Boosters and airbags

[Unregistered]

I have a 7.5 yo who is picked up by his grandfather from school one day a week. Grandpa has a pickup truck with sideways facing jump seats in the "bonus area" of the cab so I know DS cannot sit there. So he sits in the front seat with the airbag turned off (has since he was in a regular car seat). My question is, should the airbag continue to be left off or should it really be turned on now that he's just in a regular booster (backless)? The adult seatbelt fits him very well in his booster and he sits properly in it too. He's almost 52" and weighs 57lbs.

 

[Keeyamah]

His bones are the bones of a 7 yr old, so they aren't as strong as an adults. I would leave the airbag shut off until he is much older (like in his teens).

 

[ahgirls]

Airbags deploy at 200 mph. That's a lot of force coming out at an adult, who's bones are fully fused together. It can do severe/permanent damage to a child's body .

My dd was 13 yrs before she sat in front. Now at almost 15 she still chooses to push her seat all way back to be further from the airbag.

 

[henrietta]

I think it's safest to still keep it turned off AND make sure grandpa pushes that passenger seat as far back as it will go for when your son rides there. The further away from the dash and windshield, the better.