How old were your kids when you let them start sitting in

[malta blue]

the front seat of the car?

Little MB is chomping at the bit to sit up front after getting a taste of it on her 8th birthday when grandpa gave her a ride in a two-seater Ferrari.

[Lyric]

1. We live in a mobile home park, so our compromise is

that Brendan is allowed to sit in the front seat when we're driving him to the bus stop (because we don't leave the park). But if we go out beyond the mobile home park, he always sits in his booster seat in the back, even if the front seat is unoccupied and we're just going to the corner store. (He's seven)

[malta blue]

4. That seems fair. By law she had to stay in the booster

until she was 8. Now she is just crazy about sitting in the front. I remember being a kid and that was such a thrill, but then again, my dad used to let me sit in his lap while he drove:crazy:

[reyd reid reed]

2. Until last week,

I let the kids sit up front once they hit eight or so. But there weren't any airbags (1990s vehicles and one was a pickup, so no choice there). Bought a new car over the weekend with a passenger-side air bag...so now my 10-year-old has been banned from the front seat.

He was bummed, but oh well.

[malta blue]

5. So if there is an airbag you would say no front seat?

That is part of my concern.

Thanks :hi:

[reyd reid reed]

9. Yup.

When an air bag inflates, it inflates fast and hard and I don't want it inflating on his li'l head. I understand that, when a child in under a certain height (I don't know what it is right off hand), the air bag has the potential to cause more harm than it prevents.

So...no front seat for him until he's older.

And taller.

[noamnety]

28. Does the airbag have an off switch?

I tend to ride in the passenger seat with my feet on the dashboard, so my husband shuts off the switch on my side, rather than having my legs blown off. It would be a good thing to check on your car, because even if you don't want them in the front if there's room in the back, some fine day you may be transporting a car full of kids, and one of them has to be up front.

[jobycom]

3. Depends on the car, but basically eight.

I had a car with no airbags, so I let my youngest child ride in the front seat in the neighborhood sometimes in that car. Now that she's eight, I've been letting her ride in the front seat somewhat regularly, as long as it is pushed all the way back. That's when she can get it from her teenage sister, which isn't often. :)

[malta blue]

6. I assume pushed all the way back due to the airbag...

That might be a good compromise. I may also have to insist that she sit in the back if there is weather that may be dangerous (snow, heavy rain, etc.)

[xmas74]

7. My SIL said that

when her ex picked up their children and took them on base (military base) they were informed that children under the age of 14 had to sit in the backseat or they would not be allowed admittance.

I believe that most recommend 12 because of air bags. I know my seven year old is begging to sit up front because others do it.

[malta blue]

10. Interesting....

Little MB's dad will not let her sit in the front at all. I have let her a couple of times and my DH has too. So, she is getting the mixed signal, but I think that the responses in this thread indicate that she is probably too young and too small for the front.

[xmas74]

I kinda like the base idea.

I know that she'll be safe for a number of years that way.

Plus I'll still have control of the radio. No way she can reach over and flip the station.

[malta blue]

19. LOL

The little one loves NPR (I am a mean mommy according to some) or the oldie's station, so there will be no radio wars. The trick was to only introduce her to what I like, that way I don't get stuck with Ms. Spears....

[xmas74]

21. Mine is now seven

and she wants satellite radio so she can get Radio Disney.

That's a no-go here.

[malta blue]

23. I gave mine the Radio Disney CD and she can listen

IN HER ROOM!

:rofl:

[xmas74]

25. She has a Disney stars cd or something like that.

Of course, we also have the soundtrack to High School Musical and she's chomping at the bit for the new one to come out next month. She also wants more Jesse McCarthy stuff. (I think that's his name-she talks about him alot and sings along with him.)

The only nonDisney she's fixated on is she has to watch everything with Emma Roberts in it.

[malta blue]

26. Ah yes - that Jesse McCartney...

"He's nice to look at" (from the mouth of an 8 y/o)

We also have lots of High School Musical going on too, but I have her listening to U2, Duran Duran, Depeche Mode, Cake and Weezer. Her favorite band is Cake.

Is Emma Roberts the girl from the Harry Potter movies?

[xmas74]

27. Nope.

She's on Nick. Her show is Unfabulous and yep, she's one of the Roberts-dad is Eric, aunt is Julia.

My kid thinks she's gorgeous and wants to dress just like her.

[malta blue]

29. Aha - I just looked her up - she is a cute little thing isn't she....

Little MB doesn't care for Nick programming too much - absolutely detests SpongeBob (much to Mr MB's dismay). She is into Power Rangers and anything that has martial arts (she is one belt away from black in Tae Kwon Do).

