Car seat in front seat?

dublinlady

Are you allowed to put a maxi cosi in the front seat of a car if it's rear facing and you have disabled the airbags? My daughter is six weeks old and I feel uncomfortable with her in the back as she vomits alot etc.

January

Yes you are, but be aware that having your air bag disabled may compromise your insurance in some way so notify them before you do this. Not a lot of dealers like disabling air bags because sometimes they can deploy anyway even if they are disabled.

I am a friend

I dont think you can anymore... Is it not illegal now?

Lisha

http://www.rsa.ie/RSA/Road-Safety/Road-safety-for-kids/Child-safety-in-cars/

From what Ive just read on above website it is ok to have baby in front seat in rear facing seat once air bag is dis-abled.

Personally I would have found it too distracting to have baby beside me, but what everworks for you:) Good luck and I hope vomiting eases soon

vibe666

i'd have said no, but i guess i'd have been wrong.

personally I wouldn't be at all comfortable with the baby in the front though, when you're driving you're supposed to be driving and nothing else. if a baby is distracting you sitting next to you then you are liable to have an accident trying to sort them out.

if they are in the back with a mirror on the headrest so you can see them by glancing in the rear view mirror, you can stop safely if they need your attention and then set off again once they are sorted.

the baby will also then have a front facing view in the mirror and will be less likely to suffer from travel sickness (hopefully).

i hate to sound like an old fart, but if you are in an accident because you were tending to your baby whilst the vehicle was moving, you could very easily be prosecuted for driving without due care and attention at the very least, not to mention the potential damage you could do in the process as well as hurting yourself, the baby and who knows who else.

hunnymonster

would agree that a good mirror is the way to go. We have this one and it is fantastic, really clear view
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Happy-Mummy-BearView-Mirror-Tan/dp/B0007CS4HC/ref=sr_1_18?ie=UTF8&qid=1333085402&sr=8-18

Someone told me (but I don't have an official source) that the rules changed on 1 Jan this year and you can no longer put baby in the front seat, disabled air bags or not?

Moonbeam

The new law states that the airbag must be disabled.
Yes it is safe to do and some cars even have isofix ni the front.

Hannibal Smith

I couldn't imagine having baby beside you could be anymore distracting than hearing baby scream or gag in the back and bot being able to do anything.

But you should try the mirror suggestion first DL.

cbyrd

I always put my now 2 year old in the front seat.. i turned off the airbag. It was far less distracting than having to pull in every 10 mins to see what was up (before i discovered he had reflux) when he calmed down at about 4 months he went in the back.. sometimes even just seeing me was enough. He also HATED the car.. as soon as he went in the seat he'd roar :eek: the baby loves the car so with his big brother in the back i haven't needed to put him up front

vibe666

Hannibal Smith wrote: »

I couldn't imagine having baby beside you could be anymore distracting than hearing baby scream or gag in the back and bot being able to do anything.

But you should try the mirror suggestion first DL.

the difference being that in the front, if there is a problem, you are liable take your eyes off the road and to reach over and try and do something without thinking about stopping first, hence the lack of due care and attention to driving.

if the child is in the back, you have no choice but to pull over and attend to the child with the vehicle stationary, where you are less of a danger to other road users and yourself.

Moonbeam

http://www.carseat.se/rearfacing/position-in-vehicle/

dublinlady

I've made my decision - she's going in the front. For us it is the best choice - I know it will be safer than me stressing about her bring in the back and not knowing if she's ok or not ( even with a mirror) . I know she will be calmer and easier to soothe if she can see me!
Now I just need to figure out how to disable the airbag!
Thanks for your advise and opinions!

Moonbeam

Your are welcome.
If you bring your car to the relevant garage they will do it for you or tell you how.

I am a friend

dublinlady wrote: »

I know she will be .... easier to soothe if she can see me!

With all due respect other road users should be a factor here as well and a child should not be soothed while you are driving... My son has reflux and gets sick a lot so journeys take longer cos once I can see from the back seat mirror that he has gotten sick then I pull over. I dont think its safe to be watching anything other than the road and other cars while driving.. My 2c worth...

