Why Infant Car Seat In Front Seat Is Right For You
Can an Infant Car Seat Be Placed in Front Seat?
When children are outgrowing their infant car seats, they can change 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 advised to place car seats in front of airbags the vehicle seat, since the force of the airbag could be fatal to children and babies.
1. The 1.5 Inch Rule
Many parents ask whether the infant car seat can be placed on top of the driver's seat, and 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, especially if they are in the front seat. The airbag can injure or even kill a child.
This is the reason why infant car seats are designed to be rear-facing only. 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.
A rear-facing car seat protects your child's head and neck better than a front-facing seat, which only provides the most basic protection. The headrest stops your child from sliding out of the shoulder straps in a crash. The harness keeps the chest clip above the shoulders.
It is important to keep in mind that there are ZERO documented instances of children in forward-facing seats breaking their legs when they hit the rear of the seat. This happens when a kid's feet fly up and trap them against the back of the seat and put a great deal of stress on the bones of the leg. This is not something you should put your child in danger of.
There are numerous programs throughout the country that allow qualifying parents to receive free or discounted infant car seats. This is a great opportunity to get your child into a safe seat before they grow out of it and can be used in a safe way for many years.
The majority of the newer infant car seats have a base that they click into and out of, making them much easier to use than older models. This feature is particularly useful for traveling with young children because you can keep the car seat on and ready to go even when switching vehicles.
Find the center of the car seat and measure it with the help of a tape. Many things, such as the blade of a key for the house or the length of wireless earbuds are approximately 1.5 inches long and can be used to determine this space. Check the instructions for the car seat as well as the owner's manual for your vehicle to determine whether the angle can be adjusted to remove 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 chairs, swings, strollers and other children's equipment. In a crash they can be injured by the chest clip or crushed by the harness straps that are too loose or have not been placed over their shoulders. Check that the straps are positioned slightly below the shoulders of the child, and then come up over their shoulders. Tighten them to avoid this. The straps should be secure enough to be able to pinch any fabric that isn't tight enough which is known as the Pinch Test. Winter coats and other bulky outer layers can interfere with the Pinch Test, so be sure to remove them prior to putting your child in their seat.
The chest clip was designed for a crash, however it can compress the neck of the child if it's too low or are too loose. It's also crucial that the chest clip is not placed in the neck opening of the collar. the buckle should be at armpit height.
In a crash, infants who are rear-facing will likely slide down the seat. The harness straps should be sufficient to support the child's neck and head. This is why it's very crucial that the straps are placed over the shoulders. If the straps are too high they may slide over the baby's ears or slide through their neck opening, and if they are too loose they can move towards the baby's nose.
Ensure the shoulder straps are in the slots over your child's shoulders and that they fit snugly. Newborns might need an infant insert (often included with the car seat), to lift their shoulders until they can reach the slot. Some infant car seats come with built-in angle indicators or adjustors that aid in this process and you should always refer to the instructions that came with your seat.
3. Rear-Facing Only
While some parents may be tempted to turn their infant car seat to face forward, due to their child's legs getting too short in the rear-facing position, there is really no reason why you should. Rear-facing is safer than forward-facing as the infant's spine and neck are supported in the event of an accident. Forward-facing children's bodies are thrown backward against the vehicle, and may cause serious injuries.
A majority of infant car seats include an angle indicator built in to ensure that the seat is properly installed. Also, you must ensure that your child's head is flat against the seat and that the harness straps are positioned over their shoulders, not beneath their arms or bent. To check if the harness is too tight, you should be able pinch a small amount of material at your child's shoulder. 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 so you know the proper method to use it with your child.
Most manufacturers suggest that children ride rear-facing until at minimum one year old or until they reach the weight and height limits. Certain states have laws that require babies to remain rear-facing until two years old.
Install infant car seat rear facing pushchairsandprams on the middle seat of a vehicle that only has one back seat. This will allow you to view your child easily through the rearview mirror, without having to bend over. It's also helpful to place the car seat on the driver's side, so you do not have to walk all the way around your vehicle each time you want to put your baby in or out of their car seat.
If you have a vehicle with two rear seats, you can put the infant car seat on either side as you don't place it in front of the passenger-side air bag. If you need 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
Children who have outgrown their infant car seat due to their weight and height will need an additional booster until the car's seat belt is properly fitted. This can only be done when the child is at least 4'9" tall and has reached the top of the headrest.
Booster seats can assist in positioning the lap belt and shoulder correctly. They can also reduce the distance that a child's head moves during an accident, which reduces the chance of injuries. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death of children between the ages of 4-8, and head movement is the biggest culprit.
If a booster is used improperly the lap part of the belt could slide up to the abdomen of a child and cause serious injuries in a crash. This is avoided by using a belt guide on the booster that prevents the lap belt from sliding onto a child's stomach or climbing over armrests.
Many boosters are designed with small handles, armrests, or guide slots that allow you to position the lap belt in a low and flat position across a child's upper thighs. This ensures that the lap belt starts and remains on the strong hipbones of the child, rather than moving up into their soft abdomen area during an accident.
Certain booster seats feature a seatbelt locking mechanism that locks the seatbelt in place when a child is seated in them. This will help to prevent the lapbelt from moving upwards and over the child's abdomen. This may also help keep the seat belt from being pulled across a child's face, which could cause hypoxia and airway obstruction as and neck strain.