Are You Using the Right Car Seat? Michigan Law Has Clear Rules

When you're in the car, it's important to do all you can to keep yourself and other passengers safe. One of the easiest and most effective things you can do to help keep yourself safe is to use a seat belt.

But for kids and child seats, there are a few more steps involved. Are you following all of Michigan's child passenger safety laws?

According to Michigan's Office of Highway Safety Planning, you can reduce your child's risk of death in a crash by 50 percent by making sure that they are in the correct car seat and that it's being used correctly.

Car Seat Requirements by Age and Size in Michigan

Michigan updated its child seat safety laws last on April 2, 2025. The updates include a lot of information about making sure your child is in the correct type of seat for their height and weight, along with which way the car seat should be facing:

• Infant to two years: A child must be in a rear-facing car seat until they reach the maximum weight or height allowed by the car seat’s manufacturer or the child is 2 years old.
• Two to five years: The child can then move into a forward-facing car seat until they reach the maximum weight or height allowed by the car seat’s manufacturer or the child is 5 years old.
• Five to eight years: The child can then move to a belt-positioning booster seat using a lap and shoulder belt until they are 4’ 9” or 8 years old.
• All children under thirteen years: Children under the age of 13 must ride in the rear seat of a vehicle if the vehicle has one available.

Making sure that the correct seat is being used in the correct position is only part of the safety needs. Buckling properly is also necessary.

How to Properly Secure a Child Car Seat Harness

The latching system may vary slightly depending on the car seat model, but there are standard rules for all child seat harnesses:

• The harness needs to be in the right position: at or below the child's shoulders if the car seat is rear-facing; at or above the child's shoulders if the car seat is forward-facing.
• The harness should lie flat with no twisting.
• The harness should be snug and without slack. The harness should be snug enough that you are not able to pinch together the material.
• The chest clip should be at armpit level.

It's so important to make sure you’re using the correct car seat and that it’s installed properly.

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Additionally, do not use second-hand car seats. You never know if they might have been involved in an accident.