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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To let my DD travel in the front in this scenario

64 replies

vvviola · 29/07/2013 08:37

DD1 (just turned 6, pretty tall for her age) is due to go to an after-school activity tomorrow. It's her first time at this activity. I'm at lectures until late so a friend has offered to drive DD there and back. I'm hugely appreciative as it gets us out of the complication of after-school care & also means DD can do her activity with her friend.

Today friend's Mum came to collect booster seat for tomorrow. Just got a message to say it doesn't fit in her car with other car seats.

Only options I can see are no car seat, or DD in her booster in the front. It's about a 20 minute journey. I've had her in the front with booster seat for short journeys before, but would two 20 minute journeys like that be just too much of a risk? It's mainly suburban roads with about 10 minutes on (not crazily busy) motorway.

And if I am BU, does anyone have a possible solution that I might not have thought of?

OP posts:

maja00 · 29/07/2013 08:41

Most accidents happen on short journeys near home anyway don't they, so I don't think the fact that it is 20 minutes makes much difference.

Does she have a high backed seat or is it just a booster cushion?

CreatureRetorts · 29/07/2013 08:43

Agree - most accidents are within a mile of home (of the driver).

Are all the other car seats in use? Or she just cannot squeeze it in?

AnotherStitchInTime · 29/07/2013 08:44

If she has an airbag in the front passenger side, can it be disabled temporarily?

Is it a high back booster? Could you get a cheap cushion booster that would fit in the back instead?

littlewhitebag · 29/07/2013 08:44

It is not illegal for her to be on a booster in the front seat, it is just safer for her to be in the back. It is really your choice and it depends how risk averse you are.

dancemom · 29/07/2013 08:46

In the front with a booster, its all degrees of safety

Original poster

vvviola · 29/07/2013 08:47

It's just a booster cushion - but I do have a high backed booster I could drop over. I'd given the narrower cushion knowing it had to fit between two other seats (both of which will be in use), but it seems it's just too big.

OP posts:

Justforlaughs · 29/07/2013 08:48

Honestly, let her sit in the front. If they have an airbag, ask of they can push the seat as far back as possible. My own children sit in the front, taking it in turns.

maja00 · 29/07/2013 08:50

I'd go with high backed seat in the front, pushed back as far as possible.

InkleWinkle · 29/07/2013 08:53

High backed seat in the front with seat pushed as far back as possible.

SecondStarToTheRight · 29/07/2013 08:55

Turn the airbag off!!!!

NeedlesCuties · 29/07/2013 08:57

I didn't realise this was a prob.

We put DS in high-backed booster in front and turn off the airbag.

ben5 · 29/07/2013 09:04

The oldest child/ biggest child should be in the front if all seats in the back are taken. I would do this but my ds is normally the biggest( and both my kids are now over 7). The seat belt may cut into your childs neck if sat in the middle ( or wherever) and this also may cause damage. Your friend may or may not have an accident. You may or may not have an accident. I think the choice comes to what you are happy with

topbannana · 29/07/2013 09:08

Why would you need to turn off the airbag? I thought that was only if you were using a rear facing seat ie- for a small baby? DS frequently travels in the front on a booster seat

And to answer your question OP, YANBU.

imnotmymum · 29/07/2013 09:09

She will be fine in the front.

fledtoscotland · 29/07/2013 09:12

Why would you turn the airbag off? The carseat laws only specify turning it off for infant carrier type seats. DS1 (6) sits in the front with his booster but I make sure the seat is as far back as possible.

topbannana · 29/07/2013 09:13

Dr Google is my friend:
www.childcarseats.org.uk/choosing/airbags.htm

Apparently you should just ensure that the seat is as far back as possible. Forward facing passengers of any age should not have the air bag turned off.

kezLOU1977 · 29/07/2013 09:15

My daughter is 6 also and sits in the front with a booster seat whenever we go in the car without an adult passenger. It's not illegal and its perfectly safe to do so, it's a matter of choice to be honest.
We choose to do this as its safer than my ASD daughter having a meltdown in the car everyday and causing an accident that way.

Original poster

vvviola · 29/07/2013 09:20

Seems the driver (friend's Dad actually for tomorrow) is not comfortable with idea of child in front. Their car, their rules (we've certainly been stricter on car seats than other friends, so I'm happy to abide by their comfort level even if it's more restrictive than we might do).

So we're back to square one. I think friend's Mum is going to see if a friend of hers might have a narrower booster that might fit. (I think it's just the case of a couple of inches).

OP posts:

TallulahBetty · 29/07/2013 09:21

You only need the airbag off for rear-facing car seats (usually infant carriers), as others have said.

LadyBryan · 29/07/2013 09:31

I'm not sure.

I have done it once when I really had no option (having to move furniture from our rental, daughter on school hols, no childcare, husband away on business). I had the seat pushed as far back as it would and airbag most definitely on.

I wasn't happy about it and wouldn't make a regular thing of it

imnotmymum · 29/07/2013 09:32

could she not just have no booster seat in back then?

TheSecondComing · 29/07/2013 09:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Enb76 · 29/07/2013 09:41

My child is always in the front with me if there are no older passengers. Makes it easier to talk to her, I don't have to turn my head to see what she's up to. Far more sociable and frankly less dangerous than trying to talk to someone in a back seat. I can see how it would be more dangerous to have a child in the front in an accident but I would rather be able to chat easily to my child and keep my eyes on the road than have to swivel my head to hear her when she asks a question. She also is getting a very early lesson in road management.

NoComet · 29/07/2013 09:45

My DDs and almost everyone else's DCs that are 10 or older traveled on booster cushions in the front seats of cars and argued over the privilege.

I'm sure it's not the very safest option, but I wouldn't stress much.

footballsgalore · 29/07/2013 09:48

Our manual states that you should not put a child on a high back car seat in the front. It pushes them too close to the airbag. However a booster cushion is fine. The child's head would be in the same place as someone without a booster cushion. The car's manual should give guidance on this. It is just as safe(or dangerous) as an adult in the front.

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