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Original poster

Car seating - who should sit where?

106 replies

LuncheonInThePark · 28/10/2025 14:25

I already know I probably am being petty here, but interested in thoughts so it'll maybe stop irritating me (and yes, I know there are more important things to be bothered over!)

Saw a Facebook post saying 'If the husband is driving, who should sit in the front - the wife or the mother'.

Now, I ALWAYS offer my MIL in the front seat, but she always declines and sits with our 11 year old DD.

FIL just automatically goes in the front. If it was him by himself without MIL, I would of course offer (if I was given the chance), but he's straight in there.

I think the reason it bothers me is it comes across as though men in the front, while me, MIL and DD - the women - should be in the back.

How are the car seating dynamics in your family?

OP posts:
OllysArmyRidesAgain · 28/10/2025 14:36

In the past if we were out with the in-laws I may have chosen to sit in the back with MIL to chat and if we were in their car, it would always be DH upfront with FIL

Now MIL has dementia they both sit in the back and DH and I are upfront, usually with DH driving.

I also go out with my adult DC, and from when they were older teenagers, it hasn't always been mum and dad upfront and kids in the back. On longer journeys, we rotate including DH sitting in the back if I am driving

LaserPumpkin · 28/10/2025 14:35

It’s whoever needs the space most in my family.

Hiver · 28/10/2025 14:34

I’m going to guess you don’t think very much of FIL generally?

Hiver · 28/10/2025 14:34

It’s about size here

so son and dh upfront

why…. Both have much longer legs!

BarnacleBeasley · 28/10/2025 14:33

I would let whoever is the guest (one of my in-laws) sit in the passenger seat, but mainly because the back has two child seats in and I wouldn't make anyone else squish into the middle between them. If the car were not full of child seats, I would expect the person who most needed the legroom to go in the front, which statistically I guess would be more likely to be an adult male passenger. If we had three people in the back and no child seats, it's logical for it to be the three smallest, whoever they happen to be.

notatinydancer · 28/10/2025 14:29

If my partner is driving I sit in the front and vice versa.

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