At least half of these deaths could be prevented with the proper use of child restraints. Seat belting children is not punishment but an act of love and caring. If done consistently from day one the child accepts this because they are used to it. When infant seats first came out, the recommendation was to have them in the front seat and facing backwards. The thinking at that time was they could be where the driver could keep an eye on them and facing backward was the safest position in the event of a crash.
Air bags inflate faster than a wink of the eye with over two tons of force.
If a child were in a rear facing infant seat and hit full force with an air bag the child would suffer serious injury and possible death or total paralysis. Because of this, the best place for an infant is in the rear seat, still facing backward. In a sudden stop, such as a head on crash, the force will be to move the body forward. A rear-facing seat will provide the best support for an infant who already is having trouble controlling their head because of weak neck muscles In pickups and other vehicles where placing the infant in a rear seat is not possible the seat should be forward facing and pushed as far back away from the air bag as possible. Newer cars allow you to turn off the passenger air bag and that should be done if the infant will be in the passenger front seat.