[xmas74]

30. I can see her dad in her

but can really see her aunt. She's got that kinda gawky, leggy look to her.

[LeftyMom]

8. I won't until he's my size (I'm all of 5'2")

because airbags are dangerous to people any smaller. The rear seat is 30% safer in a crash, but my backseat isn't really comfortable for anybody larger than me (and does not have headrests, so his head and neck would be unsupported,) so as that point he can switch to the front. My guess is he'll be nine or ten when that happens.

He does ride in my sister's two seater in his booster for very short trips, like to the grocery store, since it's very close and on low limit residential roads. If they have to go any farther we switch cars.

[malta blue]

11. Thanks LeftyMom....

I think that I will have to relegate Little MB to the back seat for a couple more years.

[MorningGlow]

12. MG Jr. can sit in the front only when the back is folded up

He's 3 1/2. I drive a Jeep Wrangler, which means no trunk, no "wayback". So when we have an absolute BOATLOAD of stuff to cram in the car and I can't wedge it in around him once he's in his booster, he sits in the front seat. (In a Wrangler, you can turn off the passenger-side airbag for circumstances like these.) That has happened once in his entire life, and I don't see it happening again very soon, much to his dismay. (He keeps asking when he can ride in the front seat again.)

[malta blue]

15. Thanks for your input....I would be

rather hesitant about the 3 1/2 year old, for sure.

[MorningGlow]

36. It's kind of like when you own a pickup

with no back seat--no choice in the matter. But I would never do it if I couldn't turn off the airbag. And, like I said, it only happened once and is not likely to happen again in the near future. Mostly, if I know I'm going to be packing a lot of stuff into the Jeep, I do it when I don't have Jr. with me.

[wildhorses]

13. they get to ride and drive up the dirt road.

then hit the back sit till we get back. they take turns driving up and down the dirt road. ages 10 and 7.

[malta blue]

17. That sounds fair. nm

[MissMillie]

14. about middle school age

when he got to be almost as tall as I am.

[malta blue]

18. I am starting to realize that she is way too young and too small.

Thanks for your input MM:pals:

[Xithras]

16. 12 years or 5 foot

Airbags can cause temendous, even lethal, injuries to 8 year olds. My wifes-cousins-daughter (wifes second cousin?) had her neck broken by an airbag when she was 6.

My younger two whine about how it's "unfair" that my 13 year old can ride up front while they can't, but whiny & safe beats dead any day.

[malta blue]

20. Thanks for the warnings. As I posted above,

I have come to the conclusion that she is way too young and small for the front seat. I will have to break the bad news to her.


edit: typo

[Midlodemocrat]

22. Ten.

[malta blue]

24. Thanks Midlo!

:hi:

[riderinthestorm]

31. Size and weight should be your primary considerations on when your kids ride in the front

Some cars have airbags that explode with such lethality they will kill an undersized kid. Check your cars specs and adhere to their specifications about the size and weight that can safely sit in the front.

Your state should also have laws that regulate how large the kids have to be to sit in the front. In Illinois, I believe the child has to be at least 48 inches and 80 pounds.

I wouldn't go by age in deciding - go by size and weight.

My 10 year old sits in the front seat but she is 5'1 and weighs 84 pounds so I feel she is big enough to handle the airbags.

[malta blue]

32. Thanks for your input. I have decided that Little MB is

way too small. She barely weighs 55 pounds and is just about 4' tall.

[Left Is Write]

33. Kayla was probably 8 or 9, but I didn't have any airbags back then.

My younger two are not allowed in the front seat. They are 7 and 5.

[SarahB]

34. They should be over 5 feet and over 100 pounds.

Yes, I know there are shorter and smaller adults. It's just a general guidleline.

[Shine]

35. We didn't let ShineBoy sit in the front until he turned 12

Air-bags and all that, makes a difference. I think that's the law in CA.

:hi: :hug:

oooh, a 2 seater Ferrari, how fun! Happy b'day to little MB! :party:

[SmokingJacket]

37. They have to be big enough to handle the airbag.

Small people can get their neck broken, so over 90 pounds, I think. Though my husband is less freaked out than I am and let my 9 year old sit there a couple times.

[Seabiscuit]

38. I think most states have laws about it - I know CA does.

And I don't recall all the rules right now, but I do recall that under a certain age/weight it's recommended that children sit in a rear seat. The rules for car seats are pretty strict.

Check your local DMV pamphlet or online rules about carseats, etc.