Acoshla

To disable the airbag in my car on the passenger side there is a lock on the passenger arm rest that the car key goes into to disable it, but as mentioned your local garage or dealership will tell you how to.

dublinlady

I am a friend wrote: »

dublinlady wrote: »

I know she will be .... easier to soothe if she can see me!

With all due respect other road users should be a factor here as well and a child should not be soothed while you are driving... My son has reflux and gets sick a lot so journeys take longer cos once I can see from the back seat mirror that he has gotten sick then I pull over. I dont think its safe to be watching anything other than the road and other cars while driving.. My 2c worth...

Thankyou for your opinion but I disagree.. I dont see how it's more dangerous for me to be able shush and sing to my little girl while driving - I sing along to the radio anyway! the fact that she can see me will help her to be more relaxed and thus create less upset with her and ultimately less distraction from me to the road. I have no intention of playing with her or tending to her while driving - I agree the safety of my family and ALL rd users is paramount - which is why I will seat her in the front.
When being taught to drive you are taught ( and examined specifically on) to look downs side rds as you approach them to ensure safety while driving by - this process takes one second - for me being able to reassure myself by taking one second to confirm she isn't choking etc rather than straining to look in the small mirror which would take me longer is the clear choice! If she pukes on herself or needs attention I will of course pull over and tend to her. I'm not the type of girl to put on my eye make up on the way to work like others I've seen!! I just know after much thought that this is the safest solution for me personally for everyone involved

Arciphel

If a member of the gardai sees a driver tending to their infant in a front car seat, could they be done for driving without due care and attention? I'd say so. Anyway, hope for my sake and that of my kid in the BACK seat I don't meet you on the road in a moment of distraction OP.

dublinlady

Arciphel wrote: »

If a member of the gardai sees a driver tending to their infant in a front car seat, could they be done for driving without due care and attention? I'd say so. Anyway, hope for my sake and that of my kid in the BACK seat I don't meet you on the road in a moment of distraction OP.

I find that comment offensive and unnecessary, you are trying to imply that I would risk the safety of my child. There is no point in debating it further with you as you are clearly unwilling to respect my opinion as I have yours.

Acoshla

Arciphel wrote: »

If a member of the gardai sees a driver tending to their infant in a front car seat, could they be done for driving without due care and attention? I'd say so. Anyway, hope for my sake and that of my kid in the BACK seat I don't meet you on the road in a moment of distraction OP.

My passenger airbag is easily disabled to allow for a car seat to go into the passenger seat, my car is a make that is renowned for its safety so it is clearly an option to have car seats in the front. Many babies settle just by being able to see their parent so that's a big bonus, and I doubt any parent is going to put their safety and their baby's safety at risk by looking at or interacting with their infant for very long, no longer than it takes to check mirrors, look at radio, etc. I'd be more worried about people talking and texting while driving than driving with their infant in the seat beside them.

Arciphel

dublinlady wrote: »

I find that comment offensive and unnecessary, you are trying to imply that I would risk the safety of my child. There is no point in debating it further with you as you are clearly unwilling to respect my opinion as I have yours.

No, not quite. I'm saying that you place a higher value on accommodating your own needs over the safety of other road users, and ironically your own safety. I think you know this too, and hence that's why you posted here seeking affirmation about what you had already decided you were going to do. Children should be in the back because they are safer in the back, and you are a safer driver with them in the back. I am sorry but i don't see why you would find that assertion offensive.

January

Make sure you notify your insurañce company that you're disabling it. It could compromise your insurance policy.

dublinlady

Arciphel wrote: »

dublinlady wrote: »

I find that comment offensive and unnecessary, you are trying to imply that I would risk the safety of my child. There is no point in debating it further with you as you are clearly unwilling to respect my opinion as I have yours.

