
I burst a first-grader’s bubble the other day. We were all set to go on one of the last water park outings of the summer, and as he was about to climb into our car, I stopped him. “What about your car seat?” I asked.
He gave me a highly insulted look, the kind only a perturbed 6-year-old can muster, but before he could say anything his mom jumped in. “Oh, he’s tall enough,” his mom replied. “He doesn’t need one.”
We stood there discussing it for a bit. She was pretty sure she was right, I was pretty sure she was wrong. I think she gave in only because I’d have been the one paying the $50 citation plus court costs for violating the booster seat law in Missouri – and because our destination was Illinois, I could potentially have been set back another $50 on that side of the river.
So what are the rules?
In Illinois, it’s very clear-cut. Kids under 8 must be in a child safety seat.
In Missouri, it’s a bit complicated, and that’s where the confusion arose in our situation. My friend was right that the law is under age 8 OR under 80 pounds OR under a certain height. However, that height is 4 feet 9 inches – and her son definitely was not there yet.
When I got home, I googled it and forwarded her the link in order to save her $50 should she ever be pulled over. (I haven’t asked, but I’m pretty sure her son was not impressed.) She would have stood a higher-than-normal chance of being pulled over this week – it’s National Child Passenger Safety Week, and some police jurisdictions, including St. Louis County, are actively looking for child restraint violations.
Here’s the rundown on what they’re looking for:
In Illinois, the laws around child restraints aren’t very specific. Children under age 8 need to be properly secured, but beyond that, parents are encouraged to follow National Highway Transportation Safety Administration recommendations.
In Missouri, children age 4 to 7 need to be secured in a child convertible or booster seat unless they are over 80 pounds or 4 feet 9 inches. Children under age 4 and weighing less than 40 pounds need to be in a “child passenger restraint system.” Children under 16 must wear seat belts.
Babies younger than age 1 and weighing less than 20 pounds should be in a rear-facing child seat. This is not explicitly part of Missouri’s law; it’s an NHTSA recommendation that most pediatricians and safety experts go by.
If your kids are in the right seats at the right ages, congrats. But the safety experts have one more question: Are the seats are actually installed correctly? Don’t know? You can find out without an appointment at several locations around the St. Louis area. Visit the NHTSA Child Seat homepage to find a site near your ZIP code.
By Amy De La Hunt, Health Blogger for SmartParenting
Amy De La Hunt is a journalist and editor who lives in the St. Louis metro area and works across the country as a writer, copy editor, project manager and editorial consultant on everything from fiction books to monthly magazines to blog posts. When she's not chauffeuring her teenage sons to activities, Amy is an enthusiastic amateur cook, landscaper, Latin dancer and traveler. Follow Amy on Instagram @amy_in_words
At this free art program for ages 3-6 the focus is on the process of making art rather than the finished product. Dress to get messy!
Splash and play with your little one in this fun morning activity. No registration is necessary.
Bring your babies and toddlers to this free story time at the Missouri History Museum.
See the Zoo's California sea lions perform acrobatic and athletic feats, including Olympic-style dives on a high-diving platform, flipper walks, frisbee tosses and plenty of surprises. While on stage with the sea lions, the Zoo's trainers explain sea lion behavior and positive-reinforcement training, in addition to the need for conserving the sea lion's ocean habitat.
Storytelling in the Museum is an in-person storytelling event happening at 10:30 a.m. at the Missouri History Museum. This event, perfect for the preschool set, features engaging stories with themes like Juneteenth, Sweet Treats, Summer and more. Storytelling in the Museum is free.