I'd love to see a guide on MD state safety laws. For example, I know that my kids have to be in carseats until at least age 5. But my almost 4 year old, currently in a forward facing seat with a 5-point harness, is very small, about 30 pounds. So when am I supposed to move him to a belt positioning booster? Is it 4 years old? Or a certain weight?

Also, I know MD has a bike helmet law. But how strict is it, and does it apply to my 17 month old riding a push toy on my sidewalk?

If we are going to post the laws, which is fine, I would highly encourage input from Maryland Kids in Safety Seats regarding "Best Practice". Best Practice is far superior to the laws, which tend to be mired in red tape and woefully behind the times when it comes to child passenger safety.

For example: Maryland law is that a child must be at least 1 year and 20 pounds in order to be forward facing.

Some parents interpret this as "the minute your child is 1 year and over 20 pounds you SHOULD turn them forward facing. This is not the case. Best Practice is to leave the child rear facing for as long as possible (meaning, to the rear-facing weight limit on the car seat OR until the top of the child's head reaches the top of the seat rear-facing.)

Same with the booster seat law, of which technically there isn't one for Maryland - the law just states that a child under 5 OR under 40 pounds regardless of age must be restrained on an appropriate child safety seat. But Best Practice is to have a child in a 5-point harness as long as the weight limit on the seat allows or until the top of their ears reach the top of the back of the seat. So even though a child could fit into a booster, they might be better off still in their 5-point if it fits them.

And according to MD law, a child over the age of 6 AND over 40 pounds does not "legally" have to be in any child restraint of any form (including booster), but Best Practice is to keep a child in a booster seat until they can pass the 5-Step Test, known as the gold standard for determining when a child can sit without any booster using only the vehicle seat belt - and some children cannot pass this test until age 8 or higher.

Here is the website for Maryland Kid sin Safety Seats, along with links to MD state child passenger occupant laws:
http://www.mdkiss.org

And the Natn'l Safe Kids Campaign, which lists the child passenger restraint age as 5, but I would follow the KISS website since they are linked through the state. However, it is still worth reading because they also list exactly how the law wording could be changed to reflect best practice and the most up-to-date progressive child passenger laws:

http://www.usa.safekids.org/CSL_display.cfm?rec_id=162

I know the Baltimore Sun has interviewed Debbie Baer in the past. Debbie is the local car seat safety guru, and often assists KISS in their Child Passenger Safety Technician Trainings. She and her daughter have a website:

http://www.thecarseatlady.com

HELMETS: Here is a link to the MD Helmet law. It basically says anyone under age 16 using a bike, scooter, or in-line skate must wear a helmet. Since it does not specify "only when on the street", best practice would dictate "at all times", including sidewalks and paths through the park. Push-toys are not in the category of bike, scooter or in-line skate. Additionally, the most that can happen to a parent/child for breaking the helmet law is a verbal warning and being handed literature on helmet safety.

http://www.usa.safekids.org/CSL_display.cfm?rec_id=115

I'd love an expert's advice on how to explain to a tween (he's 10) and his 5 year old sister the end of life issues of a beloved pet. Our 13-1/2 year old Lab is in failing health. Her end is near. How much do I tell them? How much can they handle? What should they be part of and what shouldn't they? Many thanks.