If your car seat is NOT in the center, why???

lauren&matt · August 2009

We just installed dd's Marathon this week (RF and in the center.) I know the center is the safest place for obvious reasons... and I have no trouble getting her in and out. That said, it's affecting my view. (or is it Effecting? lol, I can never remember!!) It takes up about 1/2 of my rear view and is giving me a blind spot over my right shoulder. SO- I'm not sure what the better option is here. Have her in the center with a blocked view? Or have her to one side putting her more at "risk."

If you do have your baby to one side, which one? I'm thinking (if I decide to move her) that behind me would be best for my view. WDYT?

Court0026 · August 2009

I have heard different things about which side is safer. I always thought it was the passenger side, but regardless, if it is affecting your view, I think you should move her.

expecting-n-tx · August 2009

Passenger Side is safer, wish it was the other way because left side is way more convenient.DD is on the passenger side because I had a hard time getting her in and out and could not see her in her mirror.

eris1995 · August 2009

In our Corolla DS is in the center, but in the Explorer he is not. There is no center seat - just two bucket seats on either side. He is behind the passenger side because our dog sits behind the driver side (she's seatbelted in).

eminbmore · August 2009

We have our Marathon on the driver's side. It doesn't fit well, or get tight enough in the middle (in my Highlander) and I've seen it recommended that it go on the driver's side in my car.

betsnup · August 2009

We were able to do D's infant seat in the center, but the convertible is too big for the center of our Pathfinder! DH is really tall, so he needs his seat back pretty far, and it would bump into the car seat. We put the seat behind the passenger seat so that way DH can adjust his seat as he needs to be able to safely drive.

If I were you, I'd definitely move it to the side. Yes, center is best, but sometimes it just doesn't work out.

kamcfarlane · August 2009

our manual told us not to install it in the middle, so it's on the passenger side in our buick rainier. it's in the middle in my pilot.

TulipsOnTuesday · August 2009

We have DD on the passenger side. It is the safer of the two sides (middle IS best, but I am too short to get her out of our SUV from there)... The majority of accidents occur on the driver's side. Additionally, the majority of the time you parallel park, the passenger side is adjacent to the sidewalk when you need to take the baby out (not sure how much this affects you, but it happens a lot where I live)...

eminbmore · August 2009

I have also always heard that the driver's side is safer, because instinctively you will swerve/make an extra effort not to get hit on the driver's side (because that's the side that you're on).

katykat17 · August 2009

`We have a pacifica so having her in the middle isn't really an option unless I put her in the last row of seating, DD is on the passenger side so I can see her easier but I think I hears that behind the drivers side is better because usually in a split second reaction you try to protect your side?

I don't know if that's right or not, now all I can think about if the episode of the office where Dwight says he won't sit in the passenger seat because Jim would always protect the Driver's side first.. Then Jim stomps on the brakes and Dwight hits his head on the back of the seat haha!

Mjmksb04 · August 2009

We put it on the side because that is where the latches are.

jamie4duke · August 2009

My answer is simple: I have two kids so they are on either side, no one is in the middle. I would move your LO behind the passenger side.

LawLove08 · August 2009

If it's affecting your view, move her. ?We have DS on the right passenger's side, because there aren't latch locks in the center (and you're not supposed to use the side latch locks to install in the center.

Lucky_Dragonfly · August 2009

DS is behind the passenger seat.

1. it is easier getting him into the seat when he is on a side not hte middle

2. if I park on the street then i am standing on the sidewalk to get him out not hte street

3. my seats fold down (60/40 split) and the larger split is behind me so I will be able to utilize that better.

4. when he goes to FF then I can see him better on that side.

gbtc01 · August 2009

I have DD on the passenger side for 2 reasons.

1. I have a bad back and can't lean in to the middle very well.

2. I don't trust the seatbelt in the middle. It has a sholder belt that clicks into a latch and then goes across. For some reason the more latches the less I trust it!

SWMcFarland · August 2009

eminbmore:
I have also always heard that the driver's side is safer, because instinctively you will swerve/make an extra effort not to get hit on the driver's side (because that's the side that you're on).

This is also what our FD said about our seat. It is installed on the driver's side in my DH's 9-5.

sara1817 · August 2009

Driver's side. Convienence and it doesn't obstruct my view.

JARbaby · August 2009

Passenger side is safer "curb side", less probability. Drivers side is hit the most often.

When you have 2 children, the older child goes on the drivers side and the younger child goes on the passenger side. The older child has a better chance of surviving a crash because they have better neck strength.

Mrs.State746 · August 2009

We have our Evenflo on the passenger side. We put it in the center but I couldn't see over the HUGE thing. We put it on the passenger because it's more safe and DH is too tall for it to be behind the drivers seat. He drives 90% of the time when we are together.

swimming47 · August 2009

DD is on the passenger side of our Forster. the manual said not to put the car seat in the middle.

lismog · August 2009

I have a mini van so there is no center seat, so DD is on the passenger side. Originally had her on driver's side because it was easier to see her in the mirror but realized when I have to park on the street, it's safer for her to be put in and taken out on passenger side.

ncbelle · August 2009

It's on the passenger side because I wouldn't be able to get the driver's seat far back enough to drive if it were in the center or behind me.

homerrr · August 2009

DD is behind the passenger seat. DH has a disability, and it's easier for him (and me, for that matter) to get her in and out than it would be if she were in the center. If it's affecting your view, I'd suggest moving the seat.

Mrs.C_87 · August 2009

My Trailblazer only has LATCH on the sides and I personally feel safer using LATCH than the seat belt so I chose to put her on the side. Originally I had her behind me but I felt that it was harder to see when I turned to look at my blind spot, so I moved her to the passenger side and I like it better being over there. Also, someone on here mentioned that if you are parked on a street and LO is on the passenger side, you won't be getting LO out of the car while standing in traffic.

Coleslawcat · August 2009

Neither side is safer. As a driver you are more likely to protect your side of the car in an accident by instinct, you are also more likely to be hit on the driver's side (except those accidents that happen while making left turns). Supposedly, it's a wash.

It is definitely not the safest option to keep her in the middle if it affecting your ability to drive safely. The carseat is supposed to be the last line of defense in car safety. The first is a safe car and careful driver.

JillStar · August 2009

DD is on the passenger side. Our car has a console (for lack of a better word) that folds down in the middle of the backseat with cup holders and access to the trunk and, because of that, the manual says not to install a carseat in the middle.

jillybean222 · August 2009

2 kiddos, one on each side.

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