Idaho marks Child Passenger Safety Month with free seat check events

Idaho is joining the nationwide observance of Child Passenger Safety Month, reminding families that choosing the right car seat isn’t about a child’s age; it’s about their weight and height.

A common misconception is that children “age out” of certain seats or automatically move to forward-facing as they get older. In reality, proper seat selection depends on size, not birthdays, and is the safest way to protect them when riding in vehicles. 

Child Passenger Safety Week runs September 20–26, ending with National Seat Check Saturday on September 26, when certified child passenger safety technicians across Idaho will offer free child seat inspections.

Child safety seats are 69% effective at preventing serious injuries and fatalities, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). But in Idaho’s 2025 crash data, only 65% of parents involved in crashes used car seats or booster seats for children ages 4–6.

Free Child Seat Check Events

North Idaho

• Sept. 22 – Panhandle Health District, 11 a.m.–1 p.m.
• Sept. 23 – St. Maries, Heritage Health, 2–5 p.m.
• Oct. 24 – Boundary County Annex, 11 a.m.–2 p.m.

Southwest Idaho

• Sept. 26 – St. Luke’s Treasure Valley (Meridian), 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
• Sept. 26 – Thrive Pediatrics (Meridian), 10 a.m.–2 p.m.

Eastern Idaho

• Sept. 26 – Blackfoot Police, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
• Oct. 2 – Nell Redfield Memorial Hospital (Malad City), 10 a.m.–12 p.m.

Child passenger safety technicians in Idaho also offer seat checks by appointment year round. Please visit the SHIFT blog for a complete map of locations and technician contact information, plus other child passenger safety resources including: how to choose the right seat for children’s weight and height as recommended by NHTSA, confirm rear- or forward-facing requirements, check harness fit, avoid unsafe hand-me-downs, and understand seat expiration dates.