Car seat location in vehicle

smoy11 · April 2011

We have the car seat base installed in the middle of the SUV. What is the safest place to put the baby? I thought if we put the baby on one of the window seats, that may not be safest in the event of a crash. But, convenince I would think the window seats would be best.

Which is the safest? And where are you putting your car seat?

LittleApple · April 2011

Middle is the safest.

GracieLou Freebush · April 2011

This differs from vehicle to vehicle. Your vehicle's manual will specify which spot is the safest for a car seat.

Xles10 · April 2011

When we had it inspected by a local police officer, he pointed out that it all depends on the type of accident so there isn't really one spot that is safer than another and there's really no point in worrying about it because that's out of your control. He said that behind the passenger is most convenient because that's curbside. We went with our seat in the middle. He did point out that when it's in the middle and the kid is old enough to be front facing you have to make sure everything is tight b/c in an accident the child could be launched b/t the front seats and out the windshield.

lovesBup · April 2011

We keep it in the middle.

superned · April 2011

Definitely read the owner's manual for both your car and your car seat. There are some cars in which you cannot get a safe install in the middle seat.

That said, the middle is statistically safer, but only marginally. DD's seat is installed in the rear passenger seat because my DH is 6'4" and there is interference between the driver's seat and the car seat in either of the other two seating positions. I am not concerned that she is unsafe in that position.

SuperCuteBenz · April 2011

Middle is safer, however, not all vehicles allow for installation in the middle.

smoy11 · April 2011

I noticed the LATCH system is on the 2 window sides, not in the middle where we put the seat. I will look at the manual.

Fergie+1 · April 2011

Ours is in the middle, but we're both hella tall and that's the only place it fits. When we had it inspected, the Fire Chief said it was all right since most 2011's have the LATCH system in all rear seats.

ASmallWonder · April 2011

Generally middle is safest but people with two kids obviously don't have that luxury, you know?

katcarls · April 2011

We put our car seat on the rear passenger side.

LittleApple · April 2011

smoy11:
I noticed the LATCH system is on the 2 window sides, not in the middle where we put the seat. I will look at the manual.

Then you cannot install the car seat there using LATCH. You can belt it in. LATCH is not any safer than using the seat belt, it is just easier.

Lari29 · April 2011

Middle is generally the safest. But agree with the other prior posts - read your car manual and car seat manual. And - would not hurt to get it evaluated by an expert:

https://www.seatcheck.org/

I have LATCH in my truck - but I was also informed that I must use the belt system in the middle. LATCH and belt system are both safe - but the safest method is the whatever gives the best fit in your car.

edingse · April 2011

We put the infant seat in the middle but then when we went to the convertible seat we put it rear passenger. We wanted to be able to use the LATCH system and to do that we couldn't use the middle. Also carseat wouldn't fit in the middle wth the driver seat back - I am tall with long legs

CrazyToast · April 2011

You're getting all the same general answers.

-check your manual
-middle is safest, supposedly, but not always doable (we have a hump on the middle seat so we could not put it there)
-middle doesn't have latch, so you'll need to use the seatbelt

we have ours on the passenger side...

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