Can an Infant Car Seat Be Placed in Front Seat?

When children outgrow their infant car seat in front seat car seats, they can switch to convertible or all-in one car seats. These car seats can be rear-facing or forward-facing but they need to meet certain weight and age requirements.

It is not advised to place car seats in front of airbags on the car seat, because the force of the airbag can cause fatal injuries to babies and children.

1. The 1.5 Inch Rule

Many parents inquire if the infant car seat best car seat could be placed in front of the vehicle driver's seat. The answer is always no. The reason is simple: When a crash occurs the child's head may be hit by an airbag while in the front seat. The airbag could injure or even kill a baby.

This is the reason why infant car seats are designed to be rear-facing only. In the event of a collision the back of the seat will rest against the back of your vehicle seat. This provides the best car seat security for the infant.

Additionally, the rear-facing car seat protects the head and neck of your child more than a forward-facing one that offers only minimal head and neck protection. The headrest also prevents the child from sliding off the shoulder straps during the event of a crash and the harness holds the chest clip above your child's shoulders.

It is important to keep in mind that there are ZERO reported instances of children in forward-facing seats breaking their leg when they hit the rear of the seat. This happens when a kid's feet fly up and get caught against the back of the seat which causes a lot of stress on the bones of the leg. This is not something you want to put your child in danger of.

There are a variety of programs across the country for parents who qualify to get discounted or free infant car seats. This is a great opportunity to ensure your child is placed in an appropriate car seat before they get out of it and can be used in a safe manner for a long time.

The base of the majority of modern infant car seats is designed to be easily removed and inserted, making them easier to use. This feature is especially beneficial for families with small children as it allows you to keep the car seat in place and ready to go, even if you change vehicles.

Before you take your child's seat check if the car seat back will touch the car seat's back by measuring the center of the seat and measuring it with a tape measure. A lot of things, like the blade of a house key, or the length of earbuds with wireless technology are approximately 1.5 inches long and can be used to test for this space. Then, check the car seat's instructions and owners' manuals for the vehicle to determine whether you can alter the angle of the car seat to remove this space.

2. Harness Position

Preemies and infants often fall into a dangerous chest-to-chin position in infant car seats, bouncy chairs, swings, strollers and other children's equipment. In a crash they can be injured by the chest clip or crushed by harness straps that are loose or not placed over their shoulders. To avoid this, ensure that the shoulder straps start a bit lower and move upwards over the shoulders of the child and ensure that you tighten them. The straps must be secure enough to hold the excess fabric together. This is known as the Pinch Test. Overly bulky outer layers such as winter coats may hinder this, so make sure to remove them prior to placing your child in their seat.

The chest clip is designed to break during a crash, but it may be compressed on the throat of a child when it's too low or if the chest straps are loose. The chest clip should not be located in the neck opening. Instead it should be located at the armpit level.

In the event of a crash, children who are facing rearwards will slide up the seat. The harness straps should be able to support the child's neck and head. It is crucial to place the straps over the shoulders. If the straps fall too low, they could slide through the opening on the neck of the baby or even over their ears. If they're too loose, they may be able to reach the face of the child.

Make sure that the shoulder straps are securely fitted and in the slots above or on the child's shoulders. Infants may require an infant insert (often provided with the car seat) to lift their shoulders until they can reach the slot. Some infant car seat for travel car seats include angle indicators or adjustors that can help you with this. You may also want to check the instructions provided with the seat.

3. Rear-Facing Only

Some parents might be enticed by the fact that their child's legs are getting shorter in the rear-facing seat but there's no need to do this. Rear-facing is more secure than forward-facing because the baby's neck and spine are protected in the event of an accident. Forward-facing children can suffer serious injuries as their bodies are thrown against the vehicle.

Additionally, a lot of infant car seats have an angle indicator built-in so that you can be sure the seat is correctly installed. It is also important to ensure that your child's head is level against the seat, and that the harness straps are put over their shoulders, not beneath their arms or bent. You should be able to pinch a little bit of material at their shoulders to ensure whether the harness is secure enough. It is also important to check the crotch buckle strap to be sure it is in line with the armpits and not at the waist. It is also an excellent idea to go through the manual of your infant car seat to ensure you understand the correct method of using it for your child.

Most manufacturers recommend that children sit rear-facing in their car seats until they reach at least 1 year old or until they reach the weight and height limits of their specific car seat. Some states have laws requiring infants to be rear-facing for at least two years.

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

If your vehicle has two rear seats the infant car seat can be set on either side, as that it is not in the airbag's direction on the passenger side. If you have to choose between installing the infant car seats on sale car seat on the right or left side of the vehicle, place it on the driver's side.

4. Booster Seats

Children who have outgrown their infant car seat due to their weight and height will need a booster until the seat belt fits them properly. This can only be done when the child is at a minimum 4'9" tall and has reached the top of the headrest.

Booster seats can assist in positioning the lap belt and shoulder properly. They can also reduce the distance that a child's head moves during a crash, which decreases the chance of injury. Motor vehicle crashes are the number one killer of children aged 4-8, and head motion is the main cause.

If a booster is used incorrectly the lap portion of the belt could slide up over a child's abdomen and cause major injuries in a crash. This can be avoided by using a belt guide on the booster to stop the lap belt from sliding up onto a child's stomach, or getting over armrests.

Many boosters come with small handles and armrests or guide slots to help place the lap belt low and flat on a child's upper legs. This will ensure that the lapbelt begins and remains on the child's strong hipbones, rather than moving upwards into their abdominal region during the event of a crash.

Some booster seats come with the seatbelt locking mechanism which secures the seatbelt when a child sits in them. This can stop the lapbelt from moving up and over the child's abdomen. This can also help to stop the belt from being pulled over the face of a child, which could result in hypoxia and airway obstruction, as and neck strain.