OT. question about car seats in front seat??

[mommyceratops]

Ok I know this is a NO NO to put a car seat in the front seat. BUT we just downsized from a mini-van to a Camry. Budget choice, I had to choose Mini-van or DVC easy choice for me, I could give up the mini-van we NEVER used the extra seats before.

My SIL just called and said her son 8 yrs old wants to come down for spring break. My first thought is great...then I remembered I don't have a van anymore. Both my DS's are in car seats in the back there is no room for a booster in the middle. (We went over all the scenarios before we downsized but didn't think of this )

So at what age can they sit in the front? I know the car has a sensor and the airbags wont go off. BUT I am not one to take chances and my first thought is no can't happen wont risk it.

Any thoughts?? TIA

 

[Hannathy]

If he is 8 I would put him in the middle WITHOUT the booster. He is old enough im most states to not use a booster and will be safer in the back.

 

[tjmw2727]

That's a tough choice.

I think if it were me I would have the 8yo sit in the middle seat in the back with just the seatbelt (no booster seat) before I would put him in the front. Passengers in the front seat ar in general 30% more likely to be injured than those in the back - children's odds are higher. It may be a bit uncomfortable but its certainly safer. Enjoy the visit.

TJ

 

[mommyceratops]

Thanks I didn't think of that. I am going to let his mom decide too, but she didn't even have him in a booster after he was 4 until I told her it was the law and DH and I bought her a car seat to use. So I imagine she wont care, but I would never forgive myself if he was in my care and something happend to him. So I feel like I need to make sure I know the laws and safest before I say yes because I know my SIL will say "put him in the front it doesn't matter"

Thanks!

 

[malibuconlee]

Can you turn the airbag off on the passenger side? I know my SIL and her husband turn the airbag off when they take the truck and have the carseat in the middle of the bench seat.

 

[GatorGal]

If he is 8 I would put him in the middle WITHOUT the booster. He is old enough im most states to not use a booster and will be safer in the back.

He won't be safer if the middle seating position in the back has a lap belt only. If there is only a lap belt in the middle position, try putting the car seat in the middle (as they can be installed with just a lap belt without compromising safety) and putting your nephew on the side with a lap shoulder belt and booster.

As far as the nephew being in the front, the air bag warning on my car states that the children under 12 should not sit in front of an airbag.

 

[Hannathy]

I was thinking mostly about the feasibility of doing it. In some cars it is very hard to fit two car seats side by side and him in the middle would fit easier.

 

[Nikel]

I was thinking mostly about the feasibility of doing it. In some cars it is very hard to fit two car seats side by side and him in the middle would fit easier.

FWIW, I have an older camry and am able to fit one car seat in the middle and one on the side. I don't know if it would fit if both carseats were forward facing though.

 

[KristinU]

What about renting a mini-van to use during his visit?

Just another option...

 

[NotUrsula]

Can you turn the airbag off on the passenger side? I know my SIL and her husband turn the airbag off when they take the truck and have the carseat in the middle of the bench seat.

4-dr sedans don't have power switches on airbags. I believe that those switches are only legal on vehicles that do not have a back seat, such as pickup trucks and small sports cars.

 

[Lovemy3babes]

Please do not put him in the front. As you know, it's not safe at all.

 

[mommyceratops]

Please do not put him in the front. As you know, it's not safe at all.

Thanks Lovemy3babes. I assure you I wont do it if it is not safe. My oldest is 5 and that is all about the age my carseat education is at. I know he is NO where near the size of getting out of a carseat, he is still in a 5 point harness, because he is so small for his age. So I had not brushed up on what age can they do not need a booster. My cousin is 12 and she is the only child who has visited us and I had a van at that time. I didn't let her ride in the front.

I knew my SIL would not care and since I do I wanted some other advise. Thanks everyone I appreciate it. I think I am going to borrow my neighbors booster just to see if it will fit in the middle.

I know they told us in the camry we just bought that the passenger front seat has a something that measures the weight and if they under 65 pounds it wont go off. So that is what made me double question myself.

Thanks again!!!

 

[Mom to Jordan]

Our doctor had a fit when he found out I let our then 12 year old, almost 100 son sit in the front. He said absoluty not until he was 13. Our car says 100 lbs and 13. There is no way I would put him up front without the air bag turned off.

As for the booster it depends on how much he weighs. Our state says 80 lbs or 8 years.

If you have to choose and a booster will not fit, I would choose in the back with a regular seat belt.

 

[sara74]

He won't be safer if the middle seating position in the back has a lap belt only. If there is only a lap belt in the middle position, try putting the car seat in the middle (as they can be installed with just a lap belt without compromising safety) and putting your nephew on the side with a lap shoulder belt and booster.

As far as the nephew being in the front, the air bag warning on my car states that the children under 12 should not sit in front of an airbag.

We have an older Camry and it has a lap/shoulder belt in all three positions in the back seat. I think it would be possible to fit him in the middle and he will have a shoulder belt in that seat. I am assuming that the newer Camry's still have the shoulder belt in the middle seat like ours does.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

I don't have any advice as my car seat education is still with babies! but i want to say good for you for coming here for advice before doing anything. it's always good to have somewhere to go when you have a question! Better safe than sorry!

 

[lpbm4]

Here in Illinois, age 12 is when they can start sitting in the front.

 

[Deb & Bill]

4-dr sedans don't have power switches on airbags. I believe that those switches are only legal on vehicles that do not have a back seat, such as pickup trucks and small sports cars.

We can turn off the air bag on our new 2006 Sienna van on the passenger front seat.