Can an infant car seat rear facing Car Seat Be Placed in Front Seat?

As children grow out of their car seats for infants, they can move to convertible or all-in one car seats. These car seats can be used rear-facing or forward-facing, however they have to meet certain weight and age requirements.

Car seats should not be placed on top of a car seat that has airbags because the force of the airbag could be fatal for children and babies.

1. The 1.5 Inch Rule

Many parents wonder if the infant car seat can be placed in front of the vehicle driver's seat. The answer is always no. The reason is quite simple: If an accident occurs, the child's head could be struck by an airbag when in the front seat. The airbag can injure or even kill a child.

This is why infant car seats are made to be rear-facing only. The backrest of the seat is positioned against the back of the vehicle seat in the event of a collision, ensuring the best protection for your baby.

A rear-facing car seat protects your child's neck and head more effectively than a front-facing one that only offers minimal protection. The headrest keeps your child from falling out of the shoulder straps in a crash. The harness holds the chest clip up above the shoulders.

It's important to keep in mind that there are ZERO documented instances of children riding forward-facing seats breaking their leg when they hit the rear of the vehicle seat. This happens when a kid's feet fly up and are sucked into 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 of this.

There are also several programs throughout the country that allow parents who meet the criteria to receive free or discounted infant car seats. This is a great opportunity to get your child in a safe car seat before they get out of it. It is a great option for children to use for many years.

The base of many newer infant car seat models is designed to be removed and inserted, making them easier to use. This feature is especially useful for families with young children, as you can keep the seat in place and ready for use even when you change vehicles.

Before you take your child's seat check if the back of the car seat will touch the vehicle seat's back by finding the center of the seat and measuring it with a tape measure. This area can be tested with many items, including the blade of a key or length wireless earbuds. Then, check the car seat's instructions and vehicle owner's manual to see if you can adjust the angle of the car seat to remove the space.

2. Harness Position

Newborns and preemies often are prone to fall into a risky chest-to-chin position in infant car seats, bouncy seats swings, strollers and other toys for children. In the event of a collision, they can be injured or crushed by the chest clip. Make sure that the straps are set just a little below the shoulders of the child and then come up over their shoulders. Adjust them to prevent this. The straps should be secure enough that you can squeeze any fabric that is not tight enough - this is called the Pinch Test. Bulky outer layers like winter coats may hinder this, so make sure to take them off prior to placing your child in their seat.

The chest clip is designed to break during a crash, but it may compress on a child's throat if it's too low or if the chest straps are loose. The chest clip shouldn't be in the neck opening. Instead it should be placed at the armpit level.

In a crash, infants who are rear-facing will likely slide up the seat. The harness straps must 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 low, they could slide through the opening on the neck of the infant or over their ears. If they are too loose, they may touch the face of the child.

Make sure the shoulder straps are properly fitted and positioned in the slots above or around the child's shoulders. Newborns might need an infant insert (often included in the car seat), to lift their shoulders until they can reach the slot. Some infant car seats come with angle indicators or adjustors to assist you in this. You can also refer to the instructions that come with your seat.

3. Rear-Facing Only

Parents may be enticed by the fact that their child's legs are getting shorter in the seat facing rearwards, however there is no reason to do this. Rear-facing is more secure than forward-facing, as the child's neck and spine are supported in the event of an accident. Forward-facing children's bodies are thrown backward against the vehicle, and may cause serious injury.

Additionally, a lot of infant car seats have a built-in angle indicator so you can ensure that the seat is installed correctly. Also, you should ensure that your child's head is on the seat flat, and that the straps are over their shoulders rather than under their arms. You should be able to pinch a little bit of material at their shoulders to ensure that the harness is snug enough. It is also important to check the strap that holds the crotch to be sure it is level with the armpits and not at the waist. You should also read the instruction manual for your infant car seat in front seat (Suggested Reading) car seat so that you know how to use it correctly.

The majority of manufacturers recommend that children ride rear-facing in their car seats until they are at least one year old or until they have reached the height and weight limits of their car seat. Some states have laws requiring infants to be rear-facing for a minimum of two years.

If you have a vehicle with just one rear facing infant car seat seat, place the infant car seat in the middle so that you are able to easily see your child's face through the rearview mirror without having to lean over. 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 want to get your child in or out of their car seat.

If your vehicle has two rear seats, the infant car seat can be set on either side so long as it's not front of the airbag on the passenger side. If you have to decide 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 portable infant car seat car seat due to weight and height will require a booster until the seat belt fits them properly. This can only be done when the child is at a minimum 4'9" tall and has reached the top of the headrest.

Booster seats are a great way to position the shoulder and lap belts properly. They also limit the distance that a neck moves in a collision, reducing the risk of injury. Head movement is the most common cause of motor vehicle crashes which are the most frequent deaths of children aged 4-8.

If a booster is used improperly the lap portion of the belt may slide up over a child's abdomen and cause serious injuries in a crash. This can be avoided by using a booster with lap belt guides that prevent the lap belt from slipping over arm rests or sliding on a child's stomach.

Many boosters are designed with armrests, handles or guide slots that aid to position the lap belt low and flat across the child's upper thighs. This will ensure that the lapbelt starts and remains on the hipbones of a child's strength instead of moving upwards into their abdominal region during an accident.

Some booster seats come with a seatbelt locking mechanism that secures the seatbelt when a child sits in them. This can keep the lap belt from moving upwards and over the child's abdomen. This can also help to prevent the seat belt from being pulled across the face of a child. This could lead to hypoxia and airway obstruction, as and neck strain.