Can an Infant Car Seat Be Placed in Front Seat?
When children have outgrown their infant car seats, they can switch to convertible or all-in-one car seats. These car seats are available in both forward-facing and rear-facing versions however, they must meet certain weight and age requirements.
It is not advised to place car seats behind airbags on the vehicle seat, since the impact of the airbag could be fatal to children and babies.
1. The 1.5 Inch Rule
The answer to this question is no. The reason is simple: If a crash occurs, the child’s head could be struck by an airbag when in the front seat. The result is that the airbag could cause injury or even death to the child.
portable infant car seat car seats are designed to be rearward-facing. The back of the seat rests against the back of the seat in the event of a crash, providing the best car seat for newborn uk protection for your infant.
A rear-facing car seat safeguards your child’s head and neck better than a front-facing car seat, which only provides the most basic protection. The headrest stops your child from slipping off the shoulder straps in an accident. The harness holds the chest clip high above the shoulders.
It’s important to note that there are ZERO documented cases of kids in forward-facing car seats breaking their legs after hitting the back of the front seat. This happens when children’s feet fly upwards and get stuck against the back of the seat, putting enormous stress on the bones of the legs. This is not something you want to put your child at risk of.
There are also several programs throughout the country that allow parents who qualify to receive free or discounted infant car seats. This is a great chance to get your child in a safe car seat before they grow out of it. It can be used for a number of years.
Most newer infant car seats come with an adjustable base that they can click into and out of, which makes them much more user-friendly than older models. This feature is especially beneficial for families with small children as it allows you to keep the car seat in place and ready for use even when you switch vehicles.
Before you take your child’s seat make sure that the car seat back will touch the vehicle seat’s back by locating the middle of the seat and measuring with a tape to determine. This space can be checked using a variety of items, including the blade of a key or length wireless earbuds. Check the instructions on your car seat as well as the 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
Preemies and newborns frequently get into a potentially dangerous chin-to-chest posture in infant car seats, bouncy seats strollers, swings and other toys for children. In the event of a collision, they can be injured or crushed by the chest clip. To avoid this, check that the straps on your shoulder begin a little below and then come upwards over the shoulders of the child and ensure that you tighten them. The straps should be snug enough to be able to pinch any fabric that isn’t tight enough This is known as the Pinch Test. Bulky outer layers like winter coats may hinder this so be 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 if the chest straps aren’t tight enough. The chest clip should not be located in the neck opening. Instead it should be placed at the armpit level.
In a crash, infants who are rear-facing will likely slide down the seat. The harness straps must be capable of supporting the child’s neck and head. This is why it’s very important that the straps are placed over the shoulders. If the straps are too low, they could slip through the opening on the neck of the baby or even over their ears. If they’re too loose, they could reach the child’s face.
Make sure that the straps for your child’s shoulders are securely fitted and in the slots above or on the shoulders of your child. Newborns may need a separate infant insert (often included with the car seat) to raise them so that their shoulders can reach this slot. Some infant car seat rear facing car seats come with built-in angle indicators or adjustors to assist with this, and you should always refer to the instructions that came with the seat.
3. Rear-Facing Only
While some parents might be tempted to turn their infant car seat around to face forward because of their child’s legs getting too short in the rear-facing position, there’s really no reason why you should. 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’s bodies are thrown backwards against the vehicle, and may cause serious injuries.
A lot of infant car seats include an angle indicator built-in to help you ensure the seat is properly installed. Also, you must make sure your child’s head is flat against the seat and that the harness straps are positioned over their shoulders, not under their arms or twisted. You should be able to squeeze a tiny bit of fabric at their shoulders to ensure whether the harness is secure enough. Check the crotch strap to make sure it’s at the same height as the armpits and not at the waist. You should also read the instruction manual for your infant car seat travel car seat to ensure that you know how to use it properly.
Most manufacturers recommend that kids remain rear-facing until they’re at minimum one year old or until they reach the weight and height limits. Some states have laws requiring infants to be rear-facing for at least two years.
Install the infant car seat on the middle seat of a vehicle with only one back seat. This will allow you to see your child easily through the rearview mirror without having to bend. Installing the car seat on your driver’s side also makes it easier to get your child into and out of the seat.
If you own a car with two rear seats, you can put the infant car Seat in front seat car seat on either side so long as it’s not behind the passenger side airbag. If you must decide between installing an infant car seat on either the left or the right side of your vehicle, put it on the driver’s side.
4. Booster Seats
All children who outgrow their infant car seat due to weight and height must use a booster seat until their vehicle seat belt fits them properly. This can only happen if they are at a minimum of 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 lap and shoulder belt properly. They also decrease the distance the child’s head moves during an accident, which reduces the risk of injuries. Head movement is the main reason behind motor vehicle crashes, which are the leading fatality for children between the ages of 4 and 8.
If the booster is not used correctly, the lap portion of the belt may slide up to the abdomen of a child and cause major injuries in a crash. This can be avoided with a belt guide on the booster to stop the lap belt from sliding onto a child’s stomach, or climbing over armrests.
A lot of boosters come with armrests, handles, or guide slots that allow you to place the lap belt in a low and flat position across a child’s upper thighs. This ensures that the lap belt begins and stays on the child’s strong hip bones, instead of slipping into their soft stomach area during a crash.
Some booster seats are equipped with a seat belt locking mechanism to keep the seat belt in place when the child is in it, and this can help to prevent the lap belt from moving up over a child’s abdomen. This can help prevent the seatbelt from being pulled over a child’s face. This can lead to hypoxia and airway obstruction, as well as neck strain.
