Car seat Placement

AmandaG225 · May 2014

Good morning ladies

June is quickly approaching...YAY & I am sure (I think) that it is time to get the car ready for LO's arrival. My husband installed our car seat this past weekend but now I am questioning the placement. I have read that the safest place for baby is in the middle however, if we put the car seat in the middle, it would only be secured with the seatbelt. We only have the latch system on the drivers side and passenger side, not in the middle. WWYD? Where are going to put LO's seat?

Unknown · May 2014

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PressLove · May 2014

I agree with PP. Make sure you have a professional inspect the installation. You can find a local place here.

steprozz · May 2014

I like to have the infant car seat behind the passenger seat and DS will be in his convertible car seat behind the driver side. just personal preference. as long as everything is installed correctly, the middle seat using the seat belt should be perfectly safe.

mattanda2011 · May 2014

Like everyone else has said, the seat belt installation is just as safe as long as you do it correctly. This often means basically getting inside the car seat your self, or your DH and putting all your weight down into it while tightening the seat belt strap.

That being said because of the way our car works, we will be keeping DD in the middle (shes in a rear facing convertible, so its big) and new baby will go behind the passenger side. Whoever is riding passenger will just have to deal with not being able to move back as far as they want.

flojo973 · May 2014

We installed behind the passenger side because that's what the manual suggested. But we'll be taking it to get checked so we'll see what the techs say.

kd&cd · May 2014

We plan on putting it behind the passenger seat for a few reasons all mentioned above...latch system, easy access for driver to baby. Also, this way the dogs will still have room in he back seat and shouldn't need to crawl over baby to get comfy

Rosebud2587 · May 2014

The middle is statistically about 40% safer.

It is equally safe to install with LATCH or seatbelt as long as you can get a good install. However, if you are more comfortable using LATCH there's nothing wrong with installing the car seat outboard.

DD's seats are both installed outboard because it is easier to get her in and out. One is installed with LATCH and one is installed with the seatbelt.

katekat8721 · May 2014

One behind the passenger, one behind the driver.

I think you're okay with the seatbelt setup, just have a tech take a peek at it

becomingmommyagain · May 2014

We'll be attempting to install in the middle position in my car, but there is a slightly raised bump and I'm not sure ti will secure well there. If not, he'll be going on the passenger side.

In DHs truck he'll be going on the passenger side most of the time, but when the bigger kids are with us he'll be going in the middle. The truck is so high off the ground I cant even get the carseat into the truck.

Hairstylist16 · May 2014

Were moving our toddlers car seat to the drivers side and then the infant car seat will be on the passenger side. With our truck we have the extended cab so the infant is going in the middle for easy in and out and then the passenger seat will just have to move forward a little to make room for toddlers car seat

flerlgirl · May 2014

We don't have a middle seat, so DS' seat is behind the passenger seat and the new baby will go behind the driver seat.

BabyCurtiss2014 · May 2014

We installed ours on passenger side bc the latch is easier plus too hard to reach to put it in/out in middle in my compact car

coffee89 · May 2014

I think we will be doing middle in my car(most likely to become the family outings car) and will move it to the passenger side if I think I need more direct access.

In DH's car there probably won't be one since it will be 99% his commute car. We can always put a base in if he needs it. Probably in the middle as well.

MissBHaven1024 · May 2014

DD#2 is behind the driver seat right now, so baby will either be behind the passenger seat, or we will switch them. Haven't decided yet.

snowpants · May 2014

We started out using the middle with the seatbelt install. We ended up switching it to the drivers' side using LATCH for 2 main reasons.

1. I never felt I could get the seatbelt install to be snug enough. We even went to the police department where they do free installs/checks for car seats and the cop had to put in a lot of effort to get it as snug as he thought it should be. It wasn't impossible, just inconvenient, and since I needed to be able to take it out now and then it just seemed like a PITA. The LATCH is much easier for me to get nice and snug (and again, we took it to the police department to double check our install).

2. My car was small enough that if the seat was in the middle an adult would be a little squished trying to sit on either side next to it. When we moved it to the side there was more than enough room for another adult to sit comfortably in the backseat and that was pretty useful for us.

ncbelle · May 2014

A seatbelt install (done properly) is just as safe as LATCH. While the middle is safer in that it's further from the sides, it's not always possible (those of us that have more than 1 kid!) or practical (some car/ seat combos don't allow for a good install in the center seat.

I would just work on getting a good solid install in the location that makes the most sense to you - that's the safest thing you can do!

brower10 · May 2014

We have a 2012 chevy cruze. My manual says nothing about best place. Does anyone else with a Cruze know which is the best carseat spot?

chickpea912 · May 2014

When M was in her infant seat, she was in the middle seat of our Corolla. When we added on the Camry, we put her on the passenger side (much further to get to the middle there).

For now, M will be behind driver, new beeb will be behind passenger.

Do look up the weight limits on your LATCH system (I believe this differs by make and model, but don't quote me on it) - it won't affect you now (unless you have an older child), but I know for example, the LATCH in my car is only rated to 65#. Which is kid PLUS seat. I'm right about 62 right now, so pretty soon, the LATCH will no longer be as safe as a seatbelt. Just something to keep in mind.

brower10 · May 2014

Thanks! I found a manual online but it still didn't tell me which seat is best. It basically said to just make sure it's installed safetly.

rastrau · May 2014

KrystaJ said:

Our manual (we have a 2013 Prius) and all the recommendations I've read suggest center installation with a seat belt over side installation (with driver's side being better than passenger side). I couldn't find recommendations or anything specific in the manual for DH's Forester, so I think we'll do behind the driver's seat.

