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This #MIcarseats post was sponsored by The Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own. #IC

Lead the way I tell her.

I remember being pregnant with this little girl. I eagerly read all the safety books. Plugged up all the electric sockets. Blocked stairs, and padded every suspicious corner.

And cars? Cars had all their own great safety features for trips. I had my on-call, GPS, air bag, dashboard warning alerts, and mirror systems too. Not to mention that there were car seats encasing her in STEEL ya’ll!

But she is still growing up on me. And now I find myself asking pediatricians new questions. Looking up facts on sites like the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning. Not to see when she will switch from rear to forward facing. Or forward facing to booster.

But when she won’t need that booster seat anymore at all. When she can sit in the front seat next. Ya’ll, I may have even googled when Driver’s Ed starts. Because Lord help me when I hand her my keys the first time.

As a Michigan parent, it’s really important to me that resources are available on how to keep road travel safe for all ages. Our children’s safety is a top priority. But as they do grow older, it gets so confusing as to when it’s safe to transition them to the next step. So, here are some facts I learned on when to kids can be released from using booster seats.

• Under the age of 4, children must be in a car seat or booster seat in the rear seat of a vehicle (if there is one).
• Children aged 4-8 years old, are 45% safer using a booster seat than a seat belt alone.
• Booster seats are required until a child is either 8 years old and/or 4’9″ tall

As parents we also need to lead by example. Did you know that seat belt use in adults (and older children) reduce the risk of death or serious injury by 50%? However in Michigan alone, children aged 4-8 years are often polled at only a 49.7% booster seat use. Meaning many of us underestimate the risks associated with car travel in this specific age range.

My girl is ready for the open road now. She’s well past 8 years of age. But just hit the growth spurt over that 4’9″ height requirement. Because regardless of what your manufacturer or booster seat manual states. Making the choice for your child is something you need to do, when you know they’ll be safest. And being able to share my story and these great facts? Well, now there’s something I will always be ready for.