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Can an Infant Car Seat Be Placed in Front Seat?

When children have outgrown 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 however, they must meet certain weight and age requirements.

It is not recommended to place car seats behind airbags on a vehicle seat, as the impact of the airbag could be fatal for babies and children.

1. The 1.5 Inch Rule

The answer to this question is no. The reason is quite simple: If a crash occurs the child's head may be struck by an airbag when in the front seat. The airbag can cause injury or even kill a baby.

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

Additionally, the rear-facing car seat safeguards the neck and head of your child more than a forward-facing car seat that offers only minimal head and neck protection. The headrest prevents your child from slipping out of the shoulder straps in a crash. The harness keeps the chest clip high above the shoulders.

It is important to keep in mind that there are ZERO known instances of children in forward-facing car seats breaking their legs after hitting the back of the front vehicle seat. This happens when children's feet fly upwards and are sucked into the seat's back, which puts tremendous pressure on the bones of the legs. There's no reason to put your child at risk for this.

There are several programs in the United States that offer infant car seat in front seat car seats at a reduced price or free to parents who qualify. This is a great way to ensure your child is in a secure car seat before they get out of it and can be used safely for many years.

The base of the majority of modern infant car seats is designed to be easily removed and installed, making them more convenient to use. This feature is especially beneficial for families with small children as it allows you to keep the best car seats seat on and ready to go even when you switch vehicles.

Before you take your child's seat check if the car seat back will be in contact with the vehicle seat's back by measuring the center of the seat and measuring it with a tape to determine. This area can be tested with many objects, including the blade of a key or the length wireless earbuds. Check the instructions for the car seat and the owner's manual for your vehicle to determine whether the angle can be adjusted to remove the space.

2. Harness Position

Preemies and infants often get into a potentially dangerous chin-to-chest posture in infant car seats, bouncy seats, strollers, swings and other toys for children. In a crash the children could be injured or crushed by the chest clip. Check that the straps are set just a little below the shoulders of the child, and then, when they are up, they should be over their shoulders. Make sure they are tight to prevent this. The straps must be secure enough to pinch excess fabric together. This is called the Pinch Test. Winter coats and other bulky 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 a crash, but it may compress on a child's throat in the event that it's too high or when the chest straps are too loose. The chest clip should not be located in the neck opening. Instead it should be placed at the armpit level.

In the event of a crash, rear-facing infants can slide off the seat, and the harness straps need to be able to cradle 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 low they could slide over the baby's ears or go through the neck opening and if they're too loose they can move toward the child's nose.

Ensure the shoulder straps are in the slots that are above or below the shoulders of your child and they fit comfortably. Newborns may need a separate infant insert (often included in the car seat) to lift them up so their shoulders reach the slot. Some infant car seats include angle indicators or adjustors that could assist you in this. You can also refer to the instructions included in the seat.

3. Rear-Facing Only

While some parents might be tempted to turn their infant car seat around to face forward, due to their child's legs being too short in the rear-facing position, there is really no reason to do it. The rear-facing position is much safer than a forward-facing position because in the event of a collision, the baby's body will be pressed against the seat, and their spine and neck will be supported. Forward-facing children may suffer serious injuries as their bodies are thrown against the vehicle.

A majority of infant car seats include an angle indicator to ensure that the seat is properly installed. Also, you must make sure your child's head is flat against the seat, and that the harness straps are positioned over their shoulders, not beneath their arms or bent. You should be able to pinch a little bit of material on their shoulder to confirm that the harness is tight enough. Examine the crotch strap to ensure that it is at the same level 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 of using it for your child.

Most manufacturers advise that children sit rear-facing in their car seats until they reach at least one year old, or until they reach the weight and height limits of their car seat. Certain states have laws that require infants to be rear-facing until they reach the age of two years old.

If you own a car with just one back seat, install the infant car seat In front seat car seat in the middle of the vehicle so you can easily view your child's reflection in your rearview mirror without having to lean back. Installing the car seat on the driver's side also makes it easier to get your child into and out of the seat.

If you own a car with two back seats, you can place the infant car seat on either side so long as it's not directly in front of the passenger side airbag. If you must decide between installing an infant car seat on either the left or the right side of your vehicle, put it on the driver's side.

4. Booster Seats

Children who have outgrown their infant car seats due to their weight and height will require an additional booster until the car's seat belt is fitted properly. This can only happen when they are at a minimum of 4 feet 9 inches tall and have reached the top of their headrest (check the recommendations of the manufacturer of the seat for exact measurements).

Booster seats are a great way to position the shoulder and lap belts properly. They can also limit the distance that a child's head moves during an accident, which reduces the risk of injury. Motor vehicle accidents are the number one killer of children aged 4-8, and head motion is the most significant 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 can be avoided by using a belt guide on the booster that prevents the lap belt from sliding onto the stomach of a child or climbing over armrests.

A lot of boosters have handles that are small, armrests or guide slots to help put the lapbelt flat on the child's upper legs. This will ensure that the lapbelt starts and remains on the strong hipbones of the child instead of moving up into their soft abdomen region during 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 slipping up and over the child's abdomen. This can help to stop the seat belt from being pulled up over a child's face. This could cause airway obstruction and hypoxia as well as neck strain.