Parents often ask, “At what age can kids sit in the front seat of a car in St. Louis, MO?” While every child is eager to ride up front, knowing Missouri’s safety guidelines and legal requirements can protect them from serious injuries in a crash.
Missouri’s Car Seat and Front Seat Laws
Missouri law does not set a specific age for when a child can sit in the front seat. However, the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend that children remain in the back seat until they are at least 13.
This guideline exists for several reasons:
- Airbags can cause serious injuries to smaller children in a crash.
- The back seat is generally safer during frontal collisions.
- Booster seat laws keep kids safer until they reach the size required for a correct adult seat belt fit.
It is important to understand these recommendations to keep your child protected on every drive.
Current Car Seat Laws in Missouri
To know when a child can sit in the front seat, it helps to review car seat laws in Missouri, including:
- Under age 4 or weighing less than 40 pounds: Must be secured in a child safety seat
- Ages 4 to 7 weighing at least 40 pounds: Must ride in a booster seat unless they are over 80 pounds or taller than 4 feet 9 inches
- Ages 8 and up or weighing at least 80 pounds or at least 4 feet 9 inches tall: May use a seat belt without a booster if it fits properly
Proper seat belt fit means:
- The lap belt lies across the upper thighs, not the stomach.
- The shoulder belt crosses the chest and shoulder, not the neck or face.
- The child can sit back against the seat with knees bent at the edge without slouching.
If a seat belt does not fit this way, continued booster seat use is safer. Ensuring your child is properly restrained at every stage is essential for their safety.
Why Should Kids Under 13 Stay in the Back Seat?
Front airbags are designed for adult bodies. In an accident, deploying airbags can injure a child’s head, neck, or chest.
Keeping kids under 13 years old in the back seat offers several safety benefits:
- Reduced risk of serious injury from airbags
- Further from the impact zone in frontal crashes
- Complies with safety recommendations from pediatric and highway safety experts
Consider these factors before allowing your child to ride in the front seat.
Tips for Keeping Kids Safe in the Car
Keeping your child safe while driving is critical. Here are some tips to follow before, during, and after your drive.
Before your drive:
- Check your car manual for airbag and child restraint warnings
- Make sure your child meets booster seat height and weight limits
- Have your child sit upright without slouching
- Ensure the lap and shoulder belts fit properly
- Push the front seat as far back from the dashboard as possible
You should also never allow kids to place the seatbelt behind their back or under their arm, and continue to review Missouri’s car booster seat laws regularly to stay updated.
Using these tips every time your child rides in your car helps build lifelong safe habits.
Contact our St. Louis Personal Injury Lawyers from Eason Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers for Help Today
So, when can a kid sit in the front seat in Missouri? While there is no strict legal minimum age, experts recommend waiting until at least age 13. This reduces injury risks and aligns with national child passenger safety guidelines to protect your child from preventable harm.
For more information, please contact Eason Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation with a personal injury lawyer in St. Louis, MO, today. We have two convenient locations in Missouri, including St. Louis and Richmond Heights.
We proudly serve St. Louis County and its surrounding areas.
Eason Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers – St. Louis Office
10 S Broadway #560
St. Louis, MO 63102
(314) 932-1066
Eason Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers – Richmond Heights Office
1034 S Brentwood Blvd Penthouse 1-C
Richmond Heights, MO 63117
(314) 463-4173