Michigan child safety

Michigan child safety seat requirements

Michigan’s Child Passenger Safety Law requires:

Children younger than age 4 to ride in a car seat in the rear seat if the vehicle has a back seat. If children under 4 occupy all available rear seats, then a child under four may ride in a car seat in the front seat. A child in a rear-facing car seat may only ride in the front seat if the car’s airbag is off.

Even though experts for years have stressed the importance of child seats, the number one killer in the United States for children ages 2-14 is car crashes.

Automotive companies design seat belts to fit adults, not children. A belt-positioning booster seat, which is the next step after a child has completely outgrown a child safety seat, gives kids a lift so that a lap and shoulder belt fits them properly.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all children under age 13 should ride in the back seat. Based on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s recommendations, the following tips are critical to helping ensure the safety of children riding in vehicles.

Michigan Age Requirements for Child safety seats

If the Child is:

A newborn up to at least one year and at least 20 pounds

  • Use a rear-facing infant seat or rear-facing convertible seat.
  • Keep the child in the rear-facing seat until he or she has completely outgrown the seat.
  • Never place a rear-facing infant in the front seat with an airbag.
  • Follow the child safety seat and vehicle manufacturers’ instructions on correct restraint use and installation.

Over at least one year and at least 20 pounds, up to 40 pounds.

  • Use a forward-facing convertible seat or forward-facing combination seat with harness straps.
  • Keep the child in the forward-facing child safety seat until he or she has completely outgrown it.
  • Follow the child safety seat and vehicle manufacturers’ instructions on correct restraint use and installation.

Over 40 pounds and up to at least age 8, unless 4’9” tall

  • Use a belt-positioning booster seat with lap and shoulder seat belt.
  • Follow the child safety seat and vehicle manufacturers’ instructions on correct restraint use and installation.

Over the age of 8 or 4’9” tall

  • Use a lap and shoulder safety belt.
  • Follow vehicle manufacturers’ instructions on correct restraint use.

Michigan Child safety seat facts:

  • Correctly used child safety seats are beneficial and reduce the risk of death as much as 71%.
  • Nearly 73% of child restraints are not installed or used correctly.
  • Nearly half of kids 14 and under who died in crashes were completely unrestrained.

There are fines for operators of a motor vehicle transporting a child who is found responsible for not placing the child in a proper seat.

If you would like to learn more about child and teen auto safety, read about our post on Teen driver safety tips.