when do you allow front seat riding?

ginny4 · Jun 15, 2011

my 12 yo is driving me bonkers with wanting to ride in the front. its not so hard to put him off at the moment since he heard its not recommended til 13yo. He is practically doing the countdown. he just turned 12 a couple weeks ago. Anyway, i don't know how comfortable i am with him riding in front at 13yo either...he's a pretty big guy & maybe taller than me by then. these next step ups seem to be so hard & to think my 1st will be "old enough" for the front so soon. i'm not ready....

when have you allowed or willing to allow for front seat riding

purplemama · Jun 15, 2011

JUst here to see what people say. I have a 12 almost (july) 13 year old who bugs me constantly to sit up front. I'm tempted but it feels wrong and unsafe.

bree · Jun 15, 2011

ginny4 said:
my 12 yo is driving me bonkers with wanting to ride in the front. its not so hard to put him off at the moment since he heard its not recommended til 13yo. He is practically doing the countdown. he just turned 12 a couple weeks ago. Anyway, i don't know how comfortable i am with him riding in front at 13yo either...he's a pretty big guy & maybe taller than me by then. these next step ups seem to be so hard & to think my 1st will be "old enough" for the front so soon. i'm not ready....

when have you allowed or willing to allow for front seat riding

I personally wouldn't allow a child up front until they are at least 15 years old, based on the research summarized in this article. I think the feeling you have of not being ready to have him ride up front yet is totally in line with the research available to us.

SAHDADDY · Jun 15, 2011

my plan is 15, but i have 11years ahead of me is my oldest just turned 4 yesterday

i will not allow it before 13

momma2kda · Jun 15, 2011

My mom always made us sit in the back until we could drive.

luckyclov · Jun 15, 2011

When they have learner's permits.

babyherder · Jun 15, 2011

I'd say 15 based on current research. I let my brother start sitting in the front seat regularly at 13.5.

carseatcoach · Jun 15, 2011

14-15 (kids can get learner's permits at 15 here and I'd like my daughter to have some experience seeing things from the front before she gets behind the wheel) in general.

Probably around 11-12 I'd be comfortable taking 4 kids in my 5-seater vehicle for occasional carpools.

Defrost · Jun 15, 2011

I occasionally let my 13yo ride in the front. My second son I didn't let him ride up front until he was 14 because he's small for his age. My first son grew faster so he got to sit up front when he was 13. At this point there's a huge potential for arguments over it, so if they make it a headache they ALL ride in the back.

That's all for around-town. When we drive on the highway they have to be 15 to sit in the front.

SignCuer · Jun 15, 2011

After 12... I'm fine if they prove to me they can follow the seating up front rules... no distracting me, no turning backwards... the seat is fully back and I have no problems for short rides. Like carseatcoach said, they can learn driving skills then since they will be driving in a few short years.

Longer rides, I prefer them to be in back.

bobandjess99 · Jun 15, 2011

Well, when I have to. I've had 4, 5, 6 yo's in the front seat due to necessity. Beyond that, if they are 13+ and big(post pubescent).. then I am ok with them being up front even if there are rear seats. I think my personal viewpoint is skewed though, because by age 13, all of our older boys have been larger than me by at LEAST 6 inches

They get permits at like 15.5 here, so i think a year or 2 of riding in the front is actually very beneficial in terms of learning how to drive, so.....ya.

murphydog77 · Jun 15, 2011

My 11 yr old is taller than several teachers at his school, but he knows that he sits in back until at least age 13. Puberty is when bone hardening really starts in earnest, so that's why that recommendation is there. As far as what happens at age 13, I'll deal with it then

. I'm also of the idea that kids need the front seat perspective before they start driving, so I know he'll be up front before then.

ketchupqueen · Jun 15, 2011

14 is our family rule.

thepote · Jun 15, 2011

We started letting DS1 sit up front at age 12 occasionally in town, and about 13.5 whenever he wanted to. It was about age 12 where he was heavy enough for the airbag sensor to keep the airbag on.

Jennee · Jun 15, 2011

does size play a factor in how safe they are or is it more bone maturity?

aeormsby · Jun 15, 2011

carseatcoach said:
14-15 (kids can get learner's permits at 15 here and I'd like my daughter to have some experience seeing things from the front before she gets behind the wheel) in general.

Probably around 11-12 I'd be comfortable taking 4 kids in my 5-seater vehicle for occasional carpools.

:yeahthat: (bolding mine)

We have quite a while before needing to deal with this, but by sometime between 12-14 I would allow front seat. I don't want them to start driving without seeing anything from the front seat perspective.

Mysweethoneybee · Jun 15, 2011

My oldest son starting getting to ride in the front seat sometimes at 12 but he was only 95th percentile. My middle son started getting to ride in the front seat when he reached 6 foot and 200lbs at age 12 if my husband or I are driving but he has to sit in the back if his brother is driving. I am guessing if he hits a growth spurt he won't be able to cram into a back seat. Most of his friends are very small compared to him and I wouldn't let any of them sit in the front seat.

smileybrea · Jun 15, 2011

My oldest is 7.5 so I have a while before having to think about this but will not consider it before age 13 and we've already talked about it

He asked when he could and I told him to ask again when he's 13 and we'll talk about it but not before then.

bnsnyde · Jun 15, 2011

I don't ride in front. I sit in back and I have my husband or mom do the same. Nobody ever uses the front seat.

Our van seats 8, though. If we ended up with 7 children I might have to put a child in the front. The oldest would be 12 or more by that time. I wish the van had more room!

jourdysmom · Jun 15, 2011

bnsnyde said:
I don't ride in front. I sit in back and I have my husband or mom do the same. Nobody ever uses the front seat.

Can I ask why? Is it because of your height? Or do you just feel the front is unsafe except for the driver? Not criticizing at all, just curious...

Our rule is 13, and post puberty... DH breaks it with DD1, I think he likes to listen to me scream

when do you allow front seat riding?

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