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 are available in forward-facing and rear-facing models however, they must meet certain weight and age requirements.
Car seats should never be placed on top of a car seat that has airbags because the force of the deployed airbag can be fatal for children and babies.
1. The 1.5 Inch Rule
Many parents inquire if the infant car seat can be placed in front of the vehicle driver's seat, and the answer is always no. The reason for this is quite simple If a collision occurs and the child is involved, they could get their head struck by an airbag if they are in the front seat. The result is that the airbag can cause injury or even death to the child.
This is why infant car seats are designed to be rear-facing only. The seat's back rests against the rear of the car seat in a crash, providing the best protection for your infant.
Additionally, a rear-facing car seat protects the head and neck of your child more than a forward-facing one which offers only a small amount of head and neck protection. The headrest keeps your child from slipping off the shoulder straps during a crash. The harness holds the chest clip high above the shoulders.
It is important to keep in mind that there are ZERO documented instances of children in forward-facing seats breaking their leg when they strike the rear of the vehicle seat. This happens when children's feet fly upwards and get stuck against the back of the seat, putting immense stress on the bones of the legs. There's no reason to put your child at risk of this.
There are a variety of programs across the country for parents who meet the criteria to receive discounted or free infant car seats. This is a fantastic opportunity to ensure your child is in a secure car seat before they grow out of it. It is a great option for children to use for many years.
The base of most newer infant car seat models is designed to be removed and put back in, making them much easier to use. This feature is particularly useful when traveling with children, as you can keep the seat installed and ready to use even when you change vehicles.
Before you take your child's seat make sure that the back of the car seat will touch the car seat's back by measuring the middle of the seat and measuring it using a tape to determine. This space is a test that can be done with a variety of items, including the blade of a key or the length of earbuds wireless. Examine the directions for the car seat as well as the owner's manual for your vehicle to see whether the angle is adjusted to remove the space.
2. Harness Position
In baby car seats as well as swings, bouncers strollers, as well as other children's gear, newborns and preemies may fall into a dangerous position with their chests pressed against their chins. In a crash, they can be injured or crushed by the chest clip. Check that the straps are positioned slightly below the shoulders of the child, and then come up over their shoulders. Make sure they are tight to prevent this. The straps should be secure enough to allow you to squeeze any fabric that is not tight enough which is known as the Pinch Test. The bulky outer layers of winter coats may hinder this, so be sure to remove them before buckling your child in their seat.
The chest clip is made for a crash, but it can cause compression to the neck of the child if it's too low or are loose. It's also important that the chest strap is not located in the neck opening of the collar - the buckle should be placed at the armpit level.
In a crash, infants who are rear-facing may slide up the seat. The harness straps should be able to support the head and neck of the child. portable infant car seat is important to place the straps above the shoulders. If the straps are too low, they can slide through the opening in the neck of the baby or even over their ears. If they're too loose, they may reach the child's face.
Make sure that the straps for your child's shoulders are snugly fitted and in the slots above or on the shoulders of your child. Newborns may need a separate infant insert (often included with the car seat) to raise them so their shoulders reach this slot. Some infant car seats have built-in angle indicators or adjustors to assist with this, and you should always read the instructions that came with the seat.
3. Rear-Facing Only
Some parents may be tempted by the fact that their child's legs are getting shorter in the rear-facing seat however there is no reason to do this. The rear-facing position is safer than a forward-facing one because in the event of a collision, the baby's body will tense against the seat, and their neck and spine will be supported. Forward-facing children can suffer serious injuries because their bodies are thrown into the vehicle.
Many infant car seats also include an angle indicator to ensure that the seat is properly installed. You also need to make sure your child's head is level against the seat, and that the harness straps are placed over their shoulders, not under their arms or bent. To determine whether the harness is too tight you should be able to hold a small amount material at your child's shoulder. It is also essential to examine the strap that holds the crotch to be sure that it is at a level with the armpits, not at the waist. It is also a good idea to review your infant car seat manual to be aware of the proper method to use it with your child.
Most manufacturers recommend that kids ride rear-facing until they're at the age of one or until they reach the weight and height limits. Certain states have laws that require infants to remain rear-facing until two years old.
Install the infant car seat on the middle seat of a car that has only one rear seat. This allows you to view your child easily through the rearview mirror without having to bend. It is also beneficial to put the car seat on the driver's side, so you don't have to walk all the way around your car each time you want to put your baby in or out of their car seat.
If your vehicle has two rear seats, the infant car seat can be installed on either side so long as it's not the airbag's front on the passenger-side. However, if you have to choose between installing the infant car seat on the right or left side of the vehicle, put it on the driver's side.
4. Booster Seats
Children who outgrow their car seat for infants by weight and height must be fitted with a booster seat until the vehicle 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 help to position the lap and shoulder belt properly. They also limit how far the neck moves in collisions, which reduces the risk of injuries. Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death of children aged 4-8, and head movement is the biggest culprit.
If a booster is used incorrectly the lap portion of the belt may slide up over a child's abdomen and cause severe injuries in the event of a crash. This can be prevented by using a booster with lap belt guides that stop the lap belt from climbing over arm rests or sliding up on a child's stomach.
Many boosters are equipped with armrests, handles, or guide slots that allow you to place the lap belt low and flat across a child's upper thighs. This ensures that the lap belt begins and stays on a child's sturdy hip bones instead of moving up into their soft stomach area during an accident.
Some booster seats are also designed with an automatic seat belt locking mechanism to keep the seat belt in place when a child is sitting in it. This can help in preventing the lap belt from moving over the abdomen of a child. This can also help stop the belt from being pulled over a child's face, which could cause hypoxia and airway obstruction as also neck strain.