Can an Infant Car Seat Be Placed in Front Seat?

As children get older, they can move out of their car seats as infants, they can be moved to convertible or all-in one car seats. These car seats are available in both forward-facing and rear-facing models but they must satisfy certain weight and age requirements.

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

1. The 1.5 Inch Rule

The answer to this question is no. The reason is simple: If a crash happens and the child is in the front seat, they could have their head struck by an airbag, especially if they are 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. In the event of a crash, the seat's back will be positioned against the rear of your car seat. This will provide the most protection for the infant car seat in front seat (read more).

In addition, the rear-facing car seat safeguards the head and neck of your child more than a forward-facing one that offers only minimal head and neck protection. The headrest prevents the child from falling off the shoulder straps during a crash, and the harness keeps the chest clip above the shoulders of your child.

It's important to remember that there are ZERO documented cases of kids in forward-facing car seats breaking their legs when they strike the rear of the front seat. This happens when a kid's feet rise and are sucked into the back of the seat, which puts tremendous pressure into the leg bones. This is not something you want to put your child at risk of.

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

The base of many modern infant car seats is designed to be easily removed and installed, making them more convenient to use. This feature is particularly useful for traveling with young children as it allows you to keep the car seat on and ready to go even when you switch vehicles.

Find the center of the car seat and measure it using a tape. This space can be checked using a variety of things, such as the blade of a key, or the length wireless earbuds. Review the instructions for your car seat and the owner's manual for your vehicle to determine if the angle can be adjusted to remove the space.

2. Harness Position

Preemies and infants often get into a potentially dangerous chin-to-chest position in infant car seats, bouncy seats, swings, strollers and other equipment for children. In the event of a crash they could be injured or crushed by the chest clip. Make sure that the straps are set just a little below the shoulders of the child, and then they will be able to rise over their shoulders. Tighten them to avoid this. The straps should be tight enough that you can pinch any fabric that isn't tight enough - this is called the Pinch Test. Winter coats and other heavy outer layers can interfere with the Pinch Test, so remove them prior to putting your child in their seat.

The chest clip is designed to break in a crash, but it may compress on a child's throat if it's too low or if the chest straps are too loose. The chest clip should not be placed in the neck opening. Instead it should be located at the armpit level.

During a crash, rear-facing infants are more likely to slide across the seat and the harness straps must be able to support the child's neck and head. It is crucial to place the straps on the shoulders. If the straps fall too low, they could slide through the opening in the neck of the infant or over their ears. If they're too loose, they may touch the face of the child.

Make sure the shoulder straps are snugly fitted and in the slots above or at the child's shoulders. Newborns might need an infant insert (often included with the car seat), to raise their shoulders until they can reach the slot. Some infant car seats have built-in angle indicators or adjustors that help with this and you can always check the instructions included with the seat.

3. Rear-Facing Only

While some parents might be tempted to flip their infant car seat to face forward, due to their child's legs being too short in the rear-facing position, there is really no reason to do so. The rear-facing position is safer than a forward-facing position because in the event of a crash, the lightweight baby car seat's body will press against the seat and their spine and neck will be supported. Forward-facing children's bodies are thrown backward against the vehicle and could cause serious injury.

In addition, many infant car seats have a built-in angle indicator so you can make sure that the seat is properly installed. You also need to make sure your child's head is level against the seat and the harness straps are positioned over their shoulders, not under their arms or twisted. To check whether the harness is tight it is best car seat for newborn to pinch a small amount of material around the shoulder of your child. Check the crotch strap and make sure it's at the same height as the armpits and not at the waist. It is also recommended to read your infant car seat manual to be aware of the proper way to use it for your child.

Most manufacturers suggest that children remain rear-facing until they're at least one year old or until they reach their car seat's weight and height limits. Some states have laws that require infants to be rear-facing until they reach the age of two years old.

If you own a car with only one back seat, install the infant car seat in the middle so you can easily view your child's reflection in your rearview mirror without needing to lean over. 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 with two back seats, you can put the infant car seat on either side so long as it's not directly in front of the passenger side air bag. If you have to choose between installing the infant car seat on the left or right side of the vehicle, put it on the driver's side.

4. Booster Seats

All children who exceed the size of their infant car seat by weight and height must use a booster seat until their vehicle seat belt is properly fitted. This is only possible when 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 are a great way to position the lap belt and shoulder properly. Booster seats also help reduce how far the neck moves in collisions, reducing the risk of injury. Head movement is the most common cause of motor vehicle accidents that are the top fatality for children between the ages of 4 and 8.

If a booster is not properly used, the lap portion can be able to slide over the abdomen of a child and cause serious injuries in the event of an accident. This can be prevented by using a booster with lap belt guides that stop the lap belt from sliding over arm rests or sliding on a child's belly.

Many boosters are designed with armrests, handles or guide slots that allow you to position the lap belt low and flat over a child's upper thighs. This will ensure that the lapbelt begins and stays on the hipbones of a child's strength instead of moving upwards into their abdominal region during an accident.

Certain booster seats are designed with a seat belt locking mechanism to ensure that the belt is locked in place while a child is sitting in it, and this will help prevent the lap belt from moving over the abdomen of a child. This can also help to keep the belt from being pulled over a child's face, which could cause hypoxia and airway obstruction, as well as neck strain.