Anyone Know the Missouri Car Seat/booster Seat Law?
Updated on
February 27, 2009
L.T.
asks from
Saint Peters, MO
4
answers
My son is just about to outgrow his convertible car seat. He is 2 years 9 months old, weighs 38 lbs and is 41 in tall. The weight limit for the car seat we have is 40 lbs, and the height limit is 40 in (so he is too tall for it). I am so confused about what to buy for him next!!!! Is a booster seat safe for him to ride in? Is it ok by Missouri law for him to ride in? I've tried looking at several different websites to find this out. Some contradict each other and others are very vague. Where can I look, or, who should I call to find out what car seat/booster seat is safe for my son to ride in?
The law is kind of vague. It tells you that a child has to be in a car seat until they reach a certain age and or weight. The catch about the type is very simple. You have to follow the manufacturer's recommendations (for age/weight and height).Graco makes a car seat that I love. It is a forward facing only. It has the 5 point harness for when they are young, which is what your child needs. A simple high back booster or a booster is not good for younger children with as much as they wiggle. This particular car seat then becomes a high back booster and then a regular booster. It's what I got for my son when he was 2.5 years old. I love it and plan to buy another for my younger son eventually.
Report This
L.B.
answers from
St. Louis
on
Hi L.,
I just called the Mo. highway dept about this a few days ago. Here is the info that I got from the website I was given. This is the most current law.
Here is the info:
(1) Children less than four years of age, regardless of weight, shall be secured in a child passenger restraint system appropriate for that child;
(2) Children weighing less than forty pounds, regardless of age, shall be secured in a child passenger restraint system appropriate for that child;
You can see the entire statute by looking at the following address:
I just asked my ped what to do about my son who is not even three yet and weighs over 35 pounds already. I don't think he told me what the laws were but his main concern was that I keep him in the 5 point harness type seat rather than having the regular seat belt come across his neck.
Report This
H.M.
answers from
St. Louis
on
I'm not sure on the law, but I do know all the guidelines say it is much safer to keep kids harnessed in carseats for as long as possible.
Even though we had a booster seat with the strap harness, my daughter was outgrowing the weigh limit on the straps (still 40lbs). I was feeling a little uneasy about her just being in a seatbelted booster, plus when she's not strapped down, she tends to lean over and bug her brother, not sit right in the seat, etc. I knew my younger son would outgrow that weight limit even earlier and that he couldn't handle being in a not as restrictive seat belt.
We got two of the new Graco Nautilus carseat/boosters a year ago now, and I recommend them to others as often as possible. It is a carseat combo booster, with the harness straps that go up to 60 lbs. You can then remove the straps and use just a seatbelt as a high backed booster or also remove the back and have it as simply a seat booster for later on. The booster may be used up to 100lbs.
They are spendier, but not nearly as bad as other seats with 60lb harnesses.
We got ours for $150 each at Walmart. Target also carries them now. I've seen deals on Amazon lately where you can get them for $140 shipped. I wanted to cringe spending that much money on carseats when my children were technically at the age where I could get away with a $30 booster seat, but I figure the extra safety is worth it. And I love that they won't outgrow it. You can use it anywhere from a one year old to an eight year old... or more! And it's completely adjustable, so it fit my four year old as well as my just turned two year old.
