Is it safe for my 4 year old to ride in the front passenger seat of a Chevy cargo van?

2cutekiddos

While it isn't the safest location in a vehicle, if it is the ONLY seating location and you HAVE to transport your child, then it is okay. If you can turn the airbag off, turn it off. Push the seat all the way back. It is more idealistic to have a child in a harnessed seat (which they do make them to harness 55, 65, 70 and 80lbs), a booster is okay. I think I would lock the seatbelt on him so he doesn't want to lean forward lean on the side, etc. You can lock the seatbelt by putting the seatbelt on your child. Pull the shoulder belt portion all the way out. Slowly let it retract back in. You should hear click click click...that means you have switched your belt into a locking seatbelt. If you do not hear click click, then you do not have a switchable retractor and you cannot lock the seatbelt.

He will be in a high back booster, correct? There is NO WAY I would put a 4 year old that is only 40lbs in a backless booster.

I have both my children in Britax Regents. They harness to 80lbs. IMHO, the 5 pt harness for children is safer than a seatbelt as it distributes a crash force more evenly across a child's body. An inexpensive higher harnessing 5 pt seat is the Apex 65 or Signature Biltmore (you must have headrests for this seat) http://www.albeebaby.com/sa1stap65bos.html

Also, if the front passenger seat is the ONLY seating postion available in your vehicle, it is not illegal.

Hope this helps.

Robert N

not really safe

marfanman00000

the laws dealing with cars eats differ from state to state in ohio it is 4 years or forty pounds.also this is a cargo van with no back seat and chances are no passenger airbag.as long as you have a proper booster seat shouldn't be a problem if this is your only vehicle then be aware of your surroundings the only thing you need to do is move the seat back as far as you can and make sure he is strapped in tight also if it does have airbags then either pull the fuse or disconnect it when my son was young I had to take him to daycare on my way to work in a cargo van never had any problems

mark101112

NO..... didn't you read the CHILD PROTECTION.... WARNING?

NOT.... till he is 12-Years.... OLD!

Thanks, RR

i <<<333 sidney crosby

i dont think so

CSSW

alisongiggles

No. All kids need to be in the back seat, if there is one.

They're just safer back there, like being in the back of the plane.

Lala is right, it's about the airbag and the danger it poses to little ones.

Do a web search on airbags and children and you'll see a load of horrible stories that will make this decision for you.

Mommy to 11 month old Jacob

NO!! A child should not ride in the front seat until age 12. Before that age their bodies are much to small and fragile to ride up front.

lala 16

4 years old is still young. if the air bag ever went off it will kill him cuz he's still small.

sweet_n_shy2323

no.

to ride in without a car seat (which should never be put in the front seat) a child must be 4'9" and 80lbs in most states. Check out your local laws.

The law is to prevent junior from being decapitated by the airbag should it deploy.

I think 12 or 13 is the common age to let kids ride in the front.

John Paul

Just as long as it is legal. And the van does not wreck. You would be heartbroken for life if you hit something at 25 miles an hour and your passengers side air bag killed your child. Look at the warnings on the sunvisors and in the owners hand book some trucks you can turn off the right side air bag.

Twinkie Thief

i am sure he willbe quite safe until the airbag slammes into his face and kills him...........

ezachowski

NO WAY. Are you nuts?

Jordin<3

well I suppose it would be okay until
a) police stopped you to tell you to get your kid in the back seat or
b) you were in an accident and the air bag slammed into his face and killed him

Matthew L

NO, no, no, no, no.

A good rule of thumb is that children should sit in the back until they are 8 years old or weigh 80 lbs, or both.

alfini

Absolutely not. Must ride in car seat in the back seat.

kat

uhm you put your 4 year old in a booster seat?

thats kinda sad.
and if the air bag went off it woukld kill him just like that.

esha

No, if you get in an accident and your airbag deploy, the airbag could crush his body. I used to do outreach for homeless adults with mental illness, I spent a lot of time in the ER. I was in the E.R. one day, and an thin elderly lady came in with her husband. They had just been in an accident. Her husband was the driver. He was rushed to the back for treatment. She was talking to one of the nurses about the accident and was giving her their insurance information. The nurse did a quick upper body search of the ladies body and noticed some large bruises on the lady's body from the airbag. Because of her age the nurse wanted to do some xrays immediately. As the nurse was getting the wheelchair, the elderly lady collapse. Needless to say she was to rush to the bad for treatment. Later on when I came back to the ER. to check on my client. I asked one of the nurse I knew how the lady was doing and she told me the lady had died. The airbags had crushed her ribs and other body parts. I guess her body was in shock, thats why she didn't get the immediate reaction. But I hope that just gives you an idea of in inpact an airbag can have on an adult's body. So imagine what it could do to you little one. Plus it's illegal, and if a cop catchs you he'll give you a big ticket.

Just Me

If the Cargo Van has a back seat, the child MUST ride back there by LAW.
If it does not have a back seat, find a different vehicle as it is unsafe for the child to ride in front.

shelcom

Not if has airbags, no.

cari210kel

NO! unless your child is 5 and 80 lbs he or she is still supposed to be in a car seat!! I have a 4 yr old and she is only like 30 lbs... your child should still be in a carseat, in the back!

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