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Original poster

Putting 2yo in front seat of car???

240 replies

dontcomeatme · 06/09/2025 23:00

I've discussed this multiple times on MN but we're at the end of our tether right now.
My 2yo DS is severely travel sick. Has been pretty much since he was born, we could never drive for more than 40mins to an hour at max and he would projectile vomit. We had to forward face him at 2yo which we desperately didn't want to do but he was choking on his sick rear facing and being in the laid back position.
We're now at the point where even a 20-25 minute journey is making him sick. We are washing the car seat that often we have bought a spare to use while one is in the wash, and as soon as one is clean the other is dirty 😭 I sit in the back with him primed with sick bags but it makes him hysterical just to look at them so I feel like I'm making him worse!
We've been to the GP multiple times now but they just say its one of those things 🙄 I'm ringing on Monday and I want an emergency appointment with a different GP, this level of sickness isn't normal. It is projectile! Comes out of his mouth, nose, absolutely covers him. He goes grey and feels like sh*t for the rest of the day 😢
Do they prescribe anti sickness meds for kids or do we have to buy them? Most of the ones I've seen online are for 4yo plus and I'm hesitant to give him them.
I am seriously contemplating putting him in the front of the car, with the airbags off. Is that insane? AIBU to think this is the solution?!?! He's 28months, 99centile height and weight. We seriously don't know what else to do!
We've started walking and getting the bus everywhere just to prevent the sickness but this isn't sustainable, we missed a hospital appointment last week because the bus didn't come on time 🤦🏻‍♀️
Any suggestions at all? What worked for your DC? Can the doctors actually do anything ? Do you think front seat would help? It always helped me as a child but this was the 90s, my parents shoved me up the front without even a booster seat.
Any advice is appreciated 🙏

OP posts:
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10
DeliciouslyBaked · 07/09/2025 00:15

dontcomeatme · 07/09/2025 00:14

In the UK its illegal to RF in the front seat. That's why I'm so torn.

Show quote history

It is not illegal to RF in the front seat in the UK. Who told you this? It absolutely is not true.

Original poster
dontcomeatme · 07/09/2025 00:14

intoFolklore · 06/09/2025 23:24

If you're going to put him in the front seat, turn him back rear facing in a Swedish Plus Tested 36kg seat. You'd actually be able to see him better that way too. If FF him in the back hasn't fixed the car sickness I would be inclined to say it isn't a problem caused by the direction of the seat. I would try RF in the front first.

Failing that, I'd say avoid the car unless absolutely necessary and use public transport or walk instead :)

In the UK its illegal to RF in the front seat. That's why I'm so torn.

OP posts:
jannier · 06/09/2025 23:54

pistachioandnuts · 06/09/2025 23:26

Front seat and airbag deactivated.

Only if still rear facing and with seat as far back as possible. If forward facing airbag is on seat as far back.

MrsKateColumbo · 06/09/2025 23:44

I swear by the acupressure bands. I went through a period of being sick in every vehicle and the bands were brilliant. They are small so should work for a child.

OneSharpFinch · 06/09/2025 23:39

I wonder, if my ds has milk before a long car journey - well anything over 20 minutes he will throw up.

Makingpeace · 06/09/2025 23:34

My DC get sick in cars that have a higher suspension but not in lower cars.

Reportingfromwherever · 06/09/2025 23:34

Can you put him on the middle seat in the back so that he can look forward and see where he’s going? Kids really should be in the back, it’s much, much safer.

Mmr224 · 06/09/2025 23:30

Have you tried piriton liquid? My daughter has it on prescription for her skin condition which causes itching but it also work for travel sickness. 2.5ml 30 mins before travel. Run the AC in the car cold too, and or leave the window open a crack for a breeze. We also used puppy pads or bed pads on the seat to absorb sick. And if it works you may be able to go back to rear facing.

https://lloydspharmacy.com/products/piriton-hayfever-allergy-relief-syrup-for-children-150ml?srsltid=AfmBOoq6PY7pf5jOpYXskL4WdMogXYUZpG9DWGdkBC9h6MhtaOaMDPyK

Edited to add her hospital contract suggested this, as did her GP. It definitely works for her, we went from 8 changes of clothes on a long journey to none. But do need to get out a couple of times for fresh air. We're doing 5-7 hour journeys though.

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curious79 · 06/09/2025 23:29

I used to get violently travel sick but usually only in cars with fabric seats. I don’t know why but leather seats, particularly old leather seats, were much much better

RightOnTheEdge · 06/09/2025 23:29

Oh poor kid. I have had travel sickness all my life and it's really awful.
Everyone said I would grow out of it but I'm 48 now and it never happened.
I do feel much better in the front seat, so I think you should try it OP.

BertieBotts · 06/09/2025 23:28

It's not insane at all, but turn off the airbag, push the seat as far back as it will go and really double/triple check the installation of the seat. If you need a new seat because you only have seatbelt and no isofix in the front, go for Britax King Pro.

Presumably he needs to be FF because RF exacerbates the sickness otherwise there would be no reason to put him in the front.

pistachioandnuts · 06/09/2025 23:26

Front seat and airbag deactivated.

Janeysunshibe · 06/09/2025 23:25

I reckon you should put him up front you have to think what is the practicality.
once can turn off the airbag.

intoFolklore · 06/09/2025 23:24

If you're going to put him in the front seat, turn him back rear facing in a Swedish Plus Tested 36kg seat. You'd actually be able to see him better that way too. If FF him in the back hasn't fixed the car sickness I would be inclined to say it isn't a problem caused by the direction of the seat. I would try RF in the front first.

Failing that, I'd say avoid the car unless absolutely necessary and use public transport or walk instead :)

mynameiscalypso · 06/09/2025 23:19

I have/had one of those (he’s 6 now). He would, and still does, regularly get sick even when he’s the car for less than 10 minutes. When he was younger, we really did just not go on car journeys. He probably went in a car 3 or 4 times a year, max and we tried to only drive at night or when he’d nap. Now he’s older, he still gets sick but it’s better controlled with medication. He also has a booster seat in the middle of the back of the car and we keep it as cold as possible. I don’t think GPs can do very much. We never bothered with one but his aunt is a GP and didn’t have any advice.

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