Car Seat Placement

Cytina

I'm sure this has been asked before, so I'm sorry in advance...

Infant seat for LO #2 will be in the middle - what is the best place for DS convertible seat?  Behind the driver or the passenger?

shouldbworkin

Actually, I think it's supposed to be the other way around.  The infant is considered the safest in the car b/c of riding rear facing.  So, the most vulnerable child would be the older one, if riding forward.  If that is the case, s/he goes in the middle and the infant on either side (I don't think it matters which one).  If they're both still RF, then infant in the middle and toddler on either side. 

eaglesfan700

We have toddler seat behind the driver and infant seat behind the passenger. 

FYI, we tried the infant seat in the middle and lasted one car trip.  DS was stealing her blanket and throwing stuff.  Thank goodness DH wsa driving because I had to keep my eyes on them until we could get home and move the seat

mlf625

We have DS on the passenger side already, since my car doesn't have LATCH in the center. ?The police who did the inspection said the passenger side (for a rear facing child, which your son really should be until 2 years per the APA) is just as safe as the center if using LATCH. ?I've also read that statistically you're much less likely to be hit on the passenger side.?

hamilton.ja

We'll probably do infant on the passenger and toddler on the drivers side. Right now our car only has LATCH on the outboard positions but we'll buy a new car before the baby is born because we can't fit a carseat behind the drivers side currently (well we can, but not if anyone wants to drive the car - we're both very tall).

jen5-03

RFing toddler on the side, infant in the middle would be the safest.

The difference in safety for driver vs passenger side is really small and somewhat debatable, so I wouldn't worry about it too much.

Not having LATCH in the middle does not mean that the middle is less safe, just not as convenient to install.

However, depending on your vehicle and what carseats you have, many will not fit side-by-side, so you may find that you have to put one on either side.