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 are available in rear-facing and forward-facing versions however, they must meet certain weight and age requirements.
It is not recommended to put car seats behind airbags on the car seat, because the force of the airbag could be fatal to children and babies.
1. The 1.5 Inch Rule
Many parents inquire if an infant car seat may be placed in front of the vehicle driver's seat. The answer is always no. The reason for this is quite simple: If a crash happens, the child could have their head struck 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 seat's back rests against the back of the vehicle seat in a crash, providing the best protection for your baby.
Additionally, the rear-facing car seat protects the neck and head of your child better than a forward-facing car seat that offers only minimal neck and head protection. The headrest also stops the child from falling off the shoulder straps during a crash and the harness will keep the chest clip in place above the shoulders of your child.
It's important to keep in mind that there have been ZERO documented instances of children riding forward-facing seats breaking their legs when they strike the rear of the seat. This happens when children's feet fly upwards and get trapped against the rear of the seat, putting enormous pressure on the leg bones. This is not something you should put your child at risk of.
There are also several programs in the United States for qualifying parents to get discounted or free infant car seats. This is a great opportunity to get your child in a secure car seat before they get out of it. It is a great option for children to use for many years.
The base of many modern infant car seats is designed to be easily removed and installed, making them more convenient to use. This feature is especially beneficial when traveling with children because you can keep the car seat in place and ready to go, even when you switch vehicles.
Find newborn car seat insert Pushchairs And Prams of the seat and measure it using a tape. Many items, such as the blade of a key for the house or the length of wireless earbuds are around 1.5 inches long and can be used to check for this space. Check the instructions for your car seat and the owner's manual of your vehicle to determine whether you can adjust the angle of the car seat to eliminate this space.
2. Harness Position
Preemies and newborns frequently fall into a dangerous chin-to-chest position in infant car seats, bouncy seats strollers, swings and other equipment for children. In the event of a collision, they can be injured or crushed by the chest clip. Check that the straps are positioned just below the shoulders of the child, and then come up over their shoulders. Make sure they are tight to prevent this. The straps should be secure enough that you can pinch any excess fabric together - this is called the Pinch Test. Overly bulky outer layers such as winter coats may hinder this, so make sure to remove them before you buckle your child into their seat.
The chest clip is designed to break in an accident, but it could compress on a child's throat when it's too low or when the chest straps aren't tight enough. It is also essential that the chest clip not placed in the neck opening of the collar. the buckle should be at armpit level.
In the event of a crash, rear-facing infants are more likely to slide up the seat and the harness straps must be able to hold the child's neck and head. This is why it's very important that the straps are placed over the shoulders. If the straps are too low they can slip over the baby's ears or slide through the opening in their neck, and if they're too loose, they can slide towards the baby's nose.
Make sure that the shoulder straps are at or above your child's shoulders, and that they fit comfortably. Infants may require an infant insert (often included with the car seat) to raise their shoulders so they can reach the slot. Some infant car seats include angle indicators or adjustors to assist you in this. You may also want to check the instructions provided with your seat.
3. Rear-Facing Only
While some parents may be tempted to flip their infant car seat around to face forward, due to their child's legs becoming too short in the rear-facing position, there's really no reason to do so. Rear-facing is safer than forward-facing because the baby's spine and neck are supported in the event of an accident. Forward-facing children may suffer serious injuries due to the fact that their bodies are thrown into the vehicle.
In addition, many infant car seats come with a built-in angle indicator so you can be sure the seat is properly installed. Also, you should ensure that your child's head is on the seat flat, and that the straps are over their shoulders, not under their arms. To check whether the harness is tight you should be able to pinch a small amount of material around your child's shoulder. It is also essential to examine the crotch buckle strap to be sure it is in line with the armpits, rather than at the waist. It is also recommended to read the instruction manual for your infant car seat so you are aware of how to properly use it.
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 specific car seat. Certain states have laws that require infants to be rear-facing for at minimum two years.
Install the infant car seat on the middle seat of a car with only one back seat. This will allow you to view your child comfortably through the rearview mirror, without having to bend over. Installing the car seat on your driver's side also makes it easier to get your child in and out of the seat.
If your vehicle has two back seats the infant car seat can be set on either side so that it is not in the airbag's direction on the passenger's side. If you have to decide between installing the infant car seat on the right or left side of the vehicle, you can put 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 is properly fitted. This is only possible when they are at least 4 feet 9 inches tall and have reached the top of their headrest (check the guidelines of the manufacturer of your seat for exact measurements).
Booster seats help to position the shoulder belt and lap properly. They can also limit the distance that a child's head moves during an accident, which reduces the risk of injury. Head movement is the primary reason behind motor vehicle crashes, which are the leading deaths of children aged 4-8.
If the booster is not used correctly, the lap portion of the belt may slide up and over the child's abdomen and cause serious injuries in the event of a crash. This can be avoided by using a belt guide on the booster, which stops the lap belt from sliding up onto a child's stomach, or getting over armrests.
Many boosters are equipped with armrests, handles, or guide slots that aid to place the lap belt in a low and flat position over a child's upper thighs. This ensures that the lapbelt starts and remains on the child's strong hipbones, rather than moving upwards into their abdomen region during an accident.
Some booster seats are designed with the mechanism to lock the seat belt to ensure that the belt is in place when a child is sitting in it, and this can help in preventing the lap belt from slipping up over the abdomen of a child. This can also help to stop the seat belt from being pulled across the face of a child. This could cause hypoxia and airway obstruction, as also neck strain.