OT: Am I the only one who makes my kids sit in the back seat of the car??

[Missy13d69]

I was an Army Brat and also joined the Army. While I want my kids to get their college education before they choose to join (should they choose to join) I know it can lead to some better job opportunities.

I will say it stinks losing friends that move away (as my family is saying goodbye to another set of friends getting ready to PCS to Alaska) but we have had opportunities that many people never will have.

That's for sure! I've seen the sun rise over the Alps, Ridden a boat down the Rein, and seen the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. That's just a small smathering of the things I've been able to experience as an Army brat.

 

[dragonfly08]

Do none of your kids ever fall asleep in the car either?? How about on roadtrips

Sure they fall asleep. Sitting up in their boosters (or, when they were younger, their five point harness car seats). They need to be unbuckled to sleep in the car?

Just tonight we were driving home from Six Flags, it was hot and my mom had her coat on. She was getting too hot in the car with the heat on and she joked as she unbuckled to remove her coat "okay, don't wreck now, I'm taking my coat off".

Not an issue with my kids. They don't get buckled into their seats (five point harness or booster) with a coat on in the first place. They don't need it in the car, and it's unsafe anyway as doing so could cause them to be ejected in a crash. Bulky coats prevent proper use of the belt and can compress in an accident, leaving enough room between their body and the belt for them to fly out. Even as infants you bet I took off any bulky clothing before driving no matter how big a PITA it was for me.

Having them buckled in is the law. I've never heard people called "militant" before for obeying the law, but to each their own I suppose. Sure my parents didn't use car seats for me like I do with my kids. But my parents also had lead based paint and lived in a time when people thought smoking wasn't hazardous to your health, among other things. That doesn't make what they did "better" or "as safe", it was just based on what we knew back then. As time goes on, we learn more and (hopefully) adapt.

 

[fairestoneofall]

every once in awhile, i'll let DD sit in front. she is almost 11, but over 5" tall and 90-something pounds. she looks 12-13 and we are constantly asked how old she is. however, her sitting in front is rare. normally, i insist that she sit in the back.

my middle DS is a shorter kid, so i anticipate he won't be allowed in front until he's 12.

i do see a LOT of kids in the front seat. my nephew rides in the front, but i don't let him in my car. he is shorter than my DD and quite skinny.

 

[NBFUN]

I will sometimes let my DS (10) ride in the front seat. He is very tall for his age and just shy of 100 pounds. With that being said, my car's front passenger seat automatically turns off the airbag if anyone under 100 lbs sits there. So anyone who sits in my passenger seat who is under 100 lbs does not have to worry about the airbag deploying.

I did keep my son in a booster seat until he was 8 years old and my 5 year old will be in one for another 3 years.

 

[kcool]

I do not have time to read all the reply's, but just to let you know, you are NOT alone! My oldest is 12, he never rode up there until he turned 12 and it is only on an as needed basis still. When there is room in the back, that is where he sits! My 8 year old has NEVER ridden in the front. Not worth it in my opinion!

 

[holden]

Haven't read all the posts, but my DD9 (10 in Dec) is in a booster. She's 4'2" and 60lbs. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends she stay in a booster until she's 4' 9", so she still has booster time ahead of her.

I want my kids to be as safe as possible, so I'll follow the rules. Age has nothing to do with it.

 

[cassandrap83]

My dd7 is 4'4 and 56lbs and she sits in the back in a booster. Her sister is 5 1/2 and 4'0 and 46lbs and sits in the back in a booster. The seat belt hits them in the correct spot, and they are fine.

Occasionally, if a friend is babysitting and they run a few blocks to the park, I let my oldest sit up front as long as the airbag isn't triggered on.


