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Post by Ellie on Jul 31, 2014 9:21:00 GMT
My 11 year old son is relentlessly asking (haranguing, even) about sitting in The Front Seat.
Our state does not have laws or guidelines about this, but I've read recommendations that kids ride in the back until they're 13. I've seen some guidelines that bring height and weight into it: 5' tall, 4'8", 80 lbs., 100 lbs.
I've read about some parents who won't let their kids ride in front until they're driving themselves. Others who start at 8.
He'll be riding in the back for now. when he asked me how old I was, I was evasive. I think I was riding shot gun at 7 or so. Sometimes.
How have the Refupeas handled this? Thank you!
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wellway
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Jun 25, 2014 20:50:09 GMT
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Post by wellway on Jul 31, 2014 9:56:21 GMT
I'm in the UK, so the guidelines and laws will be different. That said, my dd was only allowed in the front when she reached the required height. Reason? it meant the seatbelt was sitting across her shoulder and not across her neck. I was comfortable with that and comfortable with being the Mum that insisted any other child under the height level sat in the back despite "but my Mum lets me sit in the front"
Eta - what's your comfort level?
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Post by Darcy Collins on Jul 31, 2014 10:05:05 GMT
We did 5 foot and 80 pounds. It meant my kids were different ages when allowed - one 13 the other 10.
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Deleted
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Oct 6, 2024 22:39:11 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 31, 2014 10:08:13 GMT
Not until the teenage years.
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anniebygaslight
Drama Llama
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Jun 28, 2014 14:08:19 GMT
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Post by anniebygaslight on Jul 31, 2014 10:08:54 GMT
We did 12th Birthday, and only if it was convenient.
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peabay
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Jun 25, 2014 19:50:41 GMT
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Post by peabay on Jul 31, 2014 10:10:46 GMT
In CT, it's 7 years and above, as long as the kid is over 60 pounds. I just looked it up.
Wow - my kids have gotten totally screwed out of many years in the front seat!
We do 12 years old in our house.
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Post by lightetc on Jul 31, 2014 10:25:51 GMT
I'm pretty sure the car we had at the time has a sticker on the top of the passenger side visor recommending 14+ because of the airbags. So 14 it was.
My parents were quite strict about safety in the car due to friends killed in accidents growing up. It wasn't "cool" but I was still happier to sit in the back than have to catch the bus if mum was offering a lift.
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Post by melanell on Jul 31, 2014 11:35:03 GMT
I'm lucky. My state has a recommendation, 12 & below should be in the back seat. So if DS ever asks, I have an answer that comes from someone besides just me.  I'm sorry your DS is badgering you. It drives me crazy when mine does that.  |
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Post by evnimom on Jul 31, 2014 11:35:04 GMT
I have my pediatrician make the decision. For my girl, she was still in a booster at her 11 year old check-up but was in the front seat at 12. I think she based it on height.
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Post by brina on Jul 31, 2014 11:55:51 GMT
I have a good friend who is 5 ft tall - I have never asked her how much she weighs. I told my kids they could sit up front when they are as tall as Mrs W.
My boys are 14. Once can sit in the front seat, the other cannot. My dd is 11 and nowhere near getting to sit up front.
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Post by anxiousmom on Jul 31, 2014 12:00:31 GMT
This is going to sound funny but I used my aunt as a guideline. In fact, I used her as a measuring stick (so to speak) for a number of things. She is about 5'1" and around 100 pounds. If she can sit in the passenger seat, then the boys could too when they reached her height/weight. Having a concrete, visual example kept them from asking all the time as they could stand next to her and see how much longer they had to go. I also used her to decide when to switch from children's medications and the adult versions (OTC). Now both of the boys are bigger than me and driving...and threaten to make *me* sit in the backseat.  |
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MerryMom
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Post by MerryMom on Jul 31, 2014 12:22:58 GMT
It was my (then) 5 feet 9 inch son's 13th birthday present>>>you get to sit in the front seat.
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Post by Miss Ang on Jul 31, 2014 12:27:50 GMT
We did age 12-ish. They had to be over 5' tall. As for me, I'm pretty sure I was riding shot gun at birth in a carrier that wasn't secured with a seat belt. Reason being: seat belts were CUT OUT of the cars my parents owned when I was a child.  (That was in the 70's) |
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Post by Ellie on Jul 31, 2014 12:27:55 GMT
Thanks for all the replies! I knew you'd help a girl out. And for the record, he's just shy of 4' 11" tall and weighs over 80 90 lbs. Yes, I have grown relatives who shouldn't be allowed in the front seat, I guess!  |
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psiluvu
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Post by psiluvu on Jul 31, 2014 12:27:55 GMT
I drive a 2011 Dodge Caravan and the recommendation on the visor is 100lbs. My ds is 11 5'5 and only 93lbs so he has a bit to go. He is really trying for that last 7lbs both to be able to sit in the front and for football. DD hit 100lbs at 11 and 5'7
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Post by alibama on Jul 31, 2014 12:36:41 GMT
Based on these numbers my DIL who is 22 should still be in the backseat lol.
