S/O: Child in front or back?

[unityco]

A while ago we had a member with six kids who was trying to fit them all in her Suburban. Her older (9yo?) was in the 3rd row centre in just the lap belt. There was also no head rest. Someone suggested he would be safer in the front seat.

I *think* some jurisdictions have laws saying children must travel in the back seat. How could you respond if you were pulled over with a child in the front when there was an open spot in the back that was *legally* (as opposed to "well") equipped to hold a passenger?

Is it preferable to have someone in a 3-point belt in the front with head rest as opposed to lap-only in the back with no head rest? Would it change if there was a head rest in the back?

Thanks for playing!

[drey]

A while ago we had a member with six kids who was trying to fit them all in her Suburban. Her older (9yo?) was in the 3rd row centre in just the lap belt. There was also no head rest. Someone suggested he would be safer in the front seat.

I *think* some jurisdictions have laws saying children must travel in the back seat. How could you respond if you were pulled over with a child in the front when there was an open spot in the back that was *legally* (as opposed to "well") equipped to hold a passenger?

Is it preferable to have someone in a 3-point belt in the front with head rest as opposed to lap-only in the back with no head rest? Would it change if there was a head rest in the back?

Thanks for playing!

Honestly, I'd try to re-configure all 6 kids so that the oldest is in a seat with a 3-point belt. A younger kiddo in a carseat can go in the lapbelt position in the 3rd row.

[unityco]

Honestly, I'd try to re-configure all 6 kids so that the oldest is in a seat with a 3-point belt. A younger kiddo in a carseat can go in the lapbelt position in the 3rd row.

Oh, I know in that particular situation there were other solutions, I'm just wondering in a more general way. What if your car had only lap-belts in the rear? What if you're in Canada and the only tethered spots are the lap-shoulder spots and they're both in use for FF harnessed seats? You know, worst/best-case scenario kinda stuff. :question:

[Defrost]

Personally? I'd put my child in a lap-only seat belt before putting him in the front. I know that's not the popular perspective around here, but from what I've been able to find, a lap-only belt in the back is still safer than a lap/shoulder belt in the front.

The headrest definitely wouldn't change it for me - in the back with l/s belt and no headrest still trumps the front.

I'd also put my child in a lap-only belt before putting them in a lap-only belt plus booster, regardless of the booster law.

JMO, of course - I'm wearing my "Mom" hat, not my "tech" hat. :D If this came up at a seat check event, I'd consult with the senior techs before discussing the options with the parents.

[UlrikeDG]

Here's one study: Lap-belted rear-occupants have a higher level of injury severity less often than lap/shoulder- belted front-seat occupants in the same crash. (http://www.ns.umich.edu/htdocs/releases/story.php?id=926)

[skaterbabscpst]

I would do front seat with head support and lap/shoulder belt before back seat with no head support and lap only, but I'm thinking of just how likely head injuries become with no support and the upper body unrestrained. :( That and the spinal injuries from the lap belt....

I don't know what I'd recommend to a parent though.