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Infant car seat placement

legaleagleslegaleagles member
in Northern California Babies

Is there a safety benefit to having the infant carrier in the middle seat versus a window seat?

I kinda always thought it should be rear facing in the middle seat, but I don't know where I got that and as we were looking at car seats last weekend, I realized it will be difficult due to a back injury to reach that far into my car to get the infant carrier in/out, especially once she's older and heavier. I'll do what's safest, obviously, I just wasn't sure if one was considered safer than the other. 

Thanks!

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Re: Infant car seat placement

  • AnyaBellaAnyaBella

    I believe the general rule of thumb is that the middle seat is safest. Although when I went to get my seat checked the guys there told me to make sure to consult my car manual because sometimes different cars have different recommendations for the placement of the seat.

    I'm not sure but I think the middle is safest because of a potential side impact situation. You would want your LO as far away from the point of impact as possible. It can be especially dangerous of you have side impact airbags in the back.

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  • Roni.CedraRoni.Cedra

    I've always been told it is because it is in the middle of the car, and less likely to take direct hit if you are in an accident--as in, it would take a lot to actually crush the middle. 

    We'll do the middle for baby 1, but you can't do it for baby 2... because I have been with far too many kids that 'share' with their newborn sibling and sometimes their sharing isn't age appropriate (i.e. grapes, etc), so once you have two kids, most people seem to put each by a window.

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  • maryh01maryh01
    I have a 4-Runner and J's carseat is behind the driver seat.  We had it in the middle in the beginning, but like you said, it was way too hard to reach over and snap his seat into the base.  Also, the LATCH system is only on the sides, not in the middle.  Just make sure that you don't have side airbags in the back or that you can turn them off. 
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  • Mrs.BoomBoomMrs.BoomBoom
    Center is safest.  I actually find that with my back, it's best to have him in the center.  I sit and pivot with him and then wrestle him in.  MUCH easier than trying to bend and stoop and get him in if he was right next to the door.  When he was itty bitty, I could lift him out of the car in the seat but quickly it was easier to wear him unless we were going somewhere where his seat was needed in which case, DH almost always did the lifting.  I also always used the stroller (snap n go) rather than carrying the seat
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  • legaleagleslegaleagles member

    Thanks! I figured it was safest and further away from direct impact. The LATCH is only on the side seats, but there are also rear harnesses/teathers for the middle seat as well.

    And thanks for the heads up about the side airbags, I'll have to check on those.

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  • pink.dutch.tulipspink.dutch.tulips

    middle seat is the safest BUT we've always had dd behind the passenger seat. the reason - on our car (ford escape) the latches to attach to the carseat are too far apart. her being behind the driver's seat was a no go since h and i are both 6'+ and need as much leg room as possible.

     

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  • futrkingsleyfutrkingsley member

    The middle of the back seat is safest but you want to check your car and carseat for a snug fit.  In our car, it can be tough to get a really snug fit in the center seat so we have DS' seat currently installed behind the passenger in one car and the middle in the other.

    As for LATCH, you don't have to use it and it isn't any safer than using a seat belt.  It was supposed to make installation easier for parents but I don't buy that.  A good snug seat belt install was recommended to us by a professional installer at Lucille Packard over using Latch. 

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  • legaleagleslegaleagles member
    imagefutrkingsley:

    The middle of the back seat is safest but you want to check your car and carseat for a snug fit.  In our car, it can be tough to get a really snug fit in the center seat so we have DS' seat currently installed behind the passenger in one car and the middle in the other.

    As for LATCH, you don't have to use it and it isn't any safer than using a seat belt.  It was supposed to make installation easier for parents but I don't buy that.  A good snug seat belt install was recommended to us by a professional installer at Lucille Packard over using Latch. 

    Thanks...was the installer at LP available for appointments for installation? or was it an event you went to? 

