trying to find out if children under the age of five should sit in the back seat of a car
2007-01-24 04:44:44 · 6 answers · asked by gina w 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Safety
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that no one under the age of 13 should sit in front of an air bag. Additionally most states require children to be restrained in an appropriate child safety seat or with a seat belt. Because seat belt systems are designed for adults, until your child reaches 4'9" he should be in a booster seat. A quick way to tell if he or she is tall enough for a belt alone, is to have him sit on the seat with his back against the back rest. If his knees fold over the forward edge of the seat, he's tall enough. If not, then he should sit in a belt positioning booster. The AAP has a great website with lots of additional information. You can visit them at www.aap.org.
2007-01-24 05:17:16 · answer #1 · answered by Suzan 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In general, they will be safer in the back when they are small. Some states have mandated ages, heights or weights which place children in car seats and either in the back or in the front seat with the air bags disabled.
Since it is often a pain to disable passenger air bags (and sometimes to remember to re-enable them for the adults) I keep my son in the back seat in the sedan. (Not much choice in my El Camino but then again there are no airbags in the old classic).
In California, the rules for car seats are not by age but by size. Your state may be different.
4'9" height (about a 6 year old I think) or 75 lbs (I may be wrong on the weight limit but that is close). My son is 5 and weighs in at a tad under 50 and he will be in that booster seat until he grows another foot (which seems to take about 2 days - grin). By then I also expect he will be asking for the car keys anyway - another bigger grin).
So... my bottom line puts kids in the back until he approches 7 at least.
Check your laws and then decide.
.
2007-01-24 05:12:18 · answer #2 · answered by ca_surveyor 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is law that all children under the age of either 11 or 14 have to sit in the back. And they have to be either in a booster or car seat until certain weight and height.
2007-01-24 04:48:14 · answer #3 · answered by protruckdriver71 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The safest spot would be directly behind the driver seat, facing the back of the car if in a car seat. The driver is more apt to "protect" his side of the car if in an accident. Check the laws in your state to determine the height & weight restrictions/requirementschild to be in a car seat.
2007-01-24 05:50:32 · answer #4 · answered by stingray41042 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Back Seat. Even if your car doesn't have front seat air bags. And he/she should be in a booster seat, if at all possible.
2007-01-24 04:55:44 · answer #5 · answered by kaliselenite 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In a child safety seat in the back
2007-01-24 04:48:32 · answer #6 · answered by edge 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