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Original poster

Do you let your 4 yr old sit in the front seat?

40 replies

SniffyHock · 31/01/2009 08:14

If so, can you recommend a great carseat?

We are expecting number 3 and I have found that I can't turn off my front airbags so can't put the rear-facing seat in the front. This means that I will need to put DS (4.5) in the front but I am a bit nervous about it. I have read up on it and see that it is legal but is it safe??

He currently has a maxi-cosi high back booster but it doesn't seem to have much side protection - can anyone recommend any other type? Many thanks.

OP posts:
eNABlemetobebetter · 31/01/2009 08:15

None of mine will go in the front. We had to get a new car when we had our third.

I have heard it said to move the front seat back as far as possible if you are putting a child in the front.

eNABlemetobebetter · 31/01/2009 08:16

We have a recaro which has more side protection.

Original poster
SniffyHock · 31/01/2009 08:18

Thanks for that - sadly, new car really isn't an option at the moment. Is it that they don't want to go in the front or you don't think it's safe (be honest!)
My other option is to put him in the middle in the back but just on a booster - is that better or worse??
I wouldn't mind but our car is massive so I don't understand how everyone else manages!!

OP posts:
eNABlemetobebetter · 31/01/2009 08:20

TBH I think they are safer in the back. I am sure they would love to sit in the front. My youngest is 3 1/2 and he is on a maxi cosi rodi which is fine. All of them are actually. I wouldn't use a booster without a back.

Original poster
SniffyHock · 31/01/2009 08:24

I will have one of each stage carseat - children will be 0, 2 & 4 which is why I can't get them to fit. A friend told me to put DD (2) into a high backed booster but there's no way I'm doing that.
Do you have a 7 seater car or is it because they are all on high backed boosters that it fits?

OP posts:
eNABlemetobebetter · 31/01/2009 08:26

A 2 year old needs to still be in a 5 point harness but you know that.

We have a grand scenic which is 7 seats but I don't use the two in the boot. When the baby was born we had 3 different types of seats (0, nearly 2 and 4 years) but the seats all fitted.

Original poster
SniffyHock · 31/01/2009 08:31

Thanks so much for your replies eNABle - I guess I'm just going to have to either try different sized carseats or read up if there are more risks in the front seat.

OP posts:
eNABlemetobebetter · 31/01/2009 08:32

What car have you got?

Original poster
SniffyHock · 31/01/2009 08:36

A Lexus RX - big bloody thing I can squeeze the baby seat in the middle but then DS can't do up his own seat and I would have to get baby in and out each time as I can't lift the seat in and out IYSWIM.

OP posts:
eNABlemetobebetter · 31/01/2009 08:39

We had the graco auto base seat so would have to lift the baby over DS1's car seat but soon got used to it. I still strap all mine in so that isn't a problem and I do have to move DS1's seat out of the way while I strap in DS1.

SoupDragon · 31/01/2009 10:25

I had this problem with our Laguna. 3 seats fitted but only if none of them needed to access the seatbelts - the older 2 were 5 & 7 so they were in boosters. The front seat goes a fair way back so one sits in the front.

You also need to remember the problems of "buckle crunch" where the seatbelt buckle can release/break in a crunch if it is resting on the frame of a carseat. If you've wedged 3 seats in the back and have to move one in order to get to the buckles, chances are this could be a problem.

Original poster
SniffyHock · 31/01/2009 12:27

Good point SoupDragon - I hadn't thought of that. I think that I will have to put DS in the front and move it back as far as I can.

OP posts:
nicm · 31/01/2009 13:58

don't think an airbag is safe unless you can get it switched off. when my mum was buying her vw the sales guy told het that no one under 12 should be in the front seat as it wasn't safe with the airbag.

could you get it switched off at the garage? then you could put the baby in the front.

eNABlemetobebetter · 31/01/2009 14:33

Does the crunch thing apply when the seats have soft bases?

louloubelle · 31/01/2009 14:34

Agree re the airbag...I have a golf and have my 5 yo in the front and the 2 yo and baby in the back. But had to get the airbag turned off, which cost a fortune! Apparently the newer golfs are turn "offable" with a key, not at the garage.

Original poster
SniffyHock · 31/01/2009 19:05

Lexus have told me I can't turn it off (which was the original plan). REally don't know what to do now
LOADS of people must have this problem.

OP posts:
eNABlemetobebetter · 31/01/2009 19:06

Halfords were fantastic at helping us with our many seats we have bought over the years but it really is down to who you get.

bodiddly · 31/01/2009 19:15

Ds is nearly 4 and I am afraid I wouldn't want him in the front from a safety point of view. We don't have your problem in terms of number of children but have a lexus and were told you couldn't turn the air bags off. If you are considering putting your 4 year old in the front it may be worth contacting a local garage and seeing whether it is a lexus policy or the fact that it really isn't possible. I definitely wouldn't put a child in the front with an air bag .. I think they are liable to suffocate if it goes off!

RubyRioja · 31/01/2009 19:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

eNABlemetobebetter · 31/01/2009 19:19

I don't think it is safe for any child to go in the front tbh until they are tall enough for the airbag to save them from harm in an accident, not cause more.

Original poster
SniffyHock · 31/01/2009 19:23

So - new car shopping What should I get???

OP posts:
eNABlemetobebetter · 31/01/2009 19:24

How many DCs and what ages?

Will you be having more Dcs in th future?

ChasingSquirrels · 31/01/2009 19:25

surely if it went off the panel could be put back on without the bag being replaced?
Although if you do get it removed you need to tell your insurer.

Original poster
SniffyHock · 31/01/2009 19:27

I will have 3 DC. They will be 4.5, 2.5 and newborn - no more!

OP posts:
eNABlemetobebetter · 31/01/2009 19:29

Similar ages to what mine were. We got a grand scenic as were planning 4 children and it has 7 seats.