When Can A Child Sit In The Front Seat Of A Car? - Medical News Today

Maybe your like

Medical News TodaySubscribe

We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Here’s our process

When can a child sit in the front seat of a car?

Written by Jamie Eske on December 17, 2019

Age-specific information
Front seat risks
General tips
Summary

Many organizations recommend that a child only travel in the front seat of a vehicle from the age of 13. Until this time they should sit in the back seat using the proper seat belts and seats.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend that all children under the age of 13 sit in the rear seats of vehicles. How they sit in the back seat — for example, whether they use a rear-facing seat, a forward-facing seat, or a booster seat — will depend on their age, weight, and height.

Most cars come equipped with airbags and seat belts. Car manufacturers originally designed these standard safety features to protect adults in the event of a crash. However, they may not prove as useful for protecting a child in the front seat.

In this article, we cover what people need to know about child passenger safety. This includes age-specific safety rules, the risks of sitting in the front seat, and some general tips for safe car travel with children.

Age-specific safety information

a kid who is not allowed to sit in the front seat because she is too young — A child’s age, height, and weight determine the most appropriate way for them to sit in a vehicle.

Parents and caregivers can keep children safe by buckling them into a seat that is appropriate for their age, height, and weight.

Compared with seat belt use alone, car seat use lowers the risk of injury in vehicle crashes by up to 82% in children.

The following sections contain car seat recommendations for children of different age groups.

Birth to 3 years

In previous years, the AAP recommended that children ride in rear-facing car seats until they reached 2 years of age.

However, the AAP have since changed this recommendation in response to recent research findings. They now suggest that children ride in a rear-facing car seat until they exceed the seat’s weight and height limits.

Parents and caregivers should also keep rear-facing car seats in the back seat of the car to prevent airbag injuries. Airbags present a significant risk to children in rear-facing car seats because their heads are much closer to the airbag.

3 to 7 years

Those aged 3–7 years may exceed the weight and height limits of their rear-facing car seat. If this is the case, they should instead sit in a forward-facing car seat in the back seat of the vehicle.

Height and weight recommendations for car seat use vary by state. Weight limits for most seats range from 20–65 pounds (lb). Height limits also vary. Generally, children must be at least 4 feet 9 inches tall before they stop using a car seat.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that children use a forward-facing car seat until they reach at least 5 years of age, however.

8 to 12 years

When a child outgrows their forward-facing car seat, they should use a booster seat. This is to ensure that the car’s seat belt fits correctly. The lap belt must lie across the child’s upper thighs, and the shoulder belt should fit snuggly against their shoulder and chest.

According to the National Safety Council, children should ride in a booster seat until they reach all of the following:

at least 9 years of age
4 feet 9 inches in height
80 lb in weight

State-specific child safety laws

Child passenger safety laws vary by state. People can learn more about their state’s child passenger safety law by visiting their state’s government website. Alternatively, people can visit the Governors Highway Safety Association page on child passenger safety.

Most states permit children over a certain age or size to use an adult seat belt without a car seat or booster seat. Others require booster seats or other child restraint devices for children who have outgrown their car seats.

Risks for children sitting in the front seat

Children who sit in the front seat of a vehicle are at increased risk of injury from airbag deployment. An airbag deploys in under one-twentieth of a second and can cause serious injury. This is why the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration suggest that adults sit at least 10 inches away from the steering wheel.

Children tend to be shorter than adults. They may therefore sustain severe head injuries if they are sitting in the front seat of a vehicle when an airbag deploys. Some car manufacturers now use occupant-sensing devices that suppress airbags for infants and children.

Children over 13 years of age who have outgrown a booster seat can sit in the front passenger seat of a car. Parents and caregivers can minimize the risk of airbag-related injury by moving the passenger seat as far back as possible.

General tips for driving with children

People should also try to follow the safety tips below when driving with children in the car:

Ensure that children use appropriately sized seat belts and safety seats at all times.
Ensure that children below 13 years of age sit in the back seat.
Buckle any unused seatbelts to prevent children from playing with them.
Take care to model safe passenger and driving habits.

Summary

Vehicle crashes present significant risks to children. Parents and caregivers can help keep them safe by using the appropriate car seats and seat belts. Children under the age of 13 should sit in the back seat of a car.

Parents and caregivers can teach children safe passenger and driving habits by always wearing a seat belt and exercising caution behind the wheel.

According to the CDC, motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death among children in the United States. The U.S. Department of Transportation estimate that 3,313 children younger than 13 years of age died while riding in vehicles between 2013 and 2017.

Parents and caregivers can sign up to receive safety notifications about their child’s car seat at seatcheck.org.

