I was under the impression the middle is always safest. I will have two in my car, though, and I have a small car so mine will have to go by the doors.
Ideally, it should go in the center. The center is safest (side impact protection). THink about it, whatever angle you might be hit from, the center rear of the car is the farthest from the crumple zone.
BUT -- big caveat -- if you can't install it tightly and safely in the center seat, you can put it in one of the outboard seats. A safe and tight install is the most important thing.
If you aren't putting it in the center, I'd probably put it on the passenger side over the driver's side, just for your own ease of getting to it.
latch is safest, so it's where you can use your latch. I recommend having the seat installation inspected...
Per the inspector that installed our car seat this is not true. Latch is easier to get a proper installation but the middle is the safest position possible for a car seat if installed properly.
You hear "latch is safest" only because, like I mentioned, it is easier to install that way verses with a standard seat belt which lowers incorrect installations.
latch is safest, so it's where you can use your latch. I recommend having the seat installation inspected...
According to my seat inspection person, LATCH is not "safest". LATCH is easiest and most idiot-proof, therefore tends to be safest if you aren't getting it inspected. But if you have the seat properly installed with the belt, it's just as safe.
This was an issue for us because we had the choice to LATCH install on the outboard or belt install on the center seat, and the seat inspection person said it was better and safer for us to do proper belt installation in the center seat due to the added protection the center seat provides from side impact crashes.
we were told LATCH is not safest, and to go with the middle when possible.
i couldn't get a tight fit with LATCH at all. i'd rather put it in with the seat belt, where i'm guaranteed a tight fight (because i can put my weight on it).
The police officer that installed our seat said either side, just not the middle. He also suggested having it behind the passenger seat for when you are driving LO alone, making it easier to reach back with a toy, paci, etc.
The police officer that installed our seat said either side, just not the middle. He also suggested having it behind the passenger seat for when you are driving LO alone, making it easier to reach back with a toy, paci, etc.
latch is safest, so it's where you can use your latch. I recommend having the seat installation inspected...
Per the inspector that installed our car seat this is not true. Latch is easier to get a proper installation but the middle is the safest position possible for a car seat if installed properly.
You hear "latch is safest" only because, like I mentioned, it is easier to install that way verses with a standard seat belt which lowers incorrect installations.
Per the inspector who installs our seats will always put them with latch before a seatbelt in the middle. He says latch is safest. And, we never do our own carseats. I guess it's like everything else, it depends on who is installing.
The police officer that installed our seat said either side, just not the middle. He also suggested having it behind the passenger seat for when you are driving LO alone, making it easier to reach back with a toy, paci, etc.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!
I take it he hasn't worked too many accidents where there was a car seat on the side of the car that just got T-boned.
What a farking idiot. And to even SUGGEST reaching back while you are driving to give a paci, etc., is just plain...I'm sorry....my blood is boiling at the thought of how WRONG and IDIOTIC and DANGEROUS that suggestion is.
Your owner's manual for your car should also say what position is the safest. In my car, if there is just one seat the safest position is behind the passenger. You are not supposed to use the middle seat at all for a carseat in our car. Now that I have 2 in the car, I have the RF seat behind passenger and DS FF behind the driver.
Re: Car Seat Position Question
latch is safest, so it's where you can use your latch. I recommend having the seat installation inspected...
This. Take it to an inspection site and they'll let you know if it's in right, and it's free. Here are some Houston locations for you.
https://www.texaschildrens.org/carecenters/injuryprevention/childsafety.aspx
Ideally, it should go in the center. The center is safest (side impact protection). THink about it, whatever angle you might be hit from, the center rear of the car is the farthest from the crumple zone.
BUT -- big caveat -- if you can't install it tightly and safely in the center seat, you can put it in one of the outboard seats. A safe and tight install is the most important thing.
If you aren't putting it in the center, I'd probably put it on the passenger side over the driver's side, just for your own ease of getting to it.
Per the inspector that installed our car seat this is not true. Latch is easier to get a proper installation but the middle is the safest position possible for a car seat if installed properly.
You hear "latch is safest" only because, like I mentioned, it is easier to install that way verses with a standard seat belt which lowers incorrect installations.
According to my seat inspection person, LATCH is not "safest". LATCH is easiest and most idiot-proof, therefore tends to be safest if you aren't getting it inspected. But if you have the seat properly installed with the belt, it's just as safe.
This was an issue for us because we had the choice to LATCH install on the outboard or belt install on the center seat, and the seat inspection person said it was better and safer for us to do proper belt installation in the center seat due to the added protection the center seat provides from side impact crashes.
So, yay for inspections, is the takeaway message.
we were told LATCH is not safest, and to go with the middle when possible.
i couldn't get a tight fit with LATCH at all. i'd rather put it in with the seat belt, where i'm guaranteed a tight fight (because i can put my weight on it).
MamaPhan|boy (n): a noise with dirt on it
Per the inspector who installs our seats will always put them with latch before a seatbelt in the middle. He says latch is safest. And, we never do our own carseats. I guess it's like everything else, it depends on who is installing.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!
I take it he hasn't worked too many accidents where there was a car seat on the side of the car that just got T-boned.
What a farking idiot. And to even SUGGEST reaching back while you are driving to give a paci, etc., is just plain...I'm sorry....my blood is boiling at the thought of how WRONG and IDIOTIC and DANGEROUS that suggestion is.