Booster in front passenger seat - airbag on or off?

[srisky]

Just that really - child in question is 112cm & 17kg

Thanks

[goldilocks]

Think it depends on what your car manual says, but there should be info on there as to what is the safest option for make and model.

[SLad]

I thought you were only supposed to turn them off for rear facing car seats? Be aware though that in cars where a passenger airbag is fitted the seatbelt is likely to have adjusted torsion to reflect the presence of the airbag so that any passenger in such a seat may be less well restrained in the event of a collision if the airbag has been turned off.

[etta166]

With a child that's 112cm and 17kg, the safest option in the front seat would be for them to rear face (and then you need the airbag off). There are loads of extended rear facing seats on the market, and almost all can go in the front passenger seat.

Failing that, you should consult the manual for your car. In general, the passenger seat should be as far back as possible and the airbag should be on if a child is in a booster seat. The caveat to this is that you need to leave enough space for the rear passengers too (I'm assuming that the rear passengers are younger children in forward facing seats - if so the minimum distance from the back of the car seat to the back of the seat in front should be 55cm).

It's hugely complicated - and there is an expert on the forum called Rose Bolt who runs a local(ish) car seat company called Rear Facing Toddlers. She gives excellent advice.

[srisky]

Thanks all - I understand the value of the extended rear facing seats and we have two in the back for both my children for regular use. Occasionally when I am giving a third child a lift I put the taller child in the booster in the front passenger (very tricky to squeeze them into the middle of the two rear facing seats), hence the question. Good idea to check manual!

[etta166]

Could you put the rear facing seat in the front and then the booster in the back? It's more of a faff but probably safer. Also, the type of booster that you have could change whether you can get three in the back. The Britax Adventure is cheap, rated to be safe and is very narrow. It tends to fit in the middle back seat in most medium-large family cars. You're welcome to try ours if you want to test the fit.

[karen s]

Hi.

I think you might need to check out the law for children in front passengers seat.I think but not 100% no under 11's in front seat.

[goldilocks]

Just to clarify for anyone else searching on this thread - there is no law that restricts the age of passengers in the front. There are laws on appropriate seat belt usage and who is responsible, but not who can sit in the front of an ordinary car.

More generally if you do have to have a child in the front seat it is safest to have a rear facing seat with the airbag switched off (ie if you have the choice between a younger and older child as to placement).

For older children in High Backed Boosters you need to check what the manual of your specific car says in relation to whether the airbag should be on or off.