If you have 2 carseats (baby + toddler)

ArcticFox · August 2009

I know this was discussed a few weeks ago but I was wondering if anyone had any more thoughts on this...

Right now my 2.5-year-old's Britax Boulevard is in the middle of the back seat. Often DH will sit back there with her (longer car rides.. esp since he is not home much).

Just wondering if anyone researched/got more input on where to put the infant carseat. I remember people getting different suggestions (like from their FD or whatnot).

I guess ideally it would be nice to leave DD's Britax where it is and put the infant carseat on the side, but only if that's the safest of course.

Mommy2Gav · August 2009

Our convertable seat will go behind the passanger and the infant seat will be behind the driver.

ETA:

Q. What's the safest place in the back seat for two children of different ages to ride?

Selecting the best seating positions for your children is not simple. Some say to put the infant on the outside, since he/she has the additional protection of a rear-facing shell. Others say to put the infant in the middle because he/she is the most fragile. Still others say that having an infant in the middle makes securing him/her more difficult because of access issues.

The specific dynamics of any given crash situation also affect the answer. The long and the short of it is that all children should be properly restrained. You need to consider your own special circumstances and use your best judgment for placement decisions.

Q. Is my child safer in the seat behind the driver or behind the front-seat passenger?

As long as a child can be correctly restrained in the rear center position, we generally recommend it. That position is insulated from all crash angles, so it is usually thought of as safest.

The right and left rear seats are similar in relative, based on fatal crash statistics. When selecting between them, some considerations might include the height of the driver, curbside parking, the availability of a door, access to other seating positions, the safety of all other passengers, whether the child needs to be monitored, driver distractions, etc. The final decision must be made by parents and caregivers.

www.usa.safekids.org/

JARbaby · August 2009

The older child goes on the drivers side and the younger goes on the passenger. According to the probability of accidnet location the ds is hit most often and passenger side the least. The stronger/older child is more likely to survive a drivers side crash than a baby.

SunshineDiva09 · August 2009

JARbaby:
The older child goes on the drivers side and the younger goes on the passenger. According to the probability of accidnet location the ds is hit most often and passenger side the least. The stronger/older child is more likely to survive a drivers side crash than a baby.

this is what we are doing as well.

Mommy2Gav · August 2009

JARbaby:
The older child goes on the drivers side and the younger goes on the passenger. According to the probability of accidnet location the ds is hit most often and passenger side the least. The stronger/older child is more likely to survive a drivers side crash than a baby.

I thought it was reverse...do you have a link to that info?

ErinNConnorsMom · August 2009

JARbaby:
The older child goes on the drivers side and the younger goes on the passenger. According to the probability of accidnet location the ds is hit most often and passenger side the least. The stronger/older child is more likely to survive a drivers side crash than a baby.

I've heard the exact opposite. Technically, if you could fit the convertible in the middle and infant on the side, that would be safest since the infant seat generally offers a little more protection. That said, I have 3 kids and a minivan. I just buckle them all up and drive as safely as I can. Smile Just do what works best for your family.

Brooke208 · August 2009

You are actually supposed to put the LEAST protected child in the most safe spot. So in your case, DD would be best in the center if you can keep her there and the new baby on either side. This is because the new baby will be rear facing in an infant seat, so technically the new baby is more protected than your DD.

pmarie33 · August 2009

I would take them to a fire department and let them tell you/show you how it should be.

JARbaby · August 2009

I get a safety seat inspection each time we move a seat or install seats so I have been to 11 inspections (4 cars) and ask a million questions, usually sparked by conversations here. I am going again twice this week for 3 cars, moving J into a conv seat and putting the infant seat away and will ask again. I always ask for sources of information, one gave me a copy of their training literature a long time ago. Most of their statistics come from reporting of accident types by state agencies (such as the police) to the NHTSA.

If you have both kids in the same kind of seat they are equally protected.

I just go with probablility.

livinreality · August 2009

ArcticFox:

I guess ideally it would be nice to leave DD's Britax where it is and put the infant carseat on the side, but only if that's the safest of course.

This would not be doable in my car, if the seat is in the center it covers the other seat belts...

Brooke208 · August 2009

JARbaby:

I get a safety seat inspection each time we move a seat or install seats so I have been to 11 inspections (4 cars) and ask a million questions, usually sparked by conversations here. I am going again twice this week for 3 cars, moving J into a conv seat and putting the infant seat away and will ask again. I always ask for sources of information, one gave me a copy of their training literature a long time ago. Most of their statistics come from reporting of accident types by state agencies (such as the police) to the NHTSA.

If you have both kids in the same kind of seat they are equally protected.

I just go with probablility.

I've had mine inspected too and get my information from them. If one child is forward facing and one is rear facing, the forward facing child is the least protected and needs to stay in the safest spot. If both are rear facing, they are both equally protected.

JARbaby · August 2009

Brooke208:
JARbaby:

I get a safety seat inspection each time we move a seat or install seats so I have been to 11 inspections (4 cars) and ask a million questions, usually sparked by conversations here. I am going again twice this week for 3 cars, moving J into a conv seat and putting the infant seat away and will ask again. I always ask for sources of information, one gave me a copy of their training literature a long time ago. Most of their statistics come from reporting of accident types by state agencies (such as the police) to the NHTSA.

If you have both kids in the same kind of seat they are equally protected.

I just go with probablility.

I've had mine inspected too and get my information from them. If one child is forward facing and one is rear facing, the forward facing child is the least protected and needs to stay in the safest spot. If both are rear facing, they are both equally protected.

I only RF so that makes sense.

Brooke208 · August 2009

JARbaby:
Brooke208:
JARbaby:

I get a safety seat inspection each time we move a seat or install seats so I have been to 11 inspections (4 cars) and ask a million questions, usually sparked by conversations here. I am going again twice this week for 3 cars, moving J into a conv seat and putting the infant seat away and will ask again. I always ask for sources of information, one gave me a copy of their training literature a long time ago. Most of their statistics come from reporting of accident types by state agencies (such as the police) to the NHTSA.

If you have both kids in the same kind of seat they are equally protected.

I just go with probablility.

I've had mine inspected too and get my information from them. If one child is forward facing and one is rear facing, the forward facing child is the least protected and needs to stay in the safest spot. If both are rear facing, they are both equally protected.

I only RF so that makes sense.

Yes, that makes a big difference. I extended rear face but DS is past the weight limit of our Britax. We won't be able to fit two seats right next to each other and keep DS in the center, but if we could, that's what we would do since he's forward facing now.

slacy · August 2009

JARbaby:
The older child goes on the drivers side and the younger goes on the passenger. According to the probability of accidnet location the ds is hit most often and passenger side the least. The stronger/older child is more likely to survive a drivers side crash than a baby.

This is how they are arranged in our cars.

Sara

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