Front Seat

It is highly recommended they be 12 before sitting in the fron seat. Don't think it is a law though.

I agree that height is probably the main issue, but weight may also play a role. Usually a person has to be a certain height for the seat belt to fit them safely. My daughter would be so jealous of your kids! She's 13 and only 4'11" and we joke she'll need to sit in the back seat (possibly with a booster) to go on her first date when she turns 16!

Wether or not she can sit in the front has to to with weight, height, and maturity of behavior. Every state has different laws so check with you police department. In LA the child must be at least 12 years old and weight at least 100lbs, and is at least 5ft tall.

Good Luck!

The safest place for *anyone* is in the back seat. I don't know the rules, but that's where I'm keeping my daughter as long as possible. You might want to consider keeping them there for that reason, regardless of height/weight rules. Just my 2 cents. If they're wanting to be in the front, think of this: it's easier to withhold a thing than it is to take it away later. They're used to the back seat. You can all use your creative juices to figure out a way to make it more acceptable to them. Games, songs, story telling, etc. This might even inspire a great new family tradition!

I believe you will want to check your state laws as well. I know they have to be a certain age and/or pounds just to get out of a car seat. I would think if they no longer have to ride in a car seat, they could ride in the front as well.

You should check your state law. Although they seem tall enough, a lot of states don't allow children to ride in the front seat until they are 12. I know Arkansas does, because that was a big deal on my sister's 12th birthday that she got to ride in the front seat. You could probably call a police or fire station and they could tell you. No point in getting a ticket if you don't have to.

I do not see why not. Most cases a kid has to be in a booster seat till they are 6 years old or 60lbs. I would just make sure the seat is all the way back and not close to the dash. Also make her wear her seat belt all the time no matter what. My son rides in the front of my truck and he is only 4 years old. As long as you are taking percautions I see no problem with it.

S. Thorne
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Those are some tall kiddos you have there. In Louisiana they aren't allowed in the front seat until over 8. Most reccommendations are that they not sit in the front seat until over 12...this has as much to do with size as maturity and muscle coordination because of where car accidents occur. To sit in front of an air bag it's recommended that unless your car has progressive release air bags or you are the primary driver that you be 5'10 and 180lbs for safety issues related to air bag deployment forces.

P.,
Oh my gosh, you have your own basketball team in the making! In the state of Oklahoma children are supposed to be in the backseat of the car and in a booster seat until they are 4'11". Yours are definatley past that. Unless the laws are different where your at, I would say all the kiddos can sit anywhere you want them to! I hope this helps. Have a good day.
S.

We can all tell you anything and not be right or be totally correct. Most states have car eat laws that apply to every child. Some it is 6/60, either be 6 yrs. old or weigh more than 60 lbs. Some other states are 8/80. The only place you will find the correct answer is you local police station or highway patrol office. If they stop you for something do you really think they are going to ask you for birth certificates to prove your children' age, especially if they are so tall that they don't even begin to look it?

I keep all kids in the back seat because it is safer for side or front impacts. My friend lets her 8 yr. old ride up front all the time with the seat reclining and him playing on her laptop computer. I think it's nuts...he is a skinny short little kid and is at risk for injury even at a low speed because of the airbags.

Your Pediatrician may also be able to write a letter for you to keep in the car just in case there is an issue with law enforcement. My Mother-in-Law was an Ostimate and the seat belt irritated her bag. She refused to wear a seat belt of any type and her physician wrote a letter to the dept. of vehicular motors and she got a letter to carry with her at all times.

It depends on airbags mostly, if you have em, then the answer would be no. I've seen what they can do to a grown man. Wow! 5'4 - I'm only 5'4, I couldnt imagine staring a 6yo in the face. Just make sure she doesnt aquire the "tall person syndrome" and try to compensate with poor posture. And if she ever wants to get into modeling, let me know. :]

Check with your DMV, most states make children 13 and under sit in the rear no matter their height.

seriously, you have to check your local state laws. some states have laws now for boosters until the kids are a certain age AND a certain height requirement. I would say NO

I really think it's a height issue as far as safety goes, just like they have to be so tall before they can ride a roller coaster. It probably wouldn't hurt to check with the police department though just to be sure.

Can she fit comfortably in the back seat? My son couldn't. When he was in the back in the booster seat his head would hit the roof of the car and when not in the booster his legs wouldn't fit comfortably behind the front seats. So at about 7 he started riding in the front seat.