Family man question

"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
08/30/2014 at 00:24 • Filed to: None

So its not illegal for me to put my 3 year old in a front facing car seat up front. its not advised...but what isn't "not advised" these days? So the question for you blokes with kiddos, would you do it if you didn't HAVE to but it would make things SO much easier?

(don't worry, she's just napping.)

To explain, im going camping with my 3 year old this weekend and I can't sleep in my car with the seats in (too short) so my solution has been to either pull the seats out at the beginning of the trip or at the campsite. The campsite method is a pain and then I have to worry about my seats being out in the rain (it almost ALWAYS rains a little where im going) or stuffed under my car getting gross. I've had her up in front with me before, but only off road, and I have NO problem with that.

But what say you? would you pre-yank the seats and have her take the hour freeway ride up front before hitting the dirt? or sit her in back and remove the seats at camp?

DISCUSSION (28)

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > HammerheadFistpunch
08/30/2014 at 00:27

How tall is your three year old?

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > HammerheadFistpunch
08/30/2014 at 00:27

I would make sure the airbag is deactivated first.

Jeff-God-of-Biscuits > HammerheadFistpunch
08/30/2014 at 00:29

Pull the seats at camp. Just bring a yard waste trashbag to put the seats in. They will stay dry, and God forbid, if something bad were to ever happen, Your daughter would be as safe as possible.

HammerheadFistpunch > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
08/30/2014 at 00:29

~36 inches

Trunk Impaired 318 > HammerheadFistpunch
08/30/2014 at 00:30

Bring some big contractor bags to wrap the seats in when you get there, if the back seat is possible always use it. Its mostly precautionary but I always think in worst case scenarios and thats not one Id want to have to live with.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > HammerheadFistpunch
08/30/2014 at 00:30

Are you asking if you should take the kid without a car seat?

HammerheadFistpunch > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
08/30/2014 at 00:30

not an option.

HammerheadFistpunch > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
08/30/2014 at 00:31

no that IS illegal. I'm talking a car seat up front in the front pass. seat.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > HammerheadFistpunch
08/30/2014 at 00:31

I'm no safety expert, but I would imagine that makes it quite a bit more dangerous for you daughter. In the event of a crash, that is.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > HammerheadFistpunch
08/30/2014 at 00:33

Ok, phew. I think its ok, I'd probably try to elevate the car seat as much as possible, so if the airbag goes off it wont hit your child too hard. Its probably fine though

HammerheadFistpunch > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
08/30/2014 at 00:36

My front pass. seat moves quite a ways away from the dash (to the point I wonder if the airbag would even help a very tall adult) so its not the airbag per-se im worried about. The Studies show that the front is more dangerous IF they ARE NOT buckled versus the back in the same way (duh) and if the airbag is deployed and is close enough to impact them if they ARE buckled, front versus the back (again...duh) so to be frank I'm not too worried about the safety of the position I would put her in and the front my be better in a side collision since the seat is lower down up front (in the back the top of her car seat's base is at window level). I guess its more...what would you do?

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > HammerheadFistpunch
08/30/2014 at 00:39

I don't have a vehicle set up anything like that, or a kid. Personally, if I thought there was a legitimate safety concern with my child (or in my case, imaginary sister) being in the front, that would be my first priority. I have always heard that the back seat, facing rearward is the safest place for a youngling of that age in a car seat. However, people with 2-seat cars face the babies forward, and that's no problem, so you might be okay. I genuinely don't know.

PS9 > HammerheadFistpunch
08/30/2014 at 00:47

Are they fused up separately? If they are, you might be able to through that.

Jeff-God-of-Biscuits > Trunk Impaired 318
08/30/2014 at 00:48

Something like this isn't the only time you want to have the "if only..." thoughts. Naked, covered in spray cheese, on a beach with an oily twister mat, and at least 4 partners of the preferred sex, that's when you want to look back and think "if only..."

MonkeePuzzle > HammerheadFistpunch
08/30/2014 at 00:50

in the back, better safe than sorry. if something goes wrong you will NEVER forgive yourself for not doing all you can

mcseanerson > HammerheadFistpunch
08/30/2014 at 00:56

A what would I do scenario? I'd delete the airbag. Then I wouldn't worry about front seat vs back seat because those same statistics apply to adults. I't just referring to more sheet metal on either side of the car than from the front. The only accident your child would be safer in the backseat than the front is a head on collision or a frontal offset collision on their side. T-boned or rear ended is just as dangerous if not more so from the back seat. The real danger is the airbag. I want to take my kids for rides in my Miata but I won't drive anything more than a parking lot or down the street with the passenger airbag still in place. Is it impossible to remove the airbag(something I doubt) or is it unfeasible due to other car responsibilities(the more likely case.)

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > HammerheadFistpunch
08/30/2014 at 01:12

I was going to ask about airbags, but apparently it does have them. Not that I have kids, but I wouldn't risk it if I did. The middle is the safest part of the vehicle. That's why kids are supposed to be back there.

Svend > HammerheadFistpunch
08/30/2014 at 01:14

From a legal point of view and Ambulance Tech back ground if the front passenger seat can't be deactivated then no a child seat should not be put in the front, forward facing or rearward (your car manual should state this also).

Though one temporary option may be to borrow or buy a small two man tent to keep the seats in if you want the out of the dirt and dry.

HammerheadFistpunch > Svend
08/30/2014 at 01:21

I have 3 tents, but I sleep better in bear country in my car.

Svend > HammerheadFistpunch
08/30/2014 at 01:28

Sorry, I meant for you to put the seats in from the car while you and your daughter sleep in the car.

HammerheadFistpunch > Svend
08/30/2014 at 01:41

ah, upon more carefully reading it, I see where you are at.

Svend > HammerheadFistpunch
08/30/2014 at 01:45

No worries. It's an option that would keep your seats safe from the rain and mud and could even be used to put other bits and bobs in freeing up more space in the car.

The Compromiser > HammerheadFistpunch
08/30/2014 at 09:08

Here in Ontario Canuckistan, you have to be 12 to ride in the front. Booster until 7 I think but never in the front.

BJ > HammerheadFistpunch
08/30/2014 at 15:19

No matter how far back the seat goes, if you can't deactivate the airbag, don't do it. Once you're on the trail where risk of airbag deployment is little to zero, maybe it would be acceptable. But don't forget that even at docile trail speeds, a slip that puts you into a rock can still cause a deployment. Is it feasible to have kiddo in the back while rolling, and then just toss the booster seat up front for sleep time?

I just re-read and saw that you want to pull the back seats out before leaving home. Buy a big, heavy-duty tarp (they're stupid cheap) and pull your seats at the campsite. This would be a pain, but less painful than having your 3-y.o. getting an airbag in the face.

BJ > HammerheadFistpunch
08/30/2014 at 15:21

One other option: pull the airbag fuse for the trip. Safe for the little one, with some expense to your own safety. And if you're lucky, there will be separate fuses for each airbag (but most likely, there is only one).

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > HammerheadFistpunch
09/02/2014 at 13:51

What did you decide? Tough call, but I think I'd probably have to err on the side of caution on this one...

If it was only a very short stint on the highway, I think I'd feel differently.

HammerheadFistpunch > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
09/02/2014 at 13:51

Back seat all the way, it worked out that we put a friend of hers back there as well.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > HammerheadFistpunch
09/02/2014 at 14:01

Nice. Always great when they get to bring a buddy along.