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Can an Infant 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 can be used rear-facing or forward-facing, however they have to meet certain weight and age specifications.

Car seats should not be placed in front of a vehicle seat with airbags, since the force of the deployed air bag can be lethal for babies and children.

1. The 1.5 Inch Rule

Many parents wonder if the infant car seat could be placed on top rated infant car seats of the driver's seat, and 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 result is that the airbag could injure or kill the baby.

Infant car seats are designed to be rearward-facing. The backrest of the seat is positioned against the back of the seat in a crash, providing the best car seats for infants protection for your infant.

In addition, the rear-facing car seat protects the neck and head of your child more than a forward-facing seat which offers only a small amount of head and neck protection. The headrest also prevents the child from falling off the shoulder straps during an accident and the harness holds the chest clip above the shoulders of your child.

It's important to note that there are ZERO known instances of children in forward-facing car seats breaking their legs when they hit the rear of the front seat. This happens when a child's feet rise and get caught against the seat's back which causes a lot of pressure into the leg bones. This is not something you want to put your child in danger of.

There are several programs in the United States that offer infant car seat in front seat car seats at a discount or free for parents who meet the requirements. This is a fantastic opportunity to ensure your child is in a safe car seat before they grow out of it. It can be used for many years.

The base of most modern infant car seats is designed to be easily removed and put back in, making them much easier to use. This feature is especially beneficial for traveling with young children as it allows you to keep the car seat in place and ready to go even if you change vehicles.

Find the center of the car seat and measure it using the aid of a tape. This space is a test that can be done with a variety of items, including the blade of a key or the length of the wireless earbuds. Check the instructions on your car seat as well as the owners' manuals for the vehicle to determine if you can adjust the angle of the car seat to eliminate the space.

2. Harness Position

In infant car seats as well as swings, bouncers strollers, and other equipment for children, infants and preemies may get into a dangerous situation with their chests and chins touching. In a crash, they may be injured by the chest clip or crushed by harness straps that are too 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 come up over their shoulders. Make sure they are tight to prevent this. The straps must be secure enough to squeeze the fabric to each other. This is known as the Pinch Test. Winter coats and other heavy 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 protect against a fall, but it can compress the neck of the child if it's too low or are loose. It's also important that the chest strap is not located in the neck opening of the collar. the buckle should be at armpit level.

In a crash, infants who are facing rearwards will slide off the seat. The harness straps must be able to support the head and neck of the child. This is why it's very important that the straps be placed over the shoulders. If the straps are 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 can reach the child's face.

Make sure the shoulder straps are in the slots over the shoulders of your child and they fit snugly. Newborns may require a separate travel infant car seat insert (often included in the car seat) to raise them up so that their shoulders can reach this slot. Some infant car seats include angle indicators or adjustors that could aid you in this. You can also refer to the instructions included in your 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. The rear-facing position is much safer than the forward-facing position 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. Children who are facing forwards are thrown backward against the vehicle and could cause serious injury.

In addition, many infant car seats have a built-in angle indicator so you can be sure the seat is correctly installed. Also, you should ensure that your child's head is flat on the seat and that the straps are on their shoulders rather than under their arms. To determine if the harness is too tight, you should be able squeeze a small amount of material on the shoulder of your child. Examine the crotch strap to ensure that it is at the same level as the armpits, and not at the waist. It is also an excellent idea to go through the manual for your infant car seat so you know the proper method of using it for your child.

Most manufacturers advise that children sit rear-facing in their car seats until they are at least one year old or until they reach the height and weight limits of their specific car seat. Certain states have laws that require infants to be rear-facing for at least two years.

Install the infant car seat on the middle seat of a vehicle with only one back seat. This will allow you to view your child easily through the rearview mirror, without having to bend. Installing the car seat on the driver's side also makes it easier to get your child into and out of the seat.

If you have a vehicle with two rear seats, you can install the infant car seat on either side so long as it isn't behind the passenger side airbag. However, if you have to choose between installing the infant car seat on the left or right side of the vehicle, put it on the driver's side.

4. Booster Seats

Children who have outgrown their infant car seat In front seat car seats due to weight and height will need a booster until the seat belt is properly fitted. This can only be done when the child is at least 4'9" tall and has reached the top of the headrest.

Booster seats assist in positioning the lap and shoulder belt properly. Booster seats can also reduce how far the neck of a child moves during collisions, which reduces 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 biggest culprit.

If a booster is used incorrectly the lap portion of the belt may slide up and over the child's abdomen and cause severe injuries in an accident. This can be avoided by using a booster equipped with lap belt guides that prevent the lap belt from climbing over arm rests or sliding onto a child's stomach.

Many boosters are designed with small handles, armrests or guide slots that help to keep the lap belt in a low and flat position across the child's upper thighs. This ensures that the lap belt starts and remains on a child's strong hip bones, instead of moving up into their stomachs during an accident.

Certain booster seats are designed with a seat belt locking mechanism to ensure that the belt is secure while a child is sitting in it. This will help prevent the lap belt from moving over a child's abdomen. This may also help keep the seat belt from being pulled over the face of a child. This could result in airway obstruction and hypoxia, as well as neck strain.