Pure Parents

Question:

Oh, that made me remember. When I crunched our van, the collision place we went to offered free rentals. Is there a place where you could go that offers this? Sue B.

Response:

I don’t know Jeannie, I really just thought the child would be safer turned around so that she would hit the cushion seat rather that the windshield. Sue B.

Response:

Here’s a comprehensive site for car safety information from the experts: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/childps/ Mark Probert A vote for Pat Buchanan is a vote for America’s First Fuhrer!

Response:

Does anyone know if I am allowed to put a carseat in the >front seat of this vechicle since it does not have a back seat My question

is …is it safe and is it legal…I mean will I get >pulled over because she is in the front?

Technically you can put a carseat anywhere you choose.  There is NO LAW mandating where you must put a carseat.  You must simply have the child restrained.  If you would feel more comfortable putting your daughter in a rental car with back seats…then go with your gut feeling.  We have had two pickup trucks and had no problems with our children in carseats in the cab. Debbie

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> 3.  If you’re not at fault for the accident (and feel free to email me with > the details of the accident, since I do this for a living in New Jersey), > and you file with the other person’s company for recovery of damages, ask > about their rental policies.

When I was in my teens (we won’t count the years , my car was hit 3 times.  Each time the other insurance company had to supply me with a rental car, but only after I made the demand (sweet requests didn’t get very far).  Only problem was I didn’t get to choose the rental company or the car, and one car was not in good shape at all.  The other two were fine. For those who haven’t thought of it… On our insurance, it only costs $1.00 a month for us to add rental car to our insurance policy.  Should we be in an accident and it’s either our fault or not, they will supply us with a rental car from a quality rental company.  I started doing this many years ago, and I have actually used it once, but boy did it come in handy.  It took 30 days to finish my wrecked car – it was eventually considered totaled.  I don’t know what I would have done without the rental for those 30 days! Check your insurance policy to see if it’s just as cheap to add rental coverage on your policy.  When you have busy kids, transportation is a necessity! Take Care! Vicki Surratt Proud Mom of Kathy (6) and Jenny (10)! Visit my website!  http://www.vickishome.com Home of the Newsgroup Photo Album!

Response:

I’d call the NJ state police. I am sure this is a State Law sort of thing. As you have only one seat, I am sure you can get away with it. I always thought NJ cops were ok.

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|   >Here in our state in MI, as long as there is no backseat and no airbag, it |   >is not against the law to have her in the front seat. It is not the safest, |   >but if that is your only alternative for now, and since you will get your |   >car back, you should be all right. Maybe you could turn her carseat |   >backwards while you are in this vehicle. |   |   Wouldn’t that be dangerous for an 18 month old.  I don’t know, just asking. |   I thought at 12 months and 20 lbs they should face forward?? That depends. Babies should definitely face backwards because their neck and back muscles aren’t strong enough to deal with the forces they would encounter in certain kinds of collisions if they were facing forwards. But that doesn’t mean it’s unsafe for an older child, or an adult, to face backwards.  In fact it would probably be safest if all passengers faced the back of the car, but generally people don’t want to and car manufacturers don’t bother trying. On the other hand, most toddler carseats aren’t designed to face backwards, and many convertible infant/toddler carseats have not been properly tested for use with a rear-facing toddler over a certain weight.  A carseat shouldn’t be used facing backwards unless it has been tested and approved in that position for a child of the right weight.  So – it would be safer to turn the child around, *if* the carseat is approved for that.  If it isn’t, the child should face forward. [Aside: We've been looking at carseats recently, and have noticed that many rear-facing infant seats now have a higher weight limit than they did last time we went through this 6 years ago (13 kg instead of the old 9 or 10 kg).  As the mom of a child who passed 10 kg long before his first birthday, i have only two things to say to the manufacturers: 1. Thank you and 2. What took you so long?!?] – Cindy Kandolf, mamma to Kenneth (5 years), expecting flod2k in Feb.   Bilingual Families Web Page:   http://www.nethelp.no/cindy/biling-fam.html

Response:

You might want to check with your local police department for laws in your state.  Unfortunately, child safety varies from state to state.  What may be illegal in one state, isn’t in another (well, to the same extent). — Jackie M. SAHM to three wonderful kids (and 12 fish!! … well 14 if you count the 2 goldfish!!) http://www.geocities.com/jackiemulroy

