Previous carseat placement post got me thinking...

KatiKM

My car Nissan Pathfinder, has the LATCH system, however not in the middle only on the driver and passenger sides. So if the middle is really safest, is it best to for go the LATCH to have LO in the middle? Or is the LATCH the best option? What do you think?  

Autumn_bride2b

safest is always in the middle, as long as you can properly and securely fasten the car seat with the seat belt. LATCH is not necessarily safer, it is just to make the installation process easier (and reduce the number of incorrect installations)

LadyJavy

Our car (Passat Wagon) also only has the latch on the side seats. I've heard that in most vehicles you can use the latches from either side to intall the seat in the middle. If we're not able to do this, we'll install the seat on one side or the other. Its what we'll have to do when we have a second car seat anyway.

NaHoku

Ditto PP.  LATCH is not necessarily safer, it's just easier.  Wherever you put the seat, just make sure you make an appt to have someone from the police or fire department inspect to make sure it's correctly installed.

mlf625

The police who inspected DS's seat said the side with LATCH is just as safe as the middle. ?We had DS's infant seat in the middle, but installed his convertible seat on the side using the LATCH system.

swirliepop

We have a pathfinder too, but it's a 2002 so it was like a year before the LATCH system was included.

In my car (Lexus RX) we have a LATCH system on the passenger seats only.

In both cars we have DS behind the passenger seat - always have. I believe center would be safest for LATCH but if not available in the center seat, I'd go for the passenger with LATCH.

Autumn_bride2b

LadyJavy:

I've heard that in most vehicles you can use the latches from either side to intall the seat in the middle.

This is NOT correct. Unless your car's owner's manual SPECIFICALLY states that you can use the outboard LATCH tethers for the middle position, YOU CAN NOT. Please do some more research so that you can best protect your LO>

mwalliser

I think that middle seat being safest vs. LATCH being safest isn't really an equal comparison... they are both safe for different reasons.

Middle is safer as opposed to the seat being in either side because if you were to get hit from either side then the seat is the farthest away from where you might be hit.

LATCH system is supposedly the safer way of buckiling the seat in... apparently because it's easier to get attached correctly and therefore less error in installing the seat (?? I'm just guessing here).

Therefore... you must weigh your options... If you aren't going to be moving the seat from vehicle to vehicle on a regular basis, I'd go with putting it in the middle and making sure it is installed properly from the begining.  If you will have to be moving the seat a good bit then I'd suggest one of the sides and using the LATCH system to make sure that each time you install, it is securely installed.

KatiKM

LadyJavy:

Our car (Passat Wagon) also only has the latch on the side seats. I've heard that in most vehicles you can use the latches from either side to intall the seat in the middle. If we're not able to do this, we'll install the seat on one side or the other. Its what we'll have to do when we have a second car seat anyway.

KatiKM

LadyJavy:

Our car (Passat Wagon) also only has the latch on the side seats. I've heard that in most vehicles you can use the latches from either side to intall the seat in the middle. If we're not able to do this, we'll install the seat on one side or the other. Its what we'll have to do when we have a second car seat anyway.

KatiKM

LadyJavy:

Our car (Passat Wagon) also only has the latch on the side seats. I've heard that in most vehicles you can use the latches from either side to intall the seat in the middle. If we're not able to do this, we'll install the seat on one side or the other. Its what we'll have to do when we have a second car seat anyway.

KatiKM

oops sorry about the double post of nothing.

I hadn't thought about using the two latches in the middle.That is a good idea. When we bought our carseat (Orbit) the guy just really went on and on about the latch system, which I am sure is for ease of installation. Thanks for the feedback everyone.

LadyJavy

Autumn_bride2b:

LadyJavy:

I've heard that in most vehicles you can use the latches from either side to intall the seat in the middle.

This is NOT correct. Unless your car's owner's manual SPECIFICALLY states that you can use the outboard LATCH tethers for the middle position, YOU CAN NOT. Please do some more research so that you can best protect your LO>

My research will consist of me having someone who is licensed to install car seats (yes, that does exist) install it for me at either my hospital or a local police/fire station. This is what my OB, car salesperson, and car seat salesperson have advised me to do. I have been told that every car seat should be installed by a person who is trained to install carseats as they go through a whole week of training to be able to do so. I do research for a living and have done plenty on this topic, thank you very much.