Can an Infant Car Seat Be Placed in Front Seat?

As children get older, they can move out of their car seats as infants, they can be moved into convertible or all-in-one seats. These car seats can be used rear-facing or forward-facing, but they must to meet certain age and weight specifications.

Car seats should never be placed on top of a car seat with airbags, since the force of the air bag can be lethal for babies and children.

1. The 1.5 Inch Rule

Many parents inquire if the infant car seat can be placed in front of the vehicle driver's seat. The answer is always no. The reason is simple: If there is a crash, the child's head could be hit by an airbag while in the front seat. The airbag can cause injury or even kill a child.

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

A rear-facing car seat safeguards your child's neck and head better than a front-facing car seat that only offers minimal protection. The headrest prevents your child from falling out of the shoulder straps during an accident. The harness keeps the chest clip up above the shoulders.

It's important to keep it in mind that there are ZERO documented instances of children sitting in forward-facing seats breaking their leg when they strike the rear of the vehicle seat. This happens when a kid's feet rise and are sucked into the back of the seat and put a great deal of pressure on the bones of the legs. This is not something you should put your child at risk of.

There are numerous programs in the US that offer infant car seats at a discounted price or free to parents who qualify. This is a great way to get your child into an appropriate car seat before they outgrow it and use it in a safe way for many years.

The base of most modern infant car seats is designed to be removed and inserted, making them easier to use. This feature is especially useful when traveling with children since you can keep the car seat installed and ready to use even when changing vehicles.

Before you take your child's seat make sure that the car seat back will touch the car seat's back by finding the center of the seat and measuring it with a tape to determine. This space can be tested with many objects, including the blade of a key or length wireless earbuds. Examine the directions for the car seat as well as the owner's manual for your vehicle to determine if the angle can be adjusted to remove the space.

2. Harness Position

In baby seat car seats and bouncers, swings strollers, and other children's gear, newborns and preemies may fall into a dangerous position with their chests pressed against their chins. In a crash the children could be injured or crushed by the chest clip. Check that the straps are placed just a little 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 must be tight enough to squeeze the fabric together. This is called the Pinch Test. Winter coats and other bulky outer layers can hinder the Pinch Test, so remove them prior to putting your child in their seat.

The chest clip is designed to break in a crash, but it may compress on a child's throat when it's too low or when the chest straps aren't tight enough. It's also important that the chest clip not placed in the neck opening of the collar. the buckle should be at armpit height.

In a crash, infants who are facing rearwards will slide up the seat. The harness straps must be capable of supporting the head and neck of the child. It is important to place the straps over the shoulders. If the straps are too high they may slide over the baby's ears or slide through the neck opening and if they are too loose, they can slide toward the child's nose.

Make sure that the straps for your child's shoulders are properly fitted and positioned in the slots above or around the shoulders of your child. Newborns may need a separate infant insert (often included in the car seat) to lift them up so their shoulders reach the slot. Some good infant car seats car seats have angle indicators or adjustors that could help you with this. You can also refer to the instructions provided in your seat.

3. Rear-Facing Only

While some parents might be tempted to flip their rotating infant car seat car seat around to face forward, due to their child's legs becoming too short in the rear-facing position really no reason to do so. The rear-facing position is much safer than a forward-facing one because in the event of a crash, the baby's body will tense against the seat, and their spine and neck will be supported. Forward-facing children are more susceptible to serious injuries as their bodies are thrown against the vehicle.

Additionally, many infant car seats have a built-in angle indicator so you can ensure that the seat is correctly installed. You also need to make sure your child's head is flat against the seat and the harness straps are placed over their shoulders, not under their arms or twisted. To determine whether the harness is too tight you should be able to hold a small amount material around the shoulder of your child. It is also important to check the crotch buckle strap to be sure that it is at a level with the armpits, not at the waist. You should also review the manual for your infant car seat so that you know how to use it correctly.

Most manufacturers suggest that children ride rear-facing until they're at minimum one year old or until they reach the weight and height limits. Certain states have laws that require babies to remain rear-facing until they reach the age of two years old.

Install the Infant Car seat in front seat car seat on the middle seat of a vehicle that only has one back seat. This will allow you to view your child comfortably through the rearview mirror, without having to bend. It's also helpful to install the car seat on the driver's side so you don't have to walk the way around your car every time you need to take your child into or out of their car seat.

If you own a car with two rear seats, you can put the infant car seat on either side so long as it isn't directly in front of the passenger side air bag. 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

Children who have outgrown their infant car seat due to weight and height will need a booster until the vehicle's 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 of the headrest.

Booster seats can assist in positioning the lap belt and shoulder correctly. They also decrease the distance that a child's head moves during a crash, which decreases the risk of injury. Motor vehicle accidents are the number one killer of children between the ages of 4-8, and head movement is the main cause.

If a booster isn't properly used the lap belt could be able to slide over the abdomen of a child and cause serious injuries in the event of an accident. This can be avoided with a belt guide on the booster, which stops the lap belt from sliding onto a child's stomach, or climbing over armrests.

Many boosters are designed with armrests, handles, or guide slots that allow you to place the lap belt low and flat over a child's upper thighs. This will ensure that the lap belt starts and stays on the child's strong hipbones instead of moving upwards into their abdominal area during the event of a crash.

Some booster seats have an automatic seatbelt lock mechanism that keeps the seatbelt in place when a child is sitting in them. This can keep the lap belt from moving upwards and over the child's abdomen. This will to stop the seat belt from being pulled upwards over a child's face. This can lead to airway obstruction and hypoxia and neck strain.