Car seat poll

mirigirl · November 2014

Hey there! I am just wondering what side you either will have or currently have the car seat in your car/SUV? DH says it should be on the passenger side for extra precaution during times I may need to park on a street. Thought I would ask y'all =]

chickyclg · November 2014

SS: Both, twin mom problems!

twinklymama · November 2014

I've always heard middle is the safest place for baby (although at the moment I can't offer the reason why)

dees14 · November 2014

Middle seat is supposed to be safest. Not sure why. I do passenger side bc my middle seat doesn't buckle.

maltwin1 · November 2014

Check your car's owners manual. It will tell you where your car is designed to have the seat. Most say middle, but some cars do recommend the side.

Normally it depends on the configuration of your cars air bags. If it has side curtain air bags that could harm the baby it would recommend the middle for the seat. but if it doesn't and there is a risk of the front airbags harming the baby it will recommend the sides.

mandamoochie · November 2014

twinklymama said:
I've always heard middle is the safest place for baby (although at the moment I can't offer the reason why)

^^ I've heard this too. We had the infant seat in the middle, but once we moved to the bigger convertable car seat ( read: my son weighs too much to easily strap him in) we switched to behind the passenger seat.

HailsMom · November 2014

Middle Seat is safest if your car allows for it. In our Rav4 we couldn't do middle because there was no latch in the middle and the seatbelt placement for the middle wouldn't secure the seat well enough. We did passenger side because if I need to look back at baby or reach back to give them something, I can do that if I'm in the car by myself.

twinklymama · November 2014

maltwin1 said:
Check your car's owners manual. It will tell you where your car is designed to have the seat. Most say middle, but some cars do recommend the side.

Normally it depends on the configuration of your cars air bags. If it has side curtain air bags that could harm the baby it would recommend the middle for the seat. but if it doesn't and there is a risk of the front airbags harming the baby it will recommend the sides.

There's the reason! Thank you!

Sahara6971 · November 2014

We have a SUV with bucket seats in the middle row. The baby will go behind the driver's seat. We live in the burbs though so street parking really doesn't apply to me.

Smyers2girls · November 2014

Besides the side air bag problem, having them in the middle also protects them more from a side impact crash. Someone t-bones you on that side and it would not be a good thing.

ETA: also if he wants you getting the baby in or out of the passenger side when you're parked on a street. You can still use that side to put them in the middle.

kefttsc · November 2014

SS. Both and we have a van so the middle isn't an option!

AnotherSun · November 2014

Middle is also safer if the car is t boned.

mali3 · November 2014

Ss...I've got 3 kids so there is a car seat in every spot. Oldest behind driver, baby in middle and toddler passenger

Smyers2girls · November 2014

mali3 said:
Ss...I've got 3 kids so there is a car seat in every spot. Oldest behind driver, baby in middle and toddler passenger

Same here.

t8keepr03 · November 2014

When DD was in her infant seat we put her in the middle. It was a PITA to get the infant seat in and out. Once we switched to convertible she went behind the passenger and now she is behind the driver. The only reason she is behind the driver is so the driver can move the seat back and forth to drive. With a rear facing my DH can't move the seat far enough back. So this LO will be behind the passenger.

CdnFarmGirl08 · November 2014

DS was in the middle in his infant seat. When we switched him to go bigger seat it didn't fit properly so we moved it behind driver.

Once baby comes I'll probably do baby behind driver and toddler behind passenger.

And hope and pray we get an SUV soon! Lol

PeaceofKia · November 2014

Twins... So DD will be in the middle with the twins on both outer sides. We won't be able to afford a new car, like ever.

jmcgra06 · November 2014

DD is behind the driver. We were told at our car seat installation that if you can't install it in the middle, the driver's side is the safest, because the driver will instinctively protect his or her side in an accident. Our car has LATCH on the right and left sides only, so after screwing around with it in the middle for a while (definitely safest), we just put it on the driver side so we could install it properly and quickly.

mishka29 · November 2014

HailsMom said:

Middle Seat is safest if your car allows for it. In our Rav4 we couldn't do middle because there was no latch in the middle and the seatbelt placement for the middle wouldn't secure the seat well enough. We did passenger side because if I need to look back at baby or reach back to give them something, I can do that if I'm in the car by myself.

This is me too! The rav4 doesn't recommend car seats in the middle bc the way the seat folds down. Every car is different definately read the manual! Passenger side is good for rear facing bc with the mirror on the head rest you can see what they are doing.

kefttsc · November 2014

I should add - car seat in each middle van seat, a golden retriever on the floor in the middle and three crated dogs in the back. Road trip!

RMSteele · November 2014

DS is behind the driver seat, so the new baby will go behind the passenger seat.

jaytee16 · November 2014

chickyclg said:
SS: Both, twin mom problems!

This! We also learned that they can both only fit in my Subaru, the car seat doesn't fit behind the driver seat in H's Mazda 3.

animalcrckr · November 2014

We only have one spot left in our minivan for another car seat since we already have 3 in there. The boys are in the back row and DD is behind the driver's seat. Baby will go in the seat behind passenger seat unless we move DD's car seat over there. Either way, we leave the middle seat out to make it easier for me to get to the back to check/adjust the boys car seat straps once they are buckled in.

munchkin8590 · November 2014

I was planning on doing middle seat but my son can't buckle/unbuckle himself when the infant seat is there so now it will be on the driver's side.

michelle142 · November 2014

maltwin1 said:

Check your car's owners manual. It will tell you where your car is designed to have the seat. Most say middle, but some cars do recommend the side. Normally it depends on the configuration of your cars air bags. If it has side curtain air bags that could harm the baby it would recommend the middle for the seat. but if it doesn't and there is a risk of the front airbags harming the baby it will recommend the sides.

^ This.

DS was on the passenger side of both of our vehicles (G6 and Equinox). With this being #2, he will stay where he is in the G6 and DD will go on the drivers side. In the Equinox, DS will go on the drivers side and DD the passenger.

mirigirl · November 2014

Thanks everyone!! I will consult my drivers manual today

I would've never thought to check that

RedGiant · November 2014

When DS was in the infant seat it was behind the passenger seat since we couldn't get the driver seat far enough back to drive (tall people in a compact car). Convertible seat rear facing went behind the passenger seat for the same reason. Now that he is front facing he is behind the driver. The infant seat will go back behind the passenger seat once DD arrives.

CatLadyTX · November 2014

jmcgra06 said:

DD is behind the driver. We were told at our car seat installation that if you can't install it in the middle, the driver's side is the safest, because the driver will instinctively protect his or her side in an accident. Our car has LATCH on the right and left sides only, so after screwing around with it in the middle for a while (definitely safest), we just put it on the driver side so we could install it properly and quickly.

This is exactly what I was coming in to say.

ColleenS629 · November 2014

My twins are on both sides. With the new baby coming, I am thinking I will move them to the back and put the baby in the middle row... not sure which side I will put her on, but I will remove the other middle seat so I can get everyone in and out of their seats while everyone is contained in the car.

mom2xover2002 · November 2014

Ours will go in the middle. We have 2 pre-teens who need the leg room behind the passanger and drivers seat plus they will be good car ride baby sitters..lol

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