Ngan Hennings asked 2 hafta ago
Can an Infant Car Seat Be Placed in Front Seat?
When children are outgrowing their infant car seat best car seats, they can move to convertible or all-in-one car seats. These car seats can be used rear-facing or forward-facing but they need to meet certain age and weight requirements.
It is not recommended to put car seats in front of airbags on a vehicle seat, as the impact of the airbag could cause fatal injuries to children and babies.
1. The 1.5 Inch Rule
Many parents wonder if the infant car seat can be placed on top rated infant car seats of the driver’s seat, and the answer is always no. The reason is simple: If there is a crash the child’s head may be hit by an airbag if in the front seat. The airbag could injure or even kill a child.
Infant Car seat in front seat car seats are designed to be rear-facing. In a crash, the seat’s back will rest against the rear of your car seat. This provides the best protection for your infant.
A rear-facing car seat protects your child’s head and neck better than a front-facing seat that only offers little protection. The headrest also prevents the child from slipping off the shoulder straps in an accident and the harness holds the chest clip above your child’s shoulders.
It is important to keep in mind that there are ZERO instances of children in forward-facing car seats breaking their legs when they strike the back of the front seat. This occurs when a child’s feet fly upwards and get trapped against the back of the seat, putting immense pressure on the leg bones. There is no reason to put your child at risk for this.
There are several programs in the US that offer infant car seats at a discount or free to parents who qualify. This is a great opportunity to ensure your child is in a secure car seat before they get out of it and can be used in a safe way for many years.
The base of the majority of newer infant car seat newborn car seat models is designed to be removed and inserted, making them 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 when switching vehicles.
Before you put your child in the car seat make sure that the car seat back will touch the vehicle seat’s back by locating the middle of the seat and measuring it using a tape measure. Many things, such as the blade of a house key, or the length of wireless earbuds are around 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 see whether the angle is adjusted to eliminate 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 equipment for children. In a crash they could be injured or crushed by the chest clip. To avoid this, ensure that the straps on your shoulder start slightly below and come upwards over the shoulders of the child and ensure that you tighten them. The straps should be tight enough to allow you to pinch any excess fabric together – this is called the Pinch Test. Winter coats and other bulky outer layers could interfere with the Pinch Test, so remove them prior to putting your child in their seat.
The chest clip was designed for a crash, however it can compress the child’s neck if it is too low or if they are loose. The chest clip shouldn’t be located in the neck opening. Instead it should be placed at the armpit level.
In the event of a crash, rear-facing infants can slide off the seat, and the harness straps should be able to hold the child’s head and neck. It is essential to put the straps above the shoulders. If the straps are placed too low, they may slip through the opening in the neck of the infant or over their ears. If they are too loose, they may touch the face of the child.
Make sure that the shoulder straps are in the slots that are above or below your child’s shoulders and that they fit comfortably. Infants may require an infant insert (often provided with the car seat), to raise their shoulders so they can reach the slot. Some infant car seats have angle indicators or adjustors to assist you in this. You can also check the instructions included 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 really no reason to do it. Rear-facing is more secure than forward-facing as the infant’s spine and neck are protected in the event of an accident. Forward-facing children’s bodies are thrown backward against the vehicle and could cause serious injury.
Additionally, a lot of infant car seats come with a built-in angle indicator so you can be sure the seat is properly 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 instead of under their arms. You should be able to squeeze a tiny bit of fabric at their shoulder to determine that the harness is snug enough. It is also essential to examine 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 to ensure that you know how to properly use it.
The majority of manufacturers recommend that children ride rear-facing in their car seats until they are at least 1 year old or until they have reached the weight and height limit of their particular car seat. Some states have laws requiring infants to be rear-facing for at minimum two years.
If you have a vehicle that has only one back seat, you can install the infant car seat in the middle so you are able to easily see your child through your rearview mirror without needing to lean 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 car every 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 install the infant car seat on either side so long as it isn’t directly in front of the passenger side air bag. If you need 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 infant car seats due to their weight and height will require a booster until the seat belt fits them properly. This can only happen when they are at a minimum of 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 aid in positioning the lap and shoulder belt properly. They also limit the amount that a child’s neck moves during collisions, reducing the chance of injury. Head movement is the main cause of motor vehicle crashes, which are the leading deaths of children aged 4-8.
If a booster is used improperly the lap portion of the belt could slide up over a child’s abdomen and cause serious injuries in the event of a crash. This is avoided by using a belt guide on the booster, which stops the lap belt from sliding up onto the stomach of a child or climbing 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 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.
Certain booster seats are designed with an automatic seat belt locking mechanism to ensure that the belt is locked in place while children are sitting in it, and this will help prevent the lap belt from moving over the abdomen of a child. This can also help to prevent the belt from being pulled across the face of a child. This could cause airway obstruction and hypoxia, as well as neck strain.