The Top Infant Car Seat In Front Seat Experts Are Doing 3 Things

Can an Infant Car Seat Be Placed in Front Seat?

When children outgrow their infant car seats, they can move to convertible or all-in one car seats. These car seats are available in both rear-facing and forward-facing versions, but they must meet certain weight and age requirements.

It is not recommended to put car seats in front of airbags on the car seat, because the force of the airbag could be fatal for babies and children.

1. The 1.5 Inch Rule

Many parents wonder if an infant car seat may be placed in front of the vehicle driver's seat, and the answer is always no. The reason for this is quite simple: If a crash happens, the child could have their head struck by an airbag if they are in the front seat. The airbag can injure or even kill a child.

Infant car seats are designed to be rear-facing. In the event of a crash, the seat's back will be positioned against the back of your vehicle seat.  baby seat  will provide the most security for the infant.

Additionally, the rear-facing car seat protects the neck and head of your child more than a forward-facing car seat that offers only minimal neck and head protection. The headrest prevents your child from sliding out of the shoulder straps during a crash. The harness keeps the chest clip high above the shoulders.

It's important to keep it in mind that there have been ZERO known instances of children in forward-facing seats breaking their leg when they strike the rear of the seat. This happens when a child's feet rise and trap them against the back of the seat and put a great deal of pressure on the bones of the legs. There is no reason to put your child at risk of this.

There are a variety of programs in the United States for parents who qualify to receive discounted or free infant car seats. This is a great chance to ensure that your child is in a secure car seat before they get out of it. It can be used for a number of years.

The majority of the new infant car seats have a base that they click into and out of, making them much more user-friendly than older models. This feature is particularly useful 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 make sure that the car seat back will be in contact with the vehicle seat's back by locating the center of the seat and measuring with a tape measure. Many things, such as the blade of a house key or the length of wireless earbuds are approximately 1.5 inches long and can be used to check for this space. Review the instructions for your car seat as well as the owner's manual of your vehicle to determine whether the angle can be adjusted to remove the space.

2. Harness Position

In infant car seats, bouncers, swings, strollers, and other toys for children, newborns and preemies could get into a dangerous situation with their chests and chins touching. In the event of a crash, they could be injured by the chest clip or crushed by harness straps that are too loose or not placed over their shoulders. Check that the straps are positioned just below the shoulders of the child, and then, when they are up, they should be over their shoulders. Make sure they are tight to prevent this. The straps should be tight enough to hold the excess fabric to each other. This is called the Pinch Test. Winter coats and other bulky outer layers can interfere with the Pinch Test, so be sure to remove them before you buckle your child into their seat.

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

In the event of a crash, rear-facing infants are more likely to slide up the seat and the harness straps should be able to support the child's neck and head. This is why it's important that the straps are placed over the shoulders. If the straps are too low, they may slip through the opening on the neck of the baby or even over their ears. If they're too loose, they may reach the child's face.

Make sure that the shoulder straps are snugly fitted and in the slots above or on the child's shoulders. Newborns might need an infant insert (often included with the car seat), to raise their shoulders so they reach this slot. Some infant car seats come with built-in angle indicators or adjustors to aid in this process and you should always refer to the instructions that came with your seat.

3. Rear-Facing Only

While some parents may be tempted to turn their infant car seat to face forward, due to their child's legs becoming too short in the rear-facing position, there's really no reason to do so. The rear-facing seat is safer than a forward-facing position because in the event of a collision, the baby's body will tense against the seat, and their neck and spine will be supported. Forward-facing children's bodies are thrown backwards against the vehicle and can cause serious injury.

Additionally, many infant car seats have an angle indicator built-in so that you can be sure the seat is installed correctly. Also, you must make sure your child's head is level against the seat and that the harness straps are put over their shoulders, not beneath their arms or bent. You can pinch a tiny bit of fabric at their shoulder to determine that the harness is snug enough. Check the crotch strap and make sure it is at the same height as the armpits and not at the waist. It is also a good idea to review your infant car seat manual to ensure you understand the correct method to use it with your child.

Most manufacturers recommend that kids remain rear-facing until they're at the age of one or until they reach the weight and height limits. Some states have laws that require babies to remain rear-facing until two years old.

If you own a car with just one back seat, install the infant car seat in the middle so you can easily see your child's face through the 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 that it is not in the airbag's front on the passenger-side. However, if you have to choose between installing the infant car seat on the left or right side of the vehicle, place it on the driver's side.

4. Booster Seats

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

Booster seats are a great way to position the shoulder and lap belts correctly. They can also limit the distance that a child's skull moves during a crash, which decreases the risk of injury. Head movement is the primary cause of 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, which stops the lap belt from sliding onto the stomach of a child or getting over armrests.

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

Some booster seats have an automatic seatbelt lock mechanism that secures the seatbelt when a child sits in them. This can keep the lap belt from moving upwards and over the child's abdomen. This can help to stop the seat belt from being pulled upwards over a child's face. This could lead to airway obstruction and hypoxia, as well as neck strain.