Can an Infant Car Seat Be Placed in Front Seat?

As children outgrow their car seats for infants, they can be moved into convertible or all-in-one seats. These car seats are available in both rear-facing and forward-facing versions but they must satisfy certain weight and age requirements.

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

1. The 1.5 Inch Rule

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

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

A rear-facing car seat protects your child's neck and head better than a front-facing seat that offers only minimal protection. The headrest keeps your child from slipping out of the shoulder straps in a crash. The harness keeps the chest clip up above the shoulders.

It is important to keep in mind that there are ZERO instances of children in forward facing infant car seat-facing car seats breaking their legs when they strike the back of the front vehicle seat. This happens when a child's feet fly up and get caught against the seat's back, which puts tremendous pressure into the leg bones. There's no reason to put your child at risk for this.

There are a variety of programs in the United States that provide infant car seats at a reduced price or for free to parents who qualify. This is a great opportunity to get your child into a secure car seat before they grow out of it and use it in a safe manner for a long time.

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

Before you buckle your child in make sure that the back of the car seat will touch the car seat's back by measuring the middle of the seat and measuring it with a tape measure. A lot of things, like the blade of a house key, or the length of wireless earbuds, are about 1.5 inches long and can be used to test for this space. Check the instructions for the car seat for newborn 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 baby car seats, bouncers, swings strollers, and other toys for children, newborns and preemies could be in a dangerous position with their chests pressed against their chins. In the event of a collision the children could be injured or crushed by the chest clip. Make sure that the straps are positioned just a little below the shoulders of the child and then they will be able to rise over their shoulders. Make sure they are tight to prevent this. The straps should be tight enough to pinch excess fabric together. This is known as the Pinch Test. The bulky outer layers of winter coats can hinder this, so make sure to remove them prior to placing your child in their seat.

The chest clip is made to protect against a fall, but it could compress a neck of a child if it's too low or if they are loose. It's also crucial that the chest clip not located in the neck opening of the collar. the buckle should be positioned at armpit height.

In the event of a crash rear-facing infants are more likely to slide off the seat, and the harness straps need to be able to support the child's neck and head. It is essential to put the straps above the shoulders. If the straps are too low, they may slide through the opening in the neck of the baby or over their ears. If they are too loose, they may touch the face of the child.

Make sure the shoulder straps are in the slots at or above your child's shoulders and that they fit snugly. Infants may require an infant insert (often included with the car seat), to raise their shoulders so they reach this slot. Some infant car seats have angle indicators or adjustors that can assist you in this. You can also check the instructions included with your seat.

3. Rear-Facing Only

Some parents might be enticed by the fact that their child's legs are getting shorter in the rear-facing seat but there is no need to do this. The rear-facing seat is safer than a forward-facing position 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. Forward-facing children are more susceptible to serious injuries as their bodies are thrown into the vehicle.

A majority of infant car seat In front seat car seats come with an angle indicator built in so that you can ensure the seat is correctly installed. You also need to ensure that your child's head rests flat against the seat and the harness straps are positioned over their shoulders, not beneath their arms or twisted. To check whether the harness is too tight you should be able to pinch a small amount of material on your child's shoulder. Check the crotch strap and ensure that it is at the same level as the armpits and not at the waist. It is also a good idea to review the manual for your infant car seat so you know the proper way to use it for your child.

The majority of manufacturers recommend that children remain rear-facing until they're at least one year old or until they reach their car seat's weight and height limits. Certain states have laws that require infants to be rear-facing for at minimum two years.

If you own a car with only one back seat, you can install the infant car seat in the middle so that you are able to easily see your child's reflection in your rearview mirror without needing to lean over. Installing the car seat on your driver's side can make it easier to get your child into and out of the seat.

If your vehicle has two rear seats the infant car seat can be installed on either side so long as it's not the airbag's front on the passenger side. If you must choose between installing an cheap infant car seats car seat on the left or right side of your vehicle, you can install it on the driver’s side.

4. Booster Seats

Children who have outgrown their infant car seat due to weight and height will require a booster until the seat belt is properly fitted. This is only possible when the child is at a minimum 4'9" tall and has reached the top of the headrest.

Booster seats help to position the lap and shoulder belt properly. Booster seats also help reduce the distance that a neck moves in collisions, reducing the risk of injury. Motor vehicle crashes are the number one killer of kids ages 4-8, and head movement is the main cause.

If a booster isn't used correctly the lap belt could be able to slide over the abdomen of a child and cause serious injuries in an accident. This can be avoided with a belt guide on the booster that prevents the lap belt from sliding onto a child's stomach or getting over armrests.

Many boosters come with small handles, armrests or guide slots that help put the lapbelt flat on the child's upper legs. This ensures that the lap belt starts and stays on the child's sturdy hip bones instead of moving up into their stomachs during a crash.

Some booster seats come with an automatic seatbelt lock mechanism that locks the seatbelt in place when a child is seated in them. This can stop the lapbelt from moving upwards and over the child's abdomen. This can also help to keep the seat belt from being pulled across the face of a child, which could cause airway obstruction and hypoxia, as well as neck strain.