Update: October 1, 2022 
Maryland Child Passenger Safety Law requires that children under eight years old ride in an appropriate child safety seat according to the vehichle and child restraint instructions. 
 
SB 176 - went into effect October 1, 2022. This states that children must be kept rear-facing unitl at least two years of age, unless the child meets or exceeds the hiegh and weight on the seat's guidelines. 

Is Your Family Riding in a Safe Manner?
 
Protecting children in cars requires a long-term commitment. Field experience during child safety seat checkpoints show that 9 out of 10 child safety seats are not being used or installed correctly.

Children progress through the use of infant seats, toddler seats and finally booster seats before they are of the proper age, height, and weight to wear the vehicle safety belt. Generally, the adult safety belt does not properly fit people shorter than 4'9" or under 80 to 100 pounds.

Booster Seat

Parents routinely protect their children through the use of car seats, but many parents do not use booster seats. Parents of booster age children (generally 4-8 years of age) skip the use of a booster seat and move their child to the adult safety belt too soon. Booster seats help position the adult safety belt properly on the child's shoulders and hips providing a safer and more comfortable ride. Make sure your child safety seat is installed correctly!