Can an Infant Car Seat Be Placed in Front Seat?
When children are outgrowing their
infant car seat In front seat car seats, they can move to convertible or all-in one car seats. These car seats can be used rear-facing or forward-facing but they need to meet certain age and weight specifications.
It is not advised to place car seats in front of airbags the vehicle seat, since the force of the airbag can cause fatal injuries to children and babies.
1. The 1.5 Inch Rule
The answer to this question is no. The reason is simple If a collision occurs and the child is in the front seat, they could have their head hit by an airbag if they are in the front seat. The airbag could injure or even kill a child.
Infant car seats are designed to be rearward-facing. The seat's back rests against the rear of the car seat in a crash, providing the best protection for your baby.
In addition, a rear-facing car seat protects the head and neck of your child more than a forward-facing seat, which provides only minimal neck and head protection. The headrest stops your child from falling out of the shoulder straps during an accident. The harness holds the chest clip up above the shoulders.
It's important to keep in mind that there are ZERO reported instances of children riding forward-facing seats breaking their legs when they strike the rear of the vehicle seat. This happens when a child's feet fly upwards and get stuck against the back of the seat, which puts enormous stress on the bones of the legs. 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 reduced price or free for parents who meet the requirements. This is a great chance to get your child in a secure car seat before they outgrow of it. It can be used for many years.
The base of the majority of newer infant car seat models is designed to be removed and inserted, making them easier to use. This feature is especially beneficial when traveling with children, as you can keep the car seat in place and ready to go, even when you switch vehicles.
Find the middle of the seat and measure it with a tape. This space can be tested with many things, such as the blade of a key or length of earbuds wireless. Check the instructions for the car seat as well as the owner's manual for your vehicle to determine whether the angle can be adjusted to eliminate the space.
2. Harness Position
In the infant car seats as well as swings, bouncers strollers, as well as other equipment for children, infants and preemies may be in a dangerous position with their chests and chins touching. In a crash they can be injured by the chest clip or crushed by the straps on the harness that are loose or not placed over their shoulders. Check 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 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 in their seat.
The chest clip was designed to protect against a fall, but it could compress a child's neck if it is too low or if they are not tight enough. 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.
During a crash, rear-facing infants are likely to slide up the seat and the harness straps should be able to cradle the neck and head of the child. It is important to place the straps on the shoulders. If the straps are too low they may slide over the baby's ears or go through the opening in their neck, and if they are too loose, they can slide towards the baby's nose.
Make sure that the shoulder straps are that are above or below your child's shoulders and that they fit comfortably. Infants may require an infant insert (often included with the car seat) to raise them so that their shoulders can reach this slot. Some infant car seats have angle indicators or adjustors that can help you with this. You may also want to check the instructions included with the seat.
3. Rear-Facing Only
Some parents might be enticed by the fact that their child's legs are getting shorter in the seat facing rearwards, however there is no reason to do this. Rear-facing is more secure than forward-facing as the infant's spine and neck are supported in the event of an accident. Children who are facing forwards are thrown backward against the vehicle and can cause serious injuries.
A majority of infant car seats have an angle indicator to help you ensure the seat is installed correctly. 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 tiny bit of fabric at their shoulders to ensure whether the harness is secure enough. Examine the crotch strap to ensure that it is at the same height as the armpits and not at the waist. You should also review the manual of your
infant car seat in front seat car seat so you are aware of how to use it properly.
Most manufacturers suggest that children remain
rear facing infant car seat-facing until they're at minimum one year old or until they reach the weight and height limits. Some states have laws requiring infants to be rear-facing for a minimum of two years.
Install the infant car seat on the middle seat of a car that only has one back seat. This will allow you to view your child clearly through the rearview mirror without having to bend. 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 vehicle each 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 rear facing car seat can be placed on either side, as long as it's not in front of the airbag on the passenger's side. If you have to decide between installing the infant car seat on the left or right side of the vehicle, place it on the driver's side.
4. Booster Seats
All children who outgrow their car seat for infants by weight and height should be fitted with a booster seat until the vehicle seat belt is properly fitted. This is only possible when the child is at a minimum 4'9" tall and has reached the top of the headrest.
Booster seats aid in positioning the lap and shoulder belt correctly. Booster seats also help reduce the distance that a neck of a child moves during collisions, which reduces the risk of injuries. Head movement is the most common reason behind motor vehicle crashes which are the most frequent deaths of children aged 4-8.
If a booster isn't used correctly the lap belt could travel over a child’s abdomen and cause serious injuries in an accident. This can be avoided by using a booster with lap belt guides to prevent the lap belt from sliding over arm rests or sliding on a child's stomach.
A lot of boosters come with armrests, handles or guide slots that aid to position the lap belt in a low and flat position across the child's upper thighs. This ensures that the lapbelt starts and remains on the strong hipbones of the child, rather than moving upwards into their abdomen area in the event of an accident.
Some booster seats are also designed with the mechanism to lock the seat belt to keep the belt secure while the child is in it, and this can help to prevent the lap belt from moving up over the abdomen of a child. This can help keep the seat belt from being pulled over a child's face. This could lead to airway obstruction and hypoxia as well as neck strain.
