8 yo in Dodge Dakota

U

Unregistered

Guest
My husband and I aren't sure whether it's safer to have our 8.5 year old son (86 lbs) sit in the back seat (bench seat) of our extended cab 97 Dodge Dakota or disable to passenger airbag and have him sit in the front seat. We're very concerned about his head hitting the glass in the back seat. He has a shoulder harness in both the front and back seats. What would you recommend?
TIA
 
ADS

skaterbabs

Well-known member
are there head rests in the back? if not I would (as a parent) put my child in teh front and disable the airbag, but the more experienced techs may have a better solution for you.
 

scatterbunny

New member
Can you put him back into a highback booster, like the Britax Parkway? A highback booster would alleviate my concerns about the glass, and it would also add some side impact protection. I mention the Parkway specifically because my 12yo, 5-foot-tall sister still fits, heightwise, and its upper weight limit is 100 pounds.

If that is not an option, I would put him up front, I think. :( How tall is he?
 
U

Unregistered

Guest
Thanks for the feedback! He is about 4'6", but the seat pan for the bench seat in the back is quite shallow (we can't put our 2 year old in the truck because the car seat is too deep for the back seat), so I don't think a booster would fit. Does anyone know what the laws in California say about putting kids in the front seat? Is it okay if the airbag has been turned off?
 

scatterbunny

New member
Well, I do know that as long as 80 percent of the carseat/booster base is on the vehicle seat, it's fine...so that may make a difference. I don't know if you knew the 80% thing or not.

This page regarding California's state law might help: http://www.chp.ca.gov/html/child_safetyseat_faqs.html

Specifically this part:

Effective January 1, 2005, California Law will require children to ride in the back seat in a properly secured child passenger safety restraint until they are at least 6 years old or weigh 60 pounds.

1. Why was the law revised?

Children are at greater risk when riding in the front seat. A child's injury risk is reduced by 33% when moved from the front seat to the back seat.


2. Are there exemptions?

Yes, there are a few. Your child may ride in the front seat if:

Your vehicle has no rear seats.

Rear seats are side-facing jump seats.

Child safety restraints must never be placed on side-facing vehicle seats.

The child restraint system cannot be properly installed in the rear seat.
For example, your vehicle has lap belts only in the back seat, but there are lap and shoulder belts in the front seat. Your child is 5 and weighs 45 pounds and must ride in a booster seat. The booster seat must be used with a lap and shoulder belt; therefore your child may ride in the front seat.

Children under age 12 occupy all rear seats.

Medical reason (written by the pediatrician) requires that child not be restrained in the back seat. All children are safer in the back seat, ask another adult to ride with the child in the back.
 

SafeDad

CPSDarren - Admin
Staff member
I agree with the high back booster. Even though he may fit the seatbelt now, the added protection from side impacts are a plus, as is the extra shell between his head and the glass and for whiplash prevention.
 

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