Can an Infant Car Seat Be Placed in Front Seat?
As children get older, they can move out of their
car seats by age seats for infants, they can be moved to convertible or all-in one car seats. These car seats can be rear-facing or forward-facing, however they have to meet certain age and weight specifications.
Car seats should never be placed in front of a seat that has airbags because the force of the airbag could be fatal for babies and children.
1. The 1.5 Inch Rule
Many parents ask whether an infant car seat may be placed in front of the vehicle driver's seat, and the answer is always no. The reason is simple: If an accident occurs the child's head may be hit by an airbag if 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 in front seat [
Longisland post to a company blog] car seats are designed to be rear-facing only. The seat's back rests against the back of the vehicle seat in a crash, providing the best protection for your
infant car seat uk.
A rear-facing car seats protects your child's head and neck more effectively than a front-facing one, which only provides the most basic protection. The headrest also prevents the child from slipping off the shoulder straps during the event of a crash, and the harness keeps the chest clip in place above your child's shoulders.
It is important to keep in mind that there are ZERO instances of children in car seats that face forwards breaking their legs when they strike the back of the front vehicle seat. This happens when children's feet are lifted and then get stuck against the back of the seat, putting immense stress on the bones of the legs. This is not something you should put your child in danger of.
There are also several programs in the United States for parents who meet the criteria to receive discounted or free infant car seats. This is a great chance to ensure your child is in a safe car seat before they get out of it. It can be used for a number of years.
The majority of the modern infant car seats have a base that they click into and out of, which makes them much easier to use than older models. This feature is particularly beneficial when traveling with children since you can keep the seat installed and ready to use even if you change vehicles.
Before you buckle your child in check if the back of the car seat will touch the car seat's back by locating the middle of the seat and measuring it using a tape to determine. Many things, such as the blade of a house key or the length of earbuds that are wireless are approximately 1.5 inches long and can be used to determine this space. Review the instructions for your car seat as well as the owner's manual of your vehicle to see if the angle can be adjusted to eliminate the space.
2. Harness Position
In infant car seats as well as swings, bouncers strollers, and other children's gear, newborns and preemies could be in a dangerous position with their chests pressed against their chins. In a crash they could be injured or crushed by the chest clip. Check that the straps are placed slightly below the shoulders of the child and then come up over their shoulders. Adjust them to prevent this. The straps should be tight enough to squeeze the fabric together. This is called the Pinch Test. Bulky outer layers like winter coats can interfere with this, so be sure to remove them before placing your child in their seat.
The chest clip is made for a crash, but it can cause compression to the neck of the 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.
In the event of a crash, children who are rear-facing may slide down the seat. The harness straps must be able to support the head and neck of the child. 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 go through their neck opening, and if they're too loose they can move up to the child's nose.
Ensure the shoulder straps are at or above your child's shoulders and that they fit snugly. Newborns may require a separate infant insert (often included in the car seat) to lift them up to ensure their shoulders are in this slot. Some infant car seats have built-in angle indicators or adjustors to help with this and you can always check the instructions that came with your seat.
3. Rear-Facing Only
While some parents might be tempted to turn 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 child's spine and neck are supported in the event of an accident. Forward-facing children may suffer serious injuries due to the fact that their bodies are thrown against the vehicle.
A lot of infant car seats include an angle indicator built-in to ensure that the seat is installed correctly. 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 can pinch a tiny bit of fabric at their shoulders to ensure whether the harness is secure enough. Check the crotch strap to make sure it's at the same level as the armpits, and not at the waist. It is also a good idea to review the manual for your infant car seat so you know the proper way to use it for your child.
The majority of manufacturers recommend 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 specific car seat. Certain states have laws that require infants to be rear-facing for at least two years.
Install the
infant car seat best car seat on the middle seat of a vehicle that only has one back seat. This will allow you to view your child clearly through the rearview mirror, without having to bend over. It is also beneficial to put the car seat on the driver's side so you don't have to walk the way around your car every time you want to put your baby in or out of their car seat.
If your vehicle has two rear 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 have to choose between installing the infant car seat on the left or right side of the vehicle, put 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 be fitted with a booster seat until the seat belt is properly fitted. This can only happen when 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 shoulder belt and lap properly. They can also reduce the distance the child's head moves during the crash, which lowers the chance of injuries. Motor vehicle crashes are the number one killer of kids ages 4-8, and head movement is the biggest culprit.
If a booster is not used correctly the lap belt could slide across a child's abdomen and cause serious injuries in an accident. This can be avoided by using a belt guide on the booster that prevents the lap belt from sliding up onto the stomach of a child or getting over armrests.
Many boosters are equipped with small handles, armrests or guide slots that aid to keep the lap belt in a low and flat position over a child's upper thighs. This will ensure that the lapbelt starts and stays on the child's strong hipbones instead of slipping up into their soft abdomen region during an accident.
Certain booster seats are equipped with a seat belt locking mechanism to keep the seat belt in place when children are sitting in it. This can help in preventing the lap belt from moving up over a child's abdomen. This can to stop the seat belt from being pulled over a child's face. This could cause airway obstruction and hypoxia and neck strain.
