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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To let my 11yo sit in the front seat on a long motorway journey?

135 replies

Amarette · 07/10/2022 13:17

I have to take my DD on a long motorway journey this weekend. I have a one-year old car with excellent safety ratings for the passenger seat, with air bags etc. In fact, the safety ratings look like its safer to be in the front than the back, although they only seem to have tested child's car seats in the back so it's hard to compare.

Anyway, my friend said that she would never let her DC travel in the front seat on the motorway as its always safer for them to be in the back. Starting to question myself now as would never forgive myself if something happened to her and I had made a decision that contributed to it.

Curious what other people think? She is tall for an 11yo and an athlete so not a delicate child!

OP posts:
Youcancallmeirrelevant · 07/10/2022 13:19

Why is this even a question? My 4yo sometimes goes in in the front seat, and everyone i know puts kids in front seat at times

FrodisCapering · 07/10/2022 13:20

I thought it was illegal until they turn 12?

OhhhhhhhhBiscuits · 07/10/2022 13:20

You have to risk assess as a parent. I wouldn't do it, other parents do. I don't judge them for it, I make my own decisions for my own children.

StopStartStop · 07/10/2022 13:21

Most dangerous seat in the car. Why would you?

Grandeur · 07/10/2022 13:21

4 year olds in the front seat? HmmConfused

Imogensmumma · 07/10/2022 13:21

An 11 year old, as long as they weren’t really short for their age I would put in the front seat

4 year old never!

RedToothBrush · 07/10/2022 13:21

This is 2022.

Car safety and accident rates are at a point where this is a ridiculous train of thought.

Drive safely and have a good trip.

RewildingAmbridge · 07/10/2022 13:22

How tall is she? My mum is 5'1 I wouldn't make her sit in the back

CharlieCoCo · 07/10/2022 13:23

as long as you turn off the air bags. they are dangerous for children still growing.

ginnybag · 07/10/2022 13:23

If she can travel safely using the adult belt, then yes. Put the seat back and crack on.

If she's still in a booster seat, then no.

MrsSkylerWhite · 07/10/2022 13:24

Would say height dependent. If she’s as tall as some adults, why not?
have a good trip 😃

TheodoreMortlock · 07/10/2022 13:24

As long as it's not the driver's seat, I wouldn't think it's a problem.

Lieinrequired · 07/10/2022 13:25

Provided a child is over 135cm tall, they can sit in the front seat, without a child car seat. If they are under 135cm they can still be in the front but would need a car seat.
The rear seats are advised but there is no law requiring a child to sit in the back.

hookiewookie29 · 07/10/2022 13:25

FrodisCapering · 07/10/2022 13:20

I thought it was illegal until they turn 12?

No it's not, as long as they're in appropriate seats/ restraints.

dementedpixie · 07/10/2022 13:25

Its not illegal for under 12s as long as they are in an appropriate child seat (dont put a rear facing seat in the front if there are active airbags) and I wouldn't turn off the airbags. Move the seat back further away from them though .

RosieRiveting · 07/10/2022 13:25

My 11 year old is only an inch shorter than I am, I’d let her sit in the front.

RedToothBrush · 07/10/2022 13:25

FrodisCapering · 07/10/2022 13:20

I thought it was illegal until they turn 12?

Bollocks.

blog.halfords.com/can-my-child-sit-in-the-front-seat-of-a-car/

This is the advice from Halfords.

Its up to date.

Lozzybear · 07/10/2022 13:26

My just turned 12 year old is taller than me. Maybe I should sit in the back!

GonnaGetGoingReturns · 07/10/2022 13:26

11 year old yes unless really short for their age, 4 year old no.

RedToothBrush · 07/10/2022 13:27

CharlieCoCo · 07/10/2022 13:23

as long as you turn off the air bags. they are dangerous for children still growing.

I'm 5'2. Air bags arent recommended for my height.

Im an adult.

QueenCamilla · 07/10/2022 13:27

As of what age is it OK to kill someone by seating them at the front?

Of course people here are absolutely unreasonable - it's totally fine to seat children at the front. Otherwise I have to assume my DH doesn't care about my safety ever!

Hoppinggreen · 07/10/2022 13:27

FrodisCapering · 07/10/2022 13:20

I thought it was illegal until they turn 12?

Eh?

tunnocksreturns2019 · 07/10/2022 13:30

My nearly 11 year old gets car sick in the back so she sits in the front most journeys including long ones. She’s 5 foot. I’m not worried.

Remaker · 07/10/2022 13:30

At 11 my daughter was taller than many of my adult friends so yes when there was just the two of us in the car she was in the front.

DotDotaDash · 07/10/2022 13:33

TheodoreMortlock · 07/10/2022 13:24

As long as it's not the driver's seat, I wouldn't think it's a problem.

😂

I have offered my tall as me 12 year old to sit in the front but he is worried that he’d end up involved in having to chat and look at the world out the windows and far prefers to play games on his phone in the back 🙁

So if she wanted to and was tall enough then I would let her. Any statistical safety difference is surely marginal and not a prediction for your specific journey circumstances.

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