Can an Infant car seats newborn Seat Be Placed in Front Seat?

When children are outgrowing their infant car seats, they can move to convertible or all-in-one car seats. These car seats can be rear-facing or forward-facing, however they have to meet certain age and weight specifications.

Car seats should not be placed on top of a car seat equipped with airbags, as the force of the airbag can be fatal for babies and children.

1. The 1.5 Inch Rule

Many parents inquire if the infant car seat can be placed on top of the driver's seat. The answer is always no. The reason is simple If a collision occurs 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 why infant car seats are made to be rear-facing only. The back of the seat rests against the back of the seat in a crash, providing the best car seats newborn protection for your infant.

A rear-facing best car seat newborn seat protects your child's neck and head better than a front-facing seat, which only provides the most basic protection. The headrest stops your child from falling out of the shoulder straps in an accident. The harness holds the chest clip up 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 fly upwards and are sucked into the seat's back and put a great deal of stress on the bones of the leg. This is not something you want to put your child at risk of.

There are numerous programs across the country for parents who qualify to receive free or discounted infant car seats. This is a great way to ensure your child is in a secure car seat before they get out of it and can be used in a safe way for many years.

The base of many newer infant car seat models is designed to be easily removed and installed, making them more convenient to use. This feature is particularly beneficial when traveling with children because you can keep the car seat in place and ready for use even when changing vehicles.

Find the middle of the seat and measure it with the help of a tape. This space is a test that can be done with a variety of things, such as the blade of a key or the length of the wireless earbuds. Check the instructions for your car seat and vehicle owner's manual to see if you can adjust the angle of the car seat to eliminate the space.

2. Harness Position

Preemies and newborns frequently fall into a dangerous chin-to-chest position in infant car seat in front seat car seats, bouncy seats, strollers, swings and other equipment for children. In the event of a crash they could be injured or crushed by the chest clip. To prevent this from happening, make sure that the straps for your shoulders start a bit lower and move upwards over the shoulders of the child and be sure to tighten the straps. The straps must be secure enough to pinch excess fabric together. This is called the Pinch Test. Winter coats and other heavy outer layers can interfere with the Pinch Test, so take them off them prior to putting your child in their seat.

The chest clip is designed to break in a crash, but it may 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 in the neck opening. Instead, it should be at the armpit level.

In the event of a crash rear-facing infants are likely to slide off the seat, and the harness straps need to be able to support the child's neck and head. It is important to place the straps over the shoulders. If the straps are too low they can slip over the baby's ears or slide through the neck opening and if they are too loose, they can slide up to the child's nose.

Make sure that the straps for your child's shoulders are securely fitted and in the slots above or around the child's shoulders. Infants may require an infant insert (often included in the car seat) to lift them up so their shoulders reach the slot. Some infant car seats come with built-in angle indicators or adjustors to help with this and you should always refer to the instructions that came with your seat.

3. Rear-Facing Only

Some parents might be enticed by the fact that their child's legs are getting shorter in the rear-facing seat, however there is no reason to do this. The rear-facing position is much 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 may suffer serious injuries as their bodies are thrown into the vehicle.

A majority of infant car seats come with an angle indicator so that you can ensure the seat is properly installed. Also, you should ensure that your child's head rests flat on the seat, and that the straps are on their shoulders, not under their arms. You should be able to squeeze a little bit of material at their shoulder to determine whether the harness is secure enough. It is also important to examine the strap around the crotch to make sure it is in line with the armpits and not at the waist. It is also recommended to read your infant car seat manual to be aware of the proper method to use it with your child.

The majority of manufacturers recommend that children sit rear-facing in their best car seats for infants seats until they reach at least one year old or until they reach the height and weight limits of their car seat. Some states have laws requiring infants to be rear-facing for at least two years.

If you own a vehicle with just one back seat, you can install the infant car seat in the middle of the vehicle so you can easily see your child's reflection in your rearview mirror without having to lean back. It's also helpful to install the car seat on the driver's side, so you do not have to walk all the way around your vehicle every time you want to take your child into or out of their car seat.

If your vehicle has two back seats, the infant car seat can be installed on either side, as long as it's not the airbag's front on the passenger's side. If you have to decide between installing the infant car seat on the right or left side of the vehicle, put it on the driver's side.

4. Booster Seats

Children who outgrow their car seat for infants by weight and height should be fitted with a booster seat until the seat belt is fitted properly. This is only possible when the child is at a minimum 4'9" tall and has reached the top of the headrest.

Booster seats help to position the shoulder belt and lap correctly. Booster seats can also reduce the distance that a neck of a child moves during collisions, reducing the risk of injuries. Motor vehicle accidents are the most fatal killer of kids ages 4-8, and head movement is the most significant cause.

If a booster is used improperly the lap part of the belt could slide up and over the child's abdomen 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 up onto a child's stomach or getting over armrests.

A lot of boosters come with small handles, armrests, or guide slots that aid to keep the lap belt in a low and flat position over a child's upper thighs. This ensures that the lapbelt begins and remains on the child's strong hipbones instead of moving upwards into their abdomen area during a crash.

Some booster seats are equipped with an automatic seat belt locking mechanism to keep the seat belt in place when the child is in it. This can help in preventing the lap belt from moving up over a child's abdomen. This can to stop the seat belt from being pulled up over a child’s face. This can lead to airway obstruction and hypoxia as well neck strain.