Can an Infant Car Seat Be Placed in Front Seat?

As children get older, they can move out of their car seat inserts for newborns seats for infants, they can transition into convertible or all-in-one car seats. These car seats are available in both forward-facing and rear-facing versions, but they must meet certain weight and age requirements.

It is not recommended to put car seats behind airbags on the car seat, because the impact of the airbag could be fatal to infants and children.

1. The 1.5 Inch Rule

Many parents inquire if an travel infant car seat car seat may be placed on top of the driver's seat, and the answer is always no. The reason is simple: When an accident occurs the child's head could be struck by an airbag when in the front seat. The airbag could injure or even kill a child.

Infant car seats are designed to be rear-facing. In the event of a crash, the seat's back will rest against the back of your vehicle seat. This will provide the most security for the infant.

Additionally, a rear-facing car seat protects the head and neck of your child better than a forward-facing seat that offers only minimal neck and head protection. The headrest stops your child from falling off the shoulder straps in a crash. The harness keeps the chest clip above the shoulders.

It is important to keep in mind that there are ZERO documented cases of kids in forward-facing car seats breaking their legs after hitting the rear of the front seat. This happens when a kid's feet fly up and are sucked into the seat's back, which puts tremendous pressure on the bones of the legs. This is not something you should put your child at risk of.

There are several programs in the United States that provide infant car seats at a discount or at no cost to parents who qualify. This is a fantastic opportunity to ensure that your child is in a secure car seat before they grow out of it. It is a great option for children to use for many years.

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

Find the center of the car seat and measure it with the aid of a tape. Many items, such as the blade of a key for the house or the length of earbuds that are wireless, are about 1.5 inches long and can be used to check for this space. Then, check the instructions on your car seat as well as the vehicle owner's manual to see whether you can adjust the angle of the car seat to remove this space.

2. Harness Position

Newborns and preemies often are prone to fall into a risky chin-to-chest posture in infant car seats, bouncy seats strollers, swings and other equipment for children. In a crash they could be injured or crushed by the chest clip. 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 called the Pinch Test. The bulky outer layers of winter coats can hinder this, so make sure to remove them before buckling your child in their seat.

The chest clip is designed to break in an accident, but it could compress on a child's throat in the event that it's too high or when the chest straps are too loose. The chest clip should not 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 down the seat. The harness straps should be sufficient to support the child's neck and head. This is why it's important that the straps be placed over the shoulders. If the straps are placed too low, they may slip through the opening in the neck of the baby or even over their ears. If they're too loose, they may touch the face of the child.

Make sure the shoulder straps are securely fitted and in the slots above or around the shoulders of your child. Infants may require an infant insert (often included in the car seat) to raise them so that their shoulders can reach this slot. Some infant car seats have built-in angle indicators or adjustors that assist with this, and you should always read the instructions included with your seat.

3. Rear-Facing Only

While some parents might be tempted to turn their infant car seat around to face forward due to their child's legs getting too short in the rear-facing position really no reason why you should. The rear-facing seat is safer than a forward-facing one because in the event of a crash, the baby's body will be pressed against the seat and their spine and neck will be supported. Children who are facing forwards are thrown backwards against the vehicle, and may cause serious injury.

In addition, many infant car seats come with an angle indicator built-in so that you can ensure that the seat is properly installed. You also need to make sure your child's head rests flat against the seat, and that the harness straps are put over their shoulders, not beneath their arms or bent. To determine whether the harness is too tight, you should be able pinch a small amount of material at your child's shoulder. Check the crotch strap and make sure it is at the same level as the armpits, and not at the waist. It is also recommended to read the manual of your infant car seat to ensure 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 height and weight limit of their particular car seat. Certain states have laws that require babies to remain rear-facing until they are two years old.

Install the infant car seat rear facing car seat on the middle seat of a vehicle with only one back seat. This will allow you to see your child comfortably through the rearview mirror without having to bend. It is also beneficial to put the car seat on the driver's side so you don't have to walk the way around your car every time you need to get your child in or out of their car seat.

If you own a car that has two back seats you can install the good infant car seats car seat on either side as you don't place it in front of the passenger-side airbag. If you must choose between installing an infant car seat in front seat car seat on the left or right side of your vehicle, put it on the driver’s side.

4. Booster Seats

All children who outgrow their infant car seat by weight and height must be fitted with a booster seat until the seat belt fits them properly. This can only be done when the child is at a minimum 4'9" tall and has reached the top of the headrest.

Booster seats help to position the shoulder belt and lap correctly. They also decrease the distance that a child's head moves during an accident, which reduces the risk of injuries. Motor vehicle crashes are the most fatal killer of children between the ages of 4-8, and head movement is the most significant cause.

If a booster is used improperly, the lap portion of the belt could slide up and over the child's abdomen and cause severe injuries in the event of a crash. This can be avoided by using a booster that has lap belt guides to prevent the lap belt from slipping over arm rests or sliding onto a child's stomach.

Many boosters have small handles and armrests or guide slots to help place the lap belt low and flat on a child's top legs. This ensures that the lap belt begins and remains on a child's sturdy hip bones instead of being pushed up into their stomachs in the event of a crash.

Some booster seats have an automatic seatbelt lock mechanism that locks the seatbelt in place when a child is sitting in them. This can help prevent the lapbelt from slipping up and over the child's abdomen. This can also help to prevent the seat belt from being pulled over the face of a child, which could cause hypoxia and airway obstruction, as well as neck strain.