My husband drives a sports car daily, and there is no back seat. Originally I thought we would have to get a 3rd car, as he's probably going to be picking the baby up from DC daily after work. I assumed we needed a car with back seats.
Then I thought about how growing up I always sat in a car seat in my dad's pickup truck, and I see car seats installed in those all the time.
So I start Googling, and see that Porsche makes their own infant car seat, but it's $700+. And we would have to buy another when they out-grow the infant seat.
The Porsche seats (make of his car) have brackets and bars that brace to the floor, etc. I'm not sure if this is just more for show, or necessary, as the seat attaches with a seatbelt as it would in any other car.
From what I've read, my husband's car isn't any less safe than my own (small SUV), as long as the child is rear facing per guidelines. His car actually has superb safety ratings in crashes, has roll over bars, and lots of reinforcement on the sides.
I'm trying to find a source with info on which standard brand infant/child seats might work in lieu of the Porsche seat. I don't want to fork over $700+ on an infant seat if we can find an equally safe alternative. I'm not sure if this seat is so expensive because others may not fit easily?
Does anyone have an infant seat in the front of a small car that lacks rear seating?
Wait, so the car seat will be in the passenger seat of the two seater? I didn't think this was possible at all.
This is what I found on the car-safety.org website: Q45: Can I put my carseat in the front seat of my vehicle?
Airbags can be deadly to infants in rear-facing carseats, and to children 12 and under using the seatbelts. The front seat is generally not recommended for children 12 and under. The airbag MUST be disabled if you must use a rear-facing child seat in the front. Some vehicles without a rear seat, especially pickup trucks, have an on/off switch for this purpose. If a child must ride in the front, you should also move the front seat as far back as it will go. Please only consider a front seat if no other option is available. Also see: NHTSA Tips on Air Bag Safety
Is there any reason a normal infant bucket seat won't fit?
I don't know, yet. That's what I'm trying to figure out. It very well may. The front seat isn't tight. Which is why I'm wondering if Porsche makes that suped up seat for those merely looking to spend more. I should probably chat with one of my close friends and ask if we can test out her infant seat and/or base.
My gut says we may end up getting a 3rd car in the end, but my husband's big on safety and feels his car is safe enough. So I'm trying to do some research.
Post by fortmyersbride on Sept 14, 2012 11:15:15 GMT -5
I believe you that the seats exist, I just have a hard time accepting the image of an infant in the front seat. I guess it's just the thought of them without the added security of the seats in front of them that makes me uneasy.
Plus how much of a PITA will in be to install/uninstall the seat whenever he wants to use his passenger seat for another adult?
Honestly, I would get a third car. It sounds like a huge investment to outfit his car for each different carseat, and if you have another kid then this system wouldn't work anyway.
Post by gnomesweetgnome on Sept 14, 2012 11:15:25 GMT -5
All the manuals, etc. always have images of rear-facing car seats being smashed to smithereens by air bags stamped on them - I thought it was a given that RFing seats do not belong in the front seat. IDK.
Wait, so the car seat will be in the passenger seat of the two seater? I didn't think this was possible at all.
This is what I found on the car-safety.org website: Q45: Can I put my carseat in the front seat of my vehicle?
Airbags can be deadly to infants in rear-facing carseats, and to children 12 and under using the seatbelts. The front seat is generally not recommended for children 12 and under. The airbag MUST be disabled if you must use a rear-facing child seat in the front. Some vehicles without a rear seat, especially pickup trucks, have an on/off switch for this purpose.
I know that about the airbags, as posted above. It would be turned off.
I see people in my area with toddlers in the front of their 2 seater sports cars often. Have not noticed infant seats because they are lower and less visible.
My very half-assed research indicates that the porsche seat comes with an airbag deactivation kit, which is ~$250 of the cost.
I drove my kid around in a Geo Metro for the first few months of his life (but he was in the back!). I suspect your kid would be safer in the front of a Porsche than he was in the back of my tin can on wheels.
Air bags can be disengaged. I don't know why everyone keeps saying "OMG! Air bags!"
I believe you that the seats exist, I just have a hard time accepting the image of an infant in the front seat. I guess it's just the thought of them without the added security of the seats in front of them that makes me uneasy.
Plus how much of a PITA will in be to install/uninstall the seat whenever he wants to use his passenger seat for another adult?
Honestly, I would get a third car. It sounds like a huge investment to outfit his car for each different carseat, and if you have another kid then this system wouldn't work anyway.
I rarely ride in his car. We usually use my car when we're together. He says he would be fine with having a fixed base there at all times.
