infant seat in passenger seat with airbag switched off?

Unregistered · Feb 2, 2017

How do you all feel about infant seats in the front passenger seat, with the airbag switched off (in a European car, where that's possible and common)? I've seen some people claim this is quite safe, and others claim it's a horrible idea. If you'd feel ok about it, would you brace the infant seat against the dash (to minimize motion), or move it back as far as possible (in case there's some freak issue with the airbag deploying despite being switched off... can that happen?).

Having the infant in the front seat would increase our options for what is otherwise a tricky three-across in the back.

Thank you!

ketchupqueen · Feb 3, 2017

As long as it switches off with a physical switch, I'm ok with it. It is preferable to have children in back but when not possible, if the airbag has a physical off switch (not sensors like we have here) a rear facing child is safer than a forward facing child up front. I would put the oldest rear facer there given the choice. As for bracing, that's up to the car seat manufacturer and you'd need to check the manual.

Adventuredad · Feb 4, 2017

This is not a mystery or a question of how people feel or what their beliefs are. Using front passenger seat is an excellent place for a rear facing child and also for an older forward facing child as long as airbag is turned off with a switch. When looking closer we see that front passenger seat is highly recommended by all serious car seat manufacturers and car manufacturers and considered the safest place in the car. It's been used by Sweden, the car seat safety obsessed country for the past 50 years, with fantastic results and today it's one of the most common placements for small and large children.

There is actually an official policy in Europe from all manufacturers, car seat and vehicles, saying that using front passenger seat is excellent option in all cars as long as airbag is turned off.

Unregistered · Feb 5, 2017

Thank you both! It's great to hear a variety of voices on this issue. I really appreciate it. I have to admit that the recent spate of airbag issues/recalls has made me less confident they won't inflate without cause/shoot bits of metal/do something else crazy I haven't heard of.

I'd love to hear others' thoughts, as well!

ketchupqueen · Feb 5, 2017

As far as I'm aware there haven't been any failures of a mechanical switch causing an airbag to deploy, ever. (Sensors are not as foolproof which is why in the US where switches aren't allowed without a waiver we can't do this.)

Unregistered · Feb 5, 2017

Thanks! I do find that reassuring!

infant seat in passenger seat with airbag switched off?

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