Can an Infant Car Seat Be Placed in Front Seat?

As children get older, they can move out of their car seats for infants, they can move into convertible or all-in-one seats. These car seats are available in 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 air bag can be lethal for infants and children.

1. The 1.5 Inch Rule

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

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

A rear-facing car seat protects your child's neck and head better than a front-facing car seat, which only provides the most basic protection. The headrest prevents the child from falling off the shoulder straps during an accident and the harness will keep the chest clip high above the shoulders of your child.

It's important to keep it in mind that there have been ZERO documented instances of children in forward-facing seats breaking their leg when they strike the rear of the vehicle seat. This happens when a kid's feet fly upwards and get caught against the back of the seat, which puts tremendous pressure into the leg bones. This is not something you want to put your child in danger of.

There are also several programs in the United States for parents who meet the criteria to receive free or discounted infant car seats. This is a great opportunity to ensure your child is in a secure car seat before they grow out of it. It can be used for many years.

Most newer infant car seats best newborn car seat seats have a base that they click into and out of, making them much easier to use than older models. This feature is particularly beneficial for families with young children because it allows you to keep the seat in place and ready for use even when changing vehicles.

Before you put your child in the car seat make sure that the back of the car seat will be in contact with the vehicle seat's back by finding the center of the seat and measuring it with a tape measure. This space can be checked using a variety of objects, including the blade of a key or the length of the wireless earbuds. Examine the directions for the car seat as well as the owner's manual for your vehicle to determine whether the angle is adjusted to eliminate the space.

2. Harness Position

In baby car seats as well as swings, bouncers strollers, and other equipment for children, infants and preemies can fall into a dangerous position with their chins touching their chests. In the event of a crash, they could be injured by the chest clip or crushed by the straps on the harness that are loose or not placed over their shoulders. To avoid this, check that the straps on your shoulder start a bit lower and move up over the child's shoulders and ensure that you tighten them. The straps should be secure enough to be able to squeeze any fabric that is not tight enough - this is called the Pinch Test. The bulky outer layers of winter coats may hinder this, so be sure to remove them before placing your child in their seat.

The chest clip was designed for a crash, but it could compress a neck of a child if it's too low or are 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 will likely slide up the seat. The harness straps must 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 too low, they could slip through the opening on the neck of the baby or even over their ears. If they are too loose, they could touch the face of the child.

Make sure that the shoulder straps are securely fitted and in the slots above or on the child's shoulders. Newborns may require a separate infant insert (often included with the car seat) to raise them up so that their shoulders can reach the slot. Some infant car seats have angle indicators or adjustors that can help you with this. You can also refer to the instructions that come with your seat.

3. Rear-Facing Only

While some parents may 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, there's really no reason to do so. The rear-facing position is much safer than the 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 by the vehicle, and may cause serious injury.

Many infant Car Seat in front Seat car seats also have an angle indicator built in to help you ensure the seat is installed correctly. Also, you must make sure your child's head rests flat against the seat and the harness straps are placed over their shoulders, not under their arms or bent. To determine whether the harness is tight you should be able to hold a small amount material around your child's shoulder. It is also essential to examine the crotch buckle strap to be sure it is level with the armpits and not at the waist. It is also recommended to read the manual of your infant car seat so you know the proper method to use it with your child.

Most manufacturers suggest that children ride rear-facing until they're at minimum 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 least two years.

Install the infant car seat on the middle seat of a car that has only one rear seat. This will allow you to see your child clearly 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 in and out of the seat.

If you own a car that has two back seats you can install the infant car seat on either side as long as it isn't directly in front of the passenger side airbag. If you have to decide between installing the infant car seat on the left or right side of the vehicle, you can put it on the driver's side.

4. Booster Seats

Children who have outgrown their infant car seat due to their weight and height will need 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 assist in positioning the shoulder belt and lap correctly. They can also limit the distance the child's head moves during the crash, which lowers the chance of injuries. Head movement is the primary reason behind motor vehicle crashes which are the most frequent deaths of children aged 4-8.

If a booster is used improperly the lap part of the belt can travel up and over the child's abdomen and cause major injuries in the event of a crash. This can be avoided by using a booster with lap belt guides that prevent the lap belt from sliding over arm rests or sliding on a child's stomach.

A lot of boosters come with small handles, armrests or guide slots that allow you to place the lap belt low and flat across a child's upper thighs. This ensures that the lapbelt begins and remains on the child's strong hipbones instead of moving up into their soft abdomen region during an accident.

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