No, not quite. I'm saying that you place a higher value on accommodating your own needs over the safety of other road users, and ironically your own safety. I think you know this too, and hence that's why you posted here seeking affirmation about what you had already decided you were going to do. Children should be in the back because they are safer in the back, and you are a safer driver with them in the back. I am sorry but i don't see why you would find that assertion offensive.

Wrong on every count. No interest in your opinion.

Hannibal Smith

Arciphel wrote: »

dublinlady wrote: »

I find that comment offensive and unnecessary, you are trying to imply that I would risk the safety of my child. There is no point in debating it further with you as you are clearly unwilling to respect my opinion as I have yours.

No, not quite. I'm saying that you place a higher value on accommodating your own needs over the safety of other road users, and ironically your own safety. I think you know this too, and hence that's why you posted here seeking affirmation about what you had already decided you were going to do. Children should be in the back because they are safer in the back, and you are a safer driver with them in the back. I am sorry but i don't see why you would find that assertion offensive.

Young infants have only been put in the back since passenger airbags started being installed on cars. Before that it was very much the norm to have an infant in the passenger seat. I remember all my infant relatives in their car seats in the front. My recollection is that it only stopped because passenger airbags were introduced.

To be fair, its a big leap, and a bit over the top to make judgement calls on whether the OP couldn't give a monkeys about anyone else on the road just because she wants her infant where they can be seen. Do you never check your speed/petrol etc while driving?

Arciphel

Hannibal Smith wrote: »

Young infants have only been put in the back since passenger airbags started being installed on cars.

????? :rolleyes:

Hannibal Smith wrote: »

Before that it was very much the norm to have an infant in the passenger seat. I remember all my infant relatives in their car seats in the front. My recollection is that it only stopped because passenger airbags were introduced.

It was the norm to have kids jumping around the car with no seatbelts on as well, or standing up between the two front seats - will we go back to those days?

Hannibal Smith wrote: »

To be fair, its a big leap, and a bit over the top to make judgement calls on whether the OP couldn't give a monkeys about anyone else on the road just because she wants her infant where they can be seen. Do you never check your speed/petrol etc while driving?

That is quite a leap there alright - checking my speed is the same as having a small child next to me in the front seat. I don't think for s econd that the OP doesn't give a monkeys, quite the opposite, she is trying to do the right thing by her child and that is natural, however I think that by looking at the proc and cons somebody would realise that the safest thing for everyone (child, parent and other road users) in the long term is to have the child in the back of the car. That's all I am saying.

I am a friend

Acoshla wrote: »

I'd be more worried about people talking and texting while driving than driving with their infant in the seat beside them.

I disagree - the temptation, when in a rush to tend to your child rather than pull over is too great. I think it's irresponsible but the op has her own view. Just hope I don't meet her on the road 5 seconds after her child gets sick beside her.

Zambia

If its legal and no one has posted a link to say it is or is not. Well then I dont see the issue. I personally feel it would be a distraction but thats just in my case if the boy smiled at me I could be on my third pedestrian before I looked up.

Even with the child in the back seat with/without a mirror you can be distracted to the same extent
I witnessed an accident many years ago and allegedly the cause was a mother reaching into the back seat.

If the OP is less distracted seeing the baby and the baby calmer seeing the mother chances are that's the way to go. The OP seems well aware of her duties as a driver.

The official line is though in the event of a crash the child is safer in the rear seat.

OP best of luck

vibe666

I am a friend wrote: »

I disagree - the temptation, when in a rush to tend to your child rather than pull over is too great. I think it's irresponsible but the op has her own view. Just hope I don't meet her on the road 5 seconds after her child gets sick beside her.

i have to say, i'm agreeing with this.

i can appreciate the OP thinks otherwise, but she did come here asking what people's thoughts were but has gone out of her way to ignore anything that doesn't match her own opinions on the subject.

having said that, the RSA says as long as the front passenger air bags are disabled, you caqn pout a child in a front seat, so she is not breaking any laws.

http://www.rsa.ie/Documents/Road%20Safety/Safety%20for%20kids/Child%20Safety%20in%20Cars%20English.pdf

in an ideal world, the latest research says that for maximum safety in case of an accident, all children below 4 years old should be in an appropriate rearward facing child safety seat and recent movements in legislation are looking like it will be compulsory before too much longer, although at the moment, you'll have almost zero luck trying to find a rearward facing seat in the republic for anything other than small babies.

i'm currently trying to get one for our 8 month old to replace the one we got before he was born as he's bet into it at this stage and he needs a bigger one, but it looks like we're going to have to go up to the north to actually buy one.

