10 Ways To Build Your Infant Car Seat In Front Seat Empire
Can an Infant Car Seat Be Placed in Front Seat?
As children grow out of their infant car seats they can transition into convertible or all-in-one seats. These car seats are available in forward-facing and rear-facing models however, they must meet certain weight and age requirements.
It is not recommended to place car seats in front of airbags the vehicle seat, since the force of the airbag could be fatal to infants and children.
1. The 1.5 Inch Rule
Many parents ask whether an infant car seat may be placed on top of the driver's seat. The answer is always no. The reason is very simple If a collision occurs and the child is involved, they could get their head struck by an airbag if they are in the front seat. The airbag can cause injury or even kill a child.
Infant car seats are only designed to be rearward-facing. The backrest of the seat is positioned 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 safeguards the head and neck of your child more than a forward-facing one which offers only a small amount of head and neck protection. The headrest stops your child from sliding out of the shoulder straps in an accident. The harness holds the chest clip above the shoulders.
It's important to keep it in mind that there have been ZERO known instances of children sitting in forward-facing seats breaking their legs when they strike the rear of the seat. This happens when a child'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. There is no reason to expose your child to the risk for this.
There are a variety of programs in the United States that provide infant car seats at a discount or free to parents who qualify. This is a great opportunity to ensure that your child is in a secure car seat before they outgrow of it. It can be used for a number of years.
The base of many modern infant car seats is designed to be removed and put back in, making them much easier to use. This feature is particularly beneficial for traveling with young kids because you can keep the seat in place and ready for use even when you change vehicles.
Before you put your child in the car seat make sure that the back of the car seat will be in contact with the vehicle seat's back by locating the middle of the seat and measuring with a tape measure. This area can be tested with many things, such as the blade of a key or the length of the wireless earbuds. Review the instructions for your car seat as well as the owner's manual of your vehicle to see if the angle can be adjusted to remove the space.
2. Harness Position
Newborns and preemies often get into a potentially dangerous chin-to-chest posture in infant car seats, bouncy chairs, strollers, swings and other equipment for children. In a crash they could be injured or crushed by the chest clip. To avoid this, ensure that the straps for your shoulders start slightly below and come up over the child's shoulders and be sure to tighten them. The straps must be secure enough to pinch excess fabric to each other. This is known as the Pinch Test. Overly bulky outer layers such as winter coats can interfere with this, so make sure to take them off prior to you buckle your child into their seat.
The chest clip is designed for a crash, however it can cause compression to the neck of a child if it's too low or if they are too loose. It is also essential that the chest clip not located in the neck opening of the collar. the buckle should be at armpit level.
In the event of a crash, children who are rear-facing will likely slide up the seat. The harness straps must be sufficient to support the head and neck of the child. It is crucial to place the straps on the shoulders. If the straps aren't high enough, they can slip over the baby's ears or go through the opening in their neck, and if they are too loose, they can slide up to the child's nose.
Ensure the shoulder straps are in the slots that are above or below your child's shoulders and that they fit comfortably. Newborns may require a separate infant insert (often included in the car seat) to lift them up so their shoulders reach the slot. Some infant car seats come with angle indicators or adjustors to help you with this. You may also want to check the instructions provided with your seat.
3. Rear-Facing Only
While some parents may be tempted to flip their infant car seat to face forward, due to their child's legs becoming too short in the rear-facing position really no reason why you should. Rear-facing is safer than forward-facing, as the child's spine and neck are protected in the event of an accident. Forward-facing children may suffer serious injuries due to the fact that their bodies are thrown against the vehicle.
In addition, many infant car seats have an integrated angle indicator so you can be sure the seat is installed correctly. Also, you should ensure that your child's head is flat on the seat and that the straps are placed over their shoulders instead of under their arms. To check whether the harness is tight, you should be able squeeze a small amount of material on your child's shoulder. Check the crotch strap and make sure it is at the same level as the armpits, and not at the waist. You should also review the manual of your infant car seat so you are aware of how to use it correctly.
The majority of manufacturers recommend that children ride rear-facing until they're at least one year old or until they reach the weight and height limits. Some states have laws that require infants to remain rear-facing until they are two years old.
If you own a vehicle with only one back seat, install the infant car seat in the middle so that you can easily view your child through your rearview mirror without having to lean back. It's also helpful to place the car seat on the driver's side, so you don't have to walk the way around your car each 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 placed on either side as that it is not in front of the airbag on the passenger's side. If baby car seat must decide between installing an infant car seat on either 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 seats due to weight and height will need a booster until the seat belt fits them 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 assist in positioning the lap and shoulder belt properly. They can also limit the distance that a child's head moves during an accident, which reduces the chance of injuries. Motor vehicle crashes are the most fatal killer of kids ages 4-8, and head motion is the most significant cause.
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 avoided by using a booster equipped with lap belt guides to prevent the lap belt from slipping over arm rests or sliding up on a child's belly.
A lot of boosters have handles that are small or armrests, or guide slots that help place the lap belt low and flat on a child's upper legs. This will ensure that the lapbelt begins and stays on the strong hipbones of the child, rather than moving upwards into their abdominal region during a crash.
Some booster seats have a seatbelt locking mechanism that locks the seatbelt in place when a child is seated in them. This will help to keep the lap belt from moving upwards and over the child's abdomen. This can also help prevent the seat belt from being pulled over a child's face, which could result in hypoxia and airway obstruction as well as neck strain.