Would this be acceptable?

efortune

Ok, I'm one of "those" people when it comes to one of my dogs (yes, I have a favorite), since I take her everywhere it is acceptable to take a dog just about.  Anyway, I've been debating how the car seat arrangment is going to go in my Honda Accord.  I was originally going to go with the traditional middle of back seat, with the dog in the front seat with her seat belt on.  If I got in an accident, however, the dog would most likely be killed by the air bag, and since its an older Accord it doesnt have the easy switch to flip the air bag off.  I was thinking then instead to have the car seat on the passenger side and the dog on the driver side (the dog could not reach the baby as the seat belt holds her in place).  The dog doesnt go everywhere, so this arrangment would only be for when I have dog + baby (think for walks in the state park, trips to the grandparents, etc).  Do you think this is acceptable?

lkich

The baby would be safest in the middle of the backseat. If you put the dog seat next to it would the dog be able to mess with the baby?

NewLerma

Think about people that have more than one carseat in the back (like me ) and I think you're fine.

FirefightersBride

I am planning on doing the same thing as you...I am going to put the baby seat on the side and put the other seat down, I have a Mastiff and a shepherd, and i do like to take them everywhere I can. So baby on the side and dog on the other it is.

nuttybunch

NO! First of all, a dog with a seatbelt? Second--and more importantly--you would really move the carseat from the safest place in the car to the second safest place just because you don't want your dog to get hurt in an accident???

We put our carseats in the rear passenger position because it fits best there. That's not the point. The point is that I really think you need to adjust your priorities if you're positioning your baby's carseat based on the dog. Seriously.

IF you feel the need to buckle your dog, you should make your BABY'S safety the most important thing and put your dog wherever it fits AFTER considering your baby--NOT the other way around.

Mrs.Teddy

Read you car manual about where the best spot to put the carseat is. Its not in the middle for all cars. Also, make sure it fits, do you have a 2 door or 4 door? If its a 2 door it may only fit in the middle. If the manual says its just as safe then I think it would be fine to go on the passenger side. Someone posted a good link last week about where carseats go in each car. I didn't save it tho because it didn't say much about our jeep.

afg

The middle of the backseat is safest but in reality you have to do what is practical for your situation.  some seats don't fit correctly in the middle seat and so have to go on the side, or they have 2 car seats, or they drive a big SUV which doesn't have a middle seat in the 2nd row (like a suburban).

Car seats end up on the left or right in a lot of situations.  If that works best for you then do it.  You're not talking about putting your baby in the trunk

Aliliv

nuttybunch:

NO! First of all, a dog with a seatbelt? Second--and more importantly--you would really move the carseat from the safest place in the car to the second safest place just because you don't want your dog to get hurt in an accident???

We put our carseats in the rear passenger position because it fits best there. That's not the point. The point is that I really think you need to adjust your priorities if you're positioning your baby's carseat based on the dog. Seriously.

IF you feel the need to buckle your dog, you should make your BABY'S safety the most important thing and put your dog wherever it fits AFTER considering your baby--NOT the other way around.

lol!  Many people have two carseats and are unable because of this to put it in the middle, so sides it is - so, what will you do when/if you have two carseats to install - and what about 2 infant seats (twins)?    hmmm......I don't take my dogs everywhere, but if I did, I would think it is important to also consider their safety, plus like poster is saying, keep them a comfortable safe distance from the baby..........

one_more_girl

We have two large dogs also.  We used to own a vibe and had the split seat down and then had my son (he was over a year old) sitting on the other side.  The thing I would constatly be worried about was if we got into an accident.  If the dogs can move about then that's SOO unsafe.  Think about if your dog flew on top of your baby?!  I know this is probably unlikely with the seatbelt so thats probably a better idea. We had to get a bigger vehicle I just wasn't going to put my kids at risk because of the dogs.  We got a smaller SUV with one of those barriers to keep the dogs in the back. I just couldn't stand it if something ever happened to our kids. 

ArmyBride0604

nuttybunch:

NO! First of all, a dog with a seatbelt? Second--and more importantly--you would really move the carseat from the safest place in the car to the second safest place just because you don't want your dog to get hurt in an accident???

We put our carseats in the rear passenger position because it fits best there. That's not the point. The point is that I really think you need to adjust your priorities if you're positioning your baby's carseat based on the dog. Seriously.

IF you feel the need to buckle your dog, you should make your BABY'S safety the most important thing and put your dog wherever it fits AFTER considering your baby--NOT the other way around.

They make doggie seatbelts.  They're a great way to keep your pet safe (which IS important) without using a bulky kennel (which wouldn't fit in the Accord).  It IS important to keep the dog safe when it's traveling by car.  I don't think she's putting the baby second.

And to the OP. Since you can't very well let the dog run loose without the seatbelt, and the front seat would be extremely dangerous for dog AND baby - I think the baby on one side, dog on the other sounds like a great plan.  It's what we're planning on doing in our Yukon when we go on trips with too much baby gear to take the kennel. You'll be fine!

jaxgev

Sounds like it's time to get rid of the dog...or the baby.

My dog always sits up front with me but that's just because she's 6 pounds.  It's too bad you don't have an SUV where you can put the dog in the back.

efortune

nuttybunch:

NO! First of all, a dog with a seatbelt? Second--and more importantly--you would really move the carseat from the safest place in the car to the second safest place just because you don't want your dog to get hurt in an accident???

We put our carseats in the rear passenger position because it fits best there. That's not the point. The point is that I really think you need to adjust your priorities if you're positioning your baby's carseat based on the dog. Seriously.

IF you feel the need to buckle your dog, you should make your BABY'S safety the most important thing and put your dog wherever it fits AFTER considering your baby--NOT the other way around.

The seat belt is designed for a dog, its not the human one, and holds them in place.  The dog could not reach the baby.  People with multiple children have 2 car seats in thier back seat, and its fine.  You yourself put it on the passenger side too...its a matter of safety, not the reason behind why its placed there.  Obviously, many people put the car seat on the passenger side, so it is perfectly safe.  Guess I really dont see how it is putting the baby's life at risk, whereas it IS putting the dog's life at risk (almost certain the dog would be killed if in the front seat).  I do value the dogs life too.  You could flame if I was putting the baby in the front seat and the dog in the dog so she could lay down.  Thanks for your opinion though!

efortune

Oh, and thankfully DH is going to trade in his truck for an SUV.  Hes then going to leave the SUV at home, and take my Accord to work to save on gas.  Then this debate wont matter anymore . 

Thanks for all the input, it helped out a lot.

heatherlane

We're in a similar situation...my DH and I switched cars (I drive his pick-up) when I took a job 5 miles from home because it saves us $80 a month in gas. I'm still considering taking the baby to daycare in the truck (with the airbag off, obviously) because daycare is only a two mile drive from home. I'm still doing my research, obviously, but it's an option we're considering.

Like other posters, when you have twins or two kids, obviously the carseat is not in the middle. And I take my dog everywhere I can get away with, too!