infant car seat in car w/only front seats

[countthestars]

I'm pretty sure the poster emiliemadison is a car seat expert something or other.

ETA: She posts on MM but primarily on ML, I think.

[cjeanette]

You will have to update us on what you find out. I am curious to know.

[karinothing]

Sept 14, 2012 11:36:15 GMT -5 CloudBee said:

Sept 14, 2012 11:33:54 GMT -5 Redpoppy said:

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.

Not having the carried is no big deal IMO. We had one, but never took it out of the car. I prefered to wear DS and given the fact that he screamed non-stop in the car seat for the first 3 months or so, he did too lol.

[EmilieMadison]

I'm a car seat tech

Ok, so depending on the mode and year of the Porsche, you have lots of options.
First, you absolutely CAN use a child seat in the front seat of a vehicle with no back seat. These vehicles are required to have a shutoff switch for the passenger airbag, which is the reason that you should never put a RF seat in the front of other vehicles. Ever. Because it is not possible to disengage the airbag on other vehicles.

There have, however, been recalls in some Porsche models regarding the switch, so if you do have the make/model/year, I can give you specifics.

I believe there is something specific with the Porsche brand child seats that deactivates the airbag when installed, so it's possible that you would have to get the dealer to manually deactivate the airbag for you if you use another brand of child seat.

Wish I could be more help, but I haven't had much experience with seats in any Porsche models.

[CloudBee]

Sept 14, 2012 12:15:36 GMT -5 EmilieMadison said:

I'm a car seat tech

Ok, so depending on the mode and year of the Porsche, you have lots of options.
First, you absolutely CAN use a child seat in the front seat of a vehicle with no back seat. These vehicles are required to have a shutoff switch for the passenger airbag, which is the reason that you should never put a RF seat in the front of other vehicles. Ever. Because it is not possible to disengage the airbag on other vehicles.

There have, however, been recalls in some Porsche models regarding the switch, so if you do have the make/model/year, I can give you specifics.

I believe there is something specific with the Porsche brand child seats that deactivates the airbag when installed, so it's possible that you would have to get the dealer to manually deactivate the airbag for you if you use another brand of child seat.

Wish I could be more help, but I haven't had much experience with seats in any Porsche models.

This is so helpful! Thank you for stopping by.

I will definitely contact our dealer, then, and take a look at the owner's manual this weekend.

I will also look for info on the switch recalls to see if our model has been included.

I'm so thankful for everyone's insight.

[CloudBee]

Sept 14, 2012 12:55:00 GMT -5 @fivedogs said:

Ditto emiliemadison - you need to be able to reliably disable the airbag in order to use a carseat in the front seat of a vehicle. Most newer vehicles with backseats have sensors to prevent deployment if it doesn't sense 70 lbs or so on the seat, but those are not foolproof - you're supposed to have a permanent switch (I think some have keys, etc.). Obviously follow the instructions in the manual, and I would go to a baby store and try out several different carseats to see which one fits best.

www.carseat.se/are-car-seats-in-front-seat-safe/

Do stores typically let you run seats out to your car to test for fit? Is this common?

[Ashley&Scott]

Sept 14, 2012 12:59:56 GMT -5 CloudBee said:

Do stores typically let you run seats out to your car to test for fit? Is this common?

BRU will, an employee goes out with you.

[AmyRI]

Does the seat by any chance have the LATCH system? Or do you have to use the seatbelt? It could be my own ineptitude, but I have yet to get a carseat to install tightly enough with the standard belt. I only use the LATCH system to get it stable enough. (I was told no more than an inch of movement side-to-side, which was easy to do with the regular belt.)

If it doesn't, I'd seriously consider getting the suped-up version so it has the extra floor bar brace for stability's sake.

[af1212]

[/quote]
Do stores typically let you run seats out to your car to test for fit? Is this common?[/quote]

Yes - sometimes they send an employee out with you, and sometimes they take some kind of collateral (like a driver's license) and let you go on your own. I've bought 4 carseats at 3 different stores and never encountered a problem.

[CloudBee]

Sept 14, 2012 13:07:57 GMT -5 AmyRI said:

Does the seat by any chance have the LATCH system? Or do you have to use the seatbelt? It could be my own ineptitude, but I have yet to get a carseat to install tightly enough with the standard belt. I only use the LATCH system to get it stable enough. (I was told no more than an inch of movement side-to-side, which was easy to do with the regular belt.)

