Can an Infant Car Seat Be Placed in Front Seat?
As children get older, they can move out of their infant car seats they can move into convertible or all-in-one seats. These car seats are available in both forward-facing and rear-facing versions, but they must meet certain weight and age requirements.
Car seats should never be placed on top of a car seat that has airbags because the force of the deployed airbag could be fatal for babies and children.
1. The 1.5 Inch Rule
The answer to this question is no. The reason for this is quite simple: If a crash happens, the child could have their head struck by an airbag if they are in the front seat. The airbag can injure or even kill a baby.
This is the reason why infant car seats are designed to be rear-facing only. In the event of a collision the back of the seat will be positioned against the back of your vehicle seat. This is the best protection for your infant.
A rear-facing car seats protects your child's neck and head more effectively than a front-facing one, which only provides little protection. The headrest also prevents the child from falling off the shoulder straps during a crash and the harness holds the chest clip high above your child's shoulders.
It is important to keep in mind that there are ZERO known instances of children in forward-facing seats breaking their leg when they hit the rear of the seat. This happens when a child's feet rise and are sucked into the seat's back and put a great deal of stress on the bones of the leg. There's no reason to put your child at risk for this.
There are also several programs in the United States for parents who qualify to receive free or discounted infant car seats. This is a great opportunity to ensure your child is in a secure car seat before they grow out of it and can be used safely for many years.
The base of many newer infant car seat models is designed to be removed and installed, making them more convenient to use. This feature is especially useful for families with young children because you can keep the seat installed and ready to use even when changing vehicles.
Before you buckle your child in make sure that the back of the car seat will be in contact with the vehicle seat's back by finding the center of the seat and measuring it using a tape measure. This area is a test that can be done with a variety of objects, including the blade of a key or the length wireless earbuds. Check the instructions for the car seat as well as the owner's manual of your vehicle to determine if the angle can be adjusted to eliminate the space.
2. Harness Position
In infant car seats and bouncers, swings, strollers, and other children's gear, newborns and preemies can fall into a dangerous position with their chins touching their chests. In the event of a crash, they could be injured by the chest clip or crushed by the straps on the harness that are loose or not placed over their shoulders. Make sure that the straps are set 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 pinch excess fabric to each other. This is known as the Pinch Test. The bulky outer layers of winter coats can interfere with this, so make sure to take them off prior to placing your child in their seat.
The chest clip is designed to break during an accident, but it could cause a child's throat to collapse if it's too low or when the chest straps are loose. The chest clip should not be located in the neck opening. Instead it should be located at the armpit level.
In a crash, infants who are rear-facing will likely slide down the seat. The harness straps must be capable of supporting the child's neck and head. This is why it's very important that the straps are placed over the shoulders. If the straps fall too low, they may slide through the opening in the neck of the baby or even over their ears. If they're too loose, they may be able to reach the face of the child.
Make sure that the shoulder straps are snugly fitted and in the slots above or at the shoulders of your child. Newborns may require an infant insert (often provided with the car seat), to raise their shoulders until they can reach the slot. Some infant car seats come with angle indicators or adjustors that could aid you in this. You can also refer to the instructions that come with your seat.
3. Rear-Facing Only
Some parents might be enticed by the fact that their child's legs are getting shorter in the rear-facing seat, but there is no need to do this. The rear-facing seat is safer than a forward-facing one because in the event of a crash, the baby's body will be pressed against the seat, and their neck and spine will be supported. Forward-facing children's bodies are thrown backward against the vehicle and could cause serious injuries.
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 level against the seat and that the harness straps are positioned over their shoulders, not beneath their arms or bent. You should be able to squeeze a tiny bit of fabric at their shoulders to ensure whether the harness is secure enough. Check the crotch strap and ensure that it is at the same height as the armpits and not at the waist. It is also recommended to read your infant car seat manual to ensure you understand the correct way to use it for your child.
Most manufacturers advise that children sit rear-facing in their car seats until they reach at least 1 year old or until they reach the weight and height limits of their car seat. Certain states have laws that require infants to be rear-facing until they reach the age of two years old.
Install the infant 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 over. 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 want to put your baby in or out of their car seat.
If you own a car that has two back seats you can install the infant car seat on either side so long as it isn't behind the passenger side air bag. If you must decide between installing an infant car seat on the left or the right side of your vehicle, put it on the driver's side.
4. Booster Seats
Children who outgrow their infant car seat due to weight and height should be fitted with 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 can also reduce the distance that a neck of a child moves during a collision, reducing the risk of injury. Head movement is the main cause of motor vehicle accidents that are the top deaths of children aged 4-8.
If a booster is used incorrectly the lap part of the belt could slide up to the abdomen of a child and cause serious injuries in the event of a crash. This can be avoided with a belt guide on the booster, which stops the lap belt from sliding up onto a child's stomach or getting over armrests.
agree with this come with small handles or armrests, or guide slots to put the lapbelt flat on the child's upper legs. This ensures that the lap belt begins and stays on the child's strong hip bones, instead of moving up into their soft stomach area in the event of an accident.
Some booster seats come with an automatic seatbelt lock mechanism that secures the seatbelt when a child sits 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 could cause hypoxia and airway obstruction, as well neck strain.