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  • Lesley423Lesley423

    When we had our car seat installed by highway patrol they told us the middle seat was the safest.  On my car (Accord) you can't use latch for the middle seat but I'll ditto the PP below that we were told the seat belt can latch it just as securely.  The one tip they gave us was to pull out the seat belt all the way extended so that when you move it back it will lock.

    imagefutrkingsley:

    As for LATCH, you don't have to use it and it isn't any safer than using a seat belt.  It was supposed to make installation easier for parents but I don't buy that.  A good snug seat belt install was recommended to us by a professional installer at Lucille Packard over using Latch. 

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  • Mrs.BoomBoomMrs.BoomBoom
    imageLesley423:

    The one tip they gave us was to pull out the seat belt all the way extended so that when you move it back it will lock.

    Funny, we were told NOT to pull  it out and lock it because over time it ratchets up and the seat will be at an angle.  We've had it inspected a few times and they always check that it's NOT child locked.
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  • futrkingsleyfutrkingsley member
    imagelegaleagles:
    imagefutrkingsley:

    The middle of the back seat is safest but you want to check your car and carseat for a snug fit.  In our car, it can be tough to get a really snug fit in the center seat so we have DS' seat currently installed behind the passenger in one car and the middle in the other.

    As for LATCH, you don't have to use it and it isn't any safer than using a seat belt.  It was supposed to make installation easier for parents but I don't buy that.  A good snug seat belt install was recommended to us by a professional installer at Lucille Packard over using Latch. 

    Thanks...was the installer at LP available for appointments for installation? or was it an event you went to? 

    Yes, we made an appointment.  The service was free.  You bring your seat, meet them in the parking garage, they go through the whole thing with you -- your carseat, your car, the ins and outs of the combo, they has us both practice installing it and taking it back out, etc.  It was awesome.  :)

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  • hersheykisshersheykiss
    E's car seat is directly behind the driver seat. The latch systems are only on the side seats, not the center so that was where her seat went.
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  • legaleagleslegaleagles member
    imagefutrkingsley:
    imagelegaleagles:
    imagefutrkingsley:

    The middle of the back seat is safest but you want to check your car and carseat for a snug fit.  In our car, it can be tough to get a really snug fit in the center seat so we have DS' seat currently installed behind the passenger in one car and the middle in the other.

    As for LATCH, you don't have to use it and it isn't any safer than using a seat belt.  It was supposed to make installation easier for parents but I don't buy that.  A good snug seat belt install was recommended to us by a professional installer at Lucille Packard over using Latch. 

    Thanks...was the installer at LP available for appointments for installation? or was it an event you went to? 

    Yes, we made an appointment.  The service was free.  You bring your seat, meet them in the parking garage, they go through the whole thing with you -- your carseat, your car, the ins and outs of the combo, they has us both practice installing it and taking it back out, etc.  It was awesome.  :)

    Just looked it up. Thanks so much!!! 

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  • quesarahquesarah
    imagelegaleagles:
    imagefutrkingsley:
    imagelegaleagles:
    imagefutrkingsley:

    The middle of the back seat is safest but you want to check your car and carseat for a snug fit.  In our car, it can be tough to get a really snug fit in the center seat so we have DS' seat currently installed behind the passenger in one car and the middle in the other.

    As for LATCH, you don't have to use it and it isn't any safer than using a seat belt.  It was supposed to make installation easier for parents but I don't buy that.  A good snug seat belt install was recommended to us by a professional installer at Lucille Packard over using Latch. 

    Thanks...was the installer at LP available for appointments for installation? or was it an event you went to? 

    Yes, we made an appointment.  The service was free.  You bring your seat, meet them in the parking garage, they go through the whole thing with you -- your carseat, your car, the ins and outs of the combo, they has us both practice installing it and taking it back out, etc.  It was awesome.  :)

    Just looked it up. Thanks so much!!! 

    Good Samaritain Hospital also offers a free class for anyone.  You can find the information on their website if you are interested.  Someone from the CHP comes and talks all about where to put the carseat with 1 or 2 kids, things that can be considered a projectile, etc.  I found it pretty informative too. 

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