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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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. Confused

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:
lljkk · 29/07/2013 10:18

I'd do it (let her go without booster for one 20 min. drive, so shoot me).

Damnautocorrect · 29/07/2013 12:18

Mine travels quite often in the front (dont have much choice in the van or 2 seater!) in his high back I do push it far back though and leave the air bag on. It's safer if we are on a motorway and he needs a drink passing / crisps opening etc.

AnnabelleLee · 29/07/2013 12:37

Thats SO not true about only needing to to turn off the airbag for RF seats! The airbag at child height can blind or even kill a child, they are designed to protect adults.

Why are airbags dangerous for children?
Airbags were made to protect adults weighing about 75kg.
They are very powerful when they're inflated, and they're placed so low that a child placed in front of an airbag may suffocate or be severely injured by the impact of a rapidly inflating airbag.
If your child is younger than 12 years, they must never sit in a front-seat with an active airbag in front of them. When your child is over 12 and wants to sit in the front seat, move the seat as far back as possible.
A child seat must never be fitted in the front passenger seat, if the car has a passenger side airbag. Some cars enable the driver to switch off the airbag. But it should be switched on again, when an adult is using the seat.

Read more: www.netdoctor.co.uk/health_advice/facts/childrencar.htm#ixzz2aQwh0Uf7
Follow us: @NetDoctor on Twitter | NetDoctorUK on Facebooked

talkingnonsense · 29/07/2013 13:28

My car says to turn the airbag off for children under 12. I would think she would be best in middle back if dad won't have her in the front- the middle seat is usually slightly higher so the belt shouldn't be at her neck height. Difficult if it is though- does he have a good reason not to use the front- eg some airbags can't be turned off.

specialsubject · 29/07/2013 14:23

their car, their rules - but without a booster is illegal. So in that case, she doesn't go. End of. The 'activity' is not that important.

airbags were created for dumb Americans who wouldn't wear seatbelts, and have plagued us ever since. They are one of the worst inventions ever and can CAUSE injuries.

phantomnamechanger · 29/07/2013 14:28

It makes me feel literally sick that people do not know that airbags, a life saver, actually can and do KILL children - as old as 8/9 yrs old - google if you dare, but believe me it is true. They need to be disabled.

imnotmymum · 29/07/2013 15:52

phantom how many does it save though the airbag?

Damnautocorrect · 29/07/2013 19:13

Shittt well I'm done for as I'm the same height and build as your average 11 year old.
Hmm
Airbags are a problem if ANYONE is too close, that includes driver as well.
Ds is higher than me in his chair, he's also further back than me as the driver.

AnnabelleLee · 29/07/2013 19:31

Yes, but statistically it is children in front seats who are much more at risk. Adults are more likely to be saved by an airbag, kids are more likley to be hurt by them. Thats a fact.
If you are the size/build of an average 11 year old, you should turn off the airbag too.

IvanaCake · 29/07/2013 19:51

From the googling I've just done, a forward facing seat or booster is fine with the airbag on as long as you push the seat back.

For a one off 20 minute journey I would do it.

AnnabelleLee · 29/07/2013 19:55

it's not fine. It;s better, but its not fine.

mikkii · 29/07/2013 20:03

Legally, if you have 3 children in the rear of the car, and two are in seats but there is not room to fit a third, this is ok.

www.childcarseats.org.uk/law/ see "children aged 3 and above"

Maryann1975 · 29/07/2013 20:59

I can't turn the air bag off in my car. But I never used to turn it off in the old car when putting dd in the front. My understanding is that it should be on unless putting a bucket type baby seat in the front. (Which I have no reason to do in the new car). I also thought a child could travel with no booster seat in the middle seat if it wouldn't fit because of other used child seats around it.

foreverondiet · 29/07/2013 21:12

I would allow either (ie front with booster but seat pushed back) or in back in middle without - whatever driver is happier with.

foreverondiet · 29/07/2013 21:21

Also will add - I am not sure that the booster cushions actually add much in way of increased safety which is why the safest option, despite what everyone else says, is in the back in the middle without - totally legal as others have pointed out. This situation arose for me a few years ago with a younger child who couldn't go without so I bought a very narrow booster in case this happened again (it has).

I have found recently though, that even though I have 4 booster seats in my car (plus high back booster plus DS2's stage 1 car seat) - ie a car seat in every slot, I often have 8 or 9 year olds who aren't tall enough but who refuse to sit on boosters as their parents don't make them. ALSO I think that probably on balance, the front is probably safer than the 3rd row of seats.

CrabbyBigBottom · 29/07/2013 21:37

I'm Shock at that - don't know how I've never heard that this is dangerous before. I knew about the rear facing seat ones, but I've had DD in the front in forward facing seats for years. Blush

She's ten now and 5 feet tall so I won't make her sit in the back but I'll certainly be moving her seat right back.

Annabelle do you have any links to evidence of death or serious injury caused by UK airbags (other than that mail link and the study)? When I did some searching I came across the RAC Australia site which said that it's more of a problem in the US as the airbags are larger and deploy at lower speed impacts. I can't find much about it in the UK.

AnnabelleLee · 29/07/2013 21:49

emj.bmj.com/content/17/2/139.full

dspace.lboro.ac.uk/dspace-jspui/handle/2134/1840

www.lawyersandsettlements.com/articles/airbag-injury-lawsuits/airbag-injuries-lawsuits-side-airbags-curtain-7-18042.html?utm_expid=3607522-2.QRdCdW42SWGLZa0nRc6K3w.0&utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.ie%2F#.UfbUu41QHAQ
(girl is 16 but very small, apparently)

There are a lot less injury reports than there used to be, but this is attributed to it being less and less acceptable to have a child in the front seat, the warning labels in cars, and proper use of restraints and seats (which help but don't ameliorate the danger)

AnnabelleLee · 29/07/2013 21:49

sorry, links fail.

AnnabelleLee · 29/07/2013 21:50

some good advice here: www.childcarseats.org.uk/choosing/airbags.htm

CrabbyBigBottom · 29/07/2013 22:48

Interesting links Annabelle, thanks again. The BMJ one in particular is very clear and informative and discusses the differences between US and UK airbag systems. My passenger seat is going to its farthest back position and staying there! My dog often travels in the front seat too, either on her own or on my partner's lap. Might have to rethink that.

Original poster
vvviola · 29/07/2013 23:01

Some really great information there - thanks everyone for your opinions too. I'm going to have a good think about whether DD goes in the front in future (so far it has only been for 5 minute drives).

The driver in this case wasn't comfortable with either the no booster in the back option or the sitting in the front option. So after school activity is cancelled for this week at least. Thankfully the after-school club had a space for her last minute although from the injuries I've witnessed at the after school club I'm not entirely sure it's the safer option!Wink

Incidentally, where I am (NZ) it appears the only legal requirement for a car seat is up to the age of 5. After that just a seat belt is legal, or if there is no seat belt, then in the back of the car Shock (it's obviously not recommended, but it isn't illegal either)

Off to investigate extra-narrow car seats!

OP posts: