to see if your insurance will cover a free infant seat.
What are the car seat laws in Minnesota?
In Minnesota, all children under the age of 8 must ride in a federally approved car seat or booster seat, unless the child is 4’9″ or taller. Car seats must be used according to the manufacturer’s instructions and must be a child passenger restraint system meeting federal motor vehicle safety standards. You can read more about Minnesota car seat laws here.
Final Thoughts
We hope the information we have discussed above was able to help to find free car seat programs in Minnesota. If you fail to find any free car seat program in Minnesota, try to reach your nearest police/fire departments, most police/fire departments have the resources needed to help you find free car seat programs if your state has any.
