Car Seats & Trucks

I would not let anyone drive around with my children in the front seat of any car or truck. It is not as safe. Maybe you could go to You Tube and find some videos with crash test dummies to convince him.

It's legal and safe to have car seats in trucks. They don't have back seats. You only have that rule in cars.

I think it is perfectly fine. The fact of the matter is that trucks sit higher than cars so even if they were in an accident she would be a bit safer. As long as she is belted in properly I don't see any problem with it...Plenty of people only drive trucks and they have had to do the same thing...

The reason for kids to be in the back seat is because airbags are dangerous to people under 5'3". (This would include myself) Trucks are made with switches to turn the air bags off so that kids can ride up front. So just make sure the air bags is turned off and you should be fine.

Air bag is the greatest concern. Just make sure it is turned off.
Remember, guys are guys. They like their "toys" (trucks, hardware/tools, etc.) just like we like our "toys" (candles, ladies' lunches, new gadgets to make our lives easier, etc.). If he feels that he needs his truck, do not deprive him of it. He likely does not deprive you of things that you desire.
I suggest reading some of Dr. Laura Schlessingers' books. They will really help you to understand and respect your man. They will also help you to be confident in loving and supporting the man that you chose. I am a recent "convert" to her philosophy and it truly makes a BIG difference!
Your husband will care for your children; his choices and methodology may differ from yours though.
Have a great day!
K.

The latch system is not safer, it's easier to install. You may read it's safer but that's because it's more liking to be used correctly.

A carseat used with a correct seatbealt is just as safe as long as it's used properly.

Have a carseat tech check to make sure it's buckled correctly.

If the truck has a passenger airbag, that will need to turned off, which most of the trucks have.

K.,

Several of the guys I went to highschool with are now cops in our small town. Since we only have two vehicles and both are pick-ups, I asked one of the guys/cops what the safest installation would be. He said that, due to the fact that I have an 8 yr old along with my 3 yr old, the 8 yr old was safer by the door & need the shoulder strap seatbelt & to therefore, put the carseat in the middle. Otherwise, he said it didn't matter where the carseat was as long as it was installed correctly & the airbag was off. Hope this helps!

Let me just add my two cents worth. My son has a pickup and a two year old. He has no choice but to drive the truck right now. He uses the car seat in the front. My son is super-careful about making sure the little guy AND the car seat are in nice and tight, and my grandson loves sitting in front with Daddy and wearing matching sunglasses. (It's an older truck so there is no danger with and airbag.)

Sounds like you are a cautious mom and that's a good thing!

K.,

As long as the seat is installed properly it is not an issue. EXCEPT for the airbags - they must be turned off - it is the airbags that can do a lot of the damage in a crash, the force with which they deploy is way too hard for a child. My hubby's new truck are actually weight controlled - if you don't weigh like 100 pounds they will not engage.

N.

The only thing I would be concerned with is the air bag. In our old dodge ram, you could manually turn it off using the truck's key.

Honestly don't take this the wrong way but sounds like your a little paranoid. One so long as it is in the middle and not next to the passenger door and the seatbelt is properly tightened down then things should be just fine. My aunt had her newborn in a truck because that is all they have ever had. Also so long as he is a good driver things should be fine. I'm sure by now he knows how to properly tighen the straps and arrange the clips.

also some trucks do have a latch system just depends on the year of the truck. If you don't think it is safe try going to a carseat check to put your mind at ease.

I used to drive a 56 Chevy with my son in a car seat, but it depends on the placement of the seat belts & air bags.

Personally your best bet is to call your local police or highway patrol office. They have trained officers who will come to your house to install the car seat. The officer can tell you if the belts in the truck are safe & compatable with the car seat that you have. The officer will also tell you if you need a clip or not. I do not need a clip in my Saturn b/c the belt locks (I pull it all the way out, then tighten it as hard as I can).

God bless!

As long as the air bag is not on- your child should be as safe there as any other passenger, yourself or anyone else. Those cabs are tougher than you think! The belt is going to react if it is clicked in, just like it does any other time... when you stop short and it jerks you into next week! Get rid of the sedan, if no one wants it or better yet, drives it- donate it to a needy family (Good Will) or something like that, if it's not that great!!

As long as the car seat is properly installed, it is safe. When installing a car seat with a seat belt, you need to have a locking clip. If you don't have one, they are available at most baby stores for about $2. Most fire stations will install or check your car seat for you for free. Take it by there if it will make you more comfortable.

The latch system is considered 'safer' because most people can get the car seat installed properly with it. It's easier than with a seat belt. The biggest safety issue with car seats is installation. As long as the seat is installed correctly with the seat belt, it is safe.

