Putting carseat in the front row!

[talalyn]

Seat: Britax Marathon
Truck- small Toyota pickup (2000), bench seat, two door, no 2nd row seating, no LATCH, passenger airbag already disabled.
Child- 15 months old, 26 lbs, RF- 3rd slot up on Marathon, FF- 4th slot up.
We will be traveling 3-4 hours one way in the pickup. Normally we forward face, but when we hit the highways we always rear-face. Every time we have gone somewhere and rear-faced the carseat it has been in a vehicle with 2nd row seating. Im nervous!!!
I have installed countless carseats. I know the routine with the locking clip, etc but I still have concerns with front row in such a small truck. I just dont do the whole 'baby in the front seat' thing.
My issues:
I cant use the versa-tether strap because there is nowhere to attach it.
I cant test the seat in the truck until the day we leave, will it even fit rear-facing?
If the seat does fit, with the dash so close to the seat in rear facing position, is it still safe, or should I suck it up and forward face her?
This is not an optional trip, nor is it one that can be put off until we have our main vehicle up and running again, so waiting is not a choice.

	Forward Facing Car Seats A forward-facing car seat is one in which the child sits facing the front of the car. The seat should be installed in the back seat of your vehicle. Most forward-facing only seats are for children above 20 pounds.

	Britax - Click for more info Britax International has been producing reliable child safety products for over 30 years. Not only does Britax have decades of experience creating car seats and other children's safety equipment, Britax has a long standing reputation as an industry leader and innovator. Britax International is headquartered in the United Kingdom, but Britax car seats are designed and manufactured at facilities in Germany, Austria, and the United States. In the summer of 2002, Britax strengthened their commitment to creating the safest car seats with the opening of a brand new, state-of-the-art crash testing facility in North Carolina. Britax car seats have a reputation around the world for being some of the safest, most reliable, and best designed child safety seats ever made.

	Rear Facing Car Seats A rear-facing seat is one in which the infant faces the back of the car. Always install a rear-facing seat in the back seat of your car. This is the safest position for an infant. NEVER place a rear-facing seat in the front seat of a vehicle with passenger airbags.

	Britax Marathon - Click for more info Increasing the time a child can safely stay in their convertible car seat is a big issue and Britax engineers have come through in a big way with the introduction of the Britax Marathon with LATCH. A LATCH Compatible Convertible Child Seat, the Britax Marathon can be used rear facing 5 to 33 pounds and forward facing from 20 to 65 pounds. Compare the numbers and you will see it is hard to find a seat with these weight limits that is safe and functional.

	LATCH LATCH stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren. It is a system mandated by the Federal government in an effort to standardize and simplify the installation of child restraints without using the vehicle's seat belt system. New vehicles and child safety seats manufactured on and after September 1, 2002 will be equipped with the LATCH system. Cars, minivans, and light trucks will be required to have anchor points between the vehicle's seat cushion and the seat back in at least two rear seating positions, and a top tether anchor (with the exception of convertibles). Child safety seats will have a lower set of attachments that fasten to the vehicle anchors. Most forward-facing child safety seats will also have a top strap (tether) that attaches to the top anchor in the vehicle.

[MnMadhouse]

Not trying to start anything, but why do you only RF when traveling? Statistically, you are more likely to be in a crash driving around town than traveling? Just curious. I get this all the time and I don't understand the logic behind it.

	Rear Facing Car Seats A rear-facing seat is one in which the infant faces the back of the car. Always install a rear-facing seat in the back seat of your car. This is the safest position for an infant. NEVER place a rear-facing seat in the front seat of a vehicle with passenger airbags.

[Papooses]

If there is no backseat & the front passenger airbag has been shut off, then so long as the seat is install + used correctly, not tethering RF is a minor issue. The tether is optional RF, helpful but optional. I wouldn't worry too much if this is the only vehicle you'll be able to use.

IME, Britaxes do fit Toyota bench seats just fine. Have you checked the database?

