car seat in front seat, moving...ASAP!!!!!

[JamesMama]

We are moving...TODAY

I have my mom's mini-van, and it is fully loaded with stuff, we also have a Budget truck. Since we were only able to get the medium-small budget truck (15 feet) and we have: A King sized bed, crib, 3 dressers, console TV, kitchen table and chairs, ultra plush sofa, recliner, Train table, 3-3shelf book cases 1-6 shelf book case, computer desk and misc stuff (bigger toys, high chair, vacuum, etc) we're worried about all that stuff fitting in the back of our 15' budget truck (can't afford to make 2 trips. So I was going to take the van over to our new house (>15 miles...highway, next town over) and unload it, come back and load it with the boxes we have and then load the rest on the budget truck if able, if not make another run with the van.

My problem, DH is at work, my mom is at work, IL's are off doing whatever so I need to do all this AND wrangle a 1.5 y/o.

My mom's mini-van does NOT have passenger side airbags, just driver side...how terrible would it be to put James in the carseat in the front seat to take one load over? Of course after we got that load over I would put his carseat in the backseat. His seat is sitting in the living room right now.

My IL's are going to come over later, but I'd like to get as much as possible done NOW.

Thanks!

[KayleeZoo]

As long as you are absolutely sure there is no passenger side airbag and his carseat is installed correctly and he's installed in it correctly I would probably do it for one trip to the new house. BUT I'm not a CPST, so that may not be the safest advice. Oh, and if you do decide to put him in the front seat, make sure that the vehicle seat is slid back as far as possible from the dashboard.

[melissel]

Originally Posted by KayleeZoo

As long as you are absolutely sure there is no passenger side airbag and his carseat is installed correctly and he's installed in it correctly I would probably do it for one trip to the new house. BUT I'm not a CPST, so that may not be the safest advice. Oh, and if you do decide to put him in the front seat, make sure that the vehicle seat is slid back as far as possible from the dashboard.

How long is the trip you're making? I probably would too, and just drive super, SUPER cautiously. Though it's not necessarily the wisest thing, just the most convenient, my conscience would probably allow one trip

Oh, duh! ETA that I just saw the distance in your post. Yeah, I'd probably do it.

[andreac]

Originally Posted by KayleeZoo

As long as you are absolutely sure there is no passenger side airbag and his carseat is installed correctly and he's installed in it correctly I would probably do it for one trip to the new house. BUT I'm not a CPST, so that may not be the safest advice. Oh, and if you do decide to put him in the front seat, make sure that the vehicle seat is slid back as far as possible from the dashboard.

What she said. We've done it before in dh's minivan, if he HAS to take ds somewhere. He uses his as a work vehicle so he never has the seats in the back.

[adtake]

You might want to put him rear facing for the trip. I understand that is the safest direction requardless of age.

[dallaschildren]

If you don't have a choice, you don't have a choice. You can't really leave him alone. I would be scared sh**less personally. I know I am not any reassurance. It is one of the most dangerous things to do next to not buckling up at all. Is he rearfacing? And the front seat has an air bag where you need to put him right?

DC

[JamesMama]

Thanks mama's.

No passenge side air bag, just driver side...

It's >15 miles, more like 13...mostly highway, 55mph (of course I'll go more like 45mph)

I don't know if I can get this seat rear facing in the front seat...we have a Britax Marathon and it's HUGE...

[aran]

Originally Posted by dallaschildren

If you don't have a choice, you don't have a choice. You can't really leave him alone. I would be scared sh**less personally. I know I am not any reassurance. It is one of the most dangerous things to do next to not buckling up at all. Is he rearfacing? And the front seat has an air bag where you need to put him right?

DC

?? Really ?? It makes no sense to me why this would be "one of the most dangerous things to do next to not buckling up at all" Really, I am just curious as to what makes it so very terrible if there is no airbag? It's not intuitive to me.

Also, OP, I don't think you should put him rearfacing if he exceeds the seat's weight/height limit for rearfacing.

[JamesMama]

He doesn't I don't think...26lbs, 36 inches tall...I think the britax goes up to like 40 or something RF??

I'm gonna call my IL's and see when they'll be here, I might try to load the truck a little, if I can...I think I threw my back out moving the bed...fantastic

[theatermom]

She said that it DOESN'T have an airbag on the passenger side.

I would do it because you have to do it. I had to do it once with my oldest, also when we were moving. The back seat is the safest place for anyone (even adults and kids over age 12), but that doesn't mean that you're jeopardizing his life. Definitely put the seat as far back as possible, and drive cautiously (particularly at intersections).

