Car Seat - Chesterfield, MO

Hi Francesca,
You can always look up info on www.boosterseat.gov.

I live in Illinois and it is 4 feet and 9 inches. I have brainwashed my daughter that it is the only way to be safe, so I get no guff from her. :)

Good luck!
K.

This is a review of the Missouri car seat law.

* A child less than four years old or weighing under 40 pounds must be secured in a child passenger restraint system appropriate for the child.

* A child over four years of age, but less than eight years of age, who also weighs between 40 and 80 pounds and is under 4'9" tall, must be secured in a child passenger restraint system or booster seat appropriate for that child.

* Children at least 80 pounds, or children more than 4'9" tall, are required to be secured by an appropriate vehicle safety belt or booster seat.

The fine for violating Missouri's child safety law is $50 plus court costs. Child safety seat requirements do not apply to children who are being transported in a school bus or public carrier for hire.

Legally no (in Kansas) he doesn't because the requirements are: 8 years or 80 lbs.

But safely NO he needs to be 4 feet 9 inches & his knees need to bend over the seat while his bottom is back against the seat.
My son is the same height at 7 1/2 y/o & he only weighs 55 lbs. I will not remove him from a booster until he can sit in the seat properly (as an adult does with knees bent over the seat & his bottom against the seat). Safety is more important than anything when it comes to cars.

God bless!

Wow he is tall over 4 ft I would say no.But I think they have to weigh 90 lbs .check with your local fire dept or police dapt they both know.

Yes, your son needs a booster seat until he is 57 inches (4' 9") tall. That's the law in Missouri.

Missouri law says they can be out of their car seat once they are 8 and should be 4'9" or 80lbs. My 10 year old is 4'4" and 65lb. He has not even fit in a booster seat since he was 8.

I would look into the laws in your state. I know a friend of mine just took her daughter, who turned 8, out of her booster because she said after 8 they do not have to be in one (in IL). But I am not sure if all states have an age, weight or height limit. I would think age or weight, not height.

Hello Francesca,

Please look into the law of your state to find out what is actually safe. I would think that size would be the main factor. I really don't think age makes a good argument. I mean in the case of an accident, I really think size would be the focus of keeping kids safe.

Some kids are big and some are small for their age. If someone had two kids, the same age, different sizes, using the same restrant, you can't tell me they would be protected the same due to their age. Do you see what I'm saying? I'm not saying age has nothing to do with it, but I don't think it's meant as a main decision maker when to put your kid in just a seat belt.

You need to make sure that the seat belt fits the correct way. Size will tell you that, age won't. Better yet, take your kids to a carseat safety check and let a professional guide you the right way. That will take the guess work out of it and you'll feel better, having peace of mind knowing you've done all you can to make sure your kids are safe.

God bless and have a terrific day!! ls

Hi Francesca,
The people that are saying 4'9" over 80lbs and at least 8 are correct. I hear it on the radio all the time, that is for Missouri at least. The point of a booster seat is to raise the child up so that the seat belt hits them across the lap, chest and shoulder, and not across the neck which it will do without the booster seat if they are not tall enough. This could result in a broken neck in an accident. So height is a huge factor in the booster seat. I know that there are full grown women that probably don't meet the height or weight requirement and that is why there is also the age requirement. I would really recommend keeping your son in there a little longer most booster seats hold up to 100lbs. Call your local fire department and tell them how old he is how tall and how much he weighs and they will be able to tell you for sure. When it comes to my daughter I always say it is better to be safe than sorry. Good luck!
M.

I think our youngest son was 7 when we quit totally using his booster seat. You can check out the car seat laws for your state on the web. I don't remember the website but could google it and find it. Some people keep them in their seats until over 80 lbs but if I did that my oldest would have still been in a car seat in junior high and there was no way he was going to sit in a booster seat at that age lol.

Hello Francecsa My Husband is a carseat tech. The missouri law is atleast 8 years old,80 lbs,and 4 ft 9 inches.Hope this helps.

No. The law requires them to ride in a booster UNTIL they are 8. He is big enough to go without one now.

I believe MO law says 8 years and 80lbs or 4'9". You might double check with the state on the heighth. My daughter was 8 and 80lbs last December when we stopped using the booster seat.
T. H
Raytown, MO

Man, I dont know the laws about 8 year olds, but I would hope he doesnt have to be in a carseat anymore. He should probably not sit up front yet, but I hope I dont have 8 more years of carseat! I call the fire dept for my carseat questions.