Have you recently had a baby, and you’re looking out for their safety?  If so, a great place to start with that would be checking out your state’s car seat laws.  Car seat laws vary from state to state and can change over time, so it is important that you keep up with this information.

If you live in the state of Iowa, you can find your state’s car seat laws below.

Iowa Car Seat Laws:

• Your baby must remain in the rear-facing position until they’ve reached both one year of age AND 20 lbs.  This is very important and will allow their neck time to strengthen.  This can be done through an infant car seat or a convertible car seat.
• They must also stay in a car seat until the age of at least 5 years old.
• A safety belt must also be worn through the ages of 6-17 years old. 
• For now, there is no requirement that your child must sit in the back seat of the car.

NOTES: 

• It is always a good idea that your child stays in a car seat for as long as possible.  Some booster car seats can go up to 100 lbs, so it wouldn’t hurt to give your child this added protection.
• A vehicle belt should always be worn regardless of your age. 
• Always make sure that your child’s car seat still fits them properly.  You can most likely find the requirements for both height and weight on the bottom of the seat.  Once your child has grown out of his or her seat, it’s important that you upgrade them to one in the next level.

This is just a brief summary of Iowa’s car seat laws.  Be aware that car seat laws change over time, so it is important that you keep up with this information on a regular basis.