Is the middle seat safest for the car seat?

LJUTCMommy

For Mobile Bumpers: Is the middle seat safest for the car seat? 

DH installed our car seat yesterday and had it inspected for safety. It's installed in the middle seat. Is this normal?

I'm a FTM and I guess I just remember car seats being on the passenger side, not in the middle for all my younger siblings.

Where did you install your seat?  

 

MommyKristin88

Middle seat is safest. That's where my daughter's is. Once the baby is born I'll have to put the baby in the center (because he's smaller) and her on the outside.

skio

Yes, as long as it's installed correctly and your manual doesn't say not to put it there. I'm sure if you had a certified inspector help, it's right.

Common sense...middle is safer for any side impact crashes and just as safe during front/rear impact, making it safest.

thegoodpotato

That seems to be what everyone is oing, but I've honestly never heard anything about it. We always had our LO on the passenger side.  I can't imagine it to be easy to have to climb into your car to put baby in.

There is probably a website somewhere regarding that information from your state safety or highway authority.  From a side impact standpoint, I can see middle seat being safest.  

baloneydisc

Check your car's manual, mine says it can be put in the middle but it's better to use either side.

PrimRoseMama

You do what you can. Yes, the middle is safer, but not all vehicles can accomodate this. If you have two (or more) children then someone has to sit on the outside!

LJUTCMommy

Thanks for all the responses! It does seem that the middle is safest, and DH did take it to safety inspection. We'll be keeping it there.

However, it does seem a little inconvenient, having to crawl in to get baby in and out.

I'm happy to know that's the right place for it! 

sprocketsmom

Your car's owners manual should mention that. They all have different recommendations, and if you plan on using LATCH, it's not always an option in the middle.

BlueJewelM

sprocketsmom:

Your car's owners manual should mention that. They all have different recommendations, and if you plan on using LATCH, it's not always an option in the middle.

This was the case for us. We had to use either side for LATCH. Our car manual does not recommend car seats in the middle. we do have side air bags so that made me a little more comfy with the idea of having him on the side.

And while my child's safety is most important...it would be hard for me to get an infant carrier in the middle. So I'm kind of grateful I had to choose one side or the other.

Aurora317

The Car Seat Lady just posted an interview she did with Stroller Traffic on the LATCH system. LATCH was created to make carseat installation easier, but it is NOT safer than just using the seat belts, and actually can cause more confusion as to how to properly install your seat. If you can put your seat in the middle, but it means using the car's seat belt instead of the LATCH installation, this is fine, and actually safer than using LATCH on the sides (because the center is safer, regardless of it being installed with LATCH or seat belt)

And for the PP who mentioned putting baby in the middle & toddler on the side, if your toddler is forward facing already, they should stay in the center and baby should be put on one of the sides. A child that is forward facing is always more vulnerable than one who is rear facing, so while you would think that an infant would be the more vulnerable passenger, and thus put them in the middle, if the toddler is forward facing already then *they* are actually much more vulnerable than the infant, and should stay in the center.

 https://strollertraffic.com/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-latch/ 

melissabshelton

My car is 2-2-2 so baby DS will go in the middle row behind the driver, DD2 will go middle row passenger side, and DD1 will go rear row driver side.  I think.  Or DS and DD2 will flip sides.  DH will figure it out.

ASmallWonder

Aurora317:

The Car Seat Lady just posted an interview she did with Stroller Traffic on the LATCH system. LATCH was created to make carseat installation easier, but it is NOT safer than just using the seat belts, and actually can cause more confusion as to how to properly install your seat. If you can put your seat in the middle, but it means using the car's seat belt instead of the LATCH installation, this is fine, and actually safer than using LATCH on the sides (because the center is safer, regardless of it being installed with LATCH or seat belt)

And for the PP who mentioned putting baby in the middle & toddler on the side, if your toddler is forward facing already, they should stay in the center and baby should be put on one of the sides. A child that is forward facing is always more vulnerable than one who is rear facing, so while you would think that an infant would be the more vulnerable passenger, and thus put them in the middle, if the toddler is forward facing already then *they* are actually much more vulnerable than the infant, and should stay in the center.

 https://strollertraffic.com/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-latch/ 

This is exactly what my response was going to include so instead I'll just ditto yours  

achadwick19

Middle seat is safer, yes. Think about a car hitting into the side of you, they will be way safter sitting in the middle. 

Missuskeekers

It depends on your vehicle. It should say in your manual. For my car it was safest behind the passenger seat. I took a car seat safety class and had the install inspected.

jensriot

melissabshelton:

My car is 2-2-2 so baby DS will go in the middle row behind the driver, DD2 will go middle row passenger side, and DD1 will go rear row driver side.  I think.  Or DS and DD2 will flip sides.  DH will figure it out.

This is how we do it with baby on the passenger side and DD2 on driver side.

reason00

Middle is highly recommended, especially for forward-facing. I plan to put the new rear-facing baby behind the driver's side and keep my forward-facing son in the middle. Rear-facing is safer than forward, and driver's side is safer than passenger side.

cynthia071173

I volunteer with MADD and work with police officers and we had one of the officers who has done the inspections for many years install ours and he installed it behind the passenger seat.  He said even though the middle seat may seem safest, it is very inconvenient (as previously mentioned) for getting it in and out and behind the passenger seat provides the driver a better view of checking on baby while driving (should not install mirrors as they are a hazard if an accident happens).