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Can an Infant Car Seat Be Placed in Front Seat? When children outgrow their infant car seats, they can move to convertible or all-in one car seats. These car seats are available in both rear-facing and forward-facing versions but they must satisfy certain weight and age requirements. Car seats should never be placed on top of a car seat equipped with airbags, as the force of the airbag can be fatal for babies and children. 1. The 1.5 Inch Rule Many parents inquire if the infant car seat could be placed in front of the driver's seat. The answer is always no. The reason is simple: If a crash happens 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 designed to be rear-facing. In a crash the back of the seat will be positioned against the rear of your car seat. This provides the best security for the infant. 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 prevents the child from falling off the shoulder straps during an accident, and the harness keeps the chest clip above your child's shoulders. It's important to note that there are ZERO known instances of children in car seats that face forwards breaking their legs after hitting the rear of the front seat. This occurs when a child's feet rise and become caught against the rear of the seat, which puts immense pressure on the leg bones. This is not something you should put your child in danger of. There are also several programs across the country for parents who qualify to get discounted or free infant car seats. This is a great way to get your child into a secure car seat before they grow out of it and can be used in a safe way for many years. The base of the majority of newer infant car seat models is designed to be easily removed and installed, making them more convenient to use. This feature is especially helpful when traveling with children as it allows you to keep the car seat on and ready for use even when you switch vehicles. Before you take your child's seat make sure that the back of the car seat will be in contact with the vehicle seat's back by locating the center of the seat and measuring it using a tape to determine. This space can be checked using a variety of things, such as the blade of a key, or the length of earbuds wireless. Then, check the car seat's instructions and owners' manuals for the vehicle to determine if you can adjust the angle of the car seat to remove the space. 2. Harness Position In baby car seats and bouncers, swings strollers, as well as other children's gear, newborns and preemies can get into a dangerous situation with their chests pressed against their chins. In a crash, they may be injured by the chest clip or crushed by straps of the harness that are loose or have not been placed over their shoulders. To avoid this, check that the straps on your shoulder start a bit lower and move upwards over the shoulders of the child and make sure you tighten the straps. The straps must be tight enough to pinch excess fabric together. This is known as the Pinch Test. The bulky outer layers of winter coats can interfere with this so be sure to remove them before buckling your child in their seat. The chest clip is designed to break during a crash, but it may cause a child's throat to collapse when it's too low or if the chest straps are loose. The chest clip should not be in the neck opening. Instead, it should be at the armpit level. In the event of a crash rear-facing infants are likely to slide across the seat and the harness straps need to be able to support the neck and head of the child. It is important to place the straps above the shoulders. If the straps are too low, they can slip through the opening on the neck of the infant or over their ears. If they are too loose, they can touch the face of the child. Ensure the shoulder straps are in the slots at or above the shoulders of your child and they fit comfortably. Infants may require an infant insert (often provided with the car seat), to lift their shoulders until they can reach the slot. Some infant car seats have built-in angle indicators or adjustors to aid in this process and you can always check the instructions included with the seat. 3. Rear-Facing Only Parents may be enticed by the fact that their child's legs are becoming shorter in the rear-facing seat but there is no need to do this. The rear-facing position is much 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 neck and spine will be supported. Children who are facing forwards are thrown backwards by the vehicle, and may cause serious injury. Additionally, many infant car seats have a built-in angle indicator so you can ensure that the seat is correctly installed. It is also important to ensure that your child's head rests flat on the seat and that the straps are placed over their shoulders, not under their arms. To check if the harness is too tight, you should be able pinch a small amount of material at your child's shoulder. Check the crotch strap to make sure it's at the same level as the armpits and not at the waist. You should also review the manual for your infant car seat to ensure you are aware of how to use it correctly. Most manufacturers advise that children use rear-facing seats in their car seats until they reach at least one year old, or until they reach the height and weight limit of their particular car seat. Some states have laws requiring infants to be rear-facing for at minimum two years. If you own a car that has only one back seat, you can install the infant car seat in the middle of the vehicle so you can easily see your child's reflection in your rearview mirror without having to lean over. It's also helpful to place the car seat on the driver's side so you don't have to walk all the way around your vehicle every time you need to put your baby in or out of their car seat. If your vehicle has two rear seats, the infant car seat can be installed on either side so long as it's not the airbag's front on the passenger side. If you must choose between installing an infant car seat on the left or the right side of your 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 a booster until the seat belt fits them properly. This can only happen when they are at least 4 feet 9 inches tall and have reached the top of their headrest (check the guidelines of the manufacturer of your seat for exact measurements). Booster seats can assist in positioning the shoulder and lap belts correctly. They can also reduce the distance that a child's head moves during a crash, which decreases the risk of injury. Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death of children between the ages of 4-8, and head movement is the biggest culprit. If a booster isn't properly used the lap belt 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 to stop the lap belt from sliding onto a child's stomach or climbing over armrests. Many boosters have small handles and armrests or guide slots that help place the lap belt low and flat on a child's top legs. This ensures that the lap belt begins and stays on the child's strong hip bones instead of moving up into their soft stomach area in the event of a crash. infant car seat cheap have an automatic seatbelt lock mechanism that keeps 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 help prevent the seatbelt from being pulled upwards over a child's face. This could cause airway obstruction and hypoxia, as well neck strain.