My daughter is about 2.5 months old. She obviously still rides in a rear-facing infant seat. She's has always ridden in the back seat. I have a question. If I put her in the front seat of my car, is that okay? All I could find online is this on the AAP's website: "Never place a rear-facing car safety seat in the front seat of a vehicle that has a front passenger air bag. If the air bag inflates, it will hit the back of the car safety seat, right where your baby’s head is, and could cause serious injury or death." My car's airbags turn off when the seatbelt is undone and when the weight limit isn't reached. So if the airbag is off, should she be safe?? I want to put her in the back for the trip tomorrow but the husband thinks it would be easier if she could ride up front. 

No!! 

I guess if the air bag doesn't come on. They always say "front seat with air bag" But what about single cab trucks? Call the Police or Fire Dept. 

NEVER put a baby in the front seat of a car. Does not matter if the air bags are tuned off. 

No, it's not okay. In some states it is illegal. Babies aren't easy, might as well tell your dh to get use to it now :) 

buckelupnc.org 

I put my baby in the front seat....I had a old car that didnt have air bags 

I know a girl who put the baby seat in the passenger seat of her SLK500. Our friend who is a cop installed it for her & didn't say anything. 

I wouldn't do it. even if the air bags are off it not as safe as the back. 

the husband thinks it would be easier if she could ride up front Might be easier but the backseat is SAFER! 

It is legal if the child if 5 or older for the front seat. 

Children and airbags info 

even if the air bags are off it not as safe as the back That's how I feel about it. I think I'll stick to having her in the back. what about single cab trucks? The only reason I even considered it was because of that point. 

When can my child ride in the front seat? It is legal in NC for a child to ride in the front seat: If the child is age 5 or older, OR If the child weighs at least 40 pounds, OR If the vehicle does not have an active passenger side air bag, OR If the vehicle does not have a rear seat where the child restraint can be installed. Note however, that children in rear facing child safety seats should NEVER ride in the front seat of a vehicle with an active passenger side air bag. The child will be seriously injured or killed if there is a crash and the air bag deploys. However, it is STRONGLY RECOMMENDED that: All children age 12 and under should ride buckled up in a rear seat. Infants in rear facing child safety seats should NEVER ride in the front seat of a vehicle with an active passenger side air bag. Small children should ride in a rear seat in full harness type child safety seats appropriate for their age and size. Larger children should ride in a rear seat in a belt positioning booster until large enough for the lap and shoulder belt to fit correctly. If a child over one year old MUST ride in the front seat with a passenger side air bag, put the child in a front facing full harness child restraint, a belt-positioning booster seat, or a correctly fitting lap and shoulder belt -- AND move the seat as far back as possible. If a child age 12 or younger MUST ride in the front seat with a passenger side air bag, have an air bag on/off switch installed and turn the air bag off when the child in in the front seat. Refer to Children and Air Bags for additional information. questions What does the NC law say about pickup trucks (or other vehicles) with no back seat? As noted in the "Do I have to buckle my child in the back seat?" question above, NC law requires that a child must ride in a child restraint installed in the rear seat If the child is less than age 5 and less than 40 pounds, and the vehicle has an active passenger side air bag, and if the vehicle has a rear seat where the child restraint can be installed. It is legal to install a child restraint for a child of any size or age in the front seat of a pickup truck or any other vehicle that does not have a rear seat. It is legal in North Carolina to place a child in the front seat if the vehicle has no rear seat, but infants and children in rear facing child safety seats should NEVER ride in the front seat of a vehicle with an active passenger side air bag. The child will be seriously injured or killed if there is a crash and the air bag deploys. If a child over one year old MUST ride in the front seat with a passenger side air bag, put the child in a front facing full harness child restraint, a belt-positioning booster seat, or a correctly fitting lap and shoulder belt -- AND move the vehicle seat as far back as possible. If a child age 12 or younger MUST routinely ride in the front seat of a vehicle with a passenger side air bag, consider having an air bag on/off switch installed and turn the air bag off when the child in in the front seat. Refer to Children and Air Bags for additional information about air bag on/off switches. Extended cab trucks can present their own problems. Some extended cabs have side-facing jump seats and there are no child restraints that are allowed to be installed on side-facing seats. Some extended cab trucks have rear seats that face to the front, but they may be too narrow to properly support a child restraint. Even with extended cab pickups, it may be the case that a front seat installation would work better. 

Hope that clears it up for you Stephanie 

There you go. It says it right on that website. If the airbag is turned off you can do it. 

And what if I was in an accident and something malfunctioned and the airbag went off anyway?? I just don't want to risk it for the sake of ease. Alright, thanks guys! Now I have a little back up lol 

There you go. It says it right on that website. If the airbag is turned off you can do it.  If there is no back seat. 

But she is still rear facing and she shouldn't be in the front seat at all while riding. 

If there is no back seat. Maybe I'm reading too fast, but I'm not seeing where it says that. 

NC law requires that a child must ride in a child restraint installed in the rear seat If the child is less than age 5 and less than 40 pounds, and the vehicle has an active passenger side air bag, and if the vehicle has a rear seat where the child restraint can be installed. 

Look at the long post I did a few up and you'll see. 

OK. I was reading that and then the part where it throws the loop about the risk group. 

Your husband is an idiot. Put that baby in the back. 

I don't think I've ever heard that having a carseat up front is a 'good idea.' A woman who smacked into the passenger side of my car a few years ago had her baby's seat up front, not buckled in, just sitting on the seat. She was extremely lucky that her baby didn't get hurt, she hit me really hard. She was smoking and on a cell phone, then has the audacity to freak out about her kid. If she cared, the baby would have been safely secured in the car. When the cops showed up, I told them that, and she got a ticket for the car seat being in front. I'm sure you'd secure the seat properly, but your best bet is for it to be in the backseat. 

she got a ticket for the car seat being in front. At least the kid was in a car seat. I've seen too many very young kids not in them! 

At least the kid was in a car seat. I've seen too many very young kids not in them! Yeah, but it wasn't buckled in. It wasn't even in the seat properly, it was on its side. The baby wasn't even buckled. She was just lucky nothing happened. 

I want to put her in the back for the trip tomorrow but the husband thinks it would be easier if she could ride up front. the husband needs to rethink 

I can't even believe you're considering putting your baby in the front seat when you have the option to put the baby in the backseat. It doesn't matter how "easy" it will make the drive. If your baby is crying, stop. If your baby needs fed or changed, stop and take a break. You have a baby..the car trip WILL NOT be EASY by any means!! You as a mother should not considering risking something as dangerous as that just to simply "make the trip easier". That is so unbelievably selfish. I hope to God nothing happens to your baby. 

I can't even believe you're considering putting your baby in the front seat when you have the option to put the baby in the backseat. It doesn't matter how "easy" it will make the drive. If your baby is crying, stop. If your baby needs fed or changed, stop and take a break. You have a baby..the car trip WILL NOT be EASY by any means!! You as a mother should not considering risking something as dangerous as that just to simply "make the trip easier". That is so unbelievably selfish. I hope to God nothing happens to your baby.  Brutally honest and nicely put.