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aren't carseats illegal in the front seat??

DandRDandR
in Parenting

saw a scary minivan.  Front seat had a forward facing car seat.  Two rear facing car seats in the middle row and one other car seat in the back.  The two rear facing car seats had the big mirrors. 

Oh and ALL of the carseats look older than mine.  My oldest is almost 5 years old, so these can't be "in date".  They were old and dirty.  The one in front (and why I noticed and then looked in the back seats) was the kind that has the overehead bar thing that pulls down in front?  You know what I'm talking about....Its the big padded bar thing with the t-belt that goes between the legs.  I thought those weren't safe either.

 

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Re: aren't carseats illegal in the front seat??

  • joseysbridejoseysbride member

    I thought they could be in the front, provided there is no airbag?  I'm not positive on this, though.  I am thinking a single cab pickup situation.

    Altogether, though, I could see why you would be wondering because it sounds like there was more wrong with this situation.  I remember having one of those carseats with the padded bar thing when I was younger, and I'm 28 now, so...

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  • Marce921Marce921 member

    You can have a carseat in the front seat as long as you can turn off the airbags (we did this in DH's old truck), but I'm guessing that since it was in a minivan, that wasn't the case.

    As far as the type of seat in the front, all I will say is that at least they HAD a carseat. As a postpartum RN, I see TONS of families who have 1,2,3 yr olds and they just put them in the car WITHOUT a carseat. I'd much rather see an OLD carseat than none at all.

    Marcey
    Kaden William 11/4/06 and Dawson Michael 6/30/10
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  • goodheartedmommygoodheartedmommy member

    It's not illegal, just not recommended. If no seats are available, the older forward facing harnessed child should be in the front seat. I'm not saying I condone it, though. The person doesn't sound like they take carseat safety seriously, and there were obviously open seats.

    FWIW, the padded bar seats are still sold by a few companies (evenflo and cosco, I think). Yikes. 

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  • *Scuzzlebutt**Scuzzlebutt* member
    The carseat you described (pull-down/overhead bar) is like the one my nephew had as a baby.  He just turned 18.
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  • GinandTonicGinandTonic
    We can turn our passenger side airbag off in our van (in fact, I think it doesn't even turn on until a certain weight is in the seat - just in case).
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  • CiarraiCiarrai
    I think it depends on the state.  In Texas, it's now illegal for children under the age of 12 to ride in the front seat no matter if you can turn off the airbag or not.  That includes kids in carseats.  The only exception (that I know of) is a pickup truck without a backseat. 
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  • goodheartedmommygoodheartedmommy member

    imageMarce921:
    I'd much rather see an OLD carseat than none at all.

    You know what? I'm so effing sick of hearing "well at LEAST they're using one." No, that's not good enough. Seriously, if I couldn't afford a proper carseat for my child (and I'm not talking britax here, I'm talking the $40 seats), I probably would have no business having a child. Get a second job. I'm sick of excuses for ignorance--this is life and death, yet people always want to give passes for at LEAST they're doing something.  I'm not talking ERF, extended harnessing, etc--just the bare legal minimum to keep your child safe.

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  • stacynikkistacynikki member
    It's not. We checked because DH has a two seater Jeep and sometimes he needs to take DS somewhere and he can't use my car. We're in TX. It has to be a two seater and no airbag.
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  • JOEBunnyJOEBunny member
    It is not illegal here if all other positions in the car are filled with appropriate car seats.  I have to do this when I pick up me friends DD.  Air bag should be off. 
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