If the truck has a passenger side air bag it is not safe unless you have the air bag disabled. Otherwise I would contact the fire department or police department regarding more safety concerns and proper installation, they both usually will do these kind of checks for free.
B.

the biggest danger is the airbag, like someone said, and i have heard that many vehicles have a way to turn them off. it is "reccomended" that a carseat be in the middle away from the doors, but let's be realistic, that's not always possible. we can do everything the experts reccomend and still, tragedy can happen. and to be honest, these reccomendations only "lower" the possibility of disaster happening, they don't guarantee anything. try to relax a little bit, and keep in mind that most of us drove around in cars, often without seatbelts, when we were little, and turned out just fine! i remember family vacations driving to florida in the back of a pickup truck with my three siblings. you can't control every little thing in their lives. and if you start imagining all the things that "could" happen, you'll make yourself crazy. i'm not saying give up, just temper your motherly concern with a bit of practicality. it'll be okay! :)

I have had the same concerns my husband has a truck and my FIL has trucks and they always put my son and girls infront.So as long as he is restrained properly he is fine but the seatbelts must be approved to fit the carseat like example you can't use the lapbelt on booster seats,and highback booster seats with some models.If there is airbags they need to be turned off or the seat needs to be as far back as possible.I had to ask because my car has airbags that can't be turned off.Not that my children ride in the front.So to ease your mind it's ok but yes the backseat is the best place for children.

I am not sure about trucks. I have not researched this. The people I know who use them have extended cab with space in the back for a carseat. In terms of which is safest car seat belt or latch. They can both be safe as long as the car seat belt fits the car well and tightly. One of our cars is 14 years old. It doesn't have latch. I know I can get the carseat in supertight to keep my kids safe. If your kids are a over a certain poundage (for some cars 40 pounds) you can not use the latch system, you have to use car seats anyhow. Does the truck have air bags? Can they be deactivated? The air bags are a big reason for not having small passengers in the front. You would never want a rearfacing car seat in the front with an air bag due to proximity to the air bag. There is also more protection overall in the back. You might find more info on this website -http://www.car-seat.org/

Good Morning K., Yes we have had to use our truck with the grand kids several times. Our son has a truck and wife the car. He has Asher 5 in a booster seat in the truck. Only time he uses the car to take the kids to school is when he has to take all three.

I have had to use hubby's truck a few times and put 2 car seats in. Corbin 4, Zane 2 this month. Both front facing.
And it is only bench seat also, Dodge Ram. Chevy S10 is a pretty sturdy truck. I would think it is just fine.

When our boys were little a truck is all I had to drive. That was when all the safety issues were not so strongly enforced. All I had was a baby carrier for both when infants. I strapped them in and away we went. Both survived PTL. :)

Hope you can work it out ok
God Bless you all
K. Nana of 5
PS our insurance states like car used only for so many miles to work or recreation. Truck used for work only etc..
Every once in a while they send out a mileage form to fill out. Maybe that is way Hubby says there are to many miles being put on the car or SUV.

What year is the S-10 pickup? If it is an older truck you may have trouble getting the car seat in tight. If it is a newer one make sure you know how your seatbelt locks. Put the carseat in and lock the seatbelt and tighten it, now test it right where the belt goes through, wiggle it side to side, if it moves more than an inch you need to lock the seatbelt a different way.Also, if it is a newer truck you should be able to tether it, make sure you do that if you can! Find a seatcheck station in your area and have it checked. And yes, make sure your airbag switch is off. No, it is not as safe as a car, because the back seat is the safest so you have to make that decision yourself. The backseat is the safest because you want to be as far away from the crash site as possible and most are frontal. It is a hard decision that you have to make, good luck!!

it is fine if your carseat is installed properly. I didn't even use those tether things in the car because I could get the seat installed a lot tighter than when I had the tether hooked up because it was too short and would lift the seat up and was not installed tightly with the tether strap.

To install a carseat properly.. you put your knee/weight in the seat and adjust the seatbelt very tightly, then adjust the seatbelt clip on the seatbelt to keep it in place. I get it so tight that you have to put weight in the carseat for the seatbelt to click. Then push on the seat forward/side to side, and if it doesn't move at all it is installed right. If it slides or moves at all then it isn't tight enough.

My kids always love riding with Dad in the truck. Our truck is a 94 and doesn't have airbags to worry about but do know that most of the newer trucks have an option to turn them off. Because it doesn't have airbags it is the only vehicle we have that they can ride up front so it is a privelege to get to ride in the truck where they can ride up front.

Hey Kety, you just wrote my life!! We have a 4 door sedan, a SUV and a truck (a Ranger). We only drive the SUV every now and then (mostly longer trips or when we need extra seating). My hubby has had a car seat in the front of his truck since my oldest was 2 and he was driving her to preschool and I drove the baby to the sitter. And now that they are older - oh what a treat to sit in the front of Daddy's truck!!! I don't see a problem with it and long as their are not air bags or if they are you can turn them off (you can turn them off in my mom's F150). If it would make you feel better, take the truck and car seat to your local fire department and have them install it for you. Good luck and God Bless!!!

Why don't you take the truck and car seat to one of those safety checks or the police station. If you are in St. Louis, Children's does them and they just announced they will be also doing them at the Magic House so you could go either place. Have them check it out and see what they say.

Yes it's safe, and it's also legal. If that's the only seat the truck has, then it's fine.