Can an Infant Car Seat Be Placed in Front Seat?

When children are outgrowing their infant car seats, they can move to convertible or all-in one car seats. These car seats can be used rear-facing or forward-facing, however they have to meet certain age and weight specifications.

It is not recommended to place car seats in front of airbags on a vehicle seat, as the impact of the airbag could cause fatal injuries to infants and children.

1. The 1.5 Inch Rule

Many parents wonder if an infant car seat may be placed in front of the driver's seat, and the answer is always no. The reason is very simple: If a crash happens, the child could have their head struck by an airbag, especially if they are in the front seat. The airbag can injure or even kill a child.

This is why infant car seats are made to be rear-facing only. In a crash the back of the seat will be positioned against the back of your vehicle seat. This will provide the most protection for your infant.

A rear facing infant car seat-facing car seats protects your child's head and neck better than a front-facing seat, which only provides minimal protection. The headrest also prevents the child from slipping off the shoulder straps during the event of a crash and the harness will keep the chest clip in place above the shoulders of your child.

It's important to keep it in mind that there have been ZERO documented instances of children riding forward-facing seats breaking their leg when they strike the rear of the vehicle seat. This happens when children's feet rise and get caught against the seat's back, which puts tremendous pressure on the bones of the legs. This is not something you should put your child in danger of.

There are numerous programs in the United States that provide infant car seats at a discount or for free to parents who qualify. This is a great way to get your child into a secure car seat before they grow out of it and use it safely for many years.

The base of many newer infant car seat models is designed to be easily removed and inserted, making them easier to use. This feature is especially beneficial for traveling with young children, as you can keep the car seat on and ready to go even if you change vehicles.

Find the middle of the seat and measure with the aid of a tape. Many items, such as the blade of a key for the house or the length of wireless earbuds are approximately 1.5 inches long and can be used to determine this space. Examine the directions for the car seat and the owner's manual of your vehicle to determine whether the angle can be adjusted to remove the space.

2. Harness Position

Preemies and newborns frequently fall into a dangerous chin-to-chest posture in infant car seats, bouncy chairs, swings, strollers and other equipment for children. In a crash, they may be injured by the chest clip or crushed by straps on the harness that are too loose or have not been placed over their shoulders. To avoid this, ensure that the straps for your shoulders start a bit lower and move up over the child's shoulders and ensure that you tighten the straps. The straps should be tight enough to be able to squeeze any fabric that is not tight enough which is known as the Pinch Test. Winter coats and other heavy outer layers can hinder the Pinch Test, so take them off them before you buckle your child into their seat.

The chest clip is designed to break in an accident, but it could cause a child's throat to collapse if it's too low or when the chest straps aren't tight enough. The chest clip shouldn't be located in the neck opening. Instead, it should be at the armpit level.

In the event of a crash who are facing rearwards will slide off the seat. The harness straps must be able to support the head and neck of the child. It is important to place the straps above the shoulders. If the straps fall too low, they can slip through the neck opening of the baby or even over their ears. If they're too loose, they can reach the child's face.

Make sure the shoulder straps are in the slots over the shoulders of your child and they fit comfortably. Newborns may need a separate infant insert (often included with the car seats by age seat) to raise them so their shoulders reach the slot. Some infant car seats have built-in angle indicators or adjustors to help with this and you can always check the instructions included with your seat.

3. Rear-Facing Only

While some parents might be tempted to flip their infant car seat rear facing car seat around to face forward due to their child's legs being too short in the rear-facing position really no reason why you should. Rear-facing is more secure than forward-facing because the baby's neck and spine are protected in the event of an accident. Children who are facing forwards are thrown backwards against the vehicle and can cause serious injuries.

Additionally, many infant car seats come with an integrated angle indicator so you can be sure the seat is properly installed. It is also important to make sure your child's head is level against the seat and the harness straps are positioned over their shoulders, not beneath their arms or twisted. You can pinch a tiny bit of fabric on their shoulder to confirm that the harness is tight enough. It is also important to check the crotch buckle strap to be sure it is level with the armpits, rather than at the waist. You should also review the manual of your infant car seat to ensure that you know how to use it properly.

Most manufacturers advise that children sit rear-facing in their car seats until they reach at least one year old or until they have reached the height and weight limits of their specific car seat. Some states have laws requiring infants to be rear-facing for at minimum two years.

Install the infant car seat on the middle seat of a vehicle that only has one back seat. This allows you to view your child easily through the rearview mirror, without having to bend. Installing the car seat on your driver's side can make it easier to get your child in and out of the seat.

If your vehicle has two rear seats the infant car seat in front seat (cameradb.review) car seat can be set on either side as that it is not in front of the airbag on the passenger side. If you need to choose between installing the infant car seat on the left or right side of the vehicle, you can put it on the driver's side.

4. Booster Seats

All children who outgrow their infant car seat by weight or height must use a booster seat until their vehicle seat belt fits them properly. This is only possible when they are at least 4 feet 9 inches tall and have reached the top rated baby car seats of their headrest (check the seat manufacturer's recommendations for exact measurements).

Booster seats aid in positioning the lap and shoulder belt properly. Booster seats also help reduce the amount that a neck moves in collisions, which reduces the chance of injury. Motor vehicle accidents are the most fatal killer of children between the ages of 4-8, and head motion is the main cause.

If a booster is used incorrectly the lap portion of the belt could slide up to the abdomen of a child and cause serious injuries in a crash. This can be prevented by using a booster with lap belt guides to prevent the lap belt from climbing over arm rests or sliding on a child's belly.

Many boosters come with small handles or armrests, or guide slots that help put the lapbelt flat on a child's top legs. This ensures that the lap belt is placed and stays on the child's sturdy hip bones instead of being pushed up into their soft stomach area during a crash.

Certain booster seats feature the seatbelt locking mechanism which locks the seatbelt in place when a child sits in them. This can stop the lapbelt from moving up and over the child's abdomen. This may also help prevent the seat belt from being pulled across a child's face, which could result in airway obstruction and hypoxia, as and neck strain.