I think more states should require this.

AAA Minnesota/Iowa Offers Child Passenger Safety Education to Childcare
Providers, Helping Them Meet New State Statute Requirements

BURNSVILLE, Minn., Oct. 13, 2005 -- AAA Minnesota/Iowa announced today
it will offer training sessions in Child Passenger Safety (CPS) to
childcare and foster care providers in several of its Minnesota offices.

A new statute requiring licensed providers to attend and successfully
complete a training course was passed during the Special Legislative
Session in 2005. Beginning Jan. 1, 2006, providers are required to
complete the training before being allowed to transport children under
age 9 in their care.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA),
motor vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of death for children
over age 1. Additionally, recent research conducted by the Children's
Hospital of Philadelphia and State Farm Insurance Companies indicates
that appropriate child restraints for the 4-8 age group reduces the
injury rate in car crashes by 59 percent over adult seat belts use
alone.

"Most children who are riding unsafely in car seats are doing so simply
because their caregivers have not been given accurate information," said
Randy Williams, president of AAA Minnesota/Iowa. "Our goal is to
heighten childcare providers' awareness of the importance of proper
selection, use and installation of car seats used by the children in
their care."

Curriculum provided by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety,
developed in conjunction with AAA Minnesota/Iowa, will be used for these
training sessions.

AAA Minnesota/Iowa will offer the class free to AAA members, but will
charge $15 per participant for nonmembers. Reservations are required by
calling Shannon Swanson at (952) 707-4623. Please specify the date you
would like to attend.

I have further info (dates and class locations) if anyone is interested.

By Anonymous on Friday, October 14, 2005 - 05:06 pm:

while we're at it, let's require grandparents who take kids for rides to do something similar. My fil took my two year old for a ride IN HIS LAP! It was a short ride, but still! I was really freaked out, but I couldn't say anything about it. Family dynamics.
I'd like to post anonymous please, b/c of family dynamics and I know that these posts are viewable by doing a search online.

By Trina~moderator on Friday, October 14, 2005 - 05:17 pm:

Anon, YES you can say something about it! Tell your FIL it is ILLEGAL for kids to ride like that, more importantly, very unsafe. YOUR children, YOUR rules. If he can't follow child restraint laws and/or abide your rules do not allow him to take your children in the car.

By Trina~moderator on Friday, October 14, 2005 - 05:27 pm:

Anon, I have a child passenger safety fact sheet specifically geared toward grandparents. Unfortunately, it's not available on-line. If you're interested (NO pressure), I would be happy to mail you one. cpstmom @ gmail.com

Feel free to share any of this info with him or even bring him along while attending a car seat check.
**Child Passenger Safety and Car Seat Resources**

By Anonymous on Monday, October 17, 2005 - 05:37 pm:

Thank you so much. I'm downloading quite a bit of the info and going through it. I have to find a way to ease this info to my fil. And I am hanging on to your statement, MY children. I am ultimately responsible for them, therefore, I must do everything in my power to keep them safe. Family dynamics or not.

By Cocoabutter on Monday, October 17, 2005 - 08:54 pm:

Greatidea! More resposibility needs to be placed on daycare providers to place the safety of the children in their care as the top priority. I used to do daycare in my home, and ever since it seems that my ears perk up whenever I hear of a child in daycare that has died or been abused.

By Trina~moderator on Monday, October 17, 2005 - 09:27 pm:

Anon, Good luck!