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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 car seats. These car seats are available in both rear-facing and forward-facing versions, but they must meet certain weight and age requirements.

It is not recommended to put car seats in front of airbags on a vehicle seat, as the impact of the airbag could be fatal for children and babies.

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 may be hit by an airbag while in the front seat. The airbag can cause injury or even kill a baby.

This is the reason why infant car seats are designed to be rear-facing only. In the event of a crash, the seat's back will rest against the back of your vehicle seat. This is the best protection for your infant car seat for travel.

In addition, the rear-facing car seat safeguards the neck and head of your child more than a forward-facing newborn car seat seat, which provides only minimal neck and head protection. The headrest also prevents the child from falling off the shoulder straps in the event of a crash, and the harness keeps the chest clip in place above the shoulders of your child.

It's important to keep it in mind that there are ZERO known 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 trapped against the back of the seat, which puts immense pressure on the leg bones. This is not something you want to put your child at risk of.

There are numerous programs in the US that offer infant car seats at a reduced price or at no cost for parents who meet the requirements. This is a great opportunity to ensure your child is in a safe seat before they outgrow it and use it safely for many years.

The base of the majority of modern infant car seats is designed to be easily removed and put back in, making them much easier to use. This feature is especially helpful for families with small children as it allows you to keep the car seat in place and ready to go, even if you change vehicles.

Find the center of the car seat and measure it using a tape. This area is a test that can be done with a variety of objects, including the blade of a key or length of earbuds wireless. Examine the directions for the car seat and the owner's manual of your vehicle to determine whether the angle can be adjusted to eliminate the space.

2. Harness Position

In infant car seats and bouncers, swings strollers, as well as other equipment for children, infants and preemies may be in a dangerous position with their chests and chins touching. In a crash the children could be injured or crushed by the chest clip. To avoid this, ensure that the straps on your shoulder start a bit lower and move up to the shoulders of your child and make sure you tighten the straps. The straps should be secure enough to be able to pinch any excess fabric together - this is called the Pinch Test. Overly bulky outer layers such as winter coats may hinder this, so be sure to remove them prior to buckling your child in their seat.

The chest clip is designed for a crash, but it could compress a neck of the child if it's too low or if they are too loose. It's also crucial that the chest strap is not in the neck opening of the collar - the buckle should be positioned at armpit level.

In a crash, infants who are rear-facing may slide off the seat. The harness straps must be able to support the head and neck of the child. This is why it's important that the straps be placed over the shoulders. If the straps fall too low, they may slide through the neck opening of the lightweight baby car seat or over their ears. If they are too loose, they could reach the child's face.

Make sure that the straps for your child's shoulders are securely fitted and in the slots above or at the shoulders of your child. Infants may require an infant insert (often included in the car seat), to lift their shoulders until they reach this slot. Some infant car seats come with angle indicators or adjustors to assist you in this. You can also refer to the instructions included with your seat.

3. Rear-Facing Only

While some parents might be tempted to flip their infant car seat around to face forward, due to their child's legs becoming too short in the rear-facing position, there is really no reason to do it. The rear-facing position is much safer than a forward-facing one because in the event of a crash, the lightweight baby car seat's body will tense against the seat, and their neck and spine will be supported. Children who are facing forwards are thrown backwards against the vehicle and could cause serious injury.

A majority of infant car seats include an angle indicator built in so that you can ensure the seat is properly installed. You also need to ensure that your child's head is flat against the seat and the harness straps are put over their shoulders, not beneath their arms or twisted. To determine whether the harness is tight it is best to pinch a small amount of material at your child's shoulder. Examine the crotch strap to make sure it is at the same height as the armpits and not at the waist. It is also an excellent idea to go through your infant car seat manual to be aware of the proper method to use it with your child.

Most manufacturers recommend that children sit rear-facing in their car seats until they reach at least 1 year old, or until they reach the weight and height limit of their particular car seat. Some states have laws that require infants to remain rear-facing until they are two years old.

Install the infant car seat on the middle seat of a car that has only one rear seat. This allows you to view your child clearly 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 don't have to walk the way around your vehicle each time you want to put your baby 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 the airbag's front on the passenger's side. If you must choose between installing an infant car seat on either the left or right side of your vehicle, install it on the driver's side.

4. Booster Seats

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

Booster seats help to position the lap and shoulder belt properly. They can also limit the distance that a child's head moves during an accident, which reduces the risk of injury. Head movement is the most common cause of motor vehicle crashes which are the most frequent fatality for children between the ages of 4 and 8.

If a booster is used improperly the lap portion of the belt may slide up to the abdomen of a child and cause major injuries in an accident. This is avoided by using a belt guide on the booster to stop the lap belt from sliding onto the stomach of a child or getting over armrests.

A lot of boosters have handles that are small or armrests, or guide slots to help place the lap belt low and flat on a child's top legs. This ensures that the lap belt starts and stays on the child's strong hip bones instead of slipping into their stomachs during a crash.

Certain booster seats feature the seatbelt locking mechanism which locks the seatbelt in place when a child sits in them. This will help to keep the lap belt from slipping up and over the child's abdomen. This will to stop the seat belt from being pulled over a child’s face. This can lead to airway obstruction and hypoxia, as well as neck strain.