15 Unexpected Facts About Infant Car Seat In Front Seat That You Never Known
Can an Infant Car Seat Be Placed in Front Seat?
As children outgrow their car seats as infants, they can move into convertible or all-in-one car seats. These car seats can be used rear-facing or forward-facing, but they must to meet certain age and weight specifications.
Car seats should not be placed in front of a vehicle seat equipped with airbags, as the force of the deployed airbag can be fatal for children and babies.
1. The 1.5 Inch Rule
The answer to this question is no. The reason for this is quite 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 result is that the airbag could injure or kill the baby.
This is the reason why infant car seats are made to be rear-facing only. In the event of a crash the back of the seat will be positioned against the rear of your car seat. This is the best security for the infant.
Additionally, the rear-facing car seat safeguards the head and neck of your child better than a forward-facing seat, which provides only minimal neck and head protection. The headrest keeps your child from sliding off the shoulder straps in a crash. The harness keeps the chest clip above the shoulders.
It's important to note that there are ZERO documented cases of kids in forward-facing car seats breaking their legs when they strike the back of the front vehicle seat. This occurs when a child's feet are lifted and then get trapped against the back of the seat, putting immense stress on the bones of the legs. This is not something you want to put your child at risk of.
There are several programs in the United States that offer infant car seats at a discount or free for parents who meet the requirements. This is a great opportunity to ensure that your child is in a safe car seat before they grow out of it. It is a great option for children to use for many years.
The base of most modern infant car seats is designed to be easily removed and inserted, making them easier to use. This feature is particularly beneficial for traveling with young kids since it allows you to keep the seat in place and ready for use even if you change vehicles.
Before you take your child's seat check if the car seat back will touch the vehicle seat's back by finding the middle of the seat and measuring with a tape to determine. top rated infant car seats , such as the blade of a house key, or the length of wireless earbuds, are about 1.5 inches long and can be used to determine this space. Review the instructions for your car seat and the owner's manual of your vehicle to see 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 children's gear, newborns and preemies may be in a dangerous position with their chests pressed against their chins. In the event of a crash, they could be injured by the chest clip or crushed by the straps of the harness that are loose or have not been placed over their shoulders. Make sure that the straps are placed slightly below the shoulders of the child, and then, when they are up, they should be over their shoulders. Tighten them to avoid this. The straps must be tight enough to hold the excess fabric together. This is known as the Pinch Test. Winter coats and other heavy outer layers can interfere with the Pinch Test, so be sure to remove them before you buckle your child into their seat.
The chest clip is designed to break during a crash, but it may be compressed on the throat of a child when it's too low or if the chest straps aren't tight enough. It is also essential that the chest clip is not located in the neck opening of the collar - the buckle should be at armpit height.
In a crash, infants who are rear-facing may slide up the seat. The harness straps should be sufficient to support the child's neck and head. This is why it's very important that the straps be placed over the shoulders. If the straps are too high they can slip over the baby's ears, or go through the neck opening and if they are too loose, they can slide towards the baby's nose.
Make sure the shoulder straps are snugly fitted and in the slots above or on the child's shoulders. Infants may require an infant insert (often included in the car seat), to raise their shoulders so they can fit into this slot. Some infant car seats have angle indicators or adjustors that can help you with this. You may also want to check the instructions provided in the seat.
3. Rear-Facing Only
Some parents may be tempted by the fact that their child's legs are getting shorter in the rear-facing seat but there's no need to do this. Rear-facing is more secure than forward-facing, as the child's neck and spine are protected in the event of an accident. Forward-facing children's bodies are thrown backward against the vehicle and could cause serious injury.
Many infant car seats also include an angle indicator built in to ensure that the seat is installed correctly. Also, you must ensure that your child's head is flat against the seat and that the harness straps are put over their shoulders, not under their arms or bent. You should be able to pinch a little bit of material at their shoulders to ensure that the harness is snug enough. Check 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 the manual for your infant car seat to ensure you understand the correct method of using it for your child.
The majority of manufacturers recommend that children ride rear-facing until they're at the age of one or until they reach their car seat's weight and height limits. Certain states have laws that require infants to be rear-facing for at least two years.
If you own a car with only one rear seat, place the infant car seat in the middle so you can easily view your child through your rearview mirror without having to lean over. Installing the car seat on your driver's side can 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 that it is not in the airbag's direction on the passenger-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 an additional booster until the car's seat belt is fitted properly. This is only possible when they are at a minimum of 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 aid in positioning the shoulder belt and lap correctly. Booster seats also help reduce the distance that a child's neck moves during a collision, reducing the chance of injury. Motor vehicle accidents are the most fatal killer of children aged 4-8, and head motion is the main cause.
If a booster is not properly used the lap belt could travel over a child’s abdomen and cause serious injuries in the event of an accident. This can be prevented by using a booster with lap belt guides that stop the lap belt from sliding over arm rests or sliding on a child's stomach.
Many boosters have small handles, armrests or guide slots to help position the lapbelt low and flat on a child's upper legs. This will ensure that the lapbelt begins and remains on the strong hipbones of the child, rather than moving upwards into their abdomen region during the event of a crash.
Some booster seats are equipped with the mechanism to lock the seat belt to keep the seat belt locked in place while the child is in it. This can help in preventing the lap belt from moving over the abdomen of a child. This will prevent the seatbelt from being pulled over a child's face. This can lead to hypoxia and airway obstruction, as well as neck strain.