All the manuals, etc. always have images of rear-facing car seats being smashed to smithereens by air bags stamped on them - I thought it was a given that RFing seats do not belong in the front seat. IDK.
Did you read my post? The airbag would be turned off. That's a requirement for front child seat installation.
My very half-assed research indicates that the porsche seat comes with an airbag deactivation kit, which is ~$250 of the cost.
I drove my kid around in a Geo Metro for the first few months of his life (but he was in the back!). I suspect your kid would be safer in the front of a Porsche than he was in the back of my tin can on wheels.
Air bags can be disengaged. I don't know why everyone keeps saying "OMG! Air bags!"
After a bit of reading we have found out that his model has a switch, so we don't have to spend $250 on the bar. I think, thankfully, that the bar is only needed for 2005 models and older.
Thanks for your insight.
I'm not concerned about the safety of being in the front - more the seat which we have to get.
Yes, you said that you will turn off the passenger side airbag. I was posting whatever the website said.
As far as people letting toddlers right in their 2 seater sports car, I really hope they were in appropriate restrains. IMO, babies and toddlers have no business sitting in the front seat of ANY car even if they are in the appropriate restraints. It's just not worth the risk to me.
I say this as someone whose extra long 15mo old DS still sits RF despite everyone else hounding me to turn him around.
One of the kids at DS's old daycare was always in the front in a bucket seat. I thought it was weird because it was a PT Cruiser and had a back seat. I presume he had the airbag off and it was safe, the airbag is the main issue from what I understand. I never asked him. I've seen them in trucks too.
Does it have unusual seatbelts or the standard type? I know those can come into play with installing.
ETA: EmilieMadison is a car seat tech. She might know offhand or where to go. I was not impressed with the one I saw. A higher end baby/toy store here has them on staff as well.
No real advice. Just wanted to offer that I've seen car seats installed in two-seaters here and there in Europe. No idea whatsoever if they're seats specific to the car manufacturer or what.
In my state you can find a carseat tech at your local State Trooper's headquarters. You might try this website: www.seatcheck.org/ If you can get an individual appt rather than going to a walk in session, that would probably be better since your situation is kind of specific.
One of the kids at DS's old daycare was always in the front in a bucket seat. I thought it was weird because it was a PT Cruiser and had a back seat. I presume he had the airbag off and it was safe, the airbag is the main issue from what I understand. I never asked him. I've seen them in trucks too.
Does it have unusual seatbelts or the standard type? I know those can come into play with installing.
Putting them in the front when there is a back, is strange. huh
Seatbelts are completely standard. The front seat even moves forward/back and reclines (though not as much as in a car w/a back seat).
Up until today, I assumed a regular infant seat would fit. It wasn't until I saw Porsche's suped up infant seat that had me scratching my head.
I wouldn't be surprised if my husband opts for the suped up version in the end.
Look at the bar that braces the floor!
It looks like the infant carrier/seat does snap into a base, so that's a plus. But omg, $700.
I think Porsche needs their own carseat based on the angle of the seat itself. It might be easier to install using their brand vs any other infant seat.
Yes, if PD near you doesn't schedule carseat installations often I would call the hospital where you will be delivering. Sometimes they will do it by appointment too.
I would worry about the airbag switch getting accidentally switched off (don't know how likely this is given the location). And I'd go with your H's idea of having it perm installed so that there's less of a chance of installing it wrong and forgetting to flip the switch (if that's how it works). I am not team buy a third car if those two precautions are taken.
Does the next seat up rear face from birth weights too? If it does might be worth considering just getting that from the start. The only time DS rode solo with DH was to daycare each morning and we changed to a convertible at 6 or 7 months.
I would worry about the airbag switch getting accidentally switched off (don't know how likely this is given the location). And I'd go with your H's idea of having it perm installed so that there's less of a chance of installing it wrong and forgetting to flip the switch (if that's how it works). I am not team buy a third car if those two precautions are taken.
The switch isn't on the dash. I think it's more of disengaging the fuse.
Post by karinothing on Sept 14, 2012 11:35:55 GMT -5
I think as long as you can turn off the airbag, it is okay as long as it can be rearfacing. Does Porsche make a convertible seat. I mean if there is somethign special about their car seats, you can put an infant in a convertible seat, I have known plenty of people who have done it. Not saying you want to spend $700, btu that is an option.
I do think the child is going to be less protected in a front seat during a crash just becuase there isn't the space of the front seats to protect them.
Does the next seat up rear face from birth weights too? If it does might be worth considering just getting that from the start. The only time DS rode solo with DH was to daycare each morning and we changed to a convertible at 6 or 7 months.
Smart - I will check. DH won't need a carrier as much as I will, so having one in his car isn't vital.