Car seats

Posted in: Car seats
Missouri Infant Car Seat Regulations
By Elaine Byrne
Mar 4, 2008 - 3:42:42 PM

• Car Seat Restraint - ages 0 to 4 Required.  No longer necessary after 4.
• Seat Belt Restraint - ages 0 to 4 Not Permissible.  Required from 4 on up.
• Front Seat Allowance - 0 to 13 Not Recommended.  13 on up it is permissible.
• Booster Seat Law - 0 to 4 Not Permissible.  4 to 8 Strongly Suggested.  8 on up Not Necessary.
• Rear facing seats are not allowed in the front seat of any car that has a passenger airbag.  Unless, the vehicle is a truck that has the safety switch to turn the air bag off.
• All children should be sitting in the back seat.  If in an infant car seat, then ideally they should be in the middle of the back seat.
• Children that are between the ages of 4 and 8 or if they weigh under 80 pounds should be in a booster seat.

Also, here is an explanation of what the definitions mean in connection with the state laws.

• Required: this is a State requirement.
• Permissible: the State will not stop you, however this may not be the best choice.
• Permissible/Required: you are allowed, but there are other requirements that need to be met as well to be allowed.
• Optional: this is not required, but you should do it anyway.
• Not Permissible: the State has stated this is not allowed.
• Not Necessary: the state feels you do not need to.
• Not Recommended: the State does not say no, however the NHTSA says you should not.
• Strongly Suggested: the State does not say you have, but the NHTSA feels you should.
• RF: this is rear facing infant car seat or convertible car seat.
• FF: this is a front facing child seat or convertible seat.
• BP: this is a belt positioning seat and required an adult to secure your child properly.
• Booster: this is a booster seat.

You will always want to check the weight requirements and limits of any car seat you are using, whether it is an infant seat, child seat, or booster seat.  With any car seat there will also be the recommended usage that the manufacturer intended when the product was made.  Always look through the instructions thoroughly when installing your car seat and fastening your child.

There is also the http://www.nhtsa.gov website and the http://www.highwaysafety.org for more information or if you are unsure where your child falls in reference to age, height, and weight.  If you are ever unsure, then take the safest way possible.  Using your own intuition and common sense will always be your best bet.  Then contact the agencies above with any additional questions or concerns.