CHILD SAFETY SEAT CHECKS & EDUCTION
According to Missouri Revised Statute 307.179, travelers with children ages 0 to 16 are required to ensure the following:
Children less than four years of age, regardless of weight, shall be secured in a child passenger restraint system appropriate for that child;
Children weighing less than forty pounds, regardless of age, shall be secured in a child passenger restraint system appropriate for that child;
Children at least four years of age but less than eight years of age, who also weigh at least forty pounds but less than eighty pounds, and who are also less than four feet, nine inches tall, shall be secured in a child passenger restraint system or booster seat appropriate for that child;
Children at least eighty pounds or children more than four feet, nine inches in height shall be secured by a vehicle safety belt or booster seat appropriate for that child;
A child who otherwise would be required to be secured in a booster seat may be transported in the back seat of a motor vehicle while wearing only a lap belt in the back seat of the motor vehicle is not equipped with a combination lap and shoulder belt for booster seat installation.
Children under the age of four are properly secured in a five point harness safety seat that is appropriate for their height and weight. Children over four are properly restrained in a booster seat that is appropriate for their height and weight until the child reaches a weight greater than 80lbs, height greater than 4'9', or reaches the age of eight children and teens between the ages of eight and 16 are required by law to wear a seatbelt.
Are you in need of a car seat but facing financial constraints?
You may reach out to the following locations to inquire about your eligibility for a complimentary car seat.
Community Action Partnership of Greater St. Joseph: 816-233-8281
Catholic Charities of St. Joseph: 816-232-2885
Rear-Facing
Fitting the Child Correctly in the Car Seat
Place your child in the car seat with the child's back flat against the car seat.
Place harness straps over the child’s shoulders. Harness straps should lie flat, not twisted, and be placed through the slots located at or below your child’s shoulders.
Buckle the harness and the chest clip, and tighten until snug. The harness is snug enough when you cannot pinch any extra material at the shoulder.
Bulky clothing or blankets can prevent a snug harness fit. Always buckle the baby in the seat first, and then place coats or blankets over the harness.
If your baby needs support, fill the empty spaces with small, rolled blankets on each side of the baby’s shoulders and head.
If there is a gap between the buckle and your child’s groin (common for young infants), try placing a rolled washcloth or diaper in the space for a more secure fit.
Never put thick padding under or behind the baby unless it is recommended for use by the car seat manufacturer.
Place chest clip at armpit level. This holds the harness straps in place on the child’s chest and shoulders.
Best Practice
Read the car seat manual carefully and remember that children should ride rear-facing until they reach the top weight or height limit.
When your child outgrows the infant car seat, switch to a convertible or all-in-one car seat, and use it in the rear-facing position. These seats typically have higher height and weight limits for the rear-facing position, allowing you to keep your child rear-facing longer. If a baby under 1 year old grows too tall or too heavy for an infant car seat, a car seat with a higher rear-facing height and weight limit is strongly recommended.
Read the car seat manual carefully and remember that children should ride rear-facing until they reach the top height or weight limit for the rear-facing position before you move them to the forward-facing position with a harness and tether.
Installing the Car Seat Base With a Seat Belt
Read your car seat’s instruction manual and your vehicle’s owner manual. Pay close attention to the information about your vehicle’s seat belt system, and how to “lock” the seat belt. Every seat and vehicle is different, which affects the way you’ll install your particular seat.
Place the car seat base in the back seat of your vehicle.
Carefully thread the seat belt through the rear-facing belt path. Check to make sure there are no twists in the seat belt.
Buckle the seat belt.
Lock the seat belt.
Press down firmly on the car seat base and tighten. The base should not move side-to-side or front-to-back more than 1 inch.
Make sure your car seat base is installed at the correct recline angle.
Babies must ride sitting semi-reclined to keep the airway open.
Most infant car seats have built-in angle indicators or adjustors to assist you.
As your child grows, the angle may need to be adjusted, so be sure to read the manufacturer’s instructions.
Attach the infant carrier to the base.
Installing the Car Seat With a Seat Belt
Read your car seat’s instruction manual and your vehicle’s owner manual. Pay close attention to the information about your vehicle’s seat belt system, and how to “lock” the seat belt. Every seat and vehicle is different, which affects the way you’ll install your particular seat.
Place the car seat in the back seat of your vehicle, in the rear-facing position.
Carefully thread the seat belt through the rear-facing belt path. Check to make sure there are no twists in the seat belt.
Buckle the seat belt.
Lock the seat belt.
Press down firmly on the car seat and tighten.
You should not be able to move the car seat side-to-side or front-to-back more than 1 inch.
Make sure your car seat is installed at the correct recline angle.
Babies must ride sitting semi-reclined to keep the airway open.
Most car seats that can be used rear-facing have built-in angle indicators or adjustors to assist you.
