rear facing baby seats in the front seat???

[Olipop]

Hi - does anyone know whether you are only advised not to put a rear facing baby seat in the front seat if you have an airbag? I'm reading the paperwork and it doesn't seem to tell me (could be missing some small print!) Thanks!

[BonyM]

You can put them in the front if there is no airbag, but the rear is safer.

[Olipop]

why is that? Is it because they are protected by the back of the front seat too? I just find it really hard when driving and ds is crying. I feel that if I could see him I'd be calmer.

[SoupDragon]

I think it's because more accidents affect the front of the car. The safest place is the middle one of the rear seats (if it has an appropriate seat belt!).

[hulababy]

Rear is safer because of the nature of the most common types of accidents I think.

Definite no no to put in front if an airbad is turned on though.

On the very rare times I have had to have DD in the front I have hated it. I find it too distracting.

[PanicPants]

I used to have ds in the front with the airbag turned off due to small 3 door car, and it worried me so much that in the end we changed cars (due to finances as well though) so I could put him in the back.

I aslo found it a distraction as I kept looking and smiling at him as I drove!

[lionhearted]

You can't use the front seat if it has an airbag--the force and angle at which it inflates could kill a baby or young child. Can't you get one of those mirrors to attach to the rear seat so that you can see the baby? I have one that I used. If you need it, let me know and I'll send it to you. (Otherwise, Halfords)

[Olipop]

Thank you lionhearted - that is very kind. I've been looking for one ofthose toys/big mirrors that you put on the back of the car seat so you can see them in the rearview mirror. Was just logging on to try and find one!

[sandradee]

I've been told that VW recommend you should never put a rear facing car seat in the front even with the air bag de-activated since there is still no guarantee that in an accident it won't go off.

better to be safe than sorry. If you want to see what you little one is up to why not get a mirror to strap on the back headrest. That's what I did and it worked a treat.

[sandradee]

forgot to say you can get them in mothercare

[lionhearted]

Olipop
Can you CAT me or leave your email here and I'll get in touch?

[NannyL]

From September it will be illegal to have a rear facing baby seat in the front of the car IF there is an active airbag there.

Its "ok" to put a seat there if there is no active airbag..... some cars dont have long enough seat belts in the back to strap in baby seats in the back

[eidsvold]

here in Aus it is illegal to put children under 12 in the front seat.... our car seats must also be able to be bolted onto a bolt that is in the back dash/ceiling ( for hatches). Only when thry are over 14kgs are you able to put them just in a booster using the car seat belt.

I was horrified when I was in the UK to see little babes in front seats of cars....

I cannot understand putting a child in a front seat - especially a baby - that would only be restrained by a car seat belt. As SD says - back middle seat ( if possible) then back passenger side seat are the safest.

Put the babe in the back and get one of those little mirrors or if you are worried when he is crying - pull over and check him.

[NannyL]

eidsvold....

over here some baby seats ONLY fit in the front of SOME cars

a few brands of cars have shorter seatbelts in the back and you cant strap a baby seat into them

[lionhearted]

I think I read somewhere that you can never even be sure that a bag is de-activated or switched off until you hit something. There have been fatalities because of this.

[SquarewaysHereWeCome]

Wilko's sell the stick on rear view mirrors if anyone was planning on getting one. They cost about £1.50 iirc - probably about 1/8 of the price Mothercare flog them for!

[sandradee]

Yes, Lionhearted - I would not put a car seat in the front even when the bag is deactivated and car companies like VW don't recommend it either since they can't be sure.

[hulababy]

VW and Audi no longer put Isofix fittings in the front of their cars, to deter car seats going in the front.

However, I agree on the shorter seat belt thing. Volvos use to have (don't know if still same) this problem. I was never 100% convinced DD's seat was in completely right in PILs car because of them.