At their elementary school's drop-off there are dozens and dozens of kids i see come out of the front seat..... not my business

 

[nonzerosum]

I buckle my 6 year old into a 5 point Britax and my 9 year old is in a booster. My vehicle will not leave Park if a child under the age of 12 thinks they will be sitting shotgun. You only need to be in a high speed collision once (I've been twice) to realize what can happen. We all take calculated risks everyday, but this is one risk on which I am not willing to gamble, especially given the amount of hours a week children are now in vehicles.

 

[disneynewbee]

I didn't let my oldest daughter sit in the front seat until she was 15. My father in law used to joke that she would be allowed to sit in the front when she was old enough to drive. She is short and I just didn't feel it was safe. She was also not allowed to drive in a car with her teen driver friends until the summer between high school and college(17yo). My 6yo (7 in December) is still in a 5 point harness that holds up to 80lbs. I know you can't protect your kids from everything but I'm going to do what I can to reduce the risk.

 

[sk!mom]

This seems to be another phenomenon existing in the virtual Internet world to a much greater extent than is observable in the real world.

I'm a teacher and I've never seen a parent get out of their car in the pick up/drop off line to load or unload a 5/6/7 year old from a 5 point harness seat. Again...I've never seen this even once. I do see many in this age group climbing in and buckling themselves into boosters.

My DD16 was allowed in the front at 11. By then she was over 5 feet tall. I honestly don't recall when we quit using a booster.

To those still using 5 point seats and boosters at older ages, what about school buses? Disney transport?

 

[maxiesmom]

what about school buses? Disney transport?

Buses are totally different than cars, their sheer mass helps protect the occupants.

 

[My2Qtz0205]

I buckle my 6 year old into a 5 point Britax and my 9 year old is in a booster. My vehicle will not leave Park if a child under the age of 12 thinks they will be sitting shotgun. You only need to be in a high speed collision once (I've been twice) to realize what can happen. We all take calculated risks everyday, but this is one risk on which I am not willing to gamble, especially given the amount of hours a week children are now in vehicles.

My almost-7 year old is still in a five point harness. She is petite, only 37 lbs., so she will stay in it until she is at least 40 lbs., maybe longer. My 10 year old is still in a backless booster, and will be until the seatbelt fits him properly without one. Safety first! I don't care what anyone else thinks.

 

[Princess on the Run]

This seems to be another phenomenon existing in the virtual Internet world to a much greater extent than is observable in the real world.

To those still using 5 point seats and boosters at older ages, what about school buses? Disney transport?

This may be because people who frequent internet forums have access to information others do not. I was on the "mommy boards" quite a bit from when I first got PG until my youngest was a toddler. If not for those forums, I wouldn't have known carseats expire, or about RF a child until 2 years, or about a lot of products that turned out to be amazing (and quite a few that didn't live up to the hype). The average person probably isn't as aware of some of these things as someone who pores over a message board dedicated to the issue. Think about your non-DIS friends who plan their trip and don't know about ADRs 180 days out or other tips we all take for granted. That is probably why internet people seem more up on some things than "real life" people.

As for buses and Disney transport, my kids don't ride a school bus but I do consider a bus to be different. Adults don't wear seat belts in those either so the rules are different.

 

[Princess on the Run]

I guess it is true though that a lot of people don't keep their kids in carseats as long as I do because my 2 oldest go to an elementary school where the drop-off lane is not at all conducive to carseat use. You have to pull up, not get out of the car and your child has to get out on the passenger side unassisted. Not only is that not possible because I use the child locks on my rear doors (so they don't open from the inside) but also, I have 3 kids across the backseat in carseats and for them to get out the passenger side means they are climbing over the one in the middle who isn't getting out (and can't unbuckle himself yet). Instead, we park a block away and they arrive as "walkers." It's just easier that way.

 

[nannye]

Everyone has their own opinions, but Studies repeatedly show how extended harness, car seat and booster use is safer for children as long as they are using the seats properly. They now make seats harnessed up to 80 lbs I believe. There is nothing wrong with doing your best to protect your kid. I used to babysit for a family who was in a car accident, they lost all 3 of their children in the accident. Had they been following proper safety precautions, they likely wouldn't have.

