At what age would you let a child ride in the front seat of a car?

Sept17.05Bride

This morning I passed my SIL who was taking her daughter to school (which is only about 3 blocks away from their house).  When I looked, I noticed that my oldest niece, who is 7 years old, in the front seat.  It really surprised me.  When I googled, this is what I found:

Seat Belt Law
MN Stat 169.686

?           Law applies to all front-seat occupants and all children under the age of 11 years regardless of position
?           Children over three and under 11 must be in a safety seat or seat belt (driver is responsible)

So, I didn't see anything that states a specific age, just that under 11 needs to use a seat belt.  At what age would you feel comfortable letting your DC sit in the front seat of a car?

 

bim38106

I'm pretty sure the AAP says 12 years. That will be the earliest for us, but we'll see when we get to that point. The front seat is just not safe for a child.

ETA: according to THIS, AAP says 13.

Also wanted to add, it doesn't matter to me whether it's a 5 minute car ride or a 5 hour trip. Most accidents happen close to home anyway, and how do you explain to a child that it's ok sometimes and not ok other times.. 

DevonPow

I always heard 12 years old.

Temp174496125006552

My daughter is 16 now, but she sat in the back seat until she was 12 or 13...I can't remember for sure.  We'll do the same with Ben.

roseroseroseroserose

In my family, it was a rite of passage at 12

jlw2505

I always thought the law was in the backseat until age 12. 

FloF9

I believe here it's 12 years old - but there are weight and height limits too I think.

abpdjs

bim38106:

I'm pretty sure the AAP says 12 years. That will be the earliest for us, but we'll see when we get to that point. The front seat is just not safe for a child.

ETA: according to THIS, AAP says 13.

Also wanted to add, it doesn't matter to me whether it's a 5 minute car ride or a 5 hour trip. Most accidents happen close to home anyway, and how do you explain to a child that it's ok sometimes and not ok other times.. 

i second all of this lol!

Sept17.05Bride

Ok, I also thought I had heard somewhere that 12 and under should be in the back seat.  I was seriously so shocked to see her in the front, but I wasn't sure if it was just me being a crazy paranoid mom.

acppa

My niece is 9 and they just started letting her ride in the front seat.  It makes me uncomfortable but she's not my kid so what can you do...  

jen5-03

My SS did not ride in the front seat until he was 13. And I have to add that at 12 he was basically adult-sized - not his full-grown size, but larger than many of the adult women on this board I'm sure: 5'6" and over 125lb.

 

s@ssyfr@ss

This is an argument I have w/ my ex everytime he picks up my 8yr old daughter. There is no law reguarding age for the front seat. The age of 12yrs is a recommendation giving since the average size of a 12 year old fits ok in the seatbelt and thier head is usually high enough to not cause as many injuries from the airbags.

I am sticking with 12yrs old. I believe in being safer than sorry.

SarahBukisi

its not so much the age for the child, but the size, height, weight, etc.

Rink08

you may want to remind her that at 7 they are still supposed to be in a booster seat. ( if pulled over she will get fined)

i'd wait until my child was 12