Car seat question

babydawson · May 2012

DH and I have a honda accord. We put the car seat in the back right seat. My thoughts were that it would be easier to reach back there, easier to get him in and out, easier to soothe him and it might be easier to see him with the mirror (which we haven't added yet). Recently I have seen a few people have their seats in the back middle position. Is there a place that is safer or more convenient? Thoughts?

firstbabylees · May 2012

When we went to our car seat inspection, they said that the middle seat was best & safest. However, the car seat will not work in the middle seat of my car (2008 Nissan Altima), so they said the next best position was the back right (apparently because it is less distracting).

Heather2256 · May 2012

I put ours in the middle (I have a dodge stratus). In the instruction manual it says the middle is the safest. This way the baby is safer if you're hit on the side. Have you went to the hospital, fire department or police station (whichever place) to get it checked?

pumpkinpie184 · May 2012

We were told by the fire department that the middle is the safest. We also have a honda accord, and our seat is in the middle.

MelissaMiso · May 2012

We followed the car manuals suggestion and did the passenger side back seat. My family is nervous about this and they have their base in the center. I feel both are fine. I think it's easier and safer on the passenger side when putting baby in or taking her out.

SWBs Wifey · May 2012

As long as as the car seat FITS/is secure in the middle, the middle is supposed to be the safest. I've never heard of a car that it didn't work in the middle in (unless there are car seats installed on the sides too). We used the belt, not LATCH when the seat was positioned in the middle, but DS1's seat has been moved to the side for a few reasons lately.

MelissaMiso · May 2012

p.s. We have Hyundai Elantras ('05 mine, '06 grandparents) and an Elantra Touring ('10 hubby)

DrRx · May 2012

We also have a Honda Accord and we put the base in the center position in the back. It was easier since we were able to use the "hooks" (not sure what they are called, but we didn't use the seatbelt to secure the base to the car) and it is also the safest place according to many sources.

bellelamb · May 2012

My seats have always been the youngest behind the driver, easier to get them in and out. When I had only one neither car could have a car seat in the middle my Mazda had a bump so the car seat didn't fit our jeep only had two doors so the middle was not an option. Since then I've had more than on car seat at a time so they went on the sides, now we have a mini van with bucket seats so there is no middle seat.

stemms8810 · May 2012

Mine is on the passenger side. I wanted to put it in the middle but DD's high back booster seat is behind me and it would have been too tight of a fit with them side by side. Not to mention I don't want DD to be touching him a lot while in the car. I knew this would be an issue so I am avoiding it.

If I didn't have a booster seat in the back as well, I would put it in the middle.

melrrr · May 2012

Regarding ease. I much prefer center when they're younger in cases of bad weather. I can get in the car and sit down while I get the baby situated in the seat.And I can do this from either side depending on the situation.

babydawson · May 2012

Thanks ladies! We did call the local police to come and check and it was a JOKE! He looked in the car and said "Yep, it is facing the right way. Oh, it is not belted it though." DH told him that it is hooked in and the policeman said. "Really, I have never seen that. Is that new?" Umm, the car is 10 years old, so I am thinking it has been around a while. I am a nice person, but I really hope he was embarrassed enough to go do some research!

FyreFlyeRush · May 2012

I have a 2007 Accord Coupe EXL, and he'll be going in the middle with a belt. LATCH in Hondas are for the side seats ONLY, not the middle. The middle is the safest position in the car due to the danger of side impacts.

fyziksgirl · May 2012

Middle is safest (because most protected from side impact) IF you can install the carseat the safest way there. We have ours behind the driver's seat (which I've heard is the safer side b/c the driver will instinctively shield his/her side in a crash) because in our car (Toyota Prius) the LATCH system is not designed for use with the middle seat. We could do a seatbelt install there, but a LATCH install is better if your car has it, and it is better to do a LATCH install in a side seat than a seatbelt install in a center seat.

I don't feel too bad about this, because I do not plan on making my child sit in the middle seat forever. It is always safest because it will always be most protected in a side-impact collision, but that doesn't mean I'll make my 10 year old sit there!

SWBs Wifey · May 2012

mdharrison:
FyreFlyeRush:
I have a 2007 Accord Coupe EXL, and he'll be going in the middle with a belt. LATCH in Hondas are for the side seats ONLY, not the middle. The middle is the safest position in the car due to the danger of side impacts.

I learned at my inspection that a good way to verify if you have LATCH capabilities for the centre seat is if you have a centre anchor on the top. 3 anchors at the top with one in the centre = made for centre, LATCH-secured seats. No centre anchor = must use the belt in the middle.

Not always true. Our Prius has a center anchor but no LATCH anchors in the center. :-)

melrrr · May 2012

SWBs Wifey:
mdharrison:
FyreFlyeRush:
I have a 2007 Accord Coupe EXL, and he'll be going in the middle with a belt. LATCH in Hondas are for the side seats ONLY, not the middle. The middle is the safest position in the car due to the danger of side impacts.

I learned at my inspection that a good way to verify if you have LATCH capabilities for the centre seat is if you have a centre anchor on the top. 3 anchors at the top with one in the centre = made for centre, LATCH-secured seats. No centre anchor = must use the belt in the middle.
Not always true. Our Prius has a center anchor but no LATCH anchors in the center. :-)

This sounded great to me too until I realized my Volvo wagon has a center tether. It does not have center latch nor can you use the out out outboard latches to put a seat I the center.

blueshamrock7 · May 2012

babydawson:
Thanks ladies! We did call the local police to come and check and it was a JOKE! He looked in the car and said "Yep, it is facing the right way. Oh, it is not belted it though." DH told him that it is hooked in and the policeman said. "Really, I have never seen that. Is that new?" Umm, the car is 10 years old, so I am thinking it has been around a while. I am a nice person, but I really hope he was embarrassed enough to go do some research!

Yeah, you need to make sure the car seat is inspected by someone who is a certified car seat inspector - not all law enforcement agents are and I am surprised that they wouldn't tell you that. That's really scary! Obviously, there is no law saying you *have* to get the seat inspected, but you can also call your local fire department and ask if they have a certified inspector on staff or know of another nearby fire or police station who does. I was able to find a list of certified inspectors through https://safekids.org/.

I didn't get to read through all the responses, but do check out your car seat manual and your car manual. My car seat manual said any position was acceptable, as did my car manual, so it was our choice and we chose the middle seat. We have a Ford Explorer.

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