Moonbeam

Tony Kealys sell them now and actually seem to have them priced pretty well too.

pwurple

Tony Kealy's and Halfords have them. I think it's a britax seat, it can swivel sideways as well.

OP, I completely understand what you mean. I have a baby who throws up a lot as well, I was nearly killed stopping in the hard shoulder on a dual carrigway running around the car to get over to her side in the back seat to get the vomit out of her airway. If she was in the front next to me I wouldn't have had to get out of the car to get to her. Some babies are better in the front. I have a van as well (no back seats) so she went in the front of that for a while after that. She was always happier there where she could see me, and I was calmer as well.

uberalles

I recall seeing a couple on a motor bike in Cuba with a side car taking to the people on another motor bike along side them as they were doing about 30 kms going up the road. They had a kid sandwiched between the driver and pillion and the mother was in the side car. No one had helmets on.

OP do as you see fit having double checked with the ins co and dont listen to the OTT health and safery posters.

dublinlady

dublinlady wrote: »

Are you allowed to put a maxi cosi in the front seat of a car if it's rear facing and you have disabled the airbags? My daughter is six weeks old and I feel uncomfortable with her in the back as she vomits alot etc.

Where did I ask for your opinion?
I asked about the law.
I was happy to hear everyone's opinions as there's always an opportunity to learn something new - and I did.
As you can all read there's is ample argument to both sides of this debate , I have stuck with what I originally wanted to do.
I should not be chastised for disagreeing with one side of the argument.
There is no solid right or wrong here - just opinion and preference.
I am not degrading anyone else's opinion and as a result I would appreciate the same courtesy.
I asked a question - I got the answer. I don't need nor want to be insulted as a result.

Thankyou to everyone who replied to the original qn and thanks to those who shared there opinion , even if different, but also respected mine.

Arciphel

Well... you see when you post on a public messageboard, unfortunately people are going to give their opinion.... that's kind of what it is for.

If you wanted a legal definition you should maybe have read the rules of the road, or asked in your local garda station, or consulted a solicitor.

But I suppose, as somebody else said earlier in this thread,

"There is no point in debating it further with you as you are clearly unwilling to respect my opinion as I have yours."

dublinlady

[

But I suppose, as somebody else said earlier in this thread,

"There is no point in debating it further with you as you are clearly unwilling to respect my opinion as I have yours."[

Freedom of speech does not = manners

cbyrd

As the law stands at the moment there is no law governing the use of a car seat in the front of the car with or without an airbag. The insurance companies and the carseat manufacturers are the only ones who say to disable the airbag not the guards or the lawmakers.

You are only obliged by law to have a car seat and proper restraints for passengers that are up to EU standards.

There are currently no points or fines for carrying a rearfacing car seat in the front seat. One of the points in the new law being discussed is on just making sure the airbag is disabled. I'm open to being corrected but i remember reading in the paper a few weeks ago that the law is going to change.. trying to locate the article but not having much luck..will post it if i find it

Hannibal Smith

Arciphel wrote: »

Hannibal Smith wrote: »

Young infants have only been put in the back since passenger airbags started being installed on cars.

????? :rolleyes:

Hannibal Smith wrote: »

Before that it was very much the norm to have an infant in the passenger seat. I remember all my infant relatives in their car seats in the front. My recollection is that it only stopped because passenger airbags were introduced.