SHOP FOR CAR SEATS
Some of the car seats listed in this article are available to purchase in stores and online:
rear-facing car seats
forward-facing car seats
booster seats

Public Health
Pediatrics / Children's Health
Parenthood

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Air bags. (n.d.).https://www.nhtsa.gov/equipment/air-bags
Car seats and booster seats. (n.d.).https://www.nhtsa.gov/equipment/car-seats-and-booster-seats
Child passenger safety. (n.d.).https://drivinglaws.aaa.com/tag/child-passenger-safety/
Child passenger safety. (n.d.).https://www.ghsa.org/index.php/issues/child-passenger-safety
Durbin, D. R., et al. (2018). Child passenger safety.https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/142/5/e20182460
Illinois compiled statutes: Vehicles (625 ILCS25/) Child Passenger Protection Act. (n.d.).http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=1819&ChapterID=49
Injury prevention and control: Child passenger safety. (2019).https://www.cdc.gov/injury/features/child-passenger-safety/index.html
Keep kids safe on the road. (n.d.).https://www.nhtsa.gov/es/car-seats-and-booster-seats/child-passenger-safety-week
Louisiana State Legislature: RS 32:295 Child passenger restraint system. (n.d.).http://legis.la.gov/Legis/law.aspx?d=88231
Motor vehicle safety: Child passenger safety. (2019).https://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/child_passenger_safety/index.html
Motor vehicle safety: Child passenger safety: Get the facts. (2019).https://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/child_passenger_safety/cps-factsheet.html
National Safety Council position/policy statement: Child passenger restraints. (2016).https://www.nsc.org/Portals/0/Documents/NewsDocuments/2016/CPS%20policy.pdf
Seat belts & child restraints. (n.d.).https://wtsc.wa.gov/programs-priorities/seat-belts-child-restraints/

Share this article

Written by Jamie Eske on December 17, 2019

Latest news

Diabetes-fighting gut molecule may help lower insulin resistance
Polyphenol-rich cocoa, coffee, and berries may help support heart health
GLP-1s may have little to no impact on breast, thyroid cancer risk, research says
Cheese was linked to lower dementia risk in a new study but there's a catch
Lower-calorie diet could help keep the brain young, animal study says

Related Coverage

Signs of concussion in children and toddlers
Concussion is a form of traumatic brain injury. Parents and caregivers should be aware of the warning signs and symptoms of concussion in children and…
READ MORE
What to do after a baby fallsMedically reviewed by Carissa Stephens, R.N., CCRN, CPN
A baby falling off a bed can be frightening, but in most cases, it does not cause any serious harm. However, injuries are possible, so it is important…
READ MORE
When to see a doctor if a child has a nosebleed
Nosebleeds are common in young children. Most nosebleeds are not a cause for concern, and it is usually possible to treat them at home by applying…
READ MORE
How do you treat neck pain in children?
Many cases of neck pain in children are due to muscle strain. Home remedies and lifestyle changes are often enough to help a child get relief…
READ MORE
What are the benefits of tummy time?Medically reviewed by Carissa Stephens, R.N., CCRN, CPN
Tummy time can help babies develop motor skills and strength as they learn to prop themselves up. Learn more here.
READ MORE

Tag » How Big To Sit In Front Seat

When Can A Child Sit In The Front Seat Of A Car? - Medical News Today

Health Conditions

Health Products

News

Original Series

Podcasts

General Health

Health Tools

Quizzes

About Medical News Today

Find Community

Follow Us

Age-specific safety information

Birth to 3 years

3 to 7 years

8 to 12 years

State-specific child safety laws

Risks for children sitting in the front seat

General tips for driving with children

Summary

How we reviewed this article:

Latest news

Related Coverage

When Can A Child Sit In The Front Seat: By Height And Age - Healthline

When Can A Child Sit In The Front Seat Of The Car? - Safe Ride 4 Kids

Child Car Seats & Boosters Facts Singapore - Budget Direct Insurance

Child Passenger Safety | CDC

Car Safety In Singapore: Taxis, Laws, Car Seats And Boosters

What Is The Height Requirement For Sitting In Front Seat?

Child Seat And Seat Belt Laws

Children Car Seat Rules And Safety Guidelines In Singapore

When Can A Child Sit In The Front Seat: By Height And Age

When Should Your Child Be Allowed To Ride In The Front Seat?

Child Passenger Safety Law FAQs - Securing North Carolina For Life

Can My Child Sit In The Front Seat Of A Car? - Halfords Blog

Child Safety Seats - California Highway Patrol

Contact