Children in front seat of cars

[LayMeDown]

DD is 7 and tall for her age. She sits in a high back booster. Very occassionnaly when it is just the 2 of us going somewhere I move her booster into the passenger seat and she sits beside me so we can have a good natter.
It has caused a couple of raised eyebrows but I can't see why it is any different from her being in the back? AIBU?

www.gov.uk/child-car-seats-the-rules my bad, I was multiple thinking

yes, but it was stated by a PP that it was illegal for any child seat to be in the front whether forward or rear facing and I am just pointing out it is only illegal for a rearfacing child seat to be in the front with active airbags. I am also agreeing that it is safer for children to sit in the back.

I don't understand why people put children in the front when they are safer in the back. Air bags also go off at 200 mph, they can do serious damage to an adult, let alone a child. On another note do people realise that all car seats expire 5 years after their manufacture date? And also the law will be changing to keep babies rear facing until 15 months?

Fair enough, Indith. I had noted that we have different models. It doesn't exactly help with the decision-making when there's that kind of difference, though, eh!

I don't like it unless
You can deactivate your airbag your putting your DC at risk. SIL put 4yo DS in front of her car with no car seat/booster - I was livid.

My DD is 6 and a half, and tall for her age. She has been in her booster seat in the front passenger seat since she was about 5. I don't see an issue with it personally.

I do the school run before and after work, and it's nice to be able to have a catch up. I just push her seat as far back as it can go and have disabled the airbag.

It is illegal where I live - I do not live in the UK. Here is a link to the five step test www.kidsafe.com.au/crguidelines5steptest hope that link works.

Airbags are not to be taken lightly, they can do a lot of damage.

I just wanted to point out that switching off the airbag still relies on the electrics and they can and have failed. It is not worth putting a rear facing child seat in the front at all. I know you want to see your precious little things and make sure they are ok but just put mirrors in the car so that you can see.

Sorry Countess, teh itallics were not really aimed at you, just to make sure nobody quickly skimming thought I was saying front was safer :) I'm quite surprised though at how much difference there is in boot space, I had always thought they were quite similarly sized cars.

kim I think it also provides a barrier to prevent the passenger going through the windscreen.

I suppose but in addition, perhaps? I don't know exactly how it works.

for the same reason adults dont tend to sit in the back when there is space in the front, i expect.
its safer for anyone, adult or child, to travel in the back
lets set a good example to our kids and all do it
(bet you dont)

I have one on a booster, one in a high backed booster and one in a 0-4 rear facing then forward facing seat (currently rf). We have six seats in rows of two. At times they have all sat in the front for various reasons.

Generally I have the passenger seat free, two in row two and one in row three. I keep within the law at all times which is based on safety issues and have car seats that have good safety ratings.

I accept that getting in the car is a risk and I'm prepared to take it on that basis. Everyone has to make their own risk assessment.

I always used to travel in the front as a kid because I got travel sick. Still feel travel sick if I spend any length of time in the back of a car.

I just wanted to point out that switching off the airbag still relies on the electrics and they can and have failed.

This ^

When researching car seats I came across something that said children shouldn't be in the front seat until they are at least 10 because even if you think you have switched the air bag off they can still go off in a collision and cause serious damage. Personally I don't think its worth the risk.