As children grow out of their car seats for infants, they can move into convertible or all-in-one car seats. These newborn car seat insert seats are available in forward-facing and rear-facing models however, they must meet certain weight and age requirements.
It is not recommended to place car seats behind airbags on a vehicle seat, as the impact of the airbag could be fatal to children and babies.
1. The 1.5 Inch Rule
Many parents wonder if an infant car seat may be placed in front of the driver's seat. The answer is always no. The reason is simple: When an accident occurs the child's head may be hit by an airbag if in the front seat. The airbag can cause injury or even kill a baby.
This is why infant car seats are made to be rear-facing only. The seat's back rests against the back of the vehicle seat in the event of a crash, providing the best car seats for newborns uk protection for your infant.
A rear-facing car seats protects your child's head and neck better than a front-facing car seat, which only provides little protection. The headrest also stops the child from sliding off the shoulder straps during the event of a crash, and the harness keeps the chest clip high above the shoulders of your child.
It's important to keep it in mind that there are ZERO known instances of children sitting in forward-facing seats breaking their leg when they strike the rear of the vehicle seat. This happens when a child's feet rise and become trapped against the rear of the seat, putting tremendous pressure on the leg bones. This is not something you should put your child in danger of.
There are a variety of programs in the United States that offer infant car seats at a reduced price or for free for parents who meet the requirements. This is a fantastic opportunity to ensure your child is in a secure car seat before they outgrow of it. It is a great option for children to use for many years.
The majority of new infant car seats cheap car seats have a base that they can click into and out of, which makes them much more user-friendly than older models. This feature is especially beneficial for families with small children because you can keep the car seat in place and ready to go even when switching vehicles.
Find the center of the vehicle seat and measure it with the aid of a tape. This area is a test that can be done with a variety of objects, including the blade of a key or the length of the wireless earbuds. Check the instructions for the car seat and the owner's manual for your vehicle to determine whether the angle can be adjusted to eliminate the space.
2. Harness Position
Newborns and preemies often fall into a 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 could be injured by the chest clip or crushed by straps on the harness that are loose or not placed over their shoulders. To avoid this, check that the straps for your shoulders start a bit lower and move up over the child's shoulders and ensure that you tighten the straps. The straps must be secure enough to pinch 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 was designed to protect against a fall, but it can cause compression to the child's neck if it is too low or are too loose. The chest clip shouldn't be in the neck opening. Instead it should be placed at the armpit level.
In the event of a crash who are rear-facing may slide off the seat. The harness straps must be sufficient to support the head and neck of the child. This is why it's very important that the straps are placed over the shoulders. If the straps are too low they may slide over the baby's ears or go through the neck opening and if they're too loose, they could move toward the child's nose.
Ensure the shoulder straps are in the slots over your child's shoulders and that they fit snugly. Newborns may require an infant car seat in front seat insert (often included with the car seat) to lift their shoulders until they can fit into this slot. Some infant car seats have built-in angle indicators or adjustors that aid in this process and you should always refer to the instructions included with the seat.
3. Rear-Facing Only
While some parents might be tempted to turn their infant car seat to face forward because of their child's legs being too short in the rear-facing position, there's really no reason to do so. The rear-facing seat is safer than a forward-facing position because in the event of a crash the baby's body will be pressed against the seat, and their spine and neck will be supported. Forward-facing children's bodies are thrown backwards against the vehicle and could cause serious injuries.
Additionally, a lot of infant car seats come with a built-in angle indicator so you can ensure that the seat is properly installed. Also, you must ensure that your child's head is level against the seat and that the harness straps are put over their shoulders, not beneath their arms or bent. You should be able to squeeze a tiny bit of fabric at their shoulder to determine that the harness is tight enough. It is also essential to examine the strap around the crotch to make sure it is in line with the armpits, rather than at the waist. It is also recommended to read the manual of your infant car seat so that you know how to use it correctly.
The majority of manufacturers recommend that children sit rear-facing in their car seats until they reach at least 1 year old or until they have reached the height and weight limits of their car seat. Certain states have laws that require infants to be rear-facing for a minimum of two years.
If you have a vehicle with just one rear seat, place the infant car seat in the middle so you are able to easily see your child through your 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 all the way around your car each time you want to get your child in or out of their car seat.
If you have a vehicle that has two back seats you can install the infant car seat on either side as you don't place it behind 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, place it on the driver's side.
4. Booster Seats
Children who have outgrown their infant car seat in front seat car seat due to weight and height will need a booster until the vehicle's seat belt fits them properly. This can only be done when the child is at least 4'9" tall and has reached the top of the headrest.
Booster seats assist in positioning the lap and shoulder belt properly. They can also reduce the distance the child's head moves during a crash, which decreases the chance of injury. Head movement is the most common reason behind motor vehicle crashes that are the top killers of children ages 4-8.
If a booster is used incorrectly, the lap portion of the belt could slide up and over the child's abdomen and cause serious injuries in the event of a crash. This can be avoided with a belt guide on the booster that prevents the lap belt from sliding up onto a child's stomach, or climbing over armrests.
Many boosters have small handles, armrests or guide slots that help put the lapbelt flat on a child's upper legs. This ensures that the lap belt begins and stays on a child's sturdy hip bones instead of slipping into their stomachs during a crash.
Certain booster seats feature 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 to stop the seat belt from being pulled over a child’s face. This could cause hypoxia and airway obstruction, and neck strain.