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Can an infant car seat in front Seat car seat newborn Seat Be Placed in Front Seat?

When children outgrow their infant car seats, they can change to convertible or all-in-one car seats. These car seats can be rear-facing or forward-facing, however they have to meet certain weight and age requirements.

It is not recommended to place car seats in front of airbags on the car seat, because the force of the airbag could be fatal to children and babies.

1. The 1.5 Inch Rule

The answer to this question is no. The reason is 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 child.

Infant car seats are only designed to be rearward-facing. The back of the seat rests against the back of the seat in the event of a crash, providing the best car seats newborn protection for your baby.

In addition, the rear-facing car seat safeguards the neck and head of your child better than a forward-facing car seat which offers only a small amount of neck and head protection. The headrest prevents the child from sliding off the shoulder straps in a crash, and the harness keeps the chest clip in place above the shoulders of your child.

It is important to keep in mind that there are ZERO known instances of children in forward-facing car seats breaking their legs after hitting the back of the front vehicle seat. This happens when a kid's feet fly up and are sucked into the back of the seat which causes a lot of pressure on the bones of the legs. This is not something you should put your child in danger of.

There are a variety of programs in the United States for parents who meet the criteria to receive free or discounted infant car seats. This is a great way to ensure your child is in a safe seat before they outgrow it and can be used in a safe way for many years.

The base of the majority of modern infant car seats is designed to be easily removed and installed, making them more convenient to use. This feature is particularly beneficial for traveling with young kids since it allows you to keep the seat in place and ready for use even if you change vehicles.

Before you buckle your child in check if the car seat back will touch the car seat's back by locating the center of the seat and measuring it with a tape to determine. Many items, such as the blade of a house key, or the length of wireless earbuds are around 1.5 inches long and can be used to test for this space. Check the instructions for the car seat and the owner's manual for your vehicle to see if the angle can be adjusted to eliminate the space.

2. Harness Position

In the infant car seats as well as swings, bouncers strollers, and other toys for children, newborns and preemies could get into a dangerous situation with their chests pressed against their chins. In a crash they can be injured by the chest clip or crushed by harness straps 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. Tighten them to avoid this. The straps must be tight enough to squeeze the fabric together. This is called the Pinch Test. Bulky outer layers like winter coats may hinder this, so be sure to remove them before you buckle your child into their seat.

The chest clip is made for a crash, but it can compress the child's neck if it is too low or are not tight enough. It's also crucial that the chest clip is not placed in the neck opening of the collar - the buckle should be placed at the armpit level.

During a crash, rear-facing infants can slide off the seat, and the harness straps need to be able to hold the child's head and neck. This is why it's very crucial that the straps are placed over the shoulders. If the straps are too high they may slide over the baby's ears or slide through the opening in their neck, and if they're too loose, they could move towards the baby's nose.

Make sure that the shoulder straps are in the slots over your child's shoulders, and that they fit comfortably. Newborns might need an infant insert (often provided with the car seat), to raise their shoulders so they reach this slot. Some infant car seats come with angle indicators or adjustors to aid you in this. You may also want to check the instructions included with the seat.

3. Rear-Facing Only

Parents may be enticed by the fact that their child's legs are getting shorter in the seat facing rearwards, but there is no need to do this. The rear facing infant car seat-facing position is safer than the forward-facing position because in the event of a collision, the baby's body will be pressed against the seat and their spine and neck will be supported. Forward-facing children's bodies are thrown backward against the vehicle, and may cause serious injuries.

A lot of infant car seats come with an angle indicator built-in so that you can ensure the seat is correctly installed. You should also make sure that your child's head is on the seat flat, and that the straps are over their shoulders, not under their arms. You should be able to squeeze a small amount of material at their shoulder to determine that the harness is tight enough. Check the crotch strap to make sure it is at the same height as the armpits and not at the waist. It is also a good idea to review your infant car seat manual to ensure you understand the correct way to use it for your child.

The majority of manufacturers recommend that children sit rear facing infant car seat-facing in their car seats until they reach at least one year old, or until they reach the height and weight limit of their particular car seat. Some states have laws that require babies to remain rear-facing until they reach the age of two years old.

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. 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 get your child in or out of their car seat.

If your vehicle has two back seats, the infant car seat can be placed on either side, as long as it's not in the airbag's direction on the passenger-side. If you must decide between installing an infant car seat on the left or the right side of your vehicle, install it on the driver’s side.

4. Booster Seats

All children who exceed the size of their infant car seat by weight and height should use a booster seat until the vehicle seat belt is properly fitted. This can only happen when they are at a minimum of 4 feet 9 inches tall and have reached the top of their headrest (check the seat manufacturer's recommendations for exact measurements).

Booster seats can assist in positioning the shoulder and lap belts correctly. They also limit how far the neck moves in a collision, reducing the risk of injury. Motor vehicle crashes are the number one killer of children aged 4-8, and head motion is the most significant cause.

If a booster isn't used correctly, the lap portion can be able to slide over the abdomen of a child and cause serious injuries if an accident occurs. This can be avoided by using a belt guide on the booster to stop the lap belt from sliding onto the stomach of a child or climbing over armrests.

Many boosters have small handles, armrests or guide slots to place the lap belt low and flat on the child's upper legs. This ensures that the lap belt starts and stays on the hipbones of a child's strength instead of slipping upwards into their abdomen area in the event of a crash.

Certain booster seats feature the seatbelt locking mechanism which secures the seatbelt when a child is seated in them. This can help keep the lap belt from slipping up and over the child's abdomen. This can to stop the seat belt from being pulled over a child’s face. This can lead to hypoxia and airway obstruction, as well neck strain.