Infant & Child Car Safety

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for Missourians 1 to 34 years old. For the safety of your family, Missouri law states the following: 

• Child passengers younger than 4 years old or less than 40 pounds must be secured in an approved child safety seat.
• Children ages 4 through 7 who weigh at least 40 pounds must be in an appropriate child safety seat or booster seat unless they are 80 pounds or 4'9" tall.
• Children must remain in an appropriate booster seat until they are at least 8 years old or 80 pounds or 4’9” tall.

Car Seat Inspection Stations

Organizations in the St. Louis Metro Area Install Car Seats

Child safety seats, when correctly installed and used, can prevent injury and save lives. To learn more about car seat and seat belt safety standards, call the SSM Health Cardinal Glennon injury Prevention team at 314-678-5474 to speak with a nationally certified child passenger safety technician.

General Child Passenger Safety Rules

• Every person on every ride must use a car seat, booster seat or safety belt that’s right for his or her weight and height.
• All children under 13 ride in a backseat.
• Know where the airbags are located in your vehicles. They can be in the front seat, on the roofline or in a backseat. Some airbags can be turned off.
• Follow manufacturers’ instructions for car seats, booster seats and vehicle safety at all times.
• Do not allow your child to ride with drivers or passengers who do not use safety restraints.
• Do not share safety belts. Use one safety belt for each person in the car.
• Weigh and measure children often to be sure they are using the right safety devices.
• Install car seats using a locked vehicle safety belt or LATCH system. Read labels and instructions to know how to do this.
• Never use car seats purchased from yard sales, secondhand stores or flea markets.
• Never let children ride on laps, in cargo areas or in truck beds.

About Safe Kids St. Louis

Safe Kids St. Louis works to prevent unintentional injuries to children from birth to 18 years old through public awareness, advocating for public policy changes, behavior changes through education and use of safety devices (helmets, care seats, safe sleep environments, etc.), and creating and supporting child-safe communities.

Safe Kids St. Louis is a program of SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital and is located at 1465 S. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63104.

The Safe Kids St. Louis coordinator is Lori Winkler, MSN, RN, TNS, CPEN.

© Safe Kids St. Louis, reproducible by permission only.