My husband has a 2 dr honda prelude. we have a 6 month old and just got a new convertable carseat. It fits fine in my car, however, in my husbands car in order for it to fit in the back seat he has to have the passenger seat reclined forward. I dont think this is safe at all. is it okay to put the carseat in the front seat? He does not have air bags in his car.
it is way safer to have the front seat reclined forward than to place an infant in the front. A child should never ride in the front seat until they are at least big enough to be completely out of a car seat or booster.
NEVER NEVER NEVER put a car seat in the front seat of a car! Especially a rear-facing car seat!
Please visit this website and find a FREE local inspection site in your area. If the search shows nothing, call your local police department and ask where you can find the certified car seat technician!
Here are two listings for Salina, KS:
Salina Police Department
255 N. 10th
Salina, KS 67401
Counties Served: Saline and surrounding
Phone: ###-###-#### x635
Contact: A.V. Plank
Kansas Highway Patrol - Troop C
2019 E. Iron
Salina, KS 67401
Counties Served: 18 North Central Kansas
Phone: ###-###-####
Contact: J.L. Riedel
Did you know that 7 out of 10 car seats are installed or used incorrectly? In some cases that INCREASES the risk of your child in case of an accident. PLEASE do not "guess" at this! Take your car, your seat, and your child to have an inspection done. It could save your 6 mo. old's life.
I guarantee you that if you go to a FREE inspection, you will leave knowing about 3-5 things that you didn't know when you left the house that day.
I would not put the baby in the front. If you are totally uncomfortable with the current set up then I would return the car seat and buy one made for small cars. They do make them/sell them although I think they are usually a bit more money. I guess I don't really understand why it's so bad to have the front passenger seat pushed forward?? I mean I guess it means no one else can ride with you, which does kinda suck, but safety wise, I don't see the big deal, maybe I'm missing something??
We had Prelude as well - NOT ONLY NO BUT HECK NO!!! Should there be an accident - it would be bad. really bad.
We put the car seat in the back seat and pushed the front seat fully forward. I didn't like that at all. So it was in RARE cases we did this.
I would suggest that you a) find a car seat that fits the Prelude better, and b) go to a car seat safety inspection station & address your concerns with them.
I agree with the poster who directed you to see a carseat check place. They have likely faced this issue before and can direct you to a seat that fits and/or a safe configuration for driver and child. In the meantime, only go out as a family (or with the baby) in your car or use the bucket carrier if that still fits in his car.
I personally would not put it in the front seat, I think it illegal in some states too. I would suggest that when your hubby has the baby can he use your car? My concern would be if you did have an accident that something could come through the windshield and that a bucket seat may not hold the car seat properly.
Of course you can put it in the front seat, not preferable, but you can. What do you think people do when they drive trucks? They put car seats in the front with the airbags turned off. Simple as that!
Call your local Police department, bring the car seat to them and see what they say.. they will do this for free.
I think taking it to the police for advice is your best bet. When my husband had a 2 door Honda civic we never put the baby seat in that car and always used the bigger car. When we had a second kid we needed bigger second car--though the "bigger" car is not much bigger and is tight with 2 car seats.
We put the car seat in the front seat quite often if the car is older and has not air bags. It is still more of a danger in the even of a head on collision but really, a 2 door car has it's limits anyway. I think there is nothing wrong with the seat being leaning forward either.
You can put it in the front as long as there is definitely not an airbag. But it seems like it would still be safer in the back. The back middle seat is the best place. You can look around for a car seat technician in your area who can check your carseat for you after you install it, or show you how to install it properly. I would recommend that if you are going to put it in such a small car and possibly the front seat. We had someone check ours and show us how the baby should be put it, and it was really nice to feel totally secure about it.
