While your baby might plead and throw tantrums so as to be allowed to ride in the front seat, you need to make sure that you do not give in - make them ride in the back seat at all times for their safety. According to recommendations from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Children aged under 13 need to ride in the back seat at all times. Having the highest rated toddler seat that comes with all the modern accouterments such as LATCH may not be enough to take a risk by letting the child ride front facing.
Other important safety recommendations include:
Other important safety recommendations include:
- If it is possible you should strap the convertible car seat into the middle of the backseat where they will be safer from flying debris and side impact crashes. If the car has only a lap belt in the middle seat yet the child is riding in a booster seat strap the child on either side of the car where there are shoulder belts. You should never use only lap belts when the child is on a booster seat like you would in a convertible car seat.
- It is especially important for the child to ride in the backseat if your vehicle comes with passenger side air bags. Air bags can cause serious injury to the child given that the child is not yet fully developed to take the impact of the inflatable air bag that is designed for adults. Most cars will typically have the letters SRS or SIR on the dash board or a warning label on the sun visor informing you that the car has airbags. You can also find the information on the vehicle owners instruction manuals.
- If you have no option than to let the child ride in the front seat, for instance when you have a two seater or when the back seat is full you need to determine whether your airbags can be switched on and off. If they can be switched off, switch them off or if not consider having them installed at the earliest opportunity. Check out this list by NHTSA of approved installers of air bag on and off switches.
- If switching off your air bags is out of the question yet you have to transport the baby in the front seat ask your tallest or biggest passenger to seat in the front and move the seat backwards such that it is as far away from the dashboard