If it doesn't, I'd seriously consider getting the suped-up version so it has the extra floor bar brace for stability's sake.

Ohh, I forgot about that little bracket. I will check tonight. I hope it's there! If not, and we get a seat that can't be installed at the dealership (as it's off the shelf) I will have a tech install it for us.

[fortmyersbride]

Hmm, well this post has been rather informative, and definitely not something I will share with my DH! He really wanted a 2 seater, but I made him get a sports car with a backseat claiming that carseats can't go up front

So your DH will always be riding in the car alone if not with the baby? II was just wondering if he ever drives to lunch or such with friends and coworkers and might have to uninstall the system then.

[CloudBee]

Sept 14, 2012 15:04:56 GMT -5 fortmyersbride said:

Hmm, well this post has been rather informative, and definitely not something I will share with my DH! He really wanted a 2 seater, but I made him get a sports car with a backseat claiming that carseats can't go up front

So your DH will always be riding in the car alone if not with the baby? II was just wondering if he ever drives to lunch or such with friends and coworkers and might have to uninstall the system then.

It's all new to me, too!

If he ever goes anywhere with colleagues, they walk, or take a hired car (meetings, dinners, etc.). When we're together on weekends, we're usually running errands and need space for groceries, Home Depot items, etc., which is why we're in my CRV. I'm also not fond of riding so low to the ground. I much prefer to be high up. Once in a blue moon I'll hop in the Porsche for a ride past the beach with him, but that's it. Totally his love - not mine, lol.

He takes the dog in his car allll the time, but I have a feeling once the baby is around, they will become his new sidekick. heh

[DarcyLongfellow]

A $700 carseat is cheaper than a third car!

We were in your exact situation when DD was born, except I SAH so there was no reason that DH had to drive DD around in his car. He tried to sell me on the special Porche carseat, but because there was really no reason that the baby needed to be in his car, we didn't really even consider it. We just only used my car for baby transportation. We ended up buying a third car around DD's first birthday because it was getting to be a pain.

I'd check out the safety ratings of the Porche seat. Look on car-seat.org to see if anyone on there has advice about that particular seat. The safety of that particular seat would be my biggest concern. I don't really trust Porche to design a safe carseat. If it turns out the seat is safe, then I'd save the massive amounts of money you would otherwise spend on a third car and just suck it up and get the expensive carseat. Even if it only buys you a year before you decide you really need a new car, I think you'd still come out ahead.

[CloudBee]

Sept 14, 2012 15:13:50 GMT -5 DarcyLongfellow said:

A $700 carseat is cheaper than a third car!

We were in your exact situation when DD was born, except I SAH so there was no reason that DH had to drive DD around in his car. He tried to sell me on the special Porche carseat, but because there was really no reason that the baby needed to be in his car, we didn't really even consider it. We just only used my car for baby transportation. We ended up buying a third car around DD's first birthday because it was getting to be a pain.

I'd check out the safety ratings of the Porche seat. Look on car-seat.org to see if anyone on there has advice about that particular seat. The safety of that particular seat would be my biggest concern. I don't really trust Porche to design a safe carseat. If it turns out the seat is safe, then I'd save the massive amounts of money you would otherwise spend on a third car and just suck it up and get the expensive carseat. Even if it only buys you a year before you decide you really need a new car, I think you'd still come out ahead.

It's made by Britax! I know that thus far, at least.

I'm happy I have until March to figure this out.

For your 3rd car, did you get something you wanted, or did you settle for a less expensive backup? If we end up with a 3rd car I'm not sure if we would go cheap, or pick out something he we enjoy driving.

[Deleted]

If you can turn the airbag off with a switch a 2 seater car is just as safe as a normal car.

[kangaroo11]

Sept 14, 2012 15:04:56 GMT -5 fortmyersbride said:

Hmm, well this post has been rather informative, and definitely not something I will share with my DH! He really wanted a 2 seater, but I made him get a sports car with a backseat claiming that carseats can't go up front

I'm not sharing this with my husband either! He drives a hatchback with a tiny backseat and if he's taking the baby somewhere, chances are good he's taking the dog too. I'm not sure how I feel about dog+baby in the backseat because the dog loves to lick faces. I'd prefer him to get a sedan, so we'll see how that goes!

