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Daddaddad 
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Joined: 25 October 2011
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 Topic: Baby in my Ute
Posted: 25 October 2011 at 10:51pm |
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Hi,
I was just wondering how old my DD has to be before she can ride in my ute? I've heard a few people say that its not ever ok? and other people say that its fine if rear facing but I was worried about the airbags? maybe i can disable them somehow?
Thanks :)
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maya22
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Joined: 22 May 2008
Points: 1123
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Posted: 26 October 2011 at 8:24am |
You don't say how old she is and which carseat/booster she is in normally? In other words, when she is old enough to use the normal seatbelt she will be fine 
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DS1 July 2007
DS2 Nov 2010
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SophieD
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Joined: 08 November 2009
Points: 719
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Posted: 26 October 2011 at 9:49am |
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I would be wary of the airbag if you have one in the front passenger as an exploding airbag could cause some damage to a small child.
I found this from the Child Restraint Law in NZ Website
New Zealand's Child Restraint Law
Children under 5 years old
* Must be properly restrained by an approved child restraint.
* They must not travel in the car if you can't put them in an approved child restraint.
* Must be properly restrained in an approved child restraint.
Children 5 to 7 years old
* Must use a child restraint if available
* If there is no child restraint available, the child must use a safety belt if available
* If there is no safety belt available the child must be in the back seat.
Children 8 to 14 years old
* Must use safety belts if available
* If there is no safety belt available, the child must be in the back seat.
People over 14 years old
* Drivers and passengers must wear safety belts when available
But then it also says this at the top...
The back seat is the safest place for children under 12 years of age. Never place a rear facing seat in the front with an airbag, serious injury or death could occur in an accident. Only put forward facing child in the front seat (under the age of 12 years) when the back seat has no spare seats. Move the passenger seat back as far as possible and restrain the child correctly according to your child's weight and height. If the back seat is available use it at all times.
Hope that helps :-)
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Nothing
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Joined: 05 June 2009
Location: Nelson
Points: 1470
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Posted: 26 October 2011 at 10:49am |
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You should NEVER put a child in a car seat in the front seat with an air bag unless you can disable it.
Rear face your child for as long as you can as it is the safest way for them. If you do choose to forward face early then the back seat is the best place. I personally wouldnt put any kid in the front seat until they are tall enough to be there (147cm tall).
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AandCsmum
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Joined: 13 May 2008
Location: Palmerston North
Points: 8432
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Posted: 26 October 2011 at 1:26pm |
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I guess you have no back seat? Maybe look into seeing if you can get the air bag disabled??
We've got an extra cab & also no airbags so car seat can go front or rear.
My kids LOVE going for rides in the Ute...I have no idea why but they do!
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Kel
A = 01.02.04 & C = 16.01.09 & G = 30.03.12
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Babe
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Joined: 21 May 2007
Location: New Zealand
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Posted: 26 October 2011 at 1:30pm |
I wouldn't be inclined to use the front seat at all while the airbags are enabled. We don't have airbags in our 96 hilux so our 4yo will often use the front seat either as a treat or if hes carsick (in his carseat of course) but that wouldn't be an option for us if we did have airbags simply because if they deploy in an accident the force is greater than the child and can cause death even in a situation where the child would have been otherwise unharmed. We're pretty happy-go-lucky with our kids but this is definitely one of those 'err on the side of caution' situations IMO 
You should be able to either disable the airbag yourself or take it in to get done - they aren't a legal requirement so there shouldn't be any probs. I'm not sure how dangerous it is if you have the side airbags but thats worth checking for and considering too. GL!!
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Kellz
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Joined: 01 January 1900
Location: Gisborne
Points: 7186
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Posted: 26 October 2011 at 5:57pm |
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DD has been going in the front seat FIL's ute, and DH's work van since she was old enough to forward face in her carseat - there is no back seat, and no airbags tho. Its also not possible to tether her carseat into the ute, but we got a anchor bolt put into the van easily.
We wont them them go in the front seat of our car or other cars where there are airbags tho.
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T_Rex
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Joined: 07 March 2007
Location: PN
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Posted: 26 October 2011 at 7:46pm |
Try having a chat to the safe-2-go technician at a rural plunket clinic? I live near a farming town and see the local plunket and they have lots of experience with carseat options for utes. Apparently they can be quite tricky so a rural tech would be a better bet than a city plunket
Otherwise I think SophieD had great info. If you can install an age & weight appropriate carseat in accordance with its instructions then you are good to go.
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Daddaddad
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Joined: 25 October 2011
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Posted: 26 October 2011 at 10:15pm |
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mmmm lots of good points! I think T_Rex, your suggestion might be the way to go - would be nice if i was able to use the ute on occasion, but will stick to rear facing car till we know more :)
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Baby in my Ute
