I wasn't recommending it, just throwing it out there, as it is an option. Here's the current NHTSA recommendation, at any rate:
The revised National Standardized Child Passenger Safety Training
Program Curriculum, 1/04 contains the following statements:
>>>Module F:
The automotive industry developed voluntary test protocols for
assessing the safety risks of the different types of side air bags.
Only the current head-only side air bags have met the requirements.
Future chest and chest/head combination air bags are expected to
comply.
Chest side air bags and chest/head combination side air bags that do
not meet the automotive industry voluntary test protocol pose a
serious risk to children who are in close proximity to the air bag
opening at the time of deployment.
The current head-only side air bags have minimal interaction with and
have not shown any safety risks for properly restrained or
out-of-position children or adults.
Module I:
There are no studies right now that indicate a child properly
restrained in a child restraint is at risk from current side impact
or curtain-style air bags, but unrestrained and out-of-position
children could be injured.<<<
And here's the word from
www.carseat.org: >>>Side-impact air bags are much smaller and emerge with less force. There are no studies published thus far that indicate a child properly restrained in a CR is at risk from current side-impact air bags, but laboratory simulations indicate that unrestrained and out-of-position children could be injured, including those leaning against the door while sleeping. NHTSA recommends that children not be placed next to active side air bags unless the vehicle manufacturer states that it is safe. For best protection, the child should be restrained in an age- and size-appropriate CR or booster in the center rear position. If there are side-impact air bags in the rear seat and the child must be in an outboard seat, do not leave any objects, such as toys or even pillows, between the child or CR and the door. In addition, if the child is in a booster, remind her not to lean out of the booster and to keep head, arms, and legs away from the door.<<<