Let's discuss car seat placement/location

Cheenomae

Right now in my car I have DD sitting behind the passenger seat and DS is in the middle. I keep thinking of changing him over to a convertible car seat but hesitate because he still occasionally falls asleep in the car seat and the transfer into the house still keeps him sleeping. I keep thinking that when I do change to his convertible, sooner than later, I want to put him behind the driver seat because he's so heavy and he's getting increasingly difficult to lift into the middle. I hesitate to put him behind the drivers seat because the middle is the safest... Now I feel guilty that DD can't just be in the middle, too. Irrational?

hmp1

I have my kids outboard, I'm not losing any sleep over it. I just got a new car and I don't have a middle seat in the second row so it isn't even an option.

Cheenomae

Thanks for the reply! I'm surprised, too because he's 24 lbs. I think I keep doing it because it's my only form of exercise!

danabsd

hmp&mrj:

I have my kids outboard, I'm not losing any sleep over it. I just got a new car and I don't have a middle seat in the second row so it isn't even an option.

New car? Do tell!

Cheenomae

danab_sd:

hmp&mrj:

I have my kids outboard, I'm not losing any sleep over it. I just got a new car and I don't have a middle seat in the second row so it isn't even an option.

New car? Do tell!

That's what I was just going to stay. I want more details!! 

hmp1

Cheenomae:

danab_sd:

hmp&mrj:

I have my kids outboard, I'm not losing any sleep over it. I just got a new car and I don't have a middle seat in the second row so it isn't even an option.

New car? Do tell!

That's what I was just going to stay. I want more details!! 

I joined the Acadia fan club. 

danabsd

hmp&mrj:

Cheenomae:

danab_sd:

hmp&mrj:

I have my kids outboard, I'm not losing any sleep over it. I just got a new car and I don't have a middle seat in the second row so it isn't even an option.

New car? Do tell!

That's what I was just going to stay. I want more details!! 

I joined the Acadia fan club. 

Nice!

AKB090609

DD is behind the driver and always has been. I don't lose sleep over it. If we have a second child they will be out board as well. I prefer to use latch as long as possible to preserve our seatbelts and because I find it easier to get her in and out of the car if she is behind me. 

Flamingemu

I joined the Carseats for the Littles when I was looking for convertibles and they say to put the least protected child in the middle. So your DD would be in the middle and DS would be outboard as long as he is rear facing.

Though I could have missed a piece to that, that is what I have gathered. I wouldn't worry about it either way. As long as your kids are in proper fitting seats you are doing all you can. 

Hyaline

We have a middle seat in our SUV, but it's attached to the driver's side and we fold it down a lot to haul things.  I decided it was safer to install the carseat well on the passenger side once than it would have been to keep moving it and probably, at some point, fluck it up because I'm a dumbazz like that.

bosha711

DS is FF in his convertible seat behind the driver & DD is RF in her infant seat behind the passenger.

This has been their positions since DD was born b/c it's the only way the seats would fit in the car. Before DD was born, DS was RF in the center in his convertible. DD has never been in the center.

mrsbhk22

I total get the irrational car seat fear. We have a Honda pilot 7 passenger and I insist on squeezing all 3 kids in the middle row because its safer than the back row in a rear high speed collision.

DD is in the middle in our accord, in a convertible radian. She's behind the passenger in a convertible in the pilot. Honestly, I read once somewhere that behind the driver is the safest since your instinct is to protect your side of the car. Neither of the boys were in the center. I think it's better to get a good install in any spot versus a crappy install in the center.

melody921

Neither of my kids was ever in the middle. DS is behind the driver's seat. DD is behind the passenger. I'm also debating whether it's time to switch her to the convertible bc she's getting heavy.

Cheenomae

Thanks everyone. I don't know why asking the question helps, but it just does! I'm so irrational with fear at times I can't figure out what the best options are. Anyway, I'm definitely going to change DD to be behind the drivers seat and put DS behind the passenger seat. Still not convinced I'll change him to a convertible for the rare opportunity he falls asleep in his car seat and stays asleep!