We are car twinsies! DH drives the Prius, I have the Forester.

FWIW - I read somewhere (I'll try and find my source and edit later if I can) that the middle isn't actually ideal for the Prius because the arm rest can fall down when you hit big bumps.

sjn00 · May 2014

Our truck manuel says right or left side no middle but to check the carseat manuel for updated information... LoL what?!

We will stick with what the truck says so she will go on the passenger side.

fsumom · May 2014

At the moment, I'm pretty sure it's going in the middle using the seatbelt as we only have latch on the passenger and driver sides. This is because my 7 year old daughter is in a high back booster on the passenger side which is the side she must exit/enter at school drop off/pick up.

steprozz · May 2014

@chickpea912‌ thank you for the info about latch only being approved up to a certain weight limit! I had no idea! I will definitely be researching that.

cMichelle0423 · May 2014

Well since we'll be caring 2 car seats now instead of one, there'll be one on each side. However, with DS1 I always preferred him to be behind the driver side because I read somewhere that the driver is more likely to protect their side in the event of an accident.... makes sense but I hope that doesn't show favoritism when we have to choose who sits where lol totally kidding.

chickpea912 · May 2014

I don't know about driver preference and all of that (ie if you'll avoid hitting your side in an accident or whatever), but with M turning four in August, it is going to be MUCH easier having her behind me - if I need to reach her, she's right behind and I can hand her something (not easily, but it works), whereas I wouldn't be able to reach the baby at all if she's behind me because I just can't stretch that easily in that direction. If I have to pick up a toy or a blanket or whatever and get it to the baby, that'll work much more easily if she's on the passenger side.

stephross88 said:

@chickpea912‌ thank you for the info about latch only being approved up to a certain weight limit! I had no idea! I will definitely be researching that.

@stephross88 Yeah, it's been big-ish news lately. The LATCH is super easy, but obviously seat belts are rated to much higher weight limits and will be much more reliable - as long as your seat is correctly installed.

GPeterson24 · May 2014

Also a factor to consider, if the middle seat has a fold-down arm rest/cup holder it's not safe to install a car seat there.

fsumom · May 2014

@GPeterson24

Wow. I had no idea. I guess we'll be latching DS in on the passenger side and putting DD's highback booster on the driver side. It'll be rather interesting to see how this works out with dropping DD off at school since she exits on the passenger side. Plus, if DS is on the passenger side, we'll have to move the passenger seat all the way forward for it to fit.

fsumom · May 2014

Now I'm reading on carseat.org that installing in the center with an armrest may be fine.

Rosebud2587 · May 2014

fsumom said:

@GPeterson24

Wow. I had no idea. I guess we'll be latching DS in on the passenger side and putting DD's highback booster on the driver side. It'll be rather interesting to see how this works out with dropping DD off at school since she exits on the passenger side. Plus, if DS is on the passenger side, we'll have to move the passenger seat all the way forward for it to fit.

Installing in the center should be fine unless your car's manual states otherwise.

sjn00 · May 2014

snuff9861 said:
Ours is currently behind the driver's seat in the truck. We have yet to get it inspected, since I'm having difficulty finding somewhere that does it. @nricole and @daisycat11 did you guys get yours inspected and if so where?

Any fire department should be able to do it. But I would go with a "bigger house" (the main fire department in your city) and you SHOULD get a W.H.A.L.E sticker. Because they are all certified through that. (You can ask if they do that program) =]

nicolemcm · May 2014

@snuff9861 we haven't installed ours yet, but I think the fire station does a clinic...but I honestly haven't checked yet :S

Rosebud2587 · May 2014

@snuff9861

Go to safekids and click on "Find a Tech" to find a CPST in your area who can check the install of your car seat.

GPeterson24 · May 2014

I just trained through the Child Passenger Safety Association of Canada and the current best practice is not to install in the middle if there is an armrest.

emandjp · May 2014

DD1 will be behind the driver's side and DD2 will be in the middle. This is based on what the car seat tech said was safest. Be sure to get your installed car seat checked by a tech, it's SO important.

fsumom · May 2014

I attempted to install in the middle using the seatbelt but didn't feel it was a good placement in my car. I ended up installing it behind the passenger seat but now the seat has to be all the way forward so nobody can actually ride up there if the baby is in the car. I put DD behind the driver's side in her booster. I can barely fit in the middle between them so this will be a pretty tight fit going anywhere. With DD, we moved her to a convertible seat around 4 1/2 months old because she just got too heavy carrying in the infant seat. I'm hoping we can find a convertible seat that does not take up a lot of space rear facing.

kcartwright12 · May 2014

We have a mini van, so no middle seat, unless you're in the third row seat. DS#1 will move to behind the driver's side with his booster seat. DS #2 will be behind the passenger so I can reach him if needed.

nicolemcm · May 2014

@snuff9861 plan on registering for this: https://www.seatsforkidscanada.com/kingston_clinics.html

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