The Myths And Facts Behind Infant Car Seat In Front Seat
Can an Infant Car Seat Be Placed in Front Seat?
When children have outgrown their infant car seats, they can switch to convertible or all-in-one car seats. These car seats are available in forward-facing and rear-facing versions 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 cause fatal injuries to babies and children.
1. The 1.5 Inch Rule
Many parents inquire if an infant car seat may be placed in front of the vehicle driver's seat. The answer is always no. The reason is very simple: If a crash happens and the child is in the front seat, they could have their head struck by an airbag if they are in the front seat. The airbag could injure or even kill a baby.
This is why infant car seats are made 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.
Additionally, the rear-facing car seat safeguards the head and neck of your child better than a forward-facing one, which provides only minimal neck and head protection. The headrest prevents the child from sliding off the shoulder straps during an accident, and the harness keeps the chest clip above the shoulders of your child.
It's important to keep it in mind that there are ZERO documented instances of children riding forward-facing seats breaking their legs when they hit the rear of the vehicle seat. This happens when a child's feet rise and become stuck against the back of the seat, putting tremendous pressure on the bones of the leg. There is no reason to expose your child to the risk of this.
There are numerous programs throughout the country that allow qualifying parents to receive discounted or free infant car seats. This is a great opportunity to get your child into a secure car seat before they grow out of it and use it safely for many years.
The majority of the newer infant car seats come with a base that they can click into and out of, which makes them much easier to use than older models. 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 when switching vehicles.
Find the center of the vehicle seat and measure it with the aid of a tape. Many things, such as the blade of a house key, or the length of earbuds that are wireless are around 1.5 inches long and can be used to test for this space. Then, check the car seat's instructions and the owner's manual of your vehicle to determine if you can adjust the angle of the car seat to eliminate the space.
2. Harness Position
Newborns and preemies often are prone to fall into a risky chin-to-chest posture in infant car seats, bouncy seats swings, strollers and other toys for children. In the event of a crash, they could be injured by the chest clip or crushed by harness straps that are loose or have not been placed over their shoulders. To prevent this from happening, make sure that the straps for your shoulders start a bit lower and move 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. Bulky outer layers like winter coats may hinder this so be sure to remove them prior to buckling your child in their seat.
The chest clip is designed to break during an accident, but it could cause a child's throat to collapse in the event that it's too high or if the chest straps are loose. The chest clip shouldn't be placed in the neck opening. Instead it should be placed at the armpit level.
During a crash, rear-facing infants are more likely to slide up the seat and the harness straps need to be able to hold the child's head and neck. best car seats for newborns uk is essential to put the straps on the shoulders. If the straps fall too low, they can slide through the opening on the neck of the baby or over their ears. If they are too loose, they can touch the face of the child.
Make sure the shoulder straps are in the slots that are above or below your child's shoulders and that they fit snugly. Infants may require an infant insert (often included with the car seat) to raise them up so that their shoulders can reach the slot. Some infant car seats have angle indicators or adjustors to aid you in this. You can also refer to the instructions included in your seat.
3. Rear-Facing Only
While some parents might be tempted to flip their infant car seat to face forward because of their child's legs being too short in the rear-facing position, there is really no reason why you should. The rear-facing position is safer than a forward-facing one 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 can suffer serious injuries due to the fact that their bodies are thrown against the vehicle.
A lot of infant car seats include an angle indicator so that you can ensure the seat is properly installed. It is also important to ensure that your child's head is level against the seat and that the harness straps are put over their shoulders, not beneath their arms or bent. You should be able to pinch a small amount of material at their shoulders to ensure that the harness is tight enough. It is also essential to examine the crotch buckle strap to be sure that it is at a level with the armpits, not at the waist. It is also recommended to read the manual for your infant car seat to be aware of the proper method of using it for your child.
The majority of manufacturers recommend that children ride rear-facing until they're at minimum one year old or until they reach their car seat's weight and height limits. 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 allows you to view your child clearly through the rearview mirror, without having to bend over. Installing the car seat on the driver's side will also make it easier to get your child in and out of the seat.
If your vehicle has two rear seats the infant car seat can be set on either side, as long as it's not in the airbag's front on the passenger's side. However, if you have to choose 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
All children who outgrow their car seat for infants by weight or height must be fitted with a booster seat until the vehicle seat belt is properly fitted. 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 skull moves during the crash, which lowers the chance of injury. Head movement is the main cause of motor vehicle accidents 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 slide across a child's abdomen and cause serious injuries in the event of an accident. This can be avoided by using a belt guide on the booster that prevents the lap belt from sliding up onto a child's stomach, or getting over armrests.
Many boosters are equipped with small handles, armrests or guide slots that help to position the lap belt low and flat across a child's upper thighs. This ensures that the lap belt is placed and stays on a child's strong hip bones, instead of slipping into their soft stomach area in the event of a crash.
Some booster seats are equipped with the mechanism to lock the seat belt to keep the belt locked in place while children are sitting in it. This will help prevent the lap belt from slipping up over a child's abdomen. This may also help keep the seat belt from being pulled over a child's face, which could lead to airway obstruction and hypoxia, as and neck strain.