It was the norm to have kids jumping around the car with no seatbelts on as well, or standing up between the two front seats - will we go back to those days?

Hannibal Smith wrote: »

To be fair, its a big leap, and a bit over the top to make judgement calls on whether the OP couldn't give a monkeys about anyone else on the road just because she wants her infant where they can be seen. Do you never check your speed/petrol etc while driving?

That is quite a leap there alright - checking my speed is the same as having a small child next to me in the front seat. I don't think for s econd that the OP doesn't give a monkeys, quite the opposite, she is trying to do the right thing by her child and that is natural, however I think that by looking at the proc and cons somebody would realise that the safest thing for everyone (child, parent and other road users) in the long term is to have the child in the back of the car. That's all I am saying.

Ah the eye roll....the last ditch attempt of the witless.

The safest thing, in your opinion, nothing more.

And I had actually predicted you might use the non seat belt days lol. Again big leaps for no reason.

Having the child in the back or the front makes no difference, once they start gagging/screaming, the distractions are still there.

Arciphel

Hey Hannibal,

Criticise the post, not the poster.

I think it does make a difference whether they are in the front vs the back, because if they are in the back you have to stop your vehicle before you go and soothe them, so it is much safer for everybody - you, your child, and everyone else on the road. That's all I am saying. I don't think this is just my opinion, it seems to be the opinion of a good few people on here, as well as most of the regulatory bodies who study such things and know a lot more about this kind of thing than you or I. They don't make up these things or say them for fun. Do you know something that they don't?

Arciphel

BTW, I am not trying to offend anyone in this thread, I am genuinely interested in this and I think the fact that the law is at the moment still vague in this area and people have so many strong views makes the discussion very worthwhile.

cbyrd

http://www.rsa.ie/Documents/Road%20Safety/Safety%20for%20kids/Child%20Safety%20in%20Cars%20English.pdf

I stand corrected..;) but as far as i know if you are stopped at a checkpoint there aren't points or fines yet and this is what the new law will deal with..

Arciphel

Thanks for posting that cbyrd, I read it but it actually doesn't solve the argument we are having in this thread. The only bit I see that might is where be relevant is where it says "If it is not possible to place your child in the back seat of your vehicle, they can ride in the passenger seat, as long as they are using the appropriate restraints."

But then it says:

"Can a child sit in the front seat of a vehicle?

Any child under 150cms or weighing less than 36kg must be restrained in a child restraint which is appropriate for their height and weight. The safest place for a child to sit is in the back seat of the car, in the appropriate child restraint, however this is not always possible. It is safe and legal for a child of any age to sit in the front passenger seat of a car provided they are using the correct child restraint for their height and weight. However, if you are transporting a baby in a rearward facing child restraint in the front passenger seat you should disable the front passenger air bag. Please leave the air bag active for all other child restraints."

So does that mean if a Gaurd stops you and you have the child in the front, but there is nothing stopping you having them in the back but personal preference, that you are breaking the law? Very confusing.

Hannibal Smith

Arciphel wrote: »

Hey Hannibal,

Criticise the post, not the poster.

I think it does make a difference whether they are in the front vs the back, because if they are in the back you have to stop your vehicle before you go and soothe them, so it is much safer for everybody - you, your child, and everyone else on the road. That's all I am saying. I don't think this is just my opinion, it seems to be the opinion of a good few people on here, as well as most of the regulatory bodies who study such things and know a lot more about this kind of thing than you or I. They don't make up these things or say them for fun. Do you know something that they don't?

You have to stop your car either way, you have the distraction of a screaming baby either way. Where the baby is situated in the car is academic

Arciphel

But do you not think the strong temptation is there to try and deal with the child (in an emergency) immediately before you bring the car to a stop? Seriously now.

Arciphel

Hannibal Smith wrote: »

The safest thing, in your opinion, nothing more.

