Can an
Infant Car Seat In Front Seat Car Seat Be Placed in Front Seat?
When children are outgrowing their infant car seats, they can move to convertible or all-in one car seats. These car seats are available in forward-facing and rear-facing models however, they must meet certain weight and age requirements.
Car seats should never be placed in front of a seat equipped with airbags, as the force of the deployed air bag can be lethal for infants and children.
1. The 1.5 Inch Rule
Many parents ask whether an infant car seat may be placed on top of the driver's seat. The answer is always no. The reason is simple: If a crash happens and the child is involved, they could get their head struck by an airbag, especially if they are in the front seat. The airbag could injure or even kill a
baby seat.
This is the reason why infant car seats are made to be rear-facing only. In the event of a crash, the seat's back will rest against the back of your vehicle seat. This provides the best protection for the infant.
In addition, the rear-facing car seat protects the neck and head of your child better than a forward-facing one which offers only a small amount of head and neck protection. The headrest prevents your child from slipping off the shoulder straps in an accident. The harness keeps the chest clip up above the shoulders.
It's important to keep it in mind that there are ZERO reported instances of children in forward-facing seats breaking their legs when they strike the rear of the seat. This happens when a kid's feet fly upwards and get caught against the seat's back, which puts tremendous pressure on the bones of the legs. This is not something you want to put your child at risk of.
There are numerous programs in the United States for parents who qualify to receive free or discounted infant car seats. This is a great way to get your child into a safe seat before they get out of it and can be used safely for many years.
The base of many modern
infant car seats that swivel car seats is designed to be removed and inserted, making them easier to use. This feature is particularly beneficial for traveling with young kids, as you can keep the seat in place and ready for use even when changing vehicles.
Before you take your child's seat make sure that the back of the car seat will touch the vehicle seat's back by finding the center 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 check for this space. Then, check the car seat's instructions and the owner's manual of your vehicle to determine if you can adjust the angle of the car seat to eliminate this space.
2. Harness Position
In the
infant car seats, bouncers, swings strollers, as well as other equipment for children, infants and preemies could get into a dangerous situation with their chests pressed against their chins. In the event of a crash, they could be injured by the chest clip or crushed by the straps of the harness that are loose or not placed over their shoulders. Make sure that the straps are set just below the shoulders of the child, and then they will be able to rise over their shoulders. Tighten them to avoid this. The straps should be tight enough to allow you to squeeze any fabric that is not tight enough - this is called the Pinch Test. Winter coats and other heavy outer layers can interfere with the Pinch Test, so take them off them before you buckle your child in their seat.
The chest clip is designed to break in a crash but it can 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 a crash, infants who are facing rearwards will slide up the seat. The harness straps should be sufficient to support the head and neck of the child. It is crucial to place the straps on the shoulders. If the straps fall too low, they could slip through the neck opening of the baby or even over their ears. If they are too loose, they could be able to reach the face of the child.
Make sure that the straps for your child's shoulders are properly fitted and positioned in the slots above or at the child's shoulders. Newborns may need a separate infant insert (often included in the car seat) to raise them so their shoulders reach this slot. Some infant car seats come with angle indicators or adjustors that can assist you in this. You may also want to check the instructions included in your seat.
3. Rear-Facing Only
While some parents may be tempted to turn their infant car seat to face forward due to their child's legs becoming too short in the rear-facing position, there is really no reason to do so. Rear-facing is safer than forward-facing because the baby's spine and neck are supported in the event of an accident. Forward-facing children can suffer serious injuries due to the fact that their bodies are thrown into the vehicle.
A majority of infant car seats have an angle indicator built-in to ensure that the seat is properly 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. To check if the harness is too tight it is
best car seat infant to squeeze a small amount of material around your child's shoulder. Check the crotch strap to make sure it is at the same level as the armpits and not at the waist. It is also a good idea to review the manual of your infant car seat to be aware of the proper method of using it for your child.
The majority of manufacturers recommend that children ride rear-facing until they're at the age of one or until they reach their car seat's weight and height limits. Some states have laws that require infants to be rear-facing until two years old.
Install the infant car seat on the middle seat of a car with only one back seat. This allows you to view your child comfortably through the rearview mirror without having to bend over. Installing the car seat on your driver's side will also make it easier to get your child in and out of the seat.
If you have a vehicle that has two back seats you can install the infant car seat on either side so you don't place it in front of the passenger-side airbag. If you have to choose between installing the infant car seat on the right or left side of the vehicle, put it on the driver's side.
4. Booster Seats
Children who have outgrown their infant car seat due to their weight and height will need a booster until the seat belt is fitted properly. This can only be done when the child is at a minimum 4'9" tall and has reached the
top rated infant car seats of the headrest.
Booster seats assist in positioning the lap and shoulder belt correctly. They can also reduce the distance the child's head moves during an accident, which reduces the risk of injuries. Motor vehicle crashes are the most fatal killer of kids ages 4-8, and head motion is the main cause.
If a booster is used incorrectly, the lap portion of the belt could slide up and over the child's abdomen and cause severe injuries in an accident. This is avoided by using a belt guide on the booster that prevents the lap belt from sliding up onto the stomach of a child or climbing over armrests.
A lot of boosters have handles that are small, armrests or guide slots to place the lap belt low and flat on a child's upper legs. This will ensure that the lapbelt starts and remains on the hipbones of a child's strength instead of slipping upwards into their abdomen area in the event of an accident.
Some booster seats have an automatic seatbelt lock mechanism that keeps the seatbelt in place when a child sits in them. This can prevent the lapbelt from moving upwards and over the child's abdomen. This can also help prevent the seat belt from being pulled across the face of a child, which could lead to airway obstruction and hypoxia, as also neck strain.
