Did you Know Your Child Should be in a Car Seat Until At Least Age 7?

It's the law. Missouri and Kansas are two of 29 states that have child restraint laws that cover children up to age 7.

This means that your 7 year old should be in a booster seat. It's recommended by many safety organizations that children should be in a booster seat until they are at least 80 pounds and/or 4'9" tall in order for the seat belt to fit properly.

The CDC reported that the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia found that using booster seats rather than seat belts alone can reduce the risk of injury to children aged 4-7 by 59%. Unfortunately, a 2009 study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that only 55% of 4-7 year olds were using a booster seat.

In order to gauge if your 7 or 8 year old child is ready for a seat belt, with no booster seat, have them sit in the backseat and put the seat belt on. The lap belt portion of the seat belt should fit low over the child's hips and top of the thighs; and the shoulder portion of the best should cross the center of the child's chest when they are seated without a booster seat.

Motor vehicle accidents can shift car seats and make them unsafe for children. If you have been involved in a crash where there was a child's car seat in the vehicle, you should replace the seat or at least have it inspected to make sure it is still safe. Contact your local police department to locate the nearest child seat inspection station.

If you have been in an accident, contact Kansas City Personal Injury Attorneys to discuss your claim in confidence. For more information about common childhood injuries and safety prevention efforts, please visit the website of our non-profit organization, Roswold Foundation for Injured Children.