7 Essential Tips For Making The Best Use Of Your Infant Car Seat In Front Seat

Can an Infant Car Seat Be Placed in Front Seat?

As children grow out of their car seats as infants, they can transition into convertible or all-in-one best car seat infant seats. These car seats can be used rear-facing or forward-facing, but they must to meet certain age and weight specifications.

Car seats should never be placed on top of a car seat equipped with airbags, as the force of the airbag could be fatal for babies and children.

1. The 1.5 Inch Rule

The answer to this question is no. The reason is simple: If an accident occurs the child's head could be hit by an airbag if in the front seat. The airbag can injure or even kill a baby.

Infant car seats are only designed to be rearward-facing. The seat's back rests 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 that offers only little protection. The headrest stops your child from sliding off the shoulder straps during a crash. The harness holds the chest clip up above the shoulders.

It's important to keep it in mind that there are ZERO documented instances of children in forward-facing seats breaking their leg when they hit the rear of the seat. This happens when children's feet fly upwards and get caught against the back of the seat and put a great deal of pressure on the bones of the legs. This is not something you should put your child in danger of.

There are numerous programs in the United States for qualifying parents to receive discounted or free infant car seats. This is a fantastic opportunity to ensure that your child is in a secure car seat before they outgrow of it. It is a great option for children to use for many years.

The base of the majority of newer infant car seat models is designed to be easily removed and inserted, making them easier to use. This feature is especially beneficial for families with small children as it allows you to keep the car seat installed and ready to go even if you change vehicles.

Before you put your child in the car seat check if the car seat back will touch the car seat's back by finding the middle of the seat and measuring it using a tape to determine. This area 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 whether the angle is adjusted to eliminate the space.

2. Harness Position

In infant car seats and bouncers, swings strollers, and other equipment for children, infants and preemies could fall into a dangerous position with their chests pressed against their chins. In a crash, they may be injured by the chest clip or crushed by the straps of the harness that are too loose or not placed over their shoulders. To prevent this from happening, make sure that the straps on your shoulder begin a little below and then come up over the child's shoulders and be sure to tighten them. The straps must be tight enough to hold the excess fabric together. This is called the Pinch Test. Winter coats and other bulky outer layers can hinder the Pinch Test, so remove them before you buckle your child in their seat.

The chest clip is made for a crash, but it can compress the child's neck if it is too low or are loose. The chest clip should not be located in the neck opening. Instead, it should be at the armpit level.

During a crash, rear-facing infants are 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 be placed over the shoulders. If the straps are too low they may slide over the baby's ears or slide through their neck opening, and if they're too loose, they can slide toward the child's nose.

Make sure that the shoulder straps are in the slots at or above the shoulders of your child and they fit comfortably. Infants may require an infant insert (often included in the car seat) to lift them up so their shoulders reach this slot. Some infant car seats have angle indicators or adjustors that can help you with this. You can also refer to the instructions included with your seat.

3. Rear-Facing Only

Some parents may be tempted by the fact that their child's legs are getting shorter in the rear-facing seat, but there's no need to do this. The rear-facing position is 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 neck and spine will be supported. Children who are facing forwards are thrown backwards by the vehicle and can cause serious injury.

A majority of infant car seats have an angle indicator built in to ensure that the seat is installed correctly. You should also make sure that your child's head is flat on the seat and that the straps are on their shoulders rather than under their arms. To determine whether the harness is too tight, you should be able pinch a small amount of material on your child's shoulder. Check the crotch strap to make sure it's at the same height as the armpits and not at the waist. You should also review the manual of your infant car seat to ensure you are aware of how to properly use it.

Most manufacturers advise that children use rear-facing seats in their best car seats 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.

Install the infant car seat on the middle seat of a car with only one back seat. This will allow you to view your child clearly through the rearview mirror, without having to bend. It is also beneficial to put the car seat on the driver's side so you don't have to walk the way around your car every time you need to get your child in or out of their car seat.

If your vehicle has two back seats, the infant car seat can be placed on either side, as long as it's not in the airbag's direction on the passenger side. If you must choose between installing an infant car seat for newborn seat on the left or the right side of your vehicle, you can install it on the driver's side.

4. Booster Seats

Children who have outgrown their infant car seat due to weight and height will need a booster until the seat belt fits them properly. This is only possible when they are at least 4 feet 9 inches tall and have reached the top rated baby car seats (website) of their headrest (check the seat manufacturer's recommendations for exact measurements).

Booster seats help to position the shoulder belt and lap correctly. They can also limit the distance the child's head moves during the crash, which lowers the risk of injury. Head movement is the main reason behind motor vehicle crashes that are the top fatality for children between the ages of 4 and 8.

If a booster isn't used correctly, the lap portion can travel over a child’s abdomen and cause serious injuries in an accident. This can be avoided with a belt guide on the booster that prevents the lap belt from sliding up onto the stomach of a child or getting over armrests.

Many boosters come with small handles, armrests or guide slots that help put the lapbelt flat on a child's upper legs. This will ensure that the lapbelt begins and stays on the hipbones of a child's strength instead of moving up into their soft abdomen area during a crash.

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