To let my 6 year old sit in the front passenger seat of the car all the time?

[Ilikeyoursleeves]

We are a family of 5- me, dh, three kids age 6, 4 and 1. The set up in the car is the two youngest go in the rear with me in between their car seats, while the 6 year old sits in the front passenger seat. The reason being we can't get all three car seats across the rear seats.

Is this ok to do this though? AIBU cos someone has raised an eyebrow at it. Genuine question!

hettiene, no, children under about 11/12 are too short to be in a front seat or car seat in the front with an airbag - they explode with such force that kids have been killed even in very low speed collisions. google it if you want to see some shocking facts/stories

Agree with Hettienne that airbags should be activated unless using a rearfacing carseat. Mine is and dd7 sits in the front(the actual carseat is pushed back as far as it will go).

I can fit three seats in the back of a yaris. I think you haven't tried hard enough!

I managed to get a narrow enough booster seat for DS1 that fits between our stage 2 and stage 0 car seats so that all 3 DC's can go in the back of our corsa when needed.

Agree that a spark can activate a turned off airbag so safest to remove if DC are sitting in the front. As a minimum would also invest in a decent car seat / high backed booster for the 6yr old if in the front. All the little booster cushions do is make sure the seat belt will go around the child they don't offer any protection.

Gov.co.uk states side airbags be deactivated for front facing and all airbags deactivated for rear facing. Though not sure when site was updated. My car has no side airbags.

This seat is designed for your situation. www.argos.co.uk/m/static/Product/partNumber/3995882.htm?CMPID=GS001&_$ja=cgid:12415377630|tsid:41361|cid:166596030|lid:47687721870|nw:g|crid:33459988110|rnd:1395016436692102484|dvc:m|adp:1o1

Sorry link didn't work on phone

Id buy seats that fitted across the back. Ours do but then they are not particularly wide seats.

If its the only option then what else can you do. Really difficult situation. If the seatbelt is going across and under the chin then child might be and probably is too low down. Can you or do you have the child sitting on a booster seat which would be safer as the seat belt would fit better. Just a thought. My sister has this problem with her brood. You are not alone.

At what age do you "activate" the airbag in the front? When they no longer need a booster seat?

Surely it comes to a point when having an airbag is better.

It would be safer for 6 year old in the middle without a car seat. You might be able to fit in a skinny booster cushion (one without arms) in middle. Can get for about £4 on eBay. Don't think awful for 6 year old in front, just it would be safer in the back.

Read your insurance document very carefully and ring them and ask for specific police on children in the front ,

Most insurance company because of the massively increased in risk (death and serious injury) in the front insist that under 14, use rear seats if there are belts available, if you run out of belted seats for your under 14, you are meant to put the tallest under fourteen in the frount .

Insurance companies want to avoid paying out for a child with a life changing injury, so sensible insist on the safest option.

I can't quite believe I'm reading this. If you car doesn't allow for all of your children to be safely harnessed in appropriate car seats, you need to buy a bigger car.

Seriously, what are you thinking?

And rear facing seats should never go in the front!

I'm rarely speechless, but some of the comments on here are making my head spin!!

"It's not ideal, but what can you do?" Seriously? Buy a bigger car!! You must do! Have you any idea what a risk you're taking with your children's lives?

Is the problem fitting in 3 seats when the first two have Isofix bases? We have a fairly big car but cannot fit a booster inbetween the baby seat and DS (5) in his seat.

I have looked into v small booster seats (for carrying DS's friends) but haven't found one small enough.

A thought, Would he be safer in the back without his booster, if there's a proper 3 point belt in the middle?

I agree though, with Angloamerican. You can't compromise on your kids safety. You need a bigger car

Aside from the air bag thing, as someone else said, statistically the front seat passenger is most likely to be killed in an accident. For that reason, I wouldn't do this.

Many 11/12 year olds are actually taller than 135cms. My DS is 12 and is 185cms.