RF is always safer than FF when the child fits the RF limits. The only reason not to RF would be if the passenger airbag cannot be turned off. In Scandinavia kids ride RF 'til about 50# with the RF seat braced against the dashboard. We're taught to move the vehicle seat as far back as possible, though.

I think this should work out fine

Originally Posted by talalyn

Normally we forward face, but when we hit the highways we always rear-face.

It's good that kiddo gets to ride RF on these trips, but the previous poster is correct that you are MUCH more at risk of crashing on local roads in part because traffic moves in opposite directions with intersections, etc. Highway traffic moves at the same relative speed, in the same direction, without stop/go & without intersections.... While risk of death is increased with speed, risk of crashing on the highways is rare in comparison to local roads (even though it's the sensational highway stories that make the news) My only point is that if you turn kiddo RF for highway travel, then kiddo should ride RF *all* the time.

	Forward Facing Car Seats A forward-facing car seat is one in which the child sits facing the front of the car. The seat should be installed in the back seat of your vehicle. Most forward-facing only seats are for children above 20 pounds.

	Rear Facing Car Seats A rear-facing seat is one in which the infant faces the back of the car. Always install a rear-facing seat in the back seat of your car. This is the safest position for an infant. NEVER place a rear-facing seat in the front seat of a vehicle with passenger airbags.

[talalyn]

Honestly it is because she screams bloody murder whenever we rear-face her. Also the highways I am traveling on are some of the most dangerous in the country.

[Papooses]

Aha, yes, sometimes FF is the only way to reduce driver distraction (the leading cause of crashes) But, a lot of parents find that a (sometimes rather time consuming) relaible outing routine including favorite kid songs, rotating soft toys and/or cloth books & maybe snacks, etc. can help kiddo grow to appreciate (even prefer) RF Not always, but it's worth a try (if you haven't already ) In any event you certainly have the right to feel quite good about making RF work at least sometimes

	Forward Facing Car Seats A forward-facing car seat is one in which the child sits facing the front of the car. The seat should be installed in the back seat of your vehicle. Most forward-facing only seats are for children above 20 pounds.

	Rear Facing Car Seats A rear-facing seat is one in which the infant faces the back of the car. Always install a rear-facing seat in the back seat of your car. This is the safest position for an infant. NEVER place a rear-facing seat in the front seat of a vehicle with passenger airbags.

[talalyn]

We tried to RF her as long as possible, but seeing her brother (5 years and 48lbs) FFing didnt help. Honestly it is more dangerous to RF with her because of the fits. If we go somewhere at naptime or bedtime I always reinstall RFing, but unfortunately FF is the way she has to go most of the time.

	Forward Facing Car Seats A forward-facing car seat is one in which the child sits facing the front of the car. The seat should be installed in the back seat of your vehicle. Most forward-facing only seats are for children above 20 pounds.

	Rear Facing Car Seats A rear-facing seat is one in which the infant faces the back of the car. Always install a rear-facing seat in the back seat of your car. This is the safest position for an infant. NEVER place a rear-facing seat in the front seat of a vehicle with passenger airbags.

[MnMadhouse]

I was just curious I hear the statement, 'we FF at home, but RF out of town' quite often. When my kids were that age, they did the "We know we are independent and we are going to let everyone know we don't like something"...HA! Unfortunately, my 2 y/o weighs too much and is too tall to RF anymore and of course, my 5 y/o is still harnessed and thankfully doesn't moan about it.

	Forward Facing Car Seats A forward-facing car seat is one in which the child sits facing the front of the car. The seat should be installed in the back seat of your vehicle. Most forward-facing only seats are for children above 20 pounds.

	Rear Facing Car Seats A rear-facing seat is one in which the infant faces the back of the car. Always install a rear-facing seat in the back seat of your car. This is the safest position for an infant. NEVER place a rear-facing seat in the front seat of a vehicle with passenger airbags.