Talking my husband into buying a new vehicle before baby arrives

kellangston55 · March 2013

So... I am trying to convince my husband to buy a new vehicle before the baby is born. He has a truck with no back seat, and I have a truck with a back seat. His truck is manual and I do not know how to drive stick (silly I know, tried learning just cant get the hang of it). My husband insist the law in AZ says a baby can be in front seat as long as air bag is turned off and it is a rear facing car seat. I just don't feel comfortable with the baby being in the front seat. He is very good with money, and hates spending it, but I think this is a must have. Please share your thoughts. Am I being crazy and should stop pressing the issue or should a stand my ground?Thank you for your feed back.

revlaurawittman · March 2013

I definitely wouldn't feel comfortable putting the baby in the front seat either. If it's something you are really uncomfortable with, and if you can afford it, I would say definitely push for a new car.

JocelynB0911 · March 2013

Ask him what he plans to do if you have more kids. Are you going to have to take two vehicles, spend more on gas, etc. We have a Tahoe with a 2nd row bench seat and third row bench. It would be soo much easier if we could get a surburban with 2nd row bucket seats and have the trunk space. Thats my issue right now, with the third row up I wont have room for the double stroller.

kat81again2 · March 2013

Does he use his truck a lot as a truck? If not, couldn't he get rid of it in favor of a much more fuel efficient vehicle (ultimately saving a lot of money)?

I opened this message thinking that it would be someone who has suitable cars but who wants a giant SUV for no reason. But I think that you have a really valid reason to want to make this change.

CutieBean79 · March 2013

I'm with you. A truck without a backseat is very impractical when you have children.

SweetPeaK26 · March 2013

It actually is pretty safe as long as the airbags are off. And if you have a big truck, as opposed to a little Tacoma type, they are so much higher up, and in think that decreases the chances of impact actually affecting the baby.

Dh has a front seat only truck, and we have a Durango. Almost always, the girls are in the Durango, but sometimes dh takes them in his truck and turns off the airbag. Maybe it's just his hog of a truck, but I feel that they are pretty safe in there!

kellangston55 · March 2013

He uses his truck to go to and from work mostly and then uses it when I have to go somewhere without him. Both of our trucks are smaller trucks (Nissan Frontier for him and GMC Canyon for me) and are pretty fuel efficient. Just want something more safe for baby, in case I have to go somewhere and he is with the baby by himself. I am looking into getting a car or maybe a crossover (we have dogs and the back of crossover would help with keeping them away from baby).

Cara7989 · March 2013

I'm in the exact same situation as you! My car is my "family" car, and my hubby's is his truck, but it drinks gas and is really unsafe. I'm going to talk to him about it, I think it should be a decision as a family not something you talk him into doing. If he's moneyconscious, list down the costs of a new car and the gas, etc, that the truck costs. It will help!

Chelsey68 · March 2013

I lived in Arizona a few years ago, one of the most leanient states on carseat laws. My DH has a truck with a pathetic excuse for a back seat, but it is only exceptable for him to trade it in for another truck. We just take my car when riding with the kids and it hasn't been an issue.

AngelMommy11211 · March 2013

Legal and safe, but I wouldn't feel very comfortable with it. Especially since its a smaller truck.

kdv77 · March 2013

It would make me really nervous too. Hope you can convince him!

katiebenes · March 2013

Tell him, there's a good reason that other states have made it illegal. I'm selling my truck because I know other states made it illegal... didn't even check into it with mine.

Now, Also remind him how big an infant seat is - he will loose use of his side mirror.

Also - this means the two of you will NOT be able to drive anywhere together with the baby...

Also - if you two get a babysitter and go somewhere, you will have to take out the car seat's base then re-install it, which is a pain in the butt.

I hope these points make it easier.

normandyn7 · March 2013

I'm with you on this one! My husband has a truck with no back seat and I have a 1994 sports coupe 2-door car that needs MAJOR maintenance (passenger window doesn't stay up, passenger door doesn't open from the inside OR the outside and it has major electrical problems too) so I am trying to convince my husband to trade my car for a more family friendly car too. I also live in AZ and I think that law is real but I would not personally feel comfortable putting an infant in the front seat. I think you should stand your ground and maybe just start putting money aside to buy one. Good luck!

katiebenes · March 2013

JocelynB0911:
Ask him what he plans to do if you have more kids. Are you going to have to take two vehicles, spend more on gas, etc. We have a Tahoe with a 2nd row bench seat and third row bench. It would be soo much easier if we could get a surburban with 2nd row bucket seats and have the trunk space. Thats my issue right now, with the third row up I wont have room for the double stroller.

Suburbans are hell on gas. I am driving one now and its about 14 mpg highway.

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