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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

More of a WWYD re: car seats.

57 replies

IsThatTrue · 04/08/2013 11:52

Right I mistakenly thought that I could turn the passenger airbag off In my car but looking at it it doesn't have the switch. Now I have a dilemma. I need to do a 5hr journey (including motorways) with 3dc 8, 6 and 7 mo. usually I have 6 out of the 7 seats up but I will have luggage etc so can only have 5 seats up. So now I have the dilemma of how to arrange the car.

I cannot fit both high backed boosters and the rear facing car seat across the back of the car. Dd is the tallest at 130 cm. but the manual says not to put anybody under 140cm in the front seat when the airbag is active but I can't deactivate it

The other option is that the car has an in built booster cushion in the centre of the 3 rear seats, which dd is within the size and weight ranges for, but there is no side impact protection.

So what would be safer? Dd in the front on her normal high backed booster with the airbag on? Or on the integral booster cushion in the centre at the back?

Please help!

OP posts:
Clargo55 · 04/08/2013 11:54

Can you buy a roof rack for extra luggage?

Clargo55 · 04/08/2013 11:56

Or put luggage in the front passenger seat, enabling you to have an extra seat up in the back?

ForgetfulNameChanger · 04/08/2013 11:57

Can you put luggage on the front seat? Or is that dangerous? (Not a driver).

teaforthree · 04/08/2013 11:57

Ring a garage and see if they can do it? And how much etc? Can you not put the car seats in and then see where you can slot the luggage in instead? They would be my first two choices and if they didn't work, I guess the internal booster on the back seat. If there's two car seats next to her then wouldn't she have some side protection?

Original poster
IsThatTrue · 04/08/2013 11:59

I can't get a roof box in time and the luggage is buggy, travel cot, clothes for us all for a week (going away for 3 weeks) babies high chair scooters etc etc. I doubt it'd be suitable to go on the front seat. If I have the back seat up the only thing that fits in the boot is the buggy!

OP posts:
jacks365 · 04/08/2013 12:00

Do not use a high back booster on a front seat with an active airbag, the back of the seat brings the child dangerously forward so they are too close to the air bag. Are you sure you've not just missed seeing the switch they are not always obvious.

pudcat · 04/08/2013 12:02

Dd in the front on her normal high backed booster with the airbag on. Would this not bring her up to the right height?

pudcat · 04/08/2013 12:03

ignore me as what jacks say is right

Yawner247 · 04/08/2013 12:04

What car have you got?!

Indith · 04/08/2013 12:04

I was told that putting a car seat in the front with seat pushed back as far as possible was better than having them in an unsuitable seat if you couldn't switch the airbag off. We can't fit our 3 in the back and it being a zafira the seats int eh boot are less than ideal for long term use so ds1 goes in the front.

That said, the integral booster may be the best option, side protection would be less of an issue as would be provided by the seats on either side of her wouldn't it?

sleeplessbunny · 04/08/2013 12:05

personally I wouldn't try putting luggage in the front, it could move around while you're driving, distract you or block your view so more likely to actually cause an accident IMO.
I know not everyone would, but I think on balance I would put DD in the front on her booster seat. THe booster seat will likely give her the extra inches she needs. Put the seat as far back as possible to keep her as far as you can from the airbag. And make sure she understands she needs to sit properly, not leaning forwards or fiddling with the radio etc.

But really a roof rack is the ideal solution here.

Clargo55 · 04/08/2013 12:06

Are you staying in a hotel/B&B? Could you leave everything except clothes? And use the facilities if you are staying at hotel.

I would leave scooters and travel cot anyway. Do you have a sling you could use/borrow Instead of a pushchair?

holidaysarenice · 04/08/2013 12:11

I was almost certain that all cars have a way to turn it off. What's the car and I'll try and find it?

soverylucky · 04/08/2013 12:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Clargo55 · 04/08/2013 12:17

Indith in a side impact the child in the middle without side impact could be hit extremely hard by the car seats next to her. They would not offer her protection from the force of themselves, only the child in that seat.

soverylucky · 04/08/2013 12:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

nannynewo · 04/08/2013 12:19

how about the buggy on the floor by the DC's feet and a holdall with clothes in in the centre seat, then have 6 out of the 7 seats being used. And put some stuff in the front seat and then some more in the back where the 7th seat would usually go. I'm sure if you were to trial and error you could make it work. Scooters by the buggy too?!

soverylucky · 04/08/2013 12:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

traintracks · 04/08/2013 12:23

My garage retro fitted a switch to turn the passenger airbag off, cost under £200, have you got time to do that?

Goldmandra · 04/08/2013 12:25

DH, who knows car electronics inside out says there is usually a key switch on the end of the dash board which you can only get to when the car door is open. It's normally on the passenger side. If you tell us what make and model car it is he could check for you.

You can get a garage to disable the airbag but it would disable yours and possibly your seatbelt pre-tensioner too so not ideal.

Clargo55 · 04/08/2013 12:32

What car do you have OP? Plenty of people willing to help get that airbag off.

Original poster
IsThatTrue · 04/08/2013 12:37

Car is a Volvo xc90. There's no switch, honestly I've looked, checked the manual etc but the manual says that if there is no switch then it is always active. The buggy would not fit in the front. We're staying at my parents. The high chair can be left but travel cot is essential, scooters fold so not a huge amount of room but I'd prefer if all that sort of stuff was behind the dog guard in the back (so it can't come over the back seats in the event of a crash).

OP posts:
Original poster
IsThatTrue · 04/08/2013 12:39

I do have a sling but as we're away for so long I honestly need the buggy. Oh this wouldn't be a problem if I could just turn the airbag off.

We're leaving early tomorrow morning. And the local garages are closed.

OP posts:
Clargo55 · 04/08/2013 12:40

Can you not leave the travel cot and have baby in with you?

soverylucky · 04/08/2013 12:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.