Who should sit in the front seat? No headrest, no shoulder belt.

[Unregistered]

We are leaving on a 5,000+ mile cross-country trip in two weeks. There will be six of us (two adults and four kids) traveling in a Dodge Ram truck. I am really struggling with who to put in the front-middle seat.

The kids are as follows:
13-year-old, 100+ pounds, 5'7"
11-year-old, 85 pounds, 5'2"
10-year-old, 60 pounds, 4'5" (rides in a high-back booster)
4-year-old, 30 pounds, 3'4" (newly forward facing in 5-point harness)

The front, middle seat is the type where the back folds down for an armrest when not used as a seat. There is only a lap belt on this seat and no headrest. The passenger airbag can be turned off.

I feel like the obvious choice is to put the oldest/biggest child in the middle-front, but the lack of headrest and shoulder belt concerns me and I wonder if turning off the passenger airbag and having the 4-year-old in her carseat in the front would be safer "overall."

I realize that there just isn't a good option in this case, but we HAVE to take this trip and we HAVE to take this vehicle. Please no judgement, just looking for opinions.

 

[wendytthomas]

Please put the four year old up front, and leave the airbag on. You need the airbag. Just move the seats as far back as possible.

Make sure there are headrests for everyone who needs them in the back.

Wendy

 

[mping]

Definitely put the car seat there so that person has head support! No booster rider or non-booster rider should be sitting with a lap belt and no head rest.


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[Unregistered]

Thank you for the quick responses.

I feel most comfortable with the 4-year-old up front, as well. I appreciate the input.

 

[Keeanh]

Yes, 4yo up front.

If the middle back doesn't have a headrest, put a highback booster there.

 

[griffinej5]

Yes, 4yo up front.

If the middle back doesn't have a headrest, put a highback booster there.

Is the middle back seat also a lap belt only though? Just guessing because the front middle is.

 

[Keeanh]

Is the middle back seat also a lap belt only though? Just guessing because the front middle is.

Dodge has always had a middle lap belt up front, even after they put a shoulder belt in the back. Same with Chevy / GM. I was assuming there was a shoulder belt in the back since OP didn't mention it as a problem.

OP, please let us know if you do in fact have a lap belt in the back seat as well!