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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be worrying about DC (6) in the front seat of a car on motorway?

80 replies

CanOpenWormsEverywhere · 16/10/2018 15:55

I'm really not sure if i'm being over cautious as I am rather passionate about car safety and may be worrying for no reason. My DC never travel in the front in my car, i only allow DC1 to travel in the front between school and home when the car has extra for friends home and he is 9.

My DF has a free return ticket to an attraction. the ticket is restricted to his car only as that was the car he took when he originally went to the attraction. He wants to take my younger 3 DC with him. The problem is that we can't fit all 3 DC car seats across the back of his car.

So DC2 who is 6 will need to travel in the front seat, its about an hour up the motorway. The car in question is a large 4x4 and DC2 will be in a HBB. If relevant DC is a small 6 (wears age 5 clothes).

Would you be happy to allow your DC to travel in the front in this situation?

OP posts:
ThistleAmore · 16/10/2018 16:28

If the car is newer than 2005 (I think - maybe 2003), then you can easily disable the front airbag.

I believe safety advice is to NOT disable the side airbags, however, as the benefits outweigh the risks for both children and adults.

The AA has some really good advice on this, as I discovered recently when shipping my cousins' children around (or, as it turned out, not, because an '01 Mazda MX-5 is really not safe!).

MaxTeyon · 16/10/2018 16:31

If the car is newer than 2005 (I think - maybe 2003), then you can easily disable the front airbag.

If the passenger is forward facing then you NEVER disable the airbag.

Original poster
CanOpenWormsEverywhere · 16/10/2018 16:31

The car has front and side airbags.

I didn't know that side air bags were an issue? I believed it was the increased risk of injury from a front deploying airbag which is why its not advised to travel kids in the front?

The seat would obviously be pushed as far back as possible.

OP posts:
Firesuit · 16/10/2018 16:31

Just googled the airbag rules, google agrees with MaxTeyon: you only disable the front airbag if using a rear-facing baby carrier.

Firesuit · 16/10/2018 16:32

You can set the front seat as far back as possible to minimise airbag impact.

Original poster
CanOpenWormsEverywhere · 16/10/2018 16:33

Lollipop youngest DC needs to travel in it. we don't have a seatbelt fitted rear facer, only the isofix only one. this wouldnt solve the issue anyway as its the configuration of the middle seat belt plug that is the issue.

OP posts:
Confusedbeetle · 16/10/2018 16:36

Airbags are dangerous for rear-facing seats not forward facing seats

Original poster
CanOpenWormsEverywhere · 16/10/2018 16:36

just had a thought.

Youngest DC is 3, so legally able to forward face even though i choose to extended rear face. What if i put DC (3) in the middle back seat in a 5 point harness forward facer with DC (5) and DC (6) in HBB either side? Then it wouldnt matter if you couldnt reach the belt plug for the middle seat once everyone was in as the child would be restrained with the 5 point harness - would this be the safest option? The seats would all still be jammed in and touching each other which isnt recommended fitting though.

OP posts:
BolleauxtoBankers · 16/10/2018 16:42

Why don't try someone's earlier suggestion of asking the attraction whether in the circumstances, your father can use a car with a different registration because of the safety of the children? There's no harm in asking, after all, even if your father's registration is printed on the ticket?

BolleauxtoBankers · 16/10/2018 16:43

*Why don't you try, sorry!

ThriftyMcThrifty · 16/10/2018 16:47

Looking at this from a different point of view, but I currently live in California and the rule here is no kids in front seat until they are 12 of back seat is available, and if no room in back seat they legally must be at least 8 years old. It’s not allowed as the back seat is so much safer.

EmUntitled · 16/10/2018 16:52

I wouldn't have a problem with it for a one off. If you have a younger child who is still rearfacing it might be better to have them in the front (airbag disabled) and 6YO in the back as they have the additional protection of a rearfacing seat.

GeorgeTheHippo · 16/10/2018 16:53

I'm pretty sure you will be able to disable the airbag. If you can, might it be better to put the youngest child rear facing in the front?

EmUntitled · 16/10/2018 16:54

Oh sorry I didn't see there was a second page of comments answering my question!

Original poster
CanOpenWormsEverywhere · 16/10/2018 16:55

rear facer is isofix only so cant go in the front.

OP posts:
user1471530109 · 16/10/2018 17:05

I think I am ott with car safety (fallen out with xh many a time over it).

But I have never read of an issue with air bags and kids in hbb. Surely it's only rear facing seats?

Other pp have mentioned this but you are either ignoring or not answering them.

My 5.5 year old is still in a 5 point harness seat as she is not yet at weight (she also has only recently turned forward facing), so like I said, I know most rules and have not heard this about air bags.

user1471530109 · 16/10/2018 17:06

And as far as I know all isofix seats are also seatbelt fixable.

What seat is it?

Poodles1980 · 16/10/2018 17:08

Do not disable the airbag. The correct way for a child to travel in the front Is in their hbb. The booster will allow them to be at the correct level for the airbag to work.

Check out the Irish Road Safety Authority Website for all info on car seats. We have the same laws and safety guidelines as the UK.

Original poster
CanOpenWormsEverywhere · 16/10/2018 17:15

its a joie 360 spin seat - it is an all in one and thererfore a much cheaper extended rear facer than the seat and base combos.

i'm not ignoring, but i have seen recommendations that young children do not travel in the front as the force an airbag deploys at can be fatal to a child - this is why i'm hesitant.

OP posts:
Tightsonatrain · 16/10/2018 17:16

Just ask if the ticket can be reprinted for this reason

Surely there must be other families who have sold/upgraded/scrapped their previous car since their original visit?

Original poster
CanOpenWormsEverywhere · 16/10/2018 17:16

on hold for a manager at the attraction now...

OP posts:
welshweasel · 16/10/2018 17:18

Are you sure you don’t have isofix in the front? Lots of cars do!

Original poster
CanOpenWormsEverywhere · 16/10/2018 17:20

i'm sure welsh only the two back outside seats have isofix.

OP posts:
cjb57 · 16/10/2018 17:24

I can't see anywhere on the car dash that says we can disable the airbag or i would have done that. might get DF to find the manual!

It'll probably be a key switch (i.e. operated by the ignition switch) and it will likely be on a side of the dashboard and covered when the doors are closed or in the glovebox. Google the make and model and you'll find it on the web.

Ffiffime · 16/10/2018 17:24

FGS Do NOT Disable the airbag if the child is ff.
You only need to disable for rear facing. The bloody airbag could save the child’s life and that’s what it’s bloody designed for!!

It’s fine for child to sit in the front, just push the seat back as far as it will go.