are car seats required for children in mexico when traveling in a car?

For safety's sake, I would use the same rules as in the US (which, in many jurisdictions, requires a car seat for kids 4 and under). Many insurance companies and safety experts recommend a booster seat up to age 8 so that children are properly positioned with the seat belt in case of a crash. And of course, never put a little one in the front seat when there is an air bag -- it could kill 'em!

If you are traveling, you can either take your car seat with you (it doesn't count towards your baggage count if you are traveling by air to your destination) or you can rent a car seat at the auto rental facility.

Legally required or not, safety should be the deciding factor.

Meaning - take the car seat regardless of the law.

Driven in Mexico....take the car seat....PERIOD!!!!!

car seats are required for children in every country. If your child is under the age of 8, it becomes compulsory to have your child secured.
Car seats were originally designed to keep your child in a sweet fluffy cradle-like chair while you take him along, and making sure that even if your car rolls around your child remains secure and safe.
However, if your child is above the age of 8, or gets taller than 4 feet 5 inches, you do not need a car seat for him, also because he might not fit in the seat anymore!

It doesn't matter if they're required. Youre child needs one to be safe.
1) babies/toddlers should stay rear facing AS LONG AS POSSIBLE! 20lbs/1 year is the bare minimum for when you CAN turn your child around, but not necessarily when you should. They are safest rear facing because children's bones are not fully ossified yet which means until at least 4 years old, they are easier to break and can not withstand crash forces the way and adult's bones can. Convertible car seats allow a child to be rear facing from 5-35lbs., depending upon the manufacturer. Actually, the seat that currently has the highest rear facing limit is one of the least expensive: $40 Cosco Scenera at Walmart rear faces to 35lbs, then forward faces to 40lbs., and any Cosco/Dorel/Safety1st/Eddie Bauer convertible seat will rear face to 35lbs., but the other styles cost more. There are several articles below where you can research this.

2) kids should stay in a 5-point harness AS LONG AS POSSIBLE. This one is really a muddled area b/c most booster seats say they can be used without the harness from 30lbs-80lbs. They CAN it doesn't mean they SHOULD. Kids are much safer in a 5-point harness as it helps absorb the forces of a crash. Also, a child has to reach a certain level of maturity to be able to safely sit correctly in a booster seat. They have to be able to sit up straight for an entire car ride, they need to be able to sit still during the car ride. Most car seats can only use the harness until 40lbs, and that is when a child can switch, OR , you could then get what's called a High Weight Harness seat that will keep your baby harnessed (and therefore, safer) longer. The cheapest of these is The Safety1st Apex 65, which can keep a child harenssed to 65lbs. (although in reality, most kids outgrow their seats by height, before weight) currently $130 in stores, $99 online. In August Evenflo is coming out with a seat (Evenflo Triumph Advance) that will rear face to 35lbs, and forward face to 50lbs, $130. Britax seats rear face to 33lbs, forward face to 55-65lbs. depending upon the model.

3)kids should be riding in a belt positioning booster seat (using the seat belt) until they are 8-10 years old, at least 80lbs, AND at least 4'9". Seatbelts in cars are made for adults at least 80lbs and 4'9".

NO,tere is no law requiring a car seat for ANY child, nor is there a seat belt or defroster law in effect in the entire country