According AA Motoring Trust, "Ensuring a child is properly restrained in a child car seat can reduce injuries by a factor of 90-95% for rear facing seats and 60% for forward facing seats"

Source: RSA website: http://www.rsa.ie/en/RSA/Road-Safety/Campaigns/Current-road-safety-campaigns/No-Child-Car-Seat---No-Excuse/The-Law/

Hannibal Smith

Arciphel wrote: »

But do you not think the strong temptation is there to try and deal with the child (in an emergency) immediately before you bring the car to a stop? Seriously now.

If it was an emergency? I'd stop my car as soon as I could and get the kid out...the benefit being...the baby is just beside me, as opposed to in the back. Do you think anyone would give mouth to mouth has they're flying along the motor way?

Hannibal Smith

Arciphel wrote: »

Hannibal Smith wrote: »

The safest thing, in your opinion, nothing more.

According AA Motoring Trust, "Ensuring a child is properly restrained in a child car seat can reduce injuries by a factor of 90-95% for rear facing seats and 60% for forward facing seats"

Source: RSA website: http://www.rsa.ie/en/RSA/Road-Safety/Campaigns/Current-road-safety-campaigns/No-Child-Car-Seat---No-Excuse/The-Law/

Rear facing seats....not back seats lol

dublinlady

Arciphel wrote: »

But do you not think the strong temptation is there to try and deal with the child (in an emergency) immediately before you bring the car to a stop? Seriously now.

Quite frankly no. As a driver I would not be so daft as to think crashing my car would help my choking child - my protective instinct would urge me to safety which would involve pulling over as safely and quickly as possible so that I could help my child. The reason I want her in the front is so that I can differentiate between an emergency and nothing - my child often sounds like age us struggling when she is not. In the front I can prevent myself having to do an emergency pull over. She also has a short temperament and roars and screams and becomes hysterical when she cannot see me - this would be heart wrenching and extremely distracting to me as a driver - to the point where I did not drive at all until I resolved this issue which I now feel I have - by placing her safely in the front .

I'm not altogether convinced that you are not arguing for the sake of it. Either way you need to realise that your coming across as arrogant and forceful with your opinions - treating them as fact where they are not.

Arciphel

Hannibal Smith wrote: »

If it was an emergency? I'd stop my car as soon as I could and get the kid out...the benefit being...the baby is just beside me, as opposed to in the back. Do you think anyone would give mouth to mouth has they're flying along the motor way?

Come on now, that's not what I mean and you know it.

Arciphel

dublinlady wrote: »

Quite frankly no. As a driver I would not be so daft as to think crashing my car would help my choking child - my protective instinct would urge me to safety which would involve pulling over as safely and quickly as possible so that I could help my child. The reason I want her in the front is so that I can differentiate between an emergency and nothing - my child often sounds like age us struggling when she is not. In the front I can prevent myself having to do an emergency pull over. She also has a short temperament and roars and screams and becomes hysterical when she cannot see me - this would be heart wrenching and extremely distracting to me as a driver - to the point where I did not drive at all until I resolved this issue which I now feel I have - by placing her safely in the front .

I'm not altogether convinced that you are not arguing for the sake of it. Either way you need to realise that your coming across as arrogant and forceful with your opinions - treating them as fact where they are not.

I give up, I'm out.

leeomurchu

Looking at it form a different angle the airbags are predominantly in the front of the car so would it not be the case that this is the safest place to have your child as the front of a car is designed for safety during a crash unlike the rear it.

In saying that though, personally I wouldn't have my child in the front seat as it would clearly be a distraction and despite you saying you wouldn't tend to your child and it being no more distracting than the radio you must feel that deep down if your child is vomiting or choking your natural reaction is to immediately tend to them sacrificing all regard for the road and others who may be on it.

I see both sides of the argument and of course you're doing it for convenience I don't know a soul who enjoys pulling off the road every time their child starts gagging or crying and sure doing this could be a hazard as well not to mention turning a half hour journey into and hour one.

