Can an Infant Car Seat Be Placed in Front Seat?
When children have outgrown 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 but they need to meet certain weight and age requirements.
It is not recommended to put car seats behind airbags on the vehicle seat, since the force of the airbag could be fatal for 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 In the event of a crash, the child could have their head struck by an airbag if they are in the front seat. The result is that the airbag could cause injury or even death to the child.
This is the reason why infant car seats are made to be rear-facing only. The back of the seat rests against the back of the vehicle seat in the event of a collision, ensuring the best protection for your infant.
Additionally, the rear-facing car seat safeguards the head and neck of your child more than a forward-facing car seat which offers only a small amount of head and neck protection. The headrest keeps your child from falling out of the shoulder straps in a crash. The harness keeps the chest clip up above the shoulders.
best car seats for newborns uk to keep in mind that there have been ZERO reported instances of children sitting in forward-facing seats breaking their legs when they hit the rear of the vehicle seat. This occurs when a child's feet fly upwards and get trapped against the back of the seat, putting immense stress on the bones of the legs. This is not something you should put your child in danger of.
There are numerous programs in the United States that provide infant car seats at a reduced price or free to parents who qualify. This is a great opportunity to ensure that your child is in a safe car seat before they grow out of it. It can be used for many years.
The base of the majority of modern infant car seats is designed to be removed and inserted, making them easier to use. This feature is especially beneficial for traveling with young children as it allows you to keep the car seat installed and ready to go, even when switching vehicles.
Before you take your child's seat make sure that the back of the car seat will touch the vehicle seat's back by measuring the center of the seat and measuring with a tape measure. This area can be checked using a variety of items, including the blade of a key, or the length wireless earbuds. Examine the directions for the car seat as well as the owner's manual for your vehicle to determine whether the angle can be adjusted to eliminate the space.
2. Harness Position
Preemies and infants often get into a potentially dangerous chest-to-chin position in infant car seats, bouncy seats, strollers, swings and other children's equipment. In the event of a crash the children could be injured or crushed by the chest clip. To prevent this from happening, make sure that the straps on your shoulder begin a little below and then come up over the child's shoulders and make sure you tighten the straps. The straps should be tight enough to allow you to pinch any fabric that isn't tight enough - this is called the Pinch Test. Bulky outer layers like winter coats can hinder this so be sure to remove them prior to you buckle your child into their seat.
The chest clip was designed to protect against a fall, but it can cause compression to the neck of a child if it's too low or if they are not tight enough. The chest clip shouldn't be placed in the neck opening. Instead, it should be at the armpit level.
In the event of a crash who are rear-facing will likely slide off the seat. The harness straps should be sufficient to support the head and neck of the child. It is crucial to place the straps on the shoulders. If the straps aren't high enough, they could slide over the baby's ears or slide through the opening in their neck, and if they're too loose they can move up to the child's nose.
Make sure the shoulder straps are snugly fitted and in the slots above or on the shoulders of your child. Newborns might need an infant insert (often provided with the car seat) to raise their shoulders so they can fit into this slot. Some infant car seats include angle indicators or adjustors to help you with this. You may also want to check the instructions provided in your seat.
3. Rear-Facing Only
While some parents might be tempted to turn their infant car seat to face forward because of their child's legs becoming too short in the rear-facing position, there is really no reason to do so. The rear-facing position is much safer than a forward-facing position because in the event of a crash, the baby's body will press against the seat and their neck and spine will be supported. Forward-facing children may suffer serious injuries because their bodies are thrown against the vehicle.
Many infant car seats also include an angle indicator to ensure that the seat is installed correctly. It is also important to ensure that your child's head rests flat on the seat, and that the straps are over their shoulders rather than under their arms. You should be able to pinch a little bit of material on their shoulder to confirm that the harness is tight enough. Check the crotch strap and make sure it's at the same level as the armpits and not at the waist. It is also recommended to read the manual for your infant car seat so that you know how to use it properly.
The majority of manufacturers recommend that children ride rear-facing in their car seats until they reach at least 1 year old or until they have reached the weight and height limits of their car seat. Certain states have laws that require infants to be rear-facing for a minimum of two years.
If you own a vehicle with just one rear seat, place the infant car seat in the middle of the vehicle so you can easily view your child's face through the rearview mirror without having to lean back. 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 you own a car with two back seats, you can place the infant car seat on either side as long as it isn't behind the passenger side air bag. If you have to decide 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 seat belt fits them 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 seat manufacturer's recommendations for exact measurements).
Booster seats help to position the shoulder belt and lap properly. They can also limit the distance the child's head moves during the crash, which lowers the risk of injury. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death of children aged 4-8, and head movement is the biggest culprit.
If a booster is not used correctly the lap belt could be able to slide over the abdomen of a child and cause serious injuries in the event of an accident. This is 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.
A lot of boosters have handles that are small or armrests, or guide slots that help put the lapbelt flat on the child's upper legs. This ensures that the lap belt begins and remains on a child's strong hip bones instead of being pushed up into their soft stomach area during a crash.
Some booster seats have an automatic seatbelt lock mechanism that secures the seatbelt when a child is seated in them. This will help to prevent the lapbelt from moving upwards and over the child's abdomen. This can also help stop the seat belt from being pulled across the face of a child. This could result in hypoxia and airway obstruction, as also neck strain.