Parenting Cottage Provides Free Car Seats and Safety Training

LUBBOCK, TX—The Parenting Cottage has announced that it will provide free car seats to families through the Texas Department of State Health Services' Safe Riders Child Passenger Education and Training Program.

Certified car technicians will conduct no-cost car seat training courses for parents on how to secure their children properly.

Current Texas law mandates that children under 4 feet, 9 inches tall, or under eight years of age must be secured in a child safety seat.

Parents are encouraged to schedule an appointment for the Car Seat Safety class on Tuesday, Oct. 22, and on Oct. 29. Families must meet the following requirements:

• Pre-registration: Parents must call The Parenting Cottage at 806-795-7552 to pre-register before attending.
• Child Information: Parents need to provide their child’s height and weight to ensure the correct car seat is allocated.
• Expecting Mothers: Expecting mothers must be in their last trimester (28-40 weeks) to attend. Registration is available at 24 weeks for classes.
• Limited Appointments: Availability is limited, so calling in advance is essential.
• No Children at Appointments: Parents should attend without their children.
• Timeliness: Late arrivals will need to reschedule.
• Vehicle Requirements: Families must have a vehicle equipped with working lap and shoulder belts.
• One Car Seat Per Family: Each family is eligible for one car seat.

The car seats available include convertible car seats for infants weighing 5 pounds and up, combination seats for toddlers, and booster seats for older children.

According to a release, the Parenting Cottage will highlight the importance of car seat safety, noting that children unprotected by car seats are significantly more likely to suffer life-threatening injuries, such as ruptured liver, spleen, cervical spine injuries, and facial injuries from collisions—collectively referred to as Seat Belt Syndrome. The estimated cost of treating a Seat Belt Syndrome child can be around $24,000 per incident.

Training classes will be held at The Parenting Cottage, located at 3818 50th Street. To register, call 806-795-7552.