Can an Infant Car Seat Be Placed in Front Seat?

When children outgrow their infant car seats, they can move to convertible or all-in one car seats. These car seats are available in both forward-facing and rear-facing models, but they must meet certain weight and age requirements.

Car seats should not be placed on top of a car seat that has airbags because the force of the air bag can be lethal for infants and children.

1. The 1.5 Inch Rule

Many parents ask whether an rotating infant car seat car seat may be placed on top of the driver's seat, and the answer is always no. The reason is very simple If a collision occurs and the child is in the front seat, they could have their head struck by an airbag if they are in the front seat. The result is that the airbag can cause harm or even death to the infant.

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

In addition, the rear-facing car seat safeguards the head and neck of your child better than a forward-facing seat which offers only a small amount of head and neck protection. The headrest prevents your child from sliding out of the shoulder straps during an accident. The harness keeps the chest clip above the shoulders.

It's important to remember that there are ZERO known instances of children in forward-facing car seats breaking their legs when they hit the back of the front vehicle seat. This happens when a kid's feet fly upwards and get caught against the seat's back and put a great deal of pressure into the leg bones. This is not something you should put your child in danger of.

There are a variety of programs in the United States that provide infant car seats at a reduced price or for free for parents who meet the requirements. This is a great opportunity to ensure your child is in a secure car seat before they get out of it. It is a great option for children to use for many years.

The majority of the newer infant car seats by age seat in front seat; writes in the official Nerdgaming blog, car seats have a base that they can click into and out of, making them much more user-friendly than older models. This feature is particularly useful for families with young children, as you can keep the seat in place and ready for use even when changing vehicles.

Find the center of the vehicle seat and measure with a tape. This space can be tested with many things, such as the blade of a key, or the length of the wireless earbuds. Review the instructions for your car seat as well as the owner's manual for your vehicle to determine whether the angle is adjusted to remove the space.

2. Harness Position

In the infant car seats and bouncers, swings strollers, and other children's gear, newborns and preemies can fall into a dangerous position with their chests and chins touching. In the event of a crash, they could be injured by the chest clip or crushed by harness straps that are loose or have not been placed over their shoulders. Check that the straps are set just below the shoulders of the child, and then they will be able to rise over their shoulders. Adjust them to prevent this. The straps should be tight enough to hold the excess fabric together. This is known as the Pinch Test. Winter coats and other bulky outer layers could interfere with the Pinch Test, so remove them prior to putting your child in their seat.

The chest clip is designed for a crash, however it could compress a neck of a child if it's too low or if they are not tight enough. The chest clip shouldn't be placed in the neck opening. Instead it should be located at the armpit level.

During a crash, rear-facing infants can slide up the seat and the harness straps need to be able to support the child's neck and head. This is why it's very important that the straps be placed over the shoulders. If the straps are too high they could slide over the baby's ears, or go through the opening in their neck, and if they are too loose, they can slide towards the baby's nose.

Make sure that the shoulder straps are in the slots over your child's shoulders and that they fit snugly. Newborns may require a separate infant insert (often included with the car seat) to raise them to ensure their shoulders are in this slot. Some infant car seats include angle indicators or adjustors to aid you in this. You can also check the instructions provided in 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, however there is no reason to do this. The rear-facing position is safer than a forward-facing position because in the event of a crash, the baby's body will press against the seat, and their spine and neck will be supported. Forward-facing children's bodies are thrown backwards by the vehicle, and may cause serious injuries.

Additionally, a lot of infant car seats have an angle indicator built-in so that you can make sure that the seat is properly installed. It is also important to ensure that your child's head rests flat on the seat, and that the straps are placed over their shoulders instead of under their arms. You should be able to squeeze a small amount of material on their shoulder to confirm that the harness is snug enough. Examine the crotch strap to make sure it's at the same height as the armpits and not at the waist. It is also recommended to read your infant car seat manual to be aware of the proper method to use it with your child.

Most manufacturers suggest that children ride rear-facing until at least one year old or until they reach the weight and height limits. Some states have laws that require babies to remain rear-facing until they are two years old.

If you own a car that has only one back seat, install the infant car seat in the middle so you are able to easily see your child's reflection in your rearview mirror without having to lean over. It's also helpful to place the car seat on the driver's side so you don't have to walk the way around your vehicle every time you want to put your baby in or out of their car seat.

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

4. Booster Seats

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

Booster seats can help position the lap belt and shoulder properly. Booster seats also help reduce the distance that a child's neck moves during collisions, which reduces the risk of injury. Motor vehicle accidents are the number one killer of children aged 4-8, and head motion is the main cause.

If a booster isn't properly used the lap belt can be able to slide over the abdomen of a child and cause serious injuries if an accident occurs. This is avoided by using a belt guide on the booster that prevents the lap belt from sliding up onto the stomach of a child or climbing over armrests.

Many boosters are designed with small handles, armrests or guide slots that help to position the lap belt low and flat across a child's upper thighs. This ensures that the lap belt starts and remains on a child's sturdy hip bones instead of moving up into their soft stomach area in the event of an accident.

Some booster seats come with an automatic seatbelt lock mechanism that locks the seatbelt in place when a child is seated in them. This can keep the lap belt from moving upwards and over the child's abdomen. This can help keep the seat belt from being pulled over a child’s face. This could cause airway obstruction and hypoxia as well as neck strain.