Car seat position

SweetRachel

I have seem several cars in different parking lots lately that have the car seat in the middle of the backseat. That got me to thinking if that is the safest place for LO. I have my DD behind the passenger seat so I can reach her If I had to. What is the opinion on this?

SusieBW

I feel like I've heard that the middle is the safest place too, but I'm not sure why.  Maybe it depends on the car?  My car doesn't have LATCH connectors for the middle - I could put the seat there, but I would be using the LATCH connectors for the outside seats to do it, and I feel like they're not designed to work that way, so DD"s seat is behind the passenger seat, too.

My DH's aunt watches DD a few days a week, and she brought her car to one of those carseat checks that the police do, and they moved DD's seat to the center in her car.  They said it was better and safer with her car (a VW Passat) to have it in the middle.  But when I brought my car to one of those, they didn't say anything about it. 

mommasqueak

i don't know if there is any evidence behind it, but i just figured, if there is a side impact crash, that DD would, hopefully, not get hit as hard being in the middle.

tifdaski84

I've heard the middle is the safest too (protected from side impacts) but it just doesn't work in my car.  I have his seat behind the passenger seat.  When we go somewhere as a family, H can't fit in the passenger seat and it's even a squeeze for me.  Putting it in the middle affects both the driver and the passenger in my car.

salt78

Possum2011:

I've heard the middle is the safest too (protected from side impacts) but it just doesn't work in my car.  I have his seat behind the passenger seat.  When we go somewhere as a family, H can't fit in the passenger seat and it's even a squeeze for me.  Putting it in the middle affects both the driver and the passenger in my car.

Exactly this for us as well. Driving would be a b!tch if I had to move the seat up enough to accommodate her car seat.

Netty_3

LalaMama81:

Technically, the middle is the safest position UNLESS your car manual doesn't permit carseats in the middle (mine does not). Usually that's b/c of a hump in the middle or something that would prevent the seat from fitting correctly.

Unless indicated in the manual you should never use the LATCH connectors from the passenger seats for the middle. You would use the seatbelt to install the seat in the middle.

Using LATCH or a seatbelt (but never together) is equally safe if used correctly.  

Hmm...my car seat manual says to latch and use the car seat in the instructions.

MrsT2008

If you think about it, of course the middle is the safest as it's the furthest from all sides of the car. 

And big ditto to LalaMama about the LATCH vs seatbelt.  NEVER use the LATCH from the side seats of the carseat is in the middle - the connectors are likely too far apart to be considered safe at that point.

fryrat

DD is in the middle because her big girl seat won't fit behind the passenger seat when rear facing.

oliversmommy32912

MrsT2008:

If you think about it, of course the middle is the safest as it's the furthest from all sides of the car.nbsp; And big ditto to LalaMama about the LATCH vs seatbelt.nbsp; NEVER use the LATCH from the side seats of the carseat is in the middle the connectors are likely too far apart to be considered safe at that point.

All of this. If the seat doesn't have LATXH, use the seat belt to install. I don't know of any seat on the market that is unable to be installed with the seat belt.

JessWeck

We have always kept DS in the middle. He will move to the side when baby #2 arrives since he will be over 2.

Chargersgrl33

Every car is different.  If you check your manual it should tell you.  I keep DS RF and behind me.  He will be RF forever if I could.  That's really what is going to keep them safest!

sunnyday016

Middle is statistically safer, since it's furthest from all possible points of impact. However, like others have said, you need to check your vehicle manual to see what they allow. Some strictly do not allow it, while other cars do not have latch anchors there so you would have to do a seatbelt install.

The most important thing you can do to keep LO the most safe is to RF. It's better to RF on the side than to FF in the middle, any day. 

boogerbearoriginal

Netty_3:

LalaMama81:

Technically, the middle is the safest position UNLESS your car manual doesn't permit carseats in the middle (mine does not). Usually that's b/c of a hump in the middle or something that would prevent the seat from fitting correctly.

Unless indicated in the manual you should never use the LATCH connectors from the passenger seats for the middle. You would use the seatbelt to install the seat in the middle.

Using LATCH or a seatbelt (but never together) is equally safe if used correctly.  

Hmm...my car seat manual says to latch and use the car seat in the instructions.

Car seat instructions will have directions for either installation since older cars don't have LATCH, some people like seatbelt, etc. BUT that doesn't mean to use both. Using both is actually very unsafe.

OP - like PPs said, generally the middle is safer due to risks of side impact. However, depending on your car, middle could be unsafe (hump in seat, fold down armrest, interference with front seat).  

My LO is directly behind me for a few reasons, my middle isn't recommended for RFing (fold down armrest), I prefer to use latch and it's not in the middle, I like having him on my side for loading/unloading, and his seat is large and my car isn't but this way H can comfortably sit on passenger side while I drive.

KellyR33486

MrsT2008:

If you think about it, of course the middle is the safest as it's the furthest from all sides of the car. 

And big ditto to LalaMama about the LATCH vs seatbelt.  NEVER use the LATCH from the side seats of the carseat is in the middle - the connectors are likely too far apart to be considered safe at that point.

 

SOME cars do allow "borrowing" the latches from the outboard seats for use in the middle.  It would specifically say it in your car manual AND your car seat itself has to allow it as well. 

 

Never use latch AND seatbelt together.  Car seats do need some "wiggle room" in case of a crash and doing both belt and latch will likely get too tight of a fit.

 

Wherever you can get the best install is the safest place for the seat.  If that's in the middle then that's even better since it is the most protected area.  

tbmadeamistake

I was told to use LATCH as that is the safest.  In our cars, we only have LATCH on the sides so that's where we have her.  If the car has LATCH in the middle, or doesn't have LATCH at all, use the middle position.

Katie829

Lilygrace48:

I was told to use LATCH as that is the safest.  In our cars, we only have LATCH on the sides so that's where we have her.  If the car has LATCH in the middle, or doesn't have LATCH at all, use the middle position.

LATCH and Seat belts are equally safe. In fact once your child and car seat together weigh more than 65lbs you are not allowed to use LATCH anymore. This is for those who are going to have extended harnessing like we will. 

Our vehicle and car seat allows LATCH borrowing and we have our Britax in the middle. DHs car seat does not allow borrow and we have her in the middle with seat belt.