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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To have young baby in a rear facing car seat In the front passenger seat?

42 replies

Chocoholism · 14/04/2014 19:59

With the air bag shut off.
I have a young Baby and if I drive anywhere she can sometimes get a bit whiney that turns into full blown melt down cries and there is not much I can do until I pull over safely.
A friend told me that she drives with baby In front seat if alone as her DD gets upset too, she said that it must get boring and frustrating hurt looking at back of chair!
Does anyone else have car seat for small baby in the front?

OP posts:

Abra1d · 14/04/2014 20:58

Both mine were rear-facing in the front if I was driving alone in the car. The babies were much happier if they could see my face and I could talk to them. On long journeys I liked to see that they were OK, too, if they had dropped off.

Original poster

Chocoholism · 14/04/2014 22:25

She is 4.5 months :)

OP posts:

Blueuggboots · 14/04/2014 22:34

I had a fiat 500 loved it but that's by the by! and my ds's car seat wouldn't fit in the back so he always sat in his rear facing car seat in the front.
I've got a fiesta now and he goes in the back now I've got 5 doors

PansOnFire · 14/04/2014 22:41

The front seat, with the air bags turned off, is safe and legal. Weighing up the risks it is far safer to use the front seat and have a calm baby than drive with the baby screaming and distracting you.

PorkPieandPickle · 14/04/2014 23:12

My dd is 4 months and recently developed a car hatred. It is very distracting to have constant hysterical screaming while driving. A friend suggested I buy a stand that attaches to the headrest for an iPad/tablet, downloaded a baby nursery rhyme and moving picture app... It seems to work :)

Lanabelle · 14/04/2014 23:43

Its not illegal and quite safe if you have the passenger airbag turned off so its fine, my cars a 13 year old giant rusty banger that doesn't have back seats because its mostly used for hauling around old horsegear and feed and I couldnt turn it off so I took a crowbar to the sensor for it. Same outcome really

Original poster

Chocoholism · 15/04/2014 08:55

I don't even know where to begin to turn off air bags I suppose I begun by reading the manual but I'm far too lazy, I meant busy

OP posts:

fluffyraggies · 15/04/2014 09:05

Choco i would LOVE to turn off the airbags in my car. It's a 14 year old BMW. 'Young' enough to have airbags, but too old for the switch (in the glove box apparently) to turn them off. I think they can disable the airbags at a BMW dealer (costs ££££) Worrying though to think they might 'deploy' anyway in the event of a bump - even if turned off.

V. interested in the comment up thread about removing the charge to be sure they're disabled. Have googled DIYing it - but come up with nothing for my car :( Might even start my own thread about help with this.

Chapsview · 15/04/2014 09:58

fluffy - just a word of advice from a pretty competent DIY mechanic - DO NOT attempt DIY on the airbag itself - whilst it is very unlikely there is a slim chance a static discharge from you or carpet etc could set it off.

I would obviously not recommend you do this BUT If you are determined then if the car has a seatbelt warning light to tell you the passenger does not have seatbelt on the chances are this is linked to the airbag. Basically it senses the weight of passenger on seat and this lights the light and also arms airbag - no point in airbag going off if seat is empty.

Lift seat squab, find cable to sensor and put a switch in the circuit - turn off and car thinks the seat is empty and airbag switched off.

As I say - at your own risk but far better than messing around with airbag charges!

hiccupgirl · 15/04/2014 09:59

I had DS in the front on long journeys driving on my own. If he could see me he was fine, as soon as he couldn't he would scream and scream which was so distracting I found it hard to focus on the road. IMO it was safer to have him the front with the airbag off and quiet than in the back screaming and me being more likely to crash the car.

HairHelp · 15/04/2014 10:47

Try a diono mirror for when she's in the bavk, may baby loved his and I could give him eye contact through it.

fluffyraggies · 15/04/2014 10:51

Thank you chapsview. V.interesting .....

Ironically i seem too recall i had to spend loads of money at the last MOT having the 'seat mat sensor thing for the airbag' replaced! That's the thing you're talking about isn't it! Typical!

OK. I wont mess with the airbag charges.

Chapsview · 15/04/2014 11:13

fluffy - yep that's the fella. A switch on that will disable airbag.

My 20 year old Merc is the same setup and as it only has 2 seats my DS rides in the front all the time.

peppinagiro · 15/04/2014 11:26

My baby is rearfacing in the front seat. She's 9mo and hates the car - screams herself blue if she's in the back on her own. Toys/mirrors/etc make not a jot of difference - she needs company. Now she's in the front seat she's fine, and it's much much safer and less distracting.

I actually spoke to a rearfacing car seat consultant - she's a specialist who advises on car seats and fitting. She tells me that crash tests show it's actually safer to use the front seat, especially if the seat can rest against the dashboard. I've not looked into the research, but personally speaking I find it no more distracting having a happy baby next to me chatting than having any other passenger, or the radio on, or whatever.

specialsubject · 15/04/2014 11:42

happy baby is the key. A howling baby is very difficult to ignore (by design!) and the distraction can make you crash.

Lanabelle · 15/04/2014 11:49

fluffyraggies I took a crowbar and hauled out the sensor in the door. I also have a 13 year old 4x4 with no ability to turn it off. If you take of the door panel there is a sensor that causes it to inflate in the event of an impact, careful not to really wallop the sensor or you will set it off but if you get to it and cut it then even if there is an impact it wont inflate. hope that helps

Carsandtrucks · 15/04/2014 21:23

No. Not illegal at all. I did this. I was great because I could see him and that he was safe. He has recently moved to the back because he is bigger

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