Child seats?

Hey, anyone know what exactly is the story with putting child seats on the front seats of cars that have a front airbag? Obviously my jeep doesn't have rear seats and I'm sick of taxing and insuring it and the corolla which only gets used once or twice a week to put James in. I know you can't put rearward facing seats in the front with airbags but just not sure about forward facing ones, he's 20 months at this stage. Any help appreciated from anyone who has experience of this would be great, cheers.

Airbags and child seat of any form are a big no no. They are designed to receive and adults noggin. If you can't deactivate it yourself (some cars have a switch) your dealer will be able to, for a fee usually.

Cheers Don, that's what I thought alright. There isn't the option of turning the airbag off myself, will look into getting it de-activated so.

be careful there. if the dealer deactivates it ,which he shouldn't do really, your insurance may be affected. I asked a dealer to do it for me and he wouldn't for that reason.

Whey don't you get them to fit a deactivation switch which would have the correct warning signage. I assume that cars that come with this fitted as standard aren't in contravention of there insurance policy.

The only issue regarding airbags is when you are using a rear facing child seat - according to the guidelines these must not be used together. If the child is in a forward facing seat, then it's simply your call whether you want them to sit there, there's no law against it.


In general, the rules are different for children under and over 36kg. A child weighing less than 36kg must be restrained by 'appropriate child restraint'. If the child is over 36kg then he/she can use a normal seatbelt, usually sitting in a booster seat.

all the details are here:

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en...n_ireland.html