14 Month Old In Front Seat?

[LynnFors]

We have recently bought a 1998 Chevy S-10. The owner's manual says that babies cannot ride in the back "jump" seat, but that a car seat can be properly installed in the passenger seat and used with the air bag turned off. Is this a safe practice?

[joolsplus3]

If it's truly your only option, then yes, it's safe. I know a tech who uses a truck with only a front seat with her toddler. If the airbag is turned off, then I would install the seat rearfacing as long as the seat allows, so that he's at less risk of hitting the dashboard in a crash.

[papooses]

If the vehicle manual says not to install carseats in the back then there is no choice. Plus, I though car seat manuals also usually say never to install in jump seats.

Even those states with laws requiring kids sit only in the back consider such an instance an exception to the rule because even though the front is not the safest place most of the time, in this instance it is the only acceptable place.

I think I remember our local Chevy dealer said that model does have an airbag shutoff switch ~ check the manual or ask a dealer. There are some convertable seats that allow a child to sit RF up to 33-35 pounds....