Do you live in the state of Massachusetts?  If so, do you know the car seat laws for the state?  Car seat laws are important for a number of reasons.  Between avoiding traffic violations and fines all together, as well as keeping your little one safe in the car, why wouldn’t you take the time to learn these important laws?

Car seat laws vary from state to state, therefore it is important that you know the laws for the actual state you live in.  If you don’t know Massachusetts’ laws already, here they are below.

Massachusetts Car Seat Laws:

• If your child is 7 years or younger, and is less than 57″, they must remain in a child car seat.
• Children ages 8-12, and ones that are less than 57″ must also wear an adult safety belt.
• If you fail to follow these laws, it may result in a $25 fine for the first offense.

NOTES:

• It’s best to keep babies in the rear-facing position for as long as possible.  A good time to think about turning them around is once they’ve reached both 20 lbs AND one year of age.
• You should never buy a car seat that is used.  Although you can buy several used baby items for your baby, a car seat is one of the few you cannot.  Since you don’t know if it’s been recalled, in an accident or if it’s expired, it’s never a good idea.
• Keep in mind that once your baby exceeds the height and weight requirements for their car seat, they must be upgraded to the next level.

This is just a brief summary of Masschusetts’ car seat laws.  Keep in mind that they can change at any time, therefore as a parent, you must keep up with this very important information.  Have additional questions?  Check out these FAQ car seat questions here!