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Okay…Here’s a question for you…I hope that someone knows the answer. > Yesterday I was in a little fender bender…no one got hurt but my car will > have to have some work done on it.  The other car that we have is a 1991 Ford > Ranger pick up truck.  Does anyone know if I am allowed to put a carseat in the > front seat of this vechicle since it does not have a back seat.  My daughter is > 18 months old so the carseat wold be forward facing.  This model car DOES NOT > have airbags.  My question is …is it safe and is it legal…I mean will I get > pulled over because she is in the front? > Please I am not very comfortable with the whole idea of her being in the front > so I am leaning towards getting a rental car while mine is getting fixed. i > was just wondering if anyone had any information that they could pgive me. > Thanks! > -Jodi in New Jersey

Response:

What state are you in??  Some state laws are different.  My husband is a police officer in FL and he put our daughter in the front of his car….forward facing and no air bag as well.  He’s pretty up on the rules so I think it is OK and pretty safe. Jeannie ~Mom of Emily 11/96 and Garrett 11/98~

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Okay…Here’s a question for you…I hope that someone knows the answer. >Yesterday I was in a little fender bender…no one got hurt but my car will >have to have some work done on it.  The other car that we have is a 1991 Ford >Ranger pick up truck.  Does anyone know if I am allowed to put a carseat in the >front seat of this vechicle since it does not have a back seat.  My daughter is >18 months old so the carseat wold be forward facing.  This model car DOES NOT >have airbags.  My question is …is it safe and is it legal…I mean will I get >pulled over because she is in the front? >Please I am not very comfortable with the whole idea of her being in the front >so I am leaning towards getting a rental car while mine is getting fixed. i >was just wondering if anyone had any information that they could pgive me. >Thanks! >-Jodi in New Jersey

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writes: >yes it is legal and safe. There’s a study that was just completed, and it >said >that it is SAFER to put a car seat in the front than in the back seat. (I >heard it >on the news a while back)

This is certainly news to me. Do you recall the reasons that they gave for saying such? Josie

Response:

>Here in our state in MI, as long as there is no backseat and no airbag, it >is not against the law to have her in the front seat. It is not the safest, >but if that is your only alternative for now, and since you will get your >car back, you should be all right. Maybe you could turn her carseat >backwards while you are in this vehicle.

Wouldn’t that be dangerous for an 18 month old.  I don’t know, just asking. I thought at 12 months and 20 lbs they should face forward?? Jeannie ~Mom of Emily 11/96 and Garrett 11/98~   Hope this helps. I am glad you are – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->okay. >Sue B.

Response:

>I would think since the front seat is technically the "only" seat in a >pick-up truck you could put the car seat there.  Where else could you put >it – in the bed or on the roof?  (just kidding of course). >Legally I don’t know, but to me  it would makes sense to be able to do it. >I’ve seen people doing it so I assumed it was okay.

It may be legal. However, it is definitely dangerous and should be avoided at all costs. If there is a passenger air bag, have it disabled. Mark Probert A vote for Pat Buchanan is a vote for America’s First Fuhrer!

Response:

No, I really don’t — it was a while ago — but I’m gonna look for it on the net. If I can’t find it there, I’ll call the station   – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > writes: >yes it is legal and safe. There’s a study that was just completed, and it >said >that it is SAFER to put a car seat in the front than in the back seat. (I >heard it >on the news a while back) > This is certainly news to me. Do you recall the reasons that they gave for > saying such? > Josie

Response:

>to put a car seat in the front seat. Call your local police department to >find >out. That’s what I’d do. I do know that it’s safer to have them in the back >a >recommendation only, not a law.

Have you ever seen the results of an accident with the kid in the front seat? I have. I do not care if it is a law or not, it is stupid. Mark Probert A vote for Pat Buchanan is a vote for America’s First Fuhrer!

Response:

>Here in our state in MI, as long as there is no backseat and no airbag, it >is not against the law to have her in the front seat. It is not the safest, >but if that is your only alternative for now, and since you will get your >car back, you should be all right. >80% of fatal accidents are within 20 miles of home on errands.

