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Kansas City Parents, Is Your Child Really Ready For An Adult Seat Belt?

Around third grade, using a booster seat becomes a big deal. Children are eager to grow up and riding in a booster seat may be seen as babyish. Your child may begin to nag, whine and cajole to be allowed to use an adult seat belt with no booster. Should you give in?

Both Kansas and Missouri laws require that your child ride in an approved safety seat until they are 8 years old or at least 4 foot 9 inches tall or weigh over 80 pounds. Once your child is over 4'9" or over 80 pounds, they are probably large enough to use an adult seatbelt safely. We will discuss how to tell if your child is ready for an adult seat belt in a moment.

Once your child is eight years old, it is up to you to decide if he or she is ready to ride without a booster seat or other child restraint. However, our Kansas City car accident attorneys warn that letting your child ride in an adult seat belt before it fits properly could put your child's life at risk.

Booster seats properly position the seat belt so your child is restrained in the event of a Missouri car accident. Without a booster seat, the seat belt can move a dangerous position and cause life-threatening internal injuries. Or, the child can slip under the seat belt and suffer serious injuries.

When is your child ready for an adult seat belt?

Have your child sit in the car with her back against the back of the seat. Do her legs reach to naturally bend over the edge of the seat? If not, she should continue riding in the booster seat until her legs are longer.

Try 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. If it goes across the child's belly, she could suffer liver, stomach or spleen damage in a crash. She will be safer in a booster seat.

Look at the shoulder portion of the seat belt. This should cross the center of the child's chest? If the belt crosses the child's neck, it won't offer enough restrain in an accident and could cause serious injury. Keep your child in a booster seat until she's a little taller.

It's hard to say no when your child really wants something, but this "no" could save your child's life.

The Kansas City car accident attorneys at Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys represent auto accident victims throughout Missouri and Kansas. If you or your child has been injured in a Kansas City car crash, contact Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys at 888-348-2616 to schedule a free legal consultation.

For information about the rights of accident victims, download a free copy of our book, 10 Essential Steps You Must Take To Protect Your Injury Claim.

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