Also, from what I understand, if you have a passenger side airbag, you should NEVER put a childseat rearfacing. Serious injury and death could result from the impact of the bag against the back of the seat. It's better in such a case for the child to face forward and be as far back as possible. Someone can correct me on this, but this has been my understanding.

[theatermom]

He really doesn't need to be rearfacing if he isn't rearfacing now. It's more important that his seat be correctly installed for his weight/height, and that his seat be as far back as possible.

[dallaschildren]

Originally Posted by JamesMama

Thanks mama's.

No passenge side air bag, just driver side...

It's >15 miles, more like 13...mostly highway, 55mph (of course I'll go more like 45mph)

I don't know if I can get this seat rear facing in the front seat...we have a Britax Marathon and it's HUGE...

Ok. Thanks. So the front driver's side does have one, but your passenger front seat does not have an air bag. Well then although not optimal, that is MUCH better than if you had him in front of an air bag. FWIW: There is a 29% greater chance he will be injured seriously or killed by being in the front seat than if he was restrained in the rear seat. Be careful JM.

DC

[elmh23]

I'd do it if you are 100% sure there is no air bag on passenger side. Dh has a truck where he can turn off the passenger air bag, so he does take dd sometimes in his truck. We'd both be happier with only having her ride in the car, but I can't drive the truck (manual) and sometimes he needs to go places while I need to be away.

So go for it! Also, I'd just put him forward facing if thats what he's used to.

Good luck with the move!

[Anguschick1]

Britax Marathon is up to 33 pounds, rear-facing.

I wouldn't do it. I'd load the vehicles as much as I could, but either leave a seat in the back for your ds to sit in or plan to leave him at home while you moved vehicles (with someone watching him, of course!)

Statiscally, most accidents happen w/in 10 miles of your destination and it really doesn't matter how well *you're* driving. And fyi, if you're driving on a highway 10 mph lower than the posted speed limit, you're actually a hazard and your chance of being in an accident is higher.

Good luck w/your decision and move.

[dallaschildren]

If no airbag, I would most definately install the car seat rearfacing (if James meets the car seat requirements for rearfacing) and scoot the vehicle seat as far back as possible.

DC

[JamesMama]

Thanks mama's...

I'm loading the truck right now...I called my IL's and they should be here around noon...I guess I'll just have to wait, I went to the van to put James' car sea in and turns out DH has stuffed a bunch of clothes in the front seat, I'll be lucky to fit MYSELF into the van.

My GMIL is going to keep James while I run to our house...and I'll have to find a way to get everything unloaded once I get there. Hmmmm

[dallaschildren]

That's good. Best to leave him with someone you trust, than gamble with him in the front seat. Try to secure your cargo with bungee cords or something if you have anything. Remember all of that stuff will fly and hit you if you wreck.

DC

[theatermom]

Originally Posted by Anguschick1

Britax Marathon is up to 33 pounds, rear-facing.

I wouldn't do it. I'd load the vehicles as much as I could, but either leave a seat in the back for your ds to sit in or plan to leave him at home while you moved vehicles (with someone watching him, of course!)

Statiscally, most accidents happen w/in 10 miles of your destination and it really doesn't matter how well *you're* driving. And fyi, if you're driving on a highway 10 mph lower than the posted speed limit, you're actually a hazard and your chance of being in an accident is higher.

Good luck w/your decision and move.

I agree w/this info, EXCEPT that I have spoken with many, many police officers and they agree that being extra cautious at intersections (with "safe starts", for instance) does help prevent accidents. Many, many accidents (perhaps even most) are caused by drivers running yellow/red lights. Your driving most certainly makes a huge difference.

In fact, in most cases, TWO mistakes have to be made for an accident to occur. And often that means that both parties could have been driving more attentively.

[dallaschildren]

One can only control their own driving and car condition. There are many things beyond one's control that are contributing factors to wrecks as well such as weather and road conditions. There is no such thing as an "accident".

DC

[JamesMama]

Originally Posted by dallaschildren

That's good. Best to leave him with someone you trust, than gamble with him in the front seat. Try to secure your cargo with bungee cords or something if you have anything. Remember all of that stuff will fly and hit you if you wreck.

DC

Thats what I'm afraid of, all our bungee cords are currently holding my bed in place. It's mostly James' toys and clothes and a few kitchen odds and ends. Just a risk I'll have to take I suppose, at least it's just me in the car and not James.