Carseat concerns

kelseyg002 · December 2015

The boyfriend and I have decided to bring baby home in his truck vs my car. Snow looks bleak but in the Midwest you never know, so we want to take the vehicle with 4wd just in case. The middle seat in the back is too small for the base (it hangs over about 50% unstrapped) the carseat itself would fit without the base though. I have the evenflo embrace which says you can use it without the base. But the base would fit on one of the side seats of the truck. I always heard it is safer to keep baby in the middle though.
So the question is would you:

Put carseat on the outer seat with the base, or the middle without?

Cricket99 · December 2015

I would put in on the outer seat with the base. Check if your fire department or police station does car seat installations. Many do and will know the safest way to fit the car seat in your specific vehicle.

Ebiejay · December 2015

Check the car manual and see what it says about car seats, every car is different as to the safest place for the seat to go and the manual should say where to put it. The middle is usually the safest, but not necessarily.

PP is also right, see if there are any places nearby that do car seat checks that can help you out.

preggoandglowing · December 2015

Lurking from Dec..

I was just about to ask this same question. DH read the manuals for both the car seat and our SUV, both of which are brand new. They both state that securing the base using the latch system is safer than securing it with a seat belt. Well our SUV doesn't have latch tethers in the middle seat so we opted to put it behind the passenger's seat. Been trying to schedule an appointment (required) with our local police for inspection but I guess they're too busy because they won't return my calls. So did some more research and found a for-profit company that does inspections. The person I spoke to over the phone mentioned that we should move the base to the middle even if we have to use a seatbelt because that is the safest. Now I'm confused! Their fee is quite high so I prefer a police inspection since it's free. Hadn't thought about Fire Dept so trying them next. Sorry, not much help here but wanted to share what I was told.

ainverso · December 2015

I had mine installed in my SUV by fire department. The installed using latch on the passenger side with base. Said if secured properly, safety is the same. I drive a small Mitsubishi Outlander SUV that doesn't have latch in center and seat is narrow so fire man felt like outside was better fit for my car.

juju0592 · December 2015

I have always been told the outer seats were the safest. But definitely check your local fire department. Also call l&d and see. Some hospitals will not let baby go home without the base being installed.

mamabear89071516 · December 2015

Does anyone else have an older car with out the bar things to attach the car seat to? I have a 99 Subaru Forester, and I'm freaking out a little about how to install the seat that we have yet to buy....

jeanbug12 · December 2015

The car seat is safe whether it is on the base or not, but I would be worried about it being on the narrow seat and would probably go with the side seat. I agree with getting an inspection, but definitely call and ask where, not all police officers and firemen have been to the training on car seat installation. In the town I live in there is only one fire station where you can have your car seat inspected and you have make an appointment.

I have never used the latch system for my older kids. I took my car seat and had it installed before my first was born and they said that the seat belt is safer, the belt for the latch system is crash test rated for up to 60 pounds (which includes the seat and baby) while the seat belt is crash test rated at 3000 pounds. So, the latch system is ok while they are small but they recommended just skipping it and not having to worry about remembering to switch over later.

JoJoMama730 · December 2015

Knottie82382906 I had a 99 Crown Victoria up until 1.5 years ago, and you can rest assured that the manuals will have instructions on how to install the car seat without the "latch" system that the newer cars have. And it is safe. But you might not be able to use the middle rear position, depending on belt configuration. That being said, looking forward a year or two, check your owner's manual to see if your vehicle has the top anchor, which you will need when you switch to a forward-facing seat. Some vehicles of that vintage do not have it. My car did not, and it is absolutely 100% necessary for current car seat safety. Every auto manufacturer MUST offer a retrofit anchor kit for older cars (it is a federal requirement), that the dealer will install at no cost to you. My local dealer claimed ignorance and I had to contact Ford's customer service hotline for assistance, who made it happen. Just wanted to mention that now in the event your car does not have the top anchor and you are planning on keeping the car for awhile longer.

