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 are available in both rear-facing and forward-facing versions but they must satisfy certain weight and age requirements.

It is not recommended to place car seats in front of airbags the vehicle seat, since the force of the airbag can be fatal for infants and children.

1. The 1.5 Inch Rule

Many parents inquire if the infant car seat could be placed in front of the driver's seat, and the answer is always no. The reason is quite simple: If there is a crash the child's head could be struck by an airbag when in the front seat. The result is that the airbag can cause injury or even death to the child.

This is the reason why infant car seats newborn seats are designed to be rear-facing only. The backrest of the seat is positioned against the back of the vehicle seat in the event of a collision, ensuring the best car seats newborn protection for your baby.

A rear-facing car seat safeguards your child's head and neck better than a front-facing car seat, which only provides the most basic protection. The headrest prevents the child from slipping off the shoulder straps during the event of a crash and the harness holds the chest clip high above your child's shoulders.

It is important to keep in mind that there are ZERO documented cases of kids in car seats that face forwards breaking their legs when they hit the back of the front vehicle seat. This happens when a child's feet fly upwards and get caught against the back of the seat, putting immense stress on the bones of the legs. This is not something you should put your child at risk of.

There are several programs in the United States that provide infant car seats at a discounted price or free for parents who meet the requirements. This is a great way to get your child into a safe seat before they grow out of it and use it safely for many years.

The majority of new infant car seat in front seat car seats come with an adjustable base that they can click into and out of, making them much more user-friendly than older models. This feature is particularly useful when traveling with children because you can keep the car seat installed and ready for use even when switching vehicles.

Find the center of the car seat and measure it using the help of a tape. Many items, such as 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 check for this space. Then, check the instructions on your car seat as well as the the owner's manual of your vehicle to determine if you can adjust the angle of the car seat to remove this space.

2. Harness Position

Preemies and newborns frequently fall into a dangerous chest-to-chin position in infant car seats, bouncy chairs, strollers, swings and other equipment for children. In a crash the children could be injured or crushed by the chest clip. To avoid this, check that the straps for your shoulders begin a little below and then come up to the shoulders of your child and make sure you tighten the straps. The straps should be snug enough to allow you to pinch any excess fabric together This is known as the Pinch Test. Winter coats and other bulky outer layers could interfere with the Pinch Test, so be sure to remove them before you buckle your child into their seat.

The chest clip was designed for a crash, but it could compress a neck of a child if it's too low or are not tight enough. It is also essential that the chest clip not placed in the neck opening of the collar. the buckle should be placed at the armpit level.

In a crash, infants who are rear-facing will likely slide off the seat. The harness straps should be able to support the child's neck and head. This is why it's important that the straps be placed over the shoulders. If the straps aren't high enough, they can slip over the baby's ears or slide through their neck opening, and if they are too loose, they can slide towards the baby's nose.

Make sure the shoulder straps are over your child's shoulders, and that they fit snugly. Newborns may require an infant insert (often provided with the car seat) to lift their shoulders until they can fit into this slot. Some infant car seats include angle indicators or adjustors to assist you in this. You may also want to check the instructions included with the seat.

3. Rear-Facing Only

While some parents might be tempted to flip their infant car seat around to face forward because of their child's legs getting too short in the rear-facing position, there's really no reason to do so. Rear-facing is safer than forward-facing as the infant's spine and neck are protected in the event of an accident. Forward-facing children are more susceptible to serious injuries because their bodies are thrown against the vehicle.

A majority of infant car seats have an angle indicator built-in to ensure that the seat is correctly installed. You should also make sure that your child's head rests on the seat flat, and that the straps are on their shoulders instead of under their arms. You can pinch a small amount of material at their shoulder to determine that the harness is snug enough. It is also essential to examine the crotch buckle strap to be sure that it is at a level with the armpits, rather than at the waist. It is also an excellent idea to go through your infant car seat manual to be aware of the proper method to use it with your child.

Most manufacturers suggest that children remain rear-facing until they're at least one year old or until they reach their car seat's weight and height limits. Certain states have laws that require infants to be rear-facing for at least two years.

If you own a vehicle with only one rear seat, place the infant car seat in the middle of the vehicle so you can easily see your child's reflection in your rearview mirror without having to lean over. 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 vehicle every time you want to get your child in or out of their car seat.

If your vehicle has two back seats the infant car seat can be placed on either side so long as it's not front of the airbag on the passenger's side. If you must decide between installing an infant car seat on the left or right side of your vehicle, you can install it on the driver’s side.

4. Booster Seats

Children who have outgrown their infant car seats due to weight and height will need an additional booster until the car's seat belt fits them properly. This can only happen if they are at least 4 feet 9 inches tall and have reached the top rated baby car seats of their headrest (check the seat manufacturer's recommendations for exact measurements).

Booster seats can help position the lap belt and shoulder properly. They also limit how far the neck moves in collisions, reducing the chance of injury. Head movement is the main cause of motor vehicle crashes which are the most frequent deaths of children aged 4-8.

If a booster is not properly used the lap belt could travel over a child’s abdomen and cause serious injuries in the event of an accident. This can be avoided by using a booster with lap belt guides to prevent the lap belt from climbing over arm rests or sliding up on a child's stomach.

A lot of boosters come with armrests, handles, or guide slots that allow you to position the lap belt in a low and flat position over a child's upper thighs. This ensures that the lapbelt begins and remains on the strong hipbones of the child instead of slipping up into their soft abdomen area during an accident.

Some booster seats come with a seatbelt locking mechanism that secures the seatbelt when a child is sitting in them. This can help keep the lap belt from moving up and over the child's abdomen. This can help keep the seat belt from being pulled upwards over a child’s face. This can lead to airway obstruction and hypoxia, as well as neck strain.