LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) — Michigan’s updated car seat law will soon require children under the age of 2 to ride in a rear-facing car seat, extending the previous requirement that only applied to children under 1 year old. The new law takes effect April 2.

The law follows recommendations from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which reports that car crashes are a leading cause of death for children under 13. 

MORE NEWS: 2025’s Best California Betting Apps – Top 10 CA Mobile Sportsbook Apps for iOS & Android

Under the new law, infants and toddlers must remain rear-facing until they exceed the car seat manufacturer’s height and weight limits. Once they turn 2, children must transition to a forward-facing car seat with an internal harness, a requirement that now applies until age 5.

For older children, booster seats remain mandatory for kids under 8 or those shorter than 4 feet 9 inches. Even after outgrowing booster seats, kids are still required to sit in the back seat until age 13.

The NHTSA recommends registering car seats for recall alerts and using fire department inspections to confirm proper installation.