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Can an Infant Car Seat Be Placed in Front Seat?

When children outgrow their infant car seats, they can switch to convertible or all-in-one car seats. These car seats are available in both rear-facing and forward-facing versions however, they must meet certain weight and age requirements.

Car seats should never be placed on top of a car seat equipped with airbags, as the force of the airbag could be fatal for babies and children.

1. The 1.5 Inch Rule

Many parents ask whether the infant car seat can be placed on top of the driver's seat. The answer is always no. The reason is very simple If a collision occurs and the child is involved, they could get their head hit by an airbag, especially if they are in the front seat. The airbag can cause injury or even kill a baby.

This is the reason why infant car seats are made to be rear-facing only. The backrest of the seat is positioned against the rear of the car seat in the event of a crash, providing the most effective protection for your infant car seat rear facing.

A rear-facing car seat protects your child's neck and head better than a front-facing car seat, which only provides little protection. The headrest also prevents the child from sliding off the shoulder straps in a crash, and the harness keeps the chest clip above your child's shoulders.

It's important to keep it in mind that there have been ZERO known instances of children sitting in forward-facing seats breaking their leg when they strike the rear of the seat. This occurs when a child's feet rise and become trapped against the back of the seat, which puts tremendous stress on the bones of the legs. There's no reason to put your child at risk for this.

There are numerous programs in the United States that provide infant car seats at a discounted price or free to parents who qualify. This is a great way to ensure your child is placed in a secure car seat before they grow out of it and use it safely for many years.

The majority of modern infant newborn car seat insert seats come with a base that they can click into and out of, which makes them much more user-friendly than older models. This feature is particularly useful for families with small children as it allows you to keep the car seat installed and ready to go, even when you switch vehicles.

Before you put your child in the car seat, find out if the car seat back will touch the car seat's back by locating 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. Review the instructions for your car seat and the owner's manual for your vehicle to determine whether the angle is adjusted to remove the space.

2. Harness Position

Newborns and preemies often are prone to fall into a risky chin-to-chest posture in infant car seats, bouncy chairs, strollers, swings and other children's equipment. In a crash they can be injured by the chest clip or crushed by the straps of the harness that are too loose or not placed over their shoulders. Make sure that the straps are positioned slightly below the shoulders of the child and then they will be able to rise over their shoulders. Adjust them to prevent this. The straps should be snug enough to allow you to pinch any fabric that isn't tight enough which is known as the Pinch Test. Winter coats and other bulky outer layers can interfere with the Pinch Test, so take them off them prior to putting 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 when it's too low or when the chest straps are loose. The chest clip shouldn't be located in the neck opening. Instead it should be located at the armpit level.

In the event of a crash, rear-facing infants are likely to slide off the seat, and the harness straps need to be able to cradle the child's head and neck. It is essential to put the straps on the shoulders. If the straps are too low, they can slip through the opening on the neck of the baby or over their ears. If they are too loose, they can reach the child's face.

Make sure that the straps for your child's shoulders are securely fitted and in the slots above or at the child's shoulders. Infants may require an infant car seat in front seat - relevant web site - insert (often included in the car seat) to lift their shoulders until they can reach the slot. Some infant car seats come with built-in angle indicators or adjustors to aid in this process and you should always read the instructions included with the seat.

3. Rear-Facing Only

Some parents might be enticed by the fact that their child's legs are becoming shorter in the rear-facing seat, but there's 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 press against the seat and their neck and spine will be supported. Children who are facing forwards are thrown backward against the vehicle and can cause serious injury.

Many infant car seats also include an angle indicator so that you can ensure the seat is properly installed. Also, you must make sure your child's head is level against the seat and that the harness straps are placed over their shoulders, not under their arms or twisted. To determine if the harness is too tight it is best car seats for infants to pinch a small amount of material around the shoulder of your child. It is also essential to check the strap that holds the crotch to be sure it is in line with the armpits, not at the waist. You should also read the manual for your infant car seat newborn seat so that you know how to properly use it.

Most manufacturers suggest that children remain rear-facing until they're at least one year old or until they reach their car seat's weight and height limits. Some states have laws that require infants to remain rear-facing until they are two years old.

If you own a car with just one rear seat, place the infant car seat in the middle so that you are able to easily see your child's reflection in your rearview mirror without having to lean over. Installing the car seat on the driver's side also makes it easier to get your child in and out of the seat.

If you own a car that has two back seats you can place the infant car seat on either side so long as it's not behind the passenger side air bag. If you have to choose between installing the infant car seat on the right or left side of the vehicle, place 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 vehicle's seat belt fits them properly. This is only possible when the child is at least 4'9" tall and has reached the top of the headrest.

Booster seats aid in positioning the lap and shoulder belt correctly. They can also limit the distance that a child's head moves during an accident, which reduces the risk of injuries. Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death of kids ages 4-8, and head motion is the main cause.

If the booster is not used correctly the lap part of the belt may slide up to the abdomen of a child and cause serious injuries in an accident. This can be avoided by using a booster equipped with lap belt guides that prevent the lap belt from sliding over arm rests or sliding up on a child's belly.

Many boosters are equipped with armrests, handles or guide slots that allow you to keep the lap belt low and flat across the child's upper thighs. This ensures that the lapbelt begins and stays on the strong hipbones of the child instead of moving upwards into their abdominal area during the event of a crash.

Certain booster seats feature a seatbelt locking mechanism that keeps the seatbelt in place when a child is sitting in them. This can stop the lapbelt from moving upwards and over the child's abdomen. This can also help stop the belt from being pulled across the face of a child, which could lead to hypoxia and airway obstruction as well as neck strain.