At the end of the day it's your decision most new cars have a switch for disabling the passenger airbag usually switched with the drivers key, however if your car doesn't have this option I doubt it would be legal to manually disconnect the airbag by pulling the fuse or other means. I also wouldn't feel comfortable carrying a baby up front without having an isofix seat and base at the minimum.

I think you'd your mind made up either way and so all the arguments are null and void really, hopefully you've no problems going down this road but for me it'd be an unnecessary distraction and one I wouldn't be doing.

dublinlady

leeomurchu wrote: »

Looking at it form a different angle the airbags are predominantly in the front of the car so would it not be the case that this is the safest place to have your child as the front of a car is designed for safety during a crash unlike the rear it.

In saying that though, personally I wouldn't have my child in the front seat as it would clearly be a distraction and despite you saying you wouldn't tend to your child and it being no more distracting than the radio you must feel that deep down if your child is vomiting or choking your natural reaction is to immediately tend to them sacrificing all regard for the road and others who may be on it.

I see both sides of the argument and of course you're doing it for convenience I don't know a soul who enjoys pulling off the road every time their child starts gagging or crying and sure doing this could be a hazard as well not to mention turning a half hour journey into and hour one.

At the end of the day it's your decision most new cars have a switch for disabling the passenger airbag usually switched with the drivers key, however if your car doesn't have this option I doubt it would be legal to manually disconnect the airbag by pulling the fuse or other means. I also wouldn't feel comfortable carrying a baby up front without having an isofix seat and base at the minimum.

I think you'd your mind made up either way and so all the arguments are null and void really, hopefully you've no problems going down this road but for me it'd be an unnecessary distraction and one I wouldn't be doing.

Your right I have decided - but thanks for your opinion , yeah I rang the car garage and was shown how to disable simply with the key. I have installed the isofix base.
It's not laziness that has motivated my decision - its safety

cbyrd

Arciphel wrote: »

Hey Hannibal,

Criticise the post, not the poster.

I think it does make a difference whether they are in the front vs the back, because if they are in the back you have to stop your vehicle before you go and soothe them, so it is much safer for everybody - you, your child, and everyone else on the road. That's all I am saying. I don't think this is just my opinion, it seems to be the opinion of a good few people on here, as well as most of the regulatory bodies who study such things and know a lot more about this kind of thing than you or I. They don't make up these things or say them for fun. Do you know something that they don't?

If your phone was in the back of the car would you stop to answer it too.. how many people talk on their phones or text? It's not the distraction element but the safety of the seat if involved in an accident.. a baby screaming in the back of the car is really distracting.. a baby screaming beside you where you can see what's wrong is maybe not as distracting.. what if you are on a road where it's not safe to stop? You can get distracted in lots of ways in a car without a baby in it.

I have often pulled in to soothe one of my kids..i've also had one in the front seat so i could get from a to b without having to stop 10 times, i have also had things flung at me from the back and roll under the seat and go under the pedals. Having kids in the car is always distracting. It's how you deal with the distraction that affects the safety of your driving, but that will not protect a baby in a car that's crashing. Only the seat will and how it's put into the car and where it's put.

I was in a crash 8 weeks ago with both my youngest in the back of the car the seats protected them, they were covered in glass but uninjured.. the airbags didn't deploy cos all the damage was at the back of the car. had i put the baby in the front and disabled the airbag he wouldn't have been covered in glass. . was i right or wrong? i don't know but if his face had been cut or glass in his eye i would have kicked myself.. yes it was the first thing the paramedics checked for.. so driver distraction aside, in law, there is no reason that you cannot travel safely with your baby beside you with the airbag disabled.

leeomurchu

Ah I never said you were lazy I'd imagine far from it the fact you're on here asking the questions you've your kids priority first.

It would be more convenient having them in the front but for me I know I'd be paying more attention to them than the road when they start acting up.

As far as a child crying in the back I've yet to hear of a child coming to harm from simply crying

Either way hopefully he or she will sleep soundly on all your future car trips problem solved it's easy for me to oppose your decision as ours sleep soundly when in their car seats

Good luck I'm sure you'll have no problems