7 Practical Tips For Making The The Most Of Your Infant Car Seat In Front Seat Can an Infant Car Seat Be Placed in Front Seat?

When children are outgrowing their infant car seats, they can switch to convertible or all-in one car seats. These car seats are available in rear-facing and forward-facing versions but they must satisfy certain weight and age requirements.

Car seats should never be placed in front of a seat with airbags, since the force of the air bag can be lethal for children and babies.

1. The 1.5 Inch Rule

Many parents inquire if the infant car seat could be placed in front of the vehicle driver's seat, and the answer is always no. The reason is simple If a collision occurs and the child is involved, they could get their head struck by an airbag if they are in the front seat. The result is that the airbag could cause harm or even death to the infant.

This is the reason why infant car seats are made to be rear-facing only. The backrest of the seat is positioned against the rear of the car seat in a crash, providing the best protection for your baby.

In addition, the rear-facing car seat protects the neck and head of your child more than a forward-facing one which offers only a small amount of neck and head protection. The headrest stops your child from sliding off the shoulder straps in an accident. The harness keeps the chest clip high above the shoulders.

It is important to keep in mind that there have been ZERO known instances of children in forward-facing seats breaking their leg when they strike the rear of the seat. This occurs when a child's feet are lifted and then get trapped against the back of the seat, which puts immense pressure on the bones of the leg. This is not something you want to put your child at risk of.


There are a variety of programs throughout the country that allow qualifying parents to receive free or discounted infant car seats. This is a great way to ensure your child is placed in an appropriate car seat before they grow out of it and can be used in a safe way for many years.

The base of many newer infant car seat models is designed to be easily removed and inserted, making them easier to use. This feature is especially helpful when traveling with children as it allows you to keep the car seat installed and ready for use even if you change vehicles.

Find the center of the vehicle seat and measure it using a tape. Many things, such as the blade of a key for the house or the length of wireless earbuds, are about 1.5 inches long and can be used to test for this space. Review the instructions for your car seat and 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 get into a potentially dangerous chin-to-chest posture in infant car seats, bouncy seats, strollers, swings and other equipment for children. In the event of a crash, they can be injured or crushed by the chest clip. To avoid this, ensure that the straps for your shoulders begin a little below and then come upwards over the shoulders of the child and make sure you tighten the straps. The straps must be tight enough to squeeze the fabric to each other. This is called the Pinch Test. Winter coats and other heavy outer layers could interfere with the Pinch Test, so be sure to remove them before you buckle your child in their seat.

The chest clip is designed to break in a crash, but it may compress on a child's throat if it's too low or when the chest straps are too loose. It's also crucial that the chest clip is not placed in the neck opening of the collar - the buckle should be at armpit level.

In the event of a crash, children who are rear-facing will likely slide down the seat. The harness straps should be able to support the head and neck of the child. It is crucial to place the straps over the shoulders. If the straps are too low they can slip over the baby's ears or slide through their neck opening, and if they're too loose they can move towards the baby's nose.

Make sure that the shoulder straps are securely fitted and in the slots above or at the shoulders of your child. Newborns may need a separate infant insert (often included in the car seat) to raise them so their shoulders reach this slot. Some infant car seats come with built-in angle indicators or adjustors that assist with this, and you should always read the instructions that came 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. The rear-facing position is much safer than a forward-facing one because in the event of a crash, the baby's body will press against the seat and their spine and neck will be supported. Forward-facing children may suffer serious injuries as their bodies are thrown into the vehicle.

Additionally, a lot of infant car seats have an integrated angle indicator so you can ensure that the seat is properly installed. You should also make sure that your child's head is flat on the seat and that the straps are on their shoulders instead of under their arms. You can pinch a small amount of material at their shoulders to ensure whether the harness is secure enough. Check the crotch strap to ensure that 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 way to use it for your child.

The majority of manufacturers recommend that children ride rear-facing until at minimum one year old 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 vehicle with just one back seat, install the infant car seat in the middle so you can easily see your child through your rearview mirror without having to lean back. Installing the car seat on the driver's side will also make it easier to get your child in and out of the seat.

If you own a car with two back seats, you can place the infant car seat on either side as you don't place it in front of the passenger-side air bag. If you need to choose between installing the infant car seat on the right or left side of the vehicle, place 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 is fitted properly. travel infant car seat can only happen if 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 assist in positioning the lap and shoulder belt correctly. They can also limit the distance the child's head moves during an accident, which reduces the chance of injuries. Motor vehicle crashes are the number one killer of children between the ages of 4-8, and head movement is the main cause.

If the booster is not used correctly the lap portion of the belt could slide up to the abdomen of a child and cause severe injuries in a crash. This is avoided by using a belt guide on the booster, which stops the lap belt from sliding onto the stomach of a child or getting over armrests.

A lot of boosters have handles that are small and armrests or guide slots that help position the lapbelt low and flat on the child's upper legs. This ensures that the lap belt starts and stays on a child's sturdy hip bones instead of slipping into their soft stomach area in the event of a crash.

Some booster seats come with an automatic seatbelt lock mechanism that keeps the seatbelt in place when a child is seated in them. This can prevent the lapbelt from slipping up and over the child's abdomen. This may also help stop the belt from being pulled across a child's face, which could lead to hypoxia and airway obstruction, as and neck strain.