I am trying to find out what the rules are in michigan for upgrading a child from an infant seat to a front facing car seat. does the child have to be 1 year and over 20 lbs, or is the weight restriction enough? my son has already passed this weight restriction and I am trying to see if he has to be a year old as well.
lifehousefreak81
Favorite Answer
It is a federal law that the child has to be both 1 year and 20 pounds. Babies under 1 year of age do not have sufficient muscle structure to be able to handle a wreck facing forward. There is some newer research that has come out recently that states the child is safest rear facing to 2 years of age.
Sit'nTeach'nNanny
Always go with safety first, regardless of what the law is. Remember that laws are the absolute minimum. Most states say 1 year AND 20 lbs. Get a convertible seat with a high weight limit and it won't be an issue. Rear facing is always safest, even for adults. As that's not feasible for the driver, we are forward facing. I'd always err on the side of caution and keep him rear facing to 33 or 35 lbs depending on the rear facing seat--even if that means he's three. Which is easier to correct--a dead child or a broken leg? I'd go for the leg.
Diane (PFLAG)
INFANTS
An infant (up to one year of age) should travel in a federally approved infant safety seat that must always face the rear of the car. Facing rearward protects the infant's fragile head and neck if a crash does occur. The seat should also be semi-reclined so the baby's head does not flop forward.
http://www.michigan.gov/msp/0,1607,7-123-1593_3504_22774-13568--,00.html
In Michigan it is an age restriction not a weight restriction, doesn't matter how much he weighs it's rear facing until age 1...
caselise
I agree with the safety first issue. In Australia, we are only just legislating mandatory laws when it comes to baby car seats. The recommendations are (sorry you will need to convert) 8kgs to change to facing front, then 14 kgs to move to a toddler seat. You also need to take into consideration age and whether they can hold up head etc.
My own children were in back facing till about 8 months and into toddler seat at nearly 3. Even with a toddler seat I have fitted a harness rather than a lap sash as kids up to 7 or 8 can still have severe or even fatal injuries to their organs with a lap sash.
I get so upset when I see little ones in front seats or without car seats. Err on the side of safety, AND DON'T let anyone talk you into "their" way. Your children are too precious to risk.
lalalalalala
Its both.... He needs to be 20 lbs. AND over 1 year old. You will need to get one of the seats that can go from back word facing to forward facing.