As long as your child does not exceed the regulations for their seat, there is nothing wrong with being extra careful.

I know many people IRL who practice extended rear facing and harnessed and booster seats. Heck when my charge outgrew her car seat I bought the best high back booster I could find. She'll probably be in it until she's 9 or 10 and she is a tall kid.
Her parents on the other hand bought the cheapest no back boosters for their daughter when she turned 4 and could be out of a harnessed seat. no matter how many times we had talked about how much safer extended car seat use is.

 

[disneynewbee]

This seems to be another phenomenon existing in the virtual Internet world to a much greater extent than is observable in the real world.

I'm a teacher and I've never seen a parent get out of their car in the pick up/drop off line to load or unload a 5/6/7 year old from a 5 point harness seat. Again...I've never seen this even once. I do see many in this age group climbing in and buckling themselves into boosters.

My DD16 was allowed in the front at 11. By then she was over 5 feet tall. I honestly don't recall when we quit using a booster.

To those still using 5 point seats and boosters at older ages, what about school buses? Disney transport?

I have a lot of real life friends who still have their 6-7-8 yos in 5 pt harnesses. I don't think they would continue to make 5pt harnesses up to 80lbs if there wasn't people wanting them. My 6yo can also buckle and unbuckle her 5p harness by herself so I don't have to get out to assist her. We did fly to Disney once and took their bus to the resorts and we also take the bus to the parks and it makes me extremely nervous. We do stand aside and let others pass and wait for the next bus when the buses are full because I don't want my little ones standing.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

My kids sat in the back when they had to sit in booster seats. I think that stopped at 8 (or 80 lbs... I forget which).

 

[DisneyMomma81]

My 9 year old is still in a harnessed seat! My 12 year old is almost as tall as me, taller than lots of adults and weighs more than me, he sits in the front often. But yes my rule is, seat belts are made for adults, until you're the size of a small adult you need more than the seat belt. As for the front, my kids aunt should be in a booster!

 

[2DisPrincesses]

Michigan Law
Children under age 8 and under 4’9” (57 inches) tall must be in a child restraint. A child restraint can be a car seat with harness straps or a booster seat used with the vehicle’s lap & shoulder seat belt.
Michigan law also requires children under age 4 to ride in a child restraint in the back seat of a vehicle if the vehicle has a back seat. If all available back seats are occupied by children less than four, then a child less than four may ride in a child restraint system in the front seat. Rear‐facing child restraints can ONLY be placed in the front seat if there is no other option and the passenger side air bag is turned OFF.

Here"s the law in my state. I've had my niece (8) and my oldest daughter (7) in the front seat on occasion in a booster, with the airbag turned off, and only when the backseat has three other children in it.

 

[Leajess99]

I guess it is true though that a lot of people don't keep their kids in carseats as long as I do because my 2 oldest go to an elementary school where the drop-off lane is not at all conducive to carseat use. You have to pull up, not get out of the car and your child has to get out on the passenger side unassisted. Not only is that not possible because I use the child locks on my rear doors (so they don't open from the inside) but also, I have 3 kids across the backseat in carseats and for them to get out the passenger side means they are climbing over the one in the middle who isn't getting out (and can't unbuckle himself yet). Instead, we park a block away and they arrive as "walkers." It's just easier that way.

I would not be happy with that type of a set up. My daughter is a car rider due to being an out of district kid and her drop off has 3 to 4 teachers who open the door of the vehicle to get the child(ren) out. They will walk to the driver side of the car if need be to get a child out.

I really like our school and they do not rush you either. The 7 year old that I pick up still rides in a booster seat in my car and he will for quite awhile. My 9 year old is big enough and sits right to not need the booster anymore. If she didn't, she would still be in the booster. She has a 10 year old friend that is still in a booster as well and he chooses to sit in the booster seat. He is shorter than she is.