car - which child goes in the front seat when needed?

[rainbowdays]

This question is more about car seating etiquette more than anything, but also want to check what legal/ recommended arrangements were.

I have three children age 5,4, and nearly 9 months. But I also take another 5 year old to school each day. So far I have had the three older children in the back seats with the baby in the front seat in rear-facing carrier with air-bag disabled.

Soon the baby will be too big for the stage 1 seat and will be moving into forward facing seat. But this is where I am not sure what is safest / legal to be doing in regards to which child should go in the front seat?

Please could you let me know what you think I should be doing in this regard.
Thanks

While I wouldn't know which child the law would say could sit in the front. If I was you I would sit my own 5yr old child in the front.

i would put the tallest in front - don't know why, but seems to make sense.

the child who is making the most trouble in the back.

Happy New Year !!!!
Thank you for your replies, Unless I hear differently from a legal wizz on here, I think I will go with the my 5yo ds going in the front, he is marginally taller anyway, and will be the least trouble in the front I think. So each of you have confirmed my initial instinct. We will see how it goes next week. ~Unless anyone else has information on what is legally required.

Happy new year e1

I found this on a web sit hope it helps
www.childcarseats.org.uk/faqs/index.htm#legal

Q: Is it legal for my child to travel in the front passenger seat?

A: Yes. If your child is aged under 12 years they must be using an appropriate child restraint, unless they are over 135cm in height. Once a child is taller than 135cm, you may move a child out of the booster seat or booster cushion, regardless of their age, although they must still legally use the adult belt. It is the drivers responsibility to ensure that every passenger under 14 is restrained within the law.

However, if a child is in a rearward facing child car seat, and the front passenger seat is protected by an active frontal airbag, then it is illegal to carry your child in the front.

Although the law does allow you to carry children in the front (with the one exception above), it is safer for children to travel in the rear.

i have four. the youngest always sits behind the passenger seat as there isnt enough legroom if he sits behind me. the other three have the same care seats that easily come out so take it in turns. they usually know whos turn it is but sometimes the person who has been the best behaved gets to sit in the front as a treat. works well for me.