As your child grows the angle may need to be adjusted, so be sure to read the manufacturer’s instructions.
Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians:
Kerri Krumme & Frank Till serve as the St. Joseph Safety Council's Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians, & provide inspections & installation assistance to parents, grandparents and guardians on how to properly install child safety seats.
APPOINTMENTS ARE REQUIRED!
Installing the Car Seat Base With Lower Anchors
Read your car seat’s instruction manual and your vehicle’s owner manual carefully. Pay close attention to the location of the lower anchors, and directions on how to use this vehicle hardware.
Place the car seat base in the back seat of your vehicle. In a crash, the back seat is the safest place to be, and rear-facing car seats provide extra protection for your child’s head, neck and spine.
Locate the lower anchors in your vehicle.
Connect the lower anchor attachments on the car seat base to the lower anchors, making sure the straps aren’t twisted.
Press down firmly on the car seat base and tighten the straps. You should not be able to move the car seat base side-to-side or front-to-back more than 1 inch.
Make sure your base is installed at the correct recline angle.
Babies must ride sitting semi-reclined to keep the airway open.
Most infant car seats have built-in angle indicators or adjustors to assist you.
As your child grows the angle may need to be adjusted, so be sure to read the manufacturer’s instructions.
Attach the infant carrier to the base.
Installing the Car Seat With Lower Anchors
Read your car seat’s instruction manual and your vehicle’s owner manual. Pay close attention to the location of the lower anchors, and directions on how to use this vehicle hardware.
Place the car seat in the back seat of your vehicle, in the rear-facing position.
Locate the lower anchors in your vehicle.
Connect the lower anchor attachments on the car seat to the lower anchors, making sure the straps aren’t twisted.
Press down firmly on the car seat and tighten the straps.
You should not be able to move the car seat side-to-side or front-to-back more than 1 inch.
Make sure your car seat is installed at the correct recline angle.
Babies must ride sitting semi-reclined to keep the airway open.
Most car seats that can be used rear-facing have built-in angle indicators or adjustors to assist you.
As your child grows the angle may need to be adjusted, so be sure to read the manufacturer’s instructions.
Forward-Facing
Fitting Your Child Correctly in the Car Seat
Have your child sit with his/her back and bottom flat against the car seat.
Properly position the harness on your child. Harness straps should lie flat, not twisted, and be placed through the slots located at or above your child’s shoulders.
Some car seats require use of the top-most slot for the forward-facing position. These slots are reinforced to prevent the seat from failing in a crash. Read your car seat’s instruction manual carefully.
Buckle the harness and the chest clip, and tighten. The harness is snug enough when you cannot pinch any extra material at the shoulder.
Bulky clothing or heavy coats can prevent a snug harness fit. Always buckle the child in the seat first, and then place coats or blankets over the harness.
Place the chest clip at armpit level. This holds the harness straps in place on the child’s chest and shoulders.
Best Practice
Continue to use your car seat in the forward-facing position with a harness and tether for as long as possible. Always read the car seat and vehicle manuals for weight and height limits. If your child reaches the weight limit for the tether, but is still within the weight and height limits of the car seat, use the car seat without the tether.
Don’t rush to move your child to a booster too early. Continue to use your car seat in the forward-facing position with a harness and tether for as long as possible. If your child reaches the weight limits for the lower anchors but is still within the weight and height limits of the car seat, reinstall the car seat using your vehicle’s seat belt.
Installing the Car Seat With a Seat Belt and Tether
Read your car seat’s instruction manual and your vehicle’s owner manual. Pay close attention to the information about your vehicle’s seat belt system, and how to “lock” the seat belt. Also look for the location of the tether anchors, and directions on how to use this vehicle hardware.
Place the car seat in the back seat of your vehicle in the forward-facing position.
Carefully thread the seat belt through the forward-facing belt path. Be careful not to have any twists in the seat belts.
Buckle the seat belt.
Lock the seat belt.
Press down firmly on the car seat and tighten.
You should not be able to move the car seat side-to-side or front-to-back more than 1 inch.
Connect the tether found on the car seat to your vehicle’s tether anchor and tighten. This step is very important as it limits forward movement in a crash.
Installing the Car Seat With Lower Anchors and Tether
Read your car seat instructions manual and your vehicle’s owner manual carefully. Pay close attention to the location of the lower anchors and tether anchors, and directions on how to use this vehicle hardware.
Place the car seat in the back seat of your vehicle in the forward-facing position.
Locate the lower anchors in your vehicle.
Connect the lower anchor attachments on the car seat to the lower anchors, making sure the straps aren’t twisted.
Press down firmly on the car seat and tighten the straps.
You should not be able to move the car seat side-to-side or front-to-back more than 1 inch.
Connect the tether found on the car seat to the tether anchor in the vehicle and tighten.
This step is very important as it limits forward movement in a crash.