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Can an Infant Car Seat Be Placed in Front Seat?

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

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

1. The 1.5 Inch Rule

Many parents wonder if the infant car seat could be placed in front of the driver's seat, and the answer is always no. The reason is quite simple: If a crash occurs the child's head may be struck by an airbag when in the front seat. The airbag can cause injury or even kill a child.

This is why infant car seats are designed to be rear-facing only. The back of the seat rests against the rear of the car seat in the event of a crash, providing the most effective protection for your infant.

In addition, a rear-facing car seat protects the head and neck of your child more than a forward-facing seat, which provides only minimal head and neck protection. The headrest also prevents the child from slipping off the shoulder straps in the event of a crash and the harness will keep the chest clip above the shoulders of your child.

It's important to remember that there are ZERO documented cases of kids in forward facing infant car seat-facing car seats breaking their legs when they hit the back of the front vehicle seat. This happens when children's feet are lifted and then get caught against the rear of the seat, putting tremendous pressure on the bones of the leg. There's no reason to put your child at risk for this.

There are also several programs throughout the country that allow parents who qualify to get discounted or free infant car seats. This is a great opportunity to get your child in a safe car seat before they outgrow of it. It is a great option for children to use for many years.

The majority of modern infant car seats have an adjustable base that they can click into and out of, which makes them much easier to use than older models. This feature is especially helpful for traveling with young children, as you can keep the car seat installed and ready for use even when you switch vehicles.

Before you buckle your child in, find out if the back of the car seat will touch the car seat's back by locating the center of the seat and measuring it using a tape measure. This space can be tested with many items, including the blade of a key, or the length wireless earbuds. Check the instructions for your car seat and the owner's manual of your vehicle to determine whether you can alter the angle of the car seat to remove the space.

2. Harness Position

In infant car seats as well as swings, bouncers, strollers, and other toys for children, newborns and preemies can 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 the harness straps that are too loose or not placed over their shoulders. Make sure that the straps are set just below the shoulders of the child, and then they will be able to rise over their shoulders. Tighten them to avoid this. The straps must be secure enough to pinch excess fabric to each other. This is called the Pinch Test. Winter coats and other heavy outer layers can hinder the Pinch Test, so be sure to remove them before you buckle your child into their seat.

The chest clip was designed for a crash, but it can compress the neck of a child if it's too low or are too loose. It is also essential that the chest clip is not in the neck opening of the collar. the buckle should be placed at armpit height.

In the event of a crash rear-facing infants are more likely to slide off the seat, and the harness straps should be able to hold the child's neck and head. It is crucial to place the straps on the shoulders. If the straps are too high they can slip over the baby's ears or go through the opening in their neck, and if they're too loose, they can slide toward the child's nose.

Make sure the shoulder straps are snugly fitted and in the slots above or at the shoulders of your child. Newborns may require a separate infant insert (often included in the car seat) to lift them up so their shoulders reach the slot. Some infant car seats come with built-in angle indicators or adjustors that aid in this process and you should always refer to the instructions included with the seat.

3. Rear-Facing Only

While some parents might be tempted to flip their infant car seat in front Seat car seat to face forward due to their child's legs becoming too short in the rear-facing position really no reason to do so. Rear-facing is safer than forward-facing because the baby's neck and spine are supported in the event of an accident. Forward-facing children are more susceptible to serious injuries as their bodies are thrown against the vehicle.

A majority of infant car seats have an angle indicator to help you ensure the seat is properly installed. It is also important to make sure your child's head rests flat against the seat, and that the harness straps are positioned over their shoulders, not under their arms or twisted. To determine whether the harness is too tight it is best car seat infant to squeeze a small amount of material around your child's shoulder. Check the crotch strap and make sure it is at the same height as the armpits and not at the waist. It is also recommended to read the manual of your infant car seat so that you know how to properly use it.

Most manufacturers suggest that children remain rear-facing until they're at the age of one or until they reach their car seat's weight and height limits. Certain states have laws that require babies to remain rear-facing until they are two years old.

If you have a vehicle with just one back seat, install the infant car seat in the middle so you are able to easily see your child through your rearview mirror without having to lean back. It's also helpful to place the car seat on the driver's side, so you don't have to walk the way around your car each time you want to take your child into or out of their car seat.

If your vehicle has two back seats, the infant car seats that swivel car seats newborn seat can be placed on either side, as that it is not in front of the airbag on the passenger-side. If you need 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 require a booster until the seat belt fits them properly. This is only possible when the child is at least 4'9" tall and has reached the top of the headrest.

Booster seats assist in positioning the shoulder belt and lap correctly. Booster seats can also reduce the distance that a neck moves in collisions, reducing the risk of injuries. Motor vehicle accidents are the number one killer of children between the ages of 4-8, and head motion is the most significant cause.

If a booster is not properly used, 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, which stops the lap belt from sliding onto a child's stomach or climbing over armrests.

Many boosters have small handles or armrests, or guide slots to help place the lap belt low and flat on a child's upper legs. This ensures that the lapbelt begins and stays on the child's strong hipbones instead of moving upwards into their abdominal region during a crash.

Some booster seats are also equipped with an automatic seat belt locking mechanism to keep the seat belt secure while children are sitting in it. This will help prevent the lap belt from moving up over a child's abdomen. This may also help prevent the seat belt from being pulled over the face of a child, which could result in hypoxia and airway obstruction as and neck strain.