The best way to protect your children in a vehicle is to ensure they use the proper child safety seat. Missouri lawmakers set laws about child safety seats to ensure that parents know what type of seat to use and how long a child should use one.
There are three general types of car seats: front facing, rear facing and boosters. According to the Missouri Department of Transportation, the law sets guidelines for child safety seat use based on age, weight and height.
Child safety seats
Missouri does not mandate the use of rear-facing car seats. The law only states that a child must be in a car seat until he or she is at least four years old or until the child weighs 40 pounds or more.
Booster seats
Booster seats, according to the law, are for children ages four to seven who are at least 40 pounds. You must keep your child in a booster seat until he or she is at least 4’9″ tall or until your child weighs at least 80 pounds. Even if your child reaches the age of eight, he or she must continue to use a booster seat until reaching the height or weight limit.
Seat belts
Once your child reaches 80 pounds or is 4’9″ tall, he or she must wear a seat belt at all times while riding in a vehicle. You can continue to keep your child in a booster seat if you want, but keep in mind that the goal of a booster seat is to position your child so that the seat belt fits correctly. Once the seat belt fits correctly without the booster seat, there is no need to continue using it.
