Front seat rules in your family

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you follow the 13+ rule or something else? I see so many pre-teens in the front seat at drop-off it's shocking!

I drive a 2 door car, so yes, my 10 year old rides in the front for drop off/pick up at school. Otherwise, we'd hold up the line having him climb into/out of the backseat.

Who else gets annoyed with parents that have 2+ kids that they have to get OUT of the car to put in/take out of CAR SEATS in the kiss & ride line??? I mean, COME ON. Park and walk your kids if you're going to keep them in car seats that they can't manage themselves in the kiss and ride line. By the time my son was in kindergarten I made sure he could do his own car seat straps if I was going through the kiss & ride line. He unbuckled as soon as we entered the line & grabbed his backpack so that when the staff or patrol open the door, he can jump out and the line keeps moving. This year I've noticed more and more people getting out of the car to deal with car seats, which used to be discouraged.

I don't agree with your priorities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't get the PPs who allow under 13s to ride in the front seat. Why take the risk when the safety experts (AAP and NHTSA) all advise 13 as the minimum allowable age?

Because what differences they find between, say, an 11 year old and a 14 year old, are not statistically reliable or significant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you follow the 13+ rule or something else? I see so many pre-teens in the front seat at drop-off it's shocking!

I drive a 2 door car, so yes, my 10 year old rides in the front for drop off/pick up at school. Otherwise, we'd hold up the line having him climb into/out of the backseat.

Who else gets annoyed with parents that have 2+ kids that they have to get OUT of the car to put in/take out of CAR SEATS in the kiss & ride line??? I mean, COME ON. Park and walk your kids if you're going to keep them in car seats that they can't manage themselves in the kiss and ride line. By the time my son was in kindergarten I made sure he could do his own car seat straps if I was going through the kiss & ride line. He unbuckled as soon as we entered the line & grabbed his backpack so that when the staff or patrol open the door, he can jump out and the line keeps moving. This year I've noticed more and more people getting out of the car to deal with car seats, which used to be discouraged.

Um, I don't think the line would mind if it takes your son an extra 5 seconds if that means he's safer.

Thanks for your concern. I'm sure it would be fine too, but we'll keep him in the front. He's a big 10 year old, if he was small for his age maybe I'd feel differently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't get the PPs who allow under 13s to ride in the front seat. Why take the risk when the safety experts (AAP and NHTSA) all advise 13 as the minimum allowable age?

Because what differences they find between, say, an 11 year old and a 14 year old, are not statistically reliable or significant.

What are the advantages of having a child in the front seat that outweigh the increased chance of injury in an accident? I don't get it.

My kids complained about being in the back sometimes, but I just told them I loved them too much to take an unnecessary risk. They dealt with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't get the PPs who allow under 13s to ride in the front seat. Why take the risk when the safety experts (AAP and NHTSA) all advise 13 as the minimum allowable age?

Because what differences they find between, say, an 11 year old and a 14 year old, are not statistically reliable or significant.

What are the advantages of having a child in the front seat that outweigh the increased chance of injury in an accident? I don't get it.

My kids complained about being in the back sometimes, but I just told them I loved them too much to take an unnecessary risk. They dealt with it.

You're better able to communicate with them and have a real conversation. They open up more about what's going on in their lives, with friends, at school.

And for safety's sake, I also feel that, considering how relatively soon they'll be getting their learner's permits, it's a good idea for them to start absorbing by observation a lot of the typical road behaviors that cautious and defensive drivers learn to anticipate (e.g., when a fast driver quickly approaches a slower car on a highway, you can anticipate a sudden lane change).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't get the PPs who allow under 13s to ride in the front seat. Why take the risk when the safety experts (AAP and NHTSA) all advise 13 as the minimum allowable age?

Well, my 11 year-old is 1/2 inch shorter than me, and almost 100 lbs. (Won't say how much I weigh!) He's almost my size. I ride in the front when DH drives. So would you say I'm not allowed to ride in the front passenger seat?

FWIW I only let him ride in the front if we are driving locally, less than 45 mph. I don't let him ride in the front if we are highway driving.

[Anonymous]

I thought the danger of sitting in the front seat to a child smaller than 100 pounds was that the force of the airbag would be too great for him/her, so either you have to shut off the airbag and have no protection in that regard, or you risk their safety from the force of the airbag?

My 90 pound 13 year old can sit in the front when she is 100 pounds and 5 feet. That's my rule.

[Anonymous]

I have a 15 year old and 14 year old that refuse to sit in front. I don't get it.

I have an 11 year old and a 9 year old and we tell them they have to be 13 to sit in front. I wonder if they will follow in their brothers foot steps and not want to, when they get that age.

[Anonymous]

Well op, I don't know why you're "shocked" at people who allow their preteens to ride up front. You say you see it every day. It's obviously not uncommon. You've gotten some good responses here. You can keep your children in the back for as long as you want. You, and others, can judge me and people who do things differently all you want. I don't really think that anything anyone says here will change your mind.