[CloudBee]

Porsche has a convertible Britax Roundabout that's cheaper than the infant seat. Will definitely be looking at this.

[seatown]

Hi, I'm a total lurker but just wanted to chime in that DH also has a Porsche and you can definitely put a RF infant seat in the front seat with the airbag off. We did not opt for the Porsche brand seat (not worth the $$ imo and like PP I didn't trust Porsche to make a good car seat). We just used our regular infant carrier (Chicco Keyfit) and it worked fine. I used the seatbelt to secure the base and was always able to get a good fit.

Let me know if you need any more help! We have 2 kiddos and I went through several car seats and tons of research in order to get our car more family friendly...hopefully I can save you some of the headaches and trial and error I went through

[CloudBee]

Sept 15, 2012 0:07:25 GMT -5 seatown said:

Hi, I'm a total lurker but just wanted to chime in that DH also has a Porsche and you can definitely put a RF infant seat in the front seat with the airbag off. We did not opt for the Porsche brand seat (not worth the $$ imo and like PP I didn't trust Porsche to make a good car seat). We just used our regular infant carrier (Chicco Keyfit) and it worked fine. I used the seatbelt to secure the base and was always able to get a good fit.

Let me know if you need any more help! We have 2 kiddos and I went through several car seats and tons of research in order to get our car more family friendly...hopefully I can save you some of the headaches and trial and error I went through

This is awesome. Thank you so much! Can you suggest a convertible seat? I think we may opt for that vs. an infant seat, as my husband really doesn't need the carrier.

So happy to hear firsthand experience! Thanks again. I will PM you as well.

[seatown]

Sept 15, 2012 0:09:48 GMT -5 CloudBee said:

This is awesome. Thank you so much! Can you suggest a convertible seat? I think we may opt for that vs. an infant seat, as my husband really doesn't need the carrier.

So happy to hear firsthand experience! Thanks again. I will PM you as well.

So glad I could help! Our setup is a little different since our car is a 2+2 and both our kiddos are old enough now to go in the back seat. We first used the KeyFit in the front seat for DS2, then when he got old enough/big enough, we put him FF in the back in a convertible seat (Evenflo Tribute). I'm sure this car seat would still work RF in the front, though.

Basically I would recommend getting one of the smaller convertible car seats (the ones that only go up to 40 lb) since some of the other car seats that have a higher weight limit are huge and will take up a ton of room. My first choice would have been the Britax Roundabout 40 but they've been discontinued and replaced with a larger model. So we ended up with the Tribute. I've been happy with it so far.

Our 5 yo DS is in a booster (Recaro Vivo) and I love this seat! It fits well, is really plush, and is not too $$...plus my DH likes it b/c Recaro is a well-known brand of racing seats Not sure if high-back boosters can go in the front seat since we only use ours in the back, but just thought I'd throw it out there for when your LO is older

[mccallister84]

Not a mom - but just saw this last night, although the kid was in a convertible and was definitely not a newborn. Funny, because I don't think I've ever seen it before.

[carolinagirl831]

I think whatever car seat option you choose even the $700 one is a much better option than a 3rd car at this point! it sounds like a car seat I'll work out fine I. The front, that is what I would do

[lindyanne]

Safekids.org is also a good place to find a tech and they also have a calendar of car seat clinics to get it installed/checked periodically.

[slug*bug]

Sept 14, 2012 11:25:54 GMT -5 CloudBee said:

Sept 14, 2012 11:21:47 GMT -5 Redpoppy said:

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.

Eh, our infant car seat base (MaxiCosi CabrioFix for use in cars not LATCH compatible w/their seats) had a very similar pole that extended from the base to the floor of the car, so I don't think that feature is unique to Porsche or their seats.

FWIW, I had a CW w/a Porsche Boxter who wanted to do the same thing and long story short, for a variety of reasons, she just wound up buying a second car. Prior to her decision, the answer she got from the dealership about making the car carseat ready was that yes, it was possible, but that they didn't recommend it.

RE: Europe. It's shocking how many kids you see in the front seat of cars...it's legal (apparently) but it really hurts my brain b/c the 'backseat is best' message is so burned into my thinking.