Can an Infant Car Seat Be Placed in Front Seat?

When children have outgrown their infant car seats, they can change to convertible or all-in-one car seats. These car seats can be used rear or forward-facing but they need to meet certain weight and age specifications.

It is not recommended to put car seats in front of airbags a vehicle seat, as the force of the airbag can be fatal to children and babies.

1. The 1.5 Inch Rule

Many parents inquire if the cheap infant car seats car seat can be placed in front of the driver's seat. The answer is always no. The reason is simple: If a crash happens 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 seat newborn insert seats are made to be rear-facing only. In the event of a collision, the seat's back will rest against the rear of your car seat. This will provide the most protection for your infant.

A rear-facing car seat safeguards your child's neck and head better than a front-facing seat, which only provides little protection. The headrest stops your child from falling off the shoulder straps in an accident. 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 riding forward-facing seats breaking their leg when they strike the rear of the vehicle seat. This happens when children's feet fly up and trap them against the back of the seat which causes a lot of pressure into the leg bones. This is not something you should put your child in danger of.

There are a variety of programs throughout the country that allow parents who meet the criteria to receive free or discounted infant car seats. This is a great opportunity to ensure your child is in a safe seat before they get out of it and use it in a safe manner for a long time.

The majority of newer infant car seats come with a base that they can click into and out of, which makes them much easier to use than older models. This feature is particularly useful for families with small children, as you can keep the car seat installed and ready for use even when you switch vehicles.

Before you buckle your child in check if the back of the car seat will touch the car seat's back by finding the center of the seat and measuring it using a tape measure. Many items, such as the blade of a house key, or the length of wireless earbuds, are about 1.5 inches long and can be used to test for this space. Check the car seat's instructions and owners' manuals for the vehicle to determine whether you can adjust the angle of the car seat to eliminate the space.

2. Harness Position

In the infant car seats as well as swings, bouncers strollers, and other equipment for children, infants and preemies can be in a dangerous position with their chests and chins touching. In the event of a crash they could be injured or crushed by the chest clip. Make sure that the straps are positioned just below the shoulders of the child, and then, when they are up, they should be over their shoulders. Tighten them to avoid this. The straps should be snug enough to be able to pinch any excess fabric together which is known as the Pinch Test. Winter coats and other heavy outer layers can interfere with the Pinch Test, so be sure to remove them before you buckle your child in their seat.

The chest clip is designed to break in a crash, but it may cause a child's throat to collapse if it's too low or when the chest straps are loose. It's also crucial that the chest clip is not in the neck opening of the collar. the buckle should be positioned at the armpit level.

In the event of a crash, rear-facing infants can slide across the seat and the harness straps should be able to hold the child's neck and head. It is important to place the straps over the shoulders. If the straps are too high they can slip over the baby's ears, or go through the opening in their neck, and if they are too loose they can move towards the lightweight baby car seat (Get More)'s nose.

Make sure the shoulder straps are properly fitted and positioned in the slots above or on the child's shoulders. Newborns may need a separate infant insert (often included in the car seat) to raise them so that their shoulders can 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 getting too short in the rear-facing position, there is really no reason why you should. Rear-facing is safer than forward-facing because the baby's neck and spine are supported in the event of an accident. Forward-facing children can suffer serious injuries because their bodies are thrown into the vehicle.

A lot of infant car seat swivel car seats include an angle indicator built in to help you ensure the seat is properly installed. You should also make sure that your child's head is on the seat flat, and that the straps are on their shoulders, not under their arms. You can pinch a small amount of material at their shoulders to ensure whether the harness is secure enough. Examine the crotch strap to make sure it is at the same height as the armpits and not at the waist. You should also read the manual of your infant car seat to ensure you are aware of how to properly use it.

Most manufacturers advise that children ride rear-facing in their car seats until they are at least one year old or until they have reached the weight and height limit of their particular car seat. Certain states have laws that require babies to remain rear-facing until they reach the age of two years old.

Install the infant car seat on the middle seat of a vehicle that has only one rear seat. This will allow you to see your child easily through the rearview mirror, without having to bend. 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 car every time you need to get your child in or out of their car seat.

If you own a car with two rear seats, you can install the infant car seat on either side so long as it's not directly in front of the passenger side air bag. If you have to choose between installing an travel infant car seat car seat on either the left or the right side of your vehicle, you can install it on the driver's side.

4. Booster Seats

All children who outgrow their car seat for infants by weight or height must use a booster seat 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 help position the lap belt and shoulder correctly. They also decrease the distance that a child's head moves during the crash, which lowers the chance of injury. Head movement is the most common reason behind motor vehicle crashes, which are the leading killers of children ages 4-8.

If the booster is not used correctly the lap portion of the belt may slide up and over the child's abdomen and cause serious injuries in a crash. This can be avoided by using a belt guide on the booster to stop the lap belt from sliding onto a child's stomach, or getting over armrests.

A lot of boosters come with small handles, armrests or guide slots that aid to position the lap belt in a low and flat position over a child's upper thighs. This ensures that the lap belt begins and remains on a child's strong hip bones instead of moving up into their soft stomach area during an accident.

Some booster seats have an automatic seatbelt lock mechanism that locks the seatbelt in place when a child is seated in them. This can help prevent the lapbelt from slipping up and over the child's abdomen. This can help prevent the seatbelt from being pulled up over a child’s face. This could cause hypoxia and airway obstruction, as well neck strain.