Can an Infant Car Seat Be Placed in Front Seat?
When children have outgrown their infant car seats, they can move to convertible or all-in one car seats. These car seats can be used rear or forward-facing but they need to meet certain age and weight requirements.
Car seats should never be placed in front of a seat equipped with airbags, as the force of the deployed air bag can be lethal for children and babies.
1. The 1.5 Inch Rule
Many parents inquire if the infant car seat could be placed in front of the vehicle driver’s seat, and the answer is always no. The reason is very simple: If a crash happens and the child is involved, they could get their head hit by an airbag, especially if they are in the front seat. The result is that the airbag could injure or kill the baby.
This is why infant car seats are designed 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 most effective protection for your infant.
In addition, the rear-facing car seat protects the head and neck of your child more than a forward-facing seat that offers only minimal neck and head protection. The headrest also stops the child from sliding off the shoulder straps in a crash and the harness will keep the chest clip above your child’s shoulders.
It’s important to keep it in mind that there are ZERO known instances of children riding forward-facing seats breaking their legs when they strike the rear of the seat. This occurs when a child’s feet fly upwards and get trapped against the back of the seat, which puts immense stress on the bones of the legs. This is not something you want to put your child in danger of.
There are a variety of programs in the US that offer infant Maxi-Cosi Mica Eco I-Size Swivel Car Seat Black – Premium Safety For Your Baby seats at a reduced price or at no cost for parents who meet the requirements. This is a great chance to get your child in a safe car seat before they get out of it. It can be used for a number of years.
Most newer infant car seats come with a base that they can click into and out of, making them much easier to use than older models. This feature is especially beneficial when traveling with children as it allows you to keep the car seat on 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 vehicle seat’s back by locating the middle of the seat and measuring with a tape measure. This area can be checked using a variety of items, including the blade of a key or the length wireless earbuds. Check the instructions for the car seat and the owner’s manual for your vehicle to see whether the angle is adjusted to remove the space.
2. Harness Position
Preemies and newborns frequently fall into a dangerous chest-to-chin position in infant car seats, bouncy seats swings, strollers and other children’s equipment. In a crash they can be injured by the chest clip or crushed by the harness straps that are loose or have not been placed over their shoulders. Make sure that the straps are set slightly below the shoulders of the child, and then, when they are up, they should be over their shoulders. Tighten them to avoid this. The straps must be tight enough to pinch excess fabric to each other. This is known as the Pinch Test. Bulky outer layers like winter coats may hinder this, so be sure to remove them prior to placing your child in their seat.
The chest clip is designed to break during 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 placed in the neck opening. Instead, it should be at the armpit level.
In the event of a crash who are rear-facing will likely slide up the seat. The harness straps should be able to support the head and neck of the child. This is why it’s crucial that the straps are placed over the shoulders. If the straps are placed too low, they may slide through the opening in 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 in the slots over the shoulders of your child and they fit comfortably. Newborns may require a separate infant insert (often included with the car seat) to lift them up to ensure their shoulders are in the slot. Some infant car seats have built-in angle indicators or adjustors that help with this and you should always read the instructions that came with the 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 getting too short in the rear-facing position really no reason to do so. Rear-facing is safer than forward-facing, as the child’s neck and spine are protected in the event of an accident. Forward-facing children can suffer serious injuries because their bodies are thrown against the vehicle.
Additionally, many infant car seats come with an integrated angle indicator so you can ensure that the seat is installed correctly. You also need to make sure your child’s head is level against the seat, and that the harness straps are put over their shoulders, not under their arms or bent. To check whether the harness is too tight it is best to hold a small amount 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 recommended to read the manual for your infant car seat to ensure that you know how to use it properly.
Most manufacturers advise that children use rear-facing seats in their car seats until they are at least one year old or until they reach the weight and height limit of their particular car seat. Some states have laws that require infants to be rear-facing until they reach the age of two years old.
Install the infant Kinderkraft JUNIORFIX2 Isofix Toddler Car Seat – Gray 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 rear seats, you can place the infant car seat on either side so long as it isn’t directly in front of the passenger side airbag. If you need to decide whether to install the infant car seat on the right or left side of the vehicle, place 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 vehicle’s seat belt is properly fitted. This can only happen when they are at a minimum of 4 feet 9 inches tall and have reached the top of their headrest (check the guidelines of the manufacturer of your seat for exact measurements).
Booster seats are a great way to position the shoulder and lap belts properly. They also limit the amount that a child’s neck moves during collisions, reducing the chance of injury. Head movement is the main reason behind motor vehicle crashes, which are the leading deaths of children aged 4-8.
If a booster is used incorrectly, the lap portion of the belt can travel up over a child’s abdomen and cause serious injuries in an accident. This is avoided by using a belt guide on the booster to stop the lap belt from sliding onto a child’s stomach, or climbing over armrests.
Many boosters are designed with armrests, handles or guide slots that help to position the lap belt in a low and flat position over a child’s upper thighs. This will ensure that the lapbelt begins and remains on the hipbones of a child’s strength instead of slipping upwards into their abdomen region during a crash.
Some booster seats are also designed with a seat belt locking mechanism to keep the seat belt locked in place while children are sitting in it, and this will help prevent the lap belt from slipping up over a child’s abdomen. This will to stop the seat belt from being pulled over a child’s face. This could cause airway obstruction and hypoxia as well as neck strain.
