Its not just size and weight, but also about bone structure that is not fully developed yet. I would not put a child under 12 in the front seat except in emergency as our air bags do not turn off. We follow the recommendations. For a child who does not have a good belt fit, they are in a booster in my car. Its not an option. I would feel horrible if I got in an accident and they were hurt due to my not having them in my car properly. You can get an incognito for older kids that is a pad for $20. You don't need to keep them in the tacky plastic ones.

Anonymous wrote:

Today's mothers are ruining children with their frenetic search for "safety." Pathetic.

My kid has been riding in the front seat since he was 10 or 11.

Not just this generation. My mom didn't let us sit up front till we were older. 1970s and 80s. She also made us wear seat belts before they were required.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You just need to discuss with the parents and decide on everyone's comfort. I am in a carpool with 11 year olds and two of them weigh more than me and are my height (5 feet). My 11 year old is 4'2 and weighs 65 pounds.
So, in the carpool, my kid always sits in the back and the 5 feet ones always sit in the front. It's not age it's size that is the safety thing.

Exactly. My boys were much bigger at 12 than my girls were when they started driving at 15. Now that I think about it, by 12 all three of my boys weighed more and were taller than I am. I guess I should have been in the back seat. But we have 9 year olds in car seats these days. I'm guessing the next step will be five point harnesses for teen drivers.

Life is 100% fatal. You take a risk every time you walk out the door. At some point this stuff is overkill.

Yeah, our soccer carpool had one mom who refused to let her 12 year old ride up front. He was 5'8" and weighed 155 at the time. One of our drivers was a 4'11 85 lb mom. The tall kid's mom said outright she was fine with our much smaller boys sitting up front in her car if we consented, but she wouldn't put hers there in any circumstance. Still can't wrap my head around it.

Today's mothers are ruining children with their frenetic search for "safety." Pathetic.

My kid has been riding in the front seat since he was 10 or 11.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where are you located? In VA it's just until age 8.

I don't think this is true.

It is. Worry-wart parents have just helicoptered so much about staying rear-facing and in a booster for as long as possible that the masses take it as true now.

One of DS friend's showed up to a boy scout trip with his booster. He was 10 at the time. A 15-passenger van full of 10-11 year-olds all with seat belts except one special snowflake.

Most European countries require boosters until age 12 so the seatbelt - designed for full grown adult males - actually fits.

Anonymous wrote:I don't know any 10yo that rides in a booster.

Mine does! He's 11 and the height and weight of a 3rd grader. I feel fully justified.

Anonymous wrote:Where are you located? In VA it's just until age 8.

True that 8 is the minimum required, but not the suggested age to stop a booster. See here: http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/police/stations/franconia/img/2011virginiachildsafetyseatlawsandquestions.pdf

In our family we follow the under 13 recommendation when there are rear seats available. Only if all rear seats are occupied may a passenger under 13 sit in front and then only if the belts fit properly.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where are you located? In VA it's just until age 8.

I don't think this is true.

It is. Worry-wart parents have just helicoptered so much about staying rear-facing and in a booster for as long as possible that the masses take it as true now.

One of DS friend's showed up to a boy scout trip with his booster. He was 10 at the time. A 15-passenger van full of 10-11 year-olds all with seat belts except one special snowflake.

I cannot imagine a 10 year old in a booster. Poor kid.

Why would he be a poor kid?

My 11 year old sits in the front seat. He's 5'3" and 110lbs. My 16 year old was smaller at that age and he didn't start sitting in the front seat until he was 13. I don't care about the age I'm more concerned with the weight/height and if the seatbelt fits them properly.

Anonymous wrote:I don't know any 10yo that rides in a booster.

my son does. He weighs about 54 lbs. I told him he could ride without the booster, but he likes being up higher, so he wanted to do the booster.

I also know of a girl in my scout troop who brought a booster with her when we did activities. She was 10... but short. You need to be able to fold your knees around the front edge of the seat while keeping your butt/back all the way to the rear of the seat. If you can't do that, then you need a booster.

I don't know any 10yo that rides in a booster.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where are you located? In VA it's just until age 8.

I don't think this is true.

It is. Worry-wart parents have just helicoptered so much about staying rear-facing and in a booster for as long as possible that the masses take it as true now.

One of DS friend's showed up to a boy scout trip with his booster. He was 10 at the time. A 15-passenger van full of 10-11 year-olds all with seat belts except one special snowflake.

I cannot imagine a 10 year old in a booster. Poor kid.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where are you located? In VA it's just until age 8.

I don't think this is true.

It is. Worry-wart parents have just helicoptered so much about staying rear-facing and in a booster for as long as possible that the masses take it as true now.

One of DS friend's showed up to a boy scout trip with his booster. He was 10 at the time. A 15-passenger van full of 10-11 year-olds all with seat belts except one special snowflake.

Most 10 year olds do NOT safely fit into an adult seat belt without a booster.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where are you located? In VA it's just until age 8.

I don't think this is true.

It is. Worry-wart parents have just helicoptered so much about staying rear-facing and in a booster for as long as possible that the masses take it as true now.

One of DS friend's showed up to a boy scout trip with his booster. He was 10 at the time. A 15-passenger van full of 10-11 year-olds all with seat belts except one special snowflake.