Rear Facing Infant Safety Seat Laws in Massachusetts
Most states have laws requiring infants to be properly restrained in infant car seats. Infant car seats are designed to be positioned in a rear-facing position for at least the first year of an infant's life. Massachusetts law requires that infants be restrained in an infant car seat according to the manufacturer's instructions, which typically advise that infants be rear-facing.
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Massachusetts Child Restraint Laws
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According to the Massachusetts law, children younger than age 5 or who weigh less than 40 pounds must be restrained in a child safety seat. Children must be restrained according to the seat manufacturer's recommendations. Manufacturers almost always intend for car seats to be used in a rear-facing position until a child is 1 year of age.
Best Practices
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The Massachusetts Public Safety Department recommends that infants be restrained using the best practices outlined on its website. Such practices include restraining infants in rear-facing seats until they are at least 1 year old or until they weigh at least 20 pounds. Once a child reaches 1 year or 20 pounds, the car seat can be moved to a forward-facing position.
Considerations
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A rear-facing car seat should always be placed in the back seat of the car, away from any air bags. Infants and toddlers can continue to sit in a rear-facing position in seats that are designed to be rear-facing for larger infants up to 35 pounds. Check with the manufacturer of specific car seats for proper use.
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