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Post by threegirls on Jul 31, 2014 12:42:04 GMT
My daughter was 11 when she started sitting in the front seat. She was about 3/4 inch shorter than me. She is 12 now and is as tall as me (and has a bigger shoe size). Probably by next month she will be taller than me. I would base your decision on height and weight.
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johnnysmom
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Post by johnnysmom on Jul 31, 2014 13:11:34 GMT
My DS has always been tall for his age. I think we started allowing it for short, in-town (where all destinations are less than a mile and the max speed limit is 30) trips around age 10 or 11. Gradually we started allowing it for longer distances as he got older/bigger. Now, at 13 he's 5'6" and 120+lbs, so it's up to him where he prefers to ride.
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SweetieBsMom
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Post by SweetieBsMom on Jul 31, 2014 13:15:35 GMT
My 11 year old son is the opposite. He has NO interest in sitting in the front seat. I think he likes be chauffeured around  |
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Post by Merge on Jul 31, 2014 13:20:30 GMT
My oldest has been taller than me since she was 11 and the youngest looks headed that way too. When you're taller than mom, you get to sit in the front seat (unless we're all in the car including DH - then kids go in the back).
ETA - I'm 5'5" so it's not like "taller than mom" is really pretty short.
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Post by LavenderLayoutLady on Jul 31, 2014 13:22:35 GMT
Driving and riding in the car is a "no budge" issue for me.
My kids sit in the back seat. That's where they are safest. The only exception is when I let my teen ride in the front seat because the backseat is filled by younger kids. She's over 5'4" (taller than I am!) and weighs as much as a thin adult (a healthy weight).
My kids don't even bother asking to sit in the front anymore. It would be like them asking to ride without a seatbelt on. The car doesn't move until everyone is safe.
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~Susan~
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Post by ~Susan~ on Jul 31, 2014 13:24:23 GMT
I started letting my girls ride up front when their feet would rest flat on the floor board and the seatbelt sat where it was supposed to. Both of my girls were around 10 when this happened. Also, I have to add that they only rode up front when it was only one parent in the vehicle.
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~Susan~
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Jul 6, 2014 17:25:32 GMT
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Post by ~Susan~ on Jul 31, 2014 13:24:42 GMT
I started letting my girls ride up front when their feet would rest flat on the floor board and the seatbelt sat where it was supposed to. Both of my girls were around 10 when this happened. Also, I have to add that they only rode up front when it was only one parent in the vehicle.
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Post by scrapqueen01 on Jul 31, 2014 13:30:13 GMT
Dd has been bugging me for years to ride in the front seat. One of her aunts lets her ride up front so that doesn't help. The law in my state is 12 years old so I keep telling her that.
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Post by gracieplusthree on Jul 31, 2014 13:41:36 GMT
state law here is 12 unless they reach a certain height first(which Im not sure what the height is)
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Post by epeanymous on Jul 31, 2014 13:46:10 GMT
My oldest is turning twelve in a few weeks, is a little over five feet tall and a little over 100 pounds. I haven't let her in the front yet and don't intend to for a bit. I had a friend killed In a car accident when we were ten-ish. Anyhow, most of her friends do ride in front seats, so we are outliers. I don't know what our state law requires.
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Post by pretzels on Jul 31, 2014 13:47:36 GMT
My youngest has been over 5 feet tall since she was 9, I guess. Now, she's 12 and is 5'10", and her older brother is 15 and 6'. Even now, they rarely sit in the front, even when it's just me and one of them. I guess they've just been sitting in the back seat for so long, it's a habit.
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River
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Post by River on Jul 31, 2014 13:58:56 GMT
I started letting my girls ride up front when their feet would rest flat on the floor board and the seatbelt sat where it was supposed to. Both of my girls were around 10 when this happened. Also, I have to add that they only rode up front when it was only one parent in the vehicle. Going by this rule, I'd never sit up front, hehe. I'm 4'10.5" and weight about 100 lbs. My feet almost never touch the floor in a bigger car. Our rule was the boys have to be bigger than me to ride shot gun. Then my oldest looked down at me and said, "mom, that's not a very tall order" (and this coming from the kid that's growth hormone deficient and was on replacement therapy for most of his life)  What's with teens and smart mouths? At least my 9 year old is still smaller than me and riding in the back seat. He's yet to ask to sit up front, although that's probably because it's rarely just him. |
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PaperAngel
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Post by PaperAngel on Jul 31, 2014 17:05:32 GMT
State requirements are 8 y.o. OR 80 lbs. We allowed our child to sit in the front seat once he met both requirements (during 5th grade/11 y.o.) & only because the car automatically disables the airbag for passengers weighing less than 100 lbs. HTH
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Deleted
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Oct 6, 2024 22:39:11 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 31, 2014 17:13:56 GMT
We pretty much did it when they were teenagers and over 5 feet.
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(That was in the 70's)
What's with teens and smart mouths?