Due to lack of seatbelts......

mom23

Fri, Oct 23 2009, 9:05 am

The reason why it's not recommended to put a child in the front seat is because of the airbag. Ask your doc if you deactivate the airbag if it would be safe for the child.

BinahYeteirah

Fri, Oct 23 2009, 9:08 am

It is illegal in many (most?) states. The reason is that the airbags there can cause severe injury to a child, especially in a booster seat (or other car seat) which pushes a child forward in the seat. Obviously, not using a booster seat isn't an option, either, since most 8-year-olds do not fit the seatbelt properly without one.

Rubber Ducky

Fri, Oct 23 2009, 9:32 am

In my car, yes I would and I have. My car's passenger seat airbag automatically deactivates when a child is in the front, and there's a dashboard light that lets me know that the airbag is off. If the shoulder belt crosses the child's neck, I put it behind the child or use a booster seat.

Hashem_Yaazor

Fri, Oct 23 2009, 9:36 am

My only concern is that the airbag wouldn't be deactivated because of the weight of the booster combined with the weight of the child...even though the child isn't big enough to have an airbag activated.

MiracleMama

Fri, Oct 23 2009, 9:44 am

greenfire wrote:

ever see what happens to a child if the air bag pops ... the pressure is so great they get decapitated ...

Is that really what happens? shock

I always knew it was a big no-no for kids under 12, but never knew exactly why. Thought maybe it had something to do with them being suffocated by the air bag.

In any case, OP, my answer would be NO, unless A. you can deactivate the air bag and B. it's legal where you live.

happyone

Fri, Oct 23 2009, 10:19 am

No. I would not let a young child sit in the front. I've seen a girl, now in her teens, that sat in the front as a young child. They were involved in a car accident where the airbag popped open and she is now completely brain damaged, probably on the level of a 7 month old.
Seatbelt your children in appropriate boosters, carseats or just seatbelts if age and size allows.
Why would you take the risk?

Marion

Sat, Oct 24 2009, 1:28 pm

By the rationale of many states/countries, I shouldn't be allowed to sit in the driver's seat...I don't meet the minimum height requirement to sit in a seat with an airbag!

This is why when I got the car I chose the model with only the driver's side airbag...I can put a rear-facing seat in the front passenger side, if it becomes necessary. Regardless, it's the least safe seat in the car for a forward facing passenger and I would avoid it if possible.

Isramom8 ↓

Sat, Oct 24 2009, 7:40 pm

Newgard calculates that for drivers taller than 6 foot 3 inches, air bags were associated with a 5% greater risk of serious injury. He also estimates that for drivers shorter than 4 foot 11 inches, air bags were associated with a 4% increase in the risk of serious injury.

Weight didn't affect the results, Newgard notes.

The NHTSA's advice:

Wear your seatbelt.
Sit as far from the air bag as possible to allow the air bag to deploy.
Short drivers should move the driver's seat back and tilt the seat back slightly to allow space between the driver's chest and the steering wheel.
Drivers should refrain from leaning forward.
To the extent possible, drivers should hold steering wheels from the side, so that their arms aren't in the way of the air bag.

http://www.webmd.com/parenting.....eight

↑ Isramom8 ↓

Sat, Oct 24 2009, 7:44 pm

As a general rule: Rear facing car seat / infant car seat until 1 year old and 20 lbs. Car seat until 4 years old and 40 lbs. Booster seat until 8 years old and 80 lbs.
http://www.elitecarseats.com/c....._laws

Just a reminder.

↑ Isramom8

Sat, Oct 24 2009, 7:50 pm

Use a booster until your child is ready for regular seat belts when he is about 80 pounds and 4 feet 9 inches tall.
http://pediatrics.about.com/cs.....s.htm

Just adding till what height a child should use a booster. Note that some kids don't reach this height till amost fully grown.

↑ greenfire

Sat, Oct 24 2009, 8:58 pm

Marion wrote:

By the rationale of many states/countries, I shouldn't be allowed to sit in the driver's seat...I don't meet the minimum height requirement to sit in a seat with an airbag!

same for my oldest ... ultra petite ...

MiracleMama wrote:

Is that really what happens? shock

once a grandmother was driving her kid and in a parking lot less than 10 mph the car hit a bump and the airbag deployed ... and yup that is what happened - at least that is how it was described on the news ...

↑ amother

Sat, Oct 24 2009, 10:00 pm

Someone mentioned putting a shoulder harness behind a child, not a good idea especially in the front seat. They should be in the back seat where you can move them as close to the latch as possible. The closer to the latch the further down the harness moves.

chaylizi

Sat, Oct 24 2009, 10:30 pm

Isramom8 wrote:

I didn't weigh 80 lbs until 6th or 7th grade.