Children are safest riding in the back seat of a car, and most states have laws requiring children to ride in the back seat until a certain age or height. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that all children under age 13 buckle up in the back seat for safety. However, if all the rear seats are occupied by other children, generally speaking, a child can sit in the front seat.
The appropriate age for a child to ride in the front seat varies depending on the childs size and age. The Centers for Disease Control, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and most car manufacturers recommend keeping children under age 13 in the back seat. By age 13, its much safer to allow your child to ride up front because theyre taller and their bones have become harder and denser.
When a child can pass the 5-step test and they reach the appropriate age requirements, they can start riding in the front. The 5-step test includes:
- The child can sit all the way back against the vehicle seat.
- The childs knees bend comfortably at the edge of the vehicle seat.
- The belt crosses the shoulder between the neck and arm.
- The lap belt is low and snug across the thighs, not the stomach.
- The child can stay seated like this for the whole trip.
Even if a child can technically and legally sit in the front seat, its still safer for them to sit in the back.