Mark Probert A vote for Pat Buchanan is a vote for America’s First Fuhrer!

Response:

I think that there is a lot of misinformation out there about what is the LAW with car seats and what is the recommendation.  SO–when Cody was little I called the sheriff’s department and had them read me the LAW–I am in Iowa.  Our law says that "children under 2 must be restrained in a car seat."  That’s it.  Period.  No front seat, back seat, rear facing, etc.  Those are RECOMMENDATIONS from parenting groups and car seat companies.  They are good ones, I’m sure, but they aren’t the law–at least not here in Iowa.  I have a girlfriend that *insists* that the law says you have to have them in a car seat until they are 6 years old.  I have shown her the Code of Iowa, but she tells me it is wrong! kendra mom to cody, 6; josie, 2; and patrick, 6 months

Response:

>Yesterday I was in a little fender bender…

If you’re not sure, call your local police and ask them.  They should be able to tell you whether it’s legal and if it’s safe, and let’s face it, that’s precious cargo you’re hauling! Tigger

Response:

>who’s lost in thought at the moment >thinking of all the crazy-ass things that >she’s seen people do.

Lol.  I guess I didn’t think about it that way.    You’re quite right. Later, Sophie

Response:

yes it is legal and safe. There’s a study that was just completed, and it said that it is SAFER to put a car seat in the front than in the back seat. (I heard it on the news a while back) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Okay…Here’s a question for you…I hope that someone knows the answer. > Yesterday I was in a little fender bender…no one got hurt but my car will > have to have some work done on it.  The other car that we have is a 1991 Ford > Ranger pick up truck.  Does anyone know if I am allowed to put a carseat in the > front seat of this vechicle since it does not have a back seat.  My daughter is > 18 months old so the carseat wold be forward facing.  This model car DOES NOT > have airbags.  My question is …is it safe and is it legal…I mean will I get > pulled over because she is in the front? > Please I am not very comfortable with the whole idea of her being in the front > so I am leaning towards getting a rental car while mine is getting fixed.  i > was just wondering if anyone had any information that they could pgive me. > Thanks! > -Jodi in New Jersey

Response:

>I’ve seen people doing it so I assumed it was okay.

This particular assumption could result in an arrest for a zillion different things. who’s lost in thought at the moment thinking of all the crazy-ass things that she’s seen people do.

Response:

(Teach72498) writes: >Does anyone know if I am allowed to put a carseat in the >front seat of this vechicle since it does not have a back seat.  My daughter >is >18 months old so the carseat wold be forward facing.  This model car DOES NOT >have airbags.  My question is …is it safe and is it legal…I mean will I >get >pulled over because she is in the front?

to put a car seat in the front seat. Call your local police department to find out. That’s what I’d do. I do know that it’s safer to have them in the back recommendation only, not a law. Josie

Response:

Here in our state in MI, as long as there is no backseat and no airbag, it is not against the law to have her in the front seat. It is not the safest, but if that is your only alternative for now, and since you will get your car back, you should be all right. Maybe you could turn her carseat backwards while you are in this vehicle.  Hope this helps. I am glad you are okay. Sue B.

Response:

Okay…Here’s a question for you…I hope that someone knows the answer. Yesterday I was in a little fender bender…no one got hurt but my car will have to have some work done on it.  The other car that we have is a 1991 Ford Ranger pick up truck.  Does anyone know if I am allowed to put a carseat in the front seat of this vechicle since it does not have a back seat.  My daughter is 18 months old so the carseat wold be forward facing.  This model car DOES NOT have airbags.  My question is …is it safe and is it legal…I mean will I get pulled over because she is in the front? Please I am not very comfortable with the whole idea of her being in the front so I am leaning towards getting a rental car while mine is getting fixed.  i was just wondering if anyone had any information that they could pgive me. Thanks! -Jodi in New Jersey

Response:

I would think since the front seat is technically the "only" seat in a pick-up truck you could put the car seat there.  Where else could you put it – in the bed or on the roof?  (just kidding of course). Legally I don’t know, but to me  it would makes sense to be able to do it. I’ve seen people doing it so I assumed it was okay. Later, Sophie mom to Charlotte (19 months) and Patrick (2 months)

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