Emott13 · December 2015

I really struggled with this with DD. She's not yet 2, but has been forward-facing in the side seat since she was 1 because she gets such horrible carsickness. Luckily, DH had just bought a brand-new car before we got married, so we have the anchors and tethers, etc. I just want you to know that sometimes the "safest" configuration will vary, according to whom you ask. DD's carseat manual would say middle, DH's car would say side, the fire department would say rear-facing, but our doc says what we have going on is best for DD. As long as you're installing the seat properly (following instructions for whichever method you use and whichever seat you use) baby should be safe.

Sometimes as moms we get too hung up on doing things the "best" way and can turn seemingly easy tasks into panic attacks. Don't let this stress you out.

Kellycrazymomma · December 2015

When we picked up my preemie son 5 years ago, the one nurse they had trained in car seat safety was very excited to see we had just a traditional lap belt in the center seat and no latch. She said those can be pulled really tight, without side to side movement, and tend to be more fool proof than some of the latch systems, so don't stress just because your car is older. Just put your knee into the base (or seat when they're bigger) and really tank that belt. It will be fine.

OrangeFox · December 2015

Knottie82382906 said:

Does anyone else have an older car with out the bar things to attach the car seat to? I have a 99 Subaru Forester, and I'm freaking out a little about how to install the seat that we have yet to buy....

We have an older Forrester (2002?) with no latch system. The car seat isn't as easy to install as it is with latch systems, but very secure. Once you get the hang of it I think its easy. DH used to do it a lot because we would transfer the base to my mom's car about once a month when she came to watch my son. Eventually we bought another base so we didn't have to transfer the same one back and forth every time.

you can put the baby seat in any of the positions in the back seat of the Forrester. We had DS in the center because we were told that was safest. It makes sense because if you get into an accident or hit on the side of the car the baby is more protected from the impact (especially in the t-bone or roll situation.) We JUST moved his seat to behind the driver so that we can put the seat for this new baby behind the passenger. Unfortunately, I didn't not plan ahead well when I bought the infant seat and his new seat and they don't fit side by side. Oh well.

Jessdub10 · December 2015

This Facebook group has helped me so much since dd was born:

https://m.facebook.com/groups/176191955751537?tsid=0.29011704423464835&source=typeahead

and their website:
csftl.org

To find a tech to inspect your install (which usually is free or does not cost much):

https://ssl13.cyzap.net/dzapps/dbzap.bin/apps/assess/webmembers/tool?pToolCode=TAB9&pCategory1=TAB9_CERTSEARCH&Webid=SAFEKIDSCERTSQL

mamabear89071516 · December 2015

Thank you so much for that tip! My car doesn't have the top anchor I know because I have to use my husbands car when I have my nephews

claireloSC · December 2015

I have a '98 Subaru Outback - we just used the seatbelt. We ended up using the seatbelt in our newer car also, because as PP mentioned it's rated for a higher weight limit. In response to OP, I think the side seat with the base would be easiest & safest. We weren't able to use the middle seat in our Subaru as the belt would loosen with force. Middle seat is only safest if there's a proper fit. Second safest is behind the driver as driver will instinctively protect their side. That all being said, I don't think there's a huge difference - people with more than one kid use both sides and skip the middle seat, so I think they're probably all safe as long as they are properly installed.

wrappingmama · December 2015

FYI in a follow up to all your posts, many cars & suvs should never have a car seat in the middle seat. This is dependent on how the seat splits to fold forward and your owners manual will tell you where the car seat should go. If your car seat or base can wiggle at all its not safe. It should be super tight and the way to get it installed tight is to kneel on the seat or in the case of a newborn, the base while tightening the latch system so you are getting the tightest fit. Also important, is checking that the incline is correct. Most bases have a level on them.
I have 2 children already and have had seats inspected many times. It's worth it. 9/10 car seats are installed incorrectly.

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