How do I switch off the airbag in the passenger seat (to enable use of baby seat) ?

It is not always possible to disable the passenger airbag and details will be found in the vehicle handbook. If the facility exists there will be a key switch in the centre console or dashboard and the ignition key is used to switch it off.

It is reckoned there is only one reason to disable the passenger airbag and that is when a baby seat or cradle is used on the front passenger seat. If the airbag cannot be disabled the baby must go onto the rear seat.

Hello Collette,

(Owner Manual Page 2-68)
The passenger sensing system turns off the right front
passenger frontal airbag and seat-mounted side
impact airbag under certain conditions. The driver
airbags and the roof-rail airbags are not affected by the
passenger sensing system.
The passenger sensing system works with sensors that
are part of the right front passenger seat. The sensors
are designed to detect the presence of a properly-seated
occupant and determine if the right front passenger
frontal airbag and seat-mounted side impact airbag
should be enabled (may inflate) or not.

I'm not sure if a purse or other light weight objects would activate the passenger airbag but if your display is showing random passenger activation it would be best to have a qualified dealer check into it...better safe than sorry.
http://www.gm.ca/media/owners/manuals/2010_Chevrolet_Malibu_Manual_en_CA.pdf

I think it's switch off airbag on passenger seat in case of using baby cradle on that seat. In accident airbag blow up and in most cases do more damage then it's off.

what side passengers or drivers if passengers check the switch which enables you to turn of so can carry baby seat if drivers get checked by the garage maybe just a dodgy sensor?

Hi there It can be that the airbag was switched of for a baby seat. Other wise you will have to take it to a dealer so that they can diagnose the fault. be careful to try and do your own repair's, airbags can be very dangeris

The airbag system in this car is second generation smart airbags, there is no switch, if the weight in the passenger seat is not at least 50 pounds (there is a sensor in the seat cushion) the airbag is switched off to the paassenger seat, but small children should always be in a approved child seat in the back seat anyway.

Your car has second generation airbags and it monitors weight in the passenger seat. If a child sits in the seat the computer looks at the weight and turns off the airbag so not to deploy in a crash. If you put anything in the seat like a purse or briefcase the computer will think its a baby and turn off the airbag.

as long as the srs light is not on the srs system is functioning properly. There is a passanger seat recognition senser and some vehicles are equiped with baby smart-which disables the passanger front air bag when a mercedes child seat is placed on the passanger front seat. More than likley the airbag is being manually switched off. there should be a place on the dash or center console to place the mechanical part of your smart key into and turn the air bag on or off.Once the system is reactivated clear the message in the cluster or turn off your ignition and remove the key and then reinsert key and turn on-this should clear the memmory of the cluster and your message center should not display any warnings

Children in car seats should never be put in the front seat.  In fact children under the age of 13 should never be in the front seat.  Their bodies are not large enough or strong enough to sustain the impact of a crash or an airbag.  For your baby's safety and your peace of mind it'd be best for you to keep your baby in the rear seat and get a mirror for the back seat to see what's going on.