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Can an Infant Car Seat Be Placed in Front Seat?

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

Car seats should not be placed on top of a car seats by age seat equipped with airbags, as the force of the airbag can be fatal for infants and children.

1. The 1.5 Inch Rule

Many parents wonder if an infant car seat in front seat car seat may be placed on top of the driver's seat, and the answer is always no. The reason is simple: If an accident occurs the child's head could be hit by an airbag if in the front seat. The airbag can cause injury or even kill a baby car seat.

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

Additionally, the rear-facing car seat protects the head and neck of your child more than a forward-facing seat that offers only minimal head and neck protection. The headrest also prevents the child from sliding off the shoulder straps during the event of a crash, and the harness keeps the chest clip above your child's shoulders.

It's important to keep in mind that there are ZERO documented instances of children in forward-facing seats breaking their leg when they hit the rear of the vehicle seat. This happens when a kid's feet fly upwards and get caught against the seat's back, which puts tremendous pressure into the leg bones. This is not something you should put your child at risk of.

There are a variety of 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 opportunity to get your child into a secure car seat before they grow out of it and use it in a safe way for many years.

Most 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 especially useful for families with young children since you can keep the car seat installed and ready to use even when you change vehicles.

Find the center of the vehicle seat and measure it using a tape. Many things, such as the blade of a key for the house or the length of earbuds that are wireless are approximately 1.5 inches long and can be used to check for this space. Then, check the instructions for your car seat and vehicle owner's manual to see whether you can adjust the angle of the car seat to remove this space.

2. Harness Position

In portable infant car seat car seats, bouncers, swings strollers, as well as other equipment for children, infants and preemies may get into a dangerous situation with their chins touching their chests. In a crash, they may be injured by the chest clip or crushed by straps of the harness that are loose or have not been placed over their shoulders. Check that the straps are placed just below the shoulders of the child, and then, when they are up, they should be over their shoulders. Adjust them to prevent this. The straps should be tight enough to hold the excess fabric to each other. This is called the Pinch Test. Winter coats and other bulky outer layers could interfere with the Pinch Test, so take them off them before you buckle your child into their seat.

The chest clip was designed for a crash, but it can compress the child's neck if it is too low or are not tight enough. 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 who are rear-facing will likely slide up the seat. The harness straps must be sufficient to support the head and neck of the child. It is crucial to place the straps on the shoulders. If the straps are too low they could slide over the baby's ears or go through their neck opening, and if they're too loose they can move up to the child's nose.

Make sure the shoulder straps are snugly fitted and in the slots above or at the child's shoulders. Infants may require an infant insert (often included in the car seat) to raise them up so that their shoulders can reach the slot. Some infant car seats include angle indicators or adjustors that can assist you in this. You may also want to check the instructions that come with the seat.

3. Rear-Facing Only

Some parents might be enticed by the fact that their child's legs are becoming shorter in the rear-facing seat but there's no need to do this. 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 are more susceptible to serious injuries due to the fact that their bodies are thrown into the vehicle.

A lot of infant car seats come with an angle indicator built-in so that you can ensure the seat is properly installed. It is also important to ensure that your child's head is flat on the seat and that the straps are on their shoulders, not under their arms. You should be able to pinch a little bit of material on their shoulder to confirm that the harness is tight enough. Check the crotch strap to make sure it is at the same level as the armpits and not at the waist. It is also recommended to read the manual for your infant car seat to ensure that you know how to use it properly.

Most manufacturers recommend that children ride rear-facing in their car seats until they are at least one year old, or until they reach the height and weight limits of their car seat. Some states have laws that require babies to remain rear-facing until they are 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 clearly through the rearview mirror, without having to bend. Installing the car seat on the driver's side can make it easier to get your child in and out of the seat.

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

4. Booster Seats

All children who exceed the size of their car seat for infants by weight or height must use a booster seat until the seat belt is fitted properly. This can only happen if they are at least 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 aid in positioning the lap and shoulder belt correctly. Booster seats also help reduce how far the neck of a child moves during collisions, reducing the chance of injury. Head movement is the primary reason behind motor vehicle crashes which are the most frequent fatality for children between the ages of 4 and 8.

If a booster isn't properly used, the lap portion 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 booster equipped with lap belt guides to prevent the lap belt from slipping over arm rests or sliding on a child's stomach.

Many boosters are designed with small handles, armrests or guide slots that help to position the lap belt low and flat over a child's upper thighs. This will ensure that the lapbelt starts and remains on the strong hipbones of the child instead of moving upwards into their abdomen area in the event of the event of a crash.

Certain booster seats feature the seatbelt locking mechanism which locks the seatbelt in place when a child is sitting in them. This can keep the lap belt from moving up and over the child's abdomen. This will to stop the seat belt from being pulled upwards over a child's face. This could cause hypoxia and airway obstruction, as well as neck strain.