Can an Infant Car Seat Be Placed in Front Seat?

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

Car seats should not be placed in front of a seat with airbags, since the force of the deployed airbag can be fatal for babies and children.

1. The 1.5 Inch Rule

Many parents ask whether an infant car seat may be placed in front of the vehicle driver's seat, and the answer is always no. The reason is simple: If there is a crash the child's head may be struck by an airbag when in the front seat. The result is that the airbag could cause harm or even death to the infant.

This is the reason why infant car seats are made 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 best car seat protection for your baby.

A rear-facing car seat protects your child's head and neck more effectively than a front-facing one that offers only little protection. The headrest also stops the child from sliding off the shoulder straps in a crash, and the harness keeps the chest clip in place above the shoulders of your child.

It's important to keep it in mind that there are ZERO reported instances of children in forward-facing seats breaking their legs when they strike the rear of the vehicle seat. This happens when children's feet rise and trap them against the seat's back, which puts tremendous stress on the bones of the leg. There is no reason to put your child at risk of this.

There are numerous programs across the country for parents who qualify to receive discounted or free infant car seats. This is a great opportunity to ensure your child is in a safe seat before they get out of it and can be used in a safe manner for a long time.

The base of many newer infant car seat models is designed to be removed and put back in, making them much easier to use. This feature is especially helpful for traveling with young children as it allows you to keep the car seat installed and ready for use even if you change vehicles.

Before you take your child's seat, find out if the back of the car seat will be in contact with the vehicle seat's back by finding the middle of the seat and measuring with a tape to determine. This space is a test that can be done with a variety of objects, including the blade of a key, or the length wireless earbuds. After that, you should check the instructions on your car seat as well as the the owner's manual of your vehicle to determine if you can adjust the angle of the car seat to eliminate the space.

2. Harness Position

Preemies and infants often are prone to fall into a risky chest-to-chin position in infant car seats, bouncy chairs, strollers, swings and other toys for children. In the event of a crash they could be injured or crushed by the chest clip. Check that the straps are placed just 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 allow you to pinch any fabric that isn't tight enough which is known as the Pinch Test. Winter coats and other bulky outer layers could interfere with the Pinch Test, so be sure to remove them before you buckle your child in their seat.

The chest clip is designed to break during a crash but it can cause a child's throat to collapse if it's too low or when the chest straps are too loose. The chest clip shouldn't be located in the neck opening. Instead it should be located at the armpit level.

In the event of a crash, children who are rear-facing may slide up the seat. The harness straps must be able to support the child's neck and head. It is important to place the straps on the shoulders. If the straps are too low they may slide over the baby's ears or go through the opening in their neck, and if they are too loose, they can slide up to the child's nose.

Make sure that the straps for your child's shoulders are properly fitted and positioned in the slots above or at the shoulders of your child. Newborns may require a separate infant car Seat in front seat insert (often included in the car seat) to lift them up so that their shoulders can reach the slot. Some infant car seats have angle indicators or adjustors that can assist you in this. You may also want to check the instructions provided with your seat.

3. Rear-Facing Only

While some parents might be tempted to flip their infant car seat to face forward facing infant car seat, due to their child's legs being too short in the rear-facing position, there's really no reason why you should. Rear-facing is more secure than forward-facing because the baby's spine and neck are supported in the event of an accident. Forward-facing children's bodies are thrown backwards by the vehicle, and may cause serious injury.

Additionally, many infant car seats come with an integrated angle indicator so you can ensure that the seat is correctly installed. It is also important to make sure your child's head is flat against the seat and that the harness straps are placed over their shoulders, not under their arms or twisted. To determine if the harness is too tight you should be able to hold a small amount material on the shoulder of your child. Check the crotch strap and make sure it is at the same level as the armpits, and not at the waist. It is also a good idea to review your infant car seat manual so you know the proper way to use it for your child.

Most manufacturers advise that children ride rear-facing in their car seats until they reach at least one year old or until they have reached the weight and height limits of their specific car seat. Certain states have laws that require infants to remain rear-facing until they reach the age of two years old.

Install the infant car seat on the middle seat of a car that has only one rear seat. This allows you to view your child comfortably through the rearview mirror, without having to bend over. Installing the car seat on your driver's side can make it easier to get your child in and out of the seat.

If you have a vehicle with two back seats, you can put the infant car seat rear facing car seat on either side as long as it's not behind the passenger side airbag. If you must decide between installing an infant car seat on the left or the right side of your vehicle, put it on the driver’s side.

4. Booster Seats

Children who have outgrown their infant car seats due to their weight and height will require a booster until the seat belt is properly fitted. 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 lap and shoulder belt properly. They also limit how far the neck of a child moves during collisions, which reduces the risk of injury. Head movement is the primary cause of motor vehicle crashes that are the top fatality for children between the ages of 4 and 8.

If a booster is used incorrectly the lap portion of the belt may slide up to the abdomen of a child and cause serious injuries in a crash. This can be avoided with a belt guide on the booster to stop the lap belt from sliding up onto a child's stomach or climbing over armrests.

Many boosters have small handles and armrests or guide slots that help place the lap belt low and flat on a child's top legs. This ensures that the lapbelt starts and stays on the strong hipbones of the child instead of moving up into their soft abdomen area in the event of the event of a crash.

Some booster seats are equipped with an automatic seat belt locking mechanism to ensure that the belt is locked in place while a child is sitting in it. This will help prevent the lap belt from moving over a child's abdomen. This can help to stop the seat belt from being pulled up over a child's face. This could cause airway obstruction and hypoxia and neck strain.