When my son sits in his booster seat, he is sat at more or less the same level as some of my adult friends. So why am I supposed switch his airbag off if he sits in the front with me? I can't see that an airbag would do more harm than good- or am I missing something really obvious? Is he just too big for a booster seat now, though he can't see out much without it.

isnt it just rear-facing car seats you cant put where there is an air-bag?

(im not sure about this though so plz dont everyone shout at me!)

I'm sorry to tell you this but airbags deploy with an explosive force, they inflate in a fraction of a second and deflate just as fast. It is like being bashed in the face at 60mph with a football and there have been many fatalities with children in child seats around the world. One particularly famous and gorey example was when a baby was decapitated.

When you are thinking of airbags, forget all notions of nice soft cusions, think about heading a leather football.

Q: Can I put a forward-facing child restraint in the front passenger seat if it has an airbag?

A: It is better not to place a forward-facing restraint in a seat with an airbag; try to avoid this if possible. If it is not possible, then check the advice of the vehicle manufacturer. Find out how far the airbag extends when deployed and ensure that your child is well outside the expansion area. Ensure that the passenger seat is as far back from the airbag as possible, that the child seat is very securely fitted and the child is securely held by the harness or seat belt.

(car seat safety advice from the Department of Transport)

i was wrong, sorry!

This is very true muddy.

In the states, it's recommended that NO ONE under 100 lbs. (and this could also be a small adult) sit in the front seat because of the airbag danger.

It gets harder with an older child who begs to sit next to you, but simply isn't big enough yet. With a little one, it's just not worth the chance that they may be injured or even killed by the airbag.

Make them sit in the back if possible.

:) Sierra

I just read that Airbags deploy at 200MPH and 80 people have been killed with them between 1990 and 1997 in the USA.

They recommend that there should be at least 10 inches between the breastbone and the steering wheel.
Originally posted by Sierra
In the states, it's recommended that NO ONE under 100 lbs. (and this could also be a small adult) sit in the front seat because of the airbag danger.Sierra
Thanks Sierra,
I would like to add that 100lbs is about 7 stone for people living in UK

Originally posted by SatanInHeels
Q: Can I put a forward-facing child restraint in the front passenger seat if it has an airbag?

A: It is better not to place a forward-facing restraint in a seat with an airbag; try to avoid this if possible. If it is not possible, then check the advice of the vehicle manufacturer. Find out how far the airbag extends when deployed and ensure that your child is well outside the expansion area. Ensure that the passenger seat is as far back from the airbag as possible, that the child seat is very securely fitted and the child is securely held by the harness or seat belt.

(car seat safety advice from the Department of Transport)

i was wrong, sorry!

i was always told it was only rear facging ones, thanks for this info SIH :D

Nearly all the cars that I have been in in the US/Canada have a de-activation switch for the passenger airbag, usually in the glove compartment.

I have yet to come across a car in the UK with this facility.

Do they exist here?

Originally posted by cgksheff
Nearly all the cars that I have been in in the US/Canada have a de-activation switch for the passenger airbag, usually in the glove compartment.

I have yet to come across a car in the UK with this facility.

Do they exist here?

you can get it switched off but you have to take it to a garage who charge about £70 to do this then charge you the same to switch it back on!!!

my auntie has one of those big citroen thingies and there is a button to turn off the airbags in that

Thanks for the information- it does clarify things. My Citroen Xsara has a key-operated switch for the passenger airbag and a warning light if I forget to switch it back on.

I'd appreciate the same facility for the driver's side. At only 5 foot tall, I don't fancy my chances if the airbag had reason to go off :(

Fiat Puntos have a keyhole on the passenger side which you can use to turn off (or on) the airbag. My four year old sits in the front seat, moved back as far as it can go, with the airbag off. The pleasure we both get (as well as practicalities) of having my son next to me while i drive means a lot as we can hold proper conversations and he doesn't have to talk to the back of my head. There will always be the worst case scenario in your mind but i would never take him anywhere if i thought about that too much.