Two car Seats

Emott13 · January 2016

Did a search and didn't find what I was looking for...

Moms who already have a kid at home: what's your car seat configuration? Googling only lead to confusion for me. I know middle is "safest" statistically, so I want to put the new baby there. However, what I read says that rear-facing is intrinsically safer than front-facing, so actually a front-facing car seat kid ought to take the middle before a rear-facer does. THEN there's the whole issue of the car not having anchors in the middle, so if they're next to each other, they'd be sharing an anchor, or else one of them would be held in by only the belt, and everything says that holding by anchor is safer than belt. Not to mention, I have no idea how DD will behave sitting next to a new baby. I don't worry about her hurting LO or anything, just poking at him or her (because she's a curious and learning 2 year old) and otherwise upsetting baby.

I guess I kind of have talked myself into having one kid on each side, but I'm curious to know how you all have handled it in the past or plan to handle it.

mamakculb · January 2016

I have one car seat on each side for now, because our infant carrier base is too big for the center seat. However, my convertible seat for baby 2 will go in the middle once we transfer her because it fits best there when rear facing. Make sure you read your car seat manual thoroughly to know the safest way to install it. Car seats usually cannot share latches/anchors and many seats say not to use latches once children are forward facing and past a specific weight. I don't feel that the seat belt is less safe than the latch and I've read mixed information on whether it truly is or not.

hailees · January 2016

Hi, I only have one LO, but have done a fair amount of research on car seats, LATCH, and seatbelt installations.

Anchors are not shown to be safer than the seatbelt, the only difference is that anchors tend to be easier for people to install.

If you use the middle seat, it is not okay to "borrow" the anchor from the seat next to it. The anchors are on designed for one car seat in the seat that the anchors are on (usually the 2 outer seats).

Here is a good resource on the LATCH system: https://thecarseatlady.com/latch-weight-limits/

I would also encourage you to read your car seat and car manuals!

Good luck!

EC2016 · January 2016

I had my seat inspected and was told the seat belt is actually safer because the anchor can usually only be used up to around 30 lbs I think. If you think about it a seat belt is used for a full grown adult so it's safe for an infant. And you definitely can't share an anchor. Realistically your 2 year old could still be rear facing if you wanted her to be because it is safer. Most sources will say rear facing until at least 2 but they can stay rear facing until 4.

Chelsey092 · January 2016

We are going to have the baby in the middle and our 5 year old behind the passenger seat which is the next safest spot besides the middle.

GAgirlinSDakota · January 2016

The toddler will go behind the passenger and the baby behind the driver. Both will be rear-facing. LATCH system for both.

Kteems11 · January 2016

My husband installed ours a couple weeks ago and we couldn't get the latches tight enough so we are using the seat belt with one kid on each side. If you aren't familiar with car seats or even if you are every town should have car seat educators you can contact that will come out and make sure your car seat is 100% safe for both your babies! This is a free service! Your fire fighters, EMT, and police officers have trained employees as well that can help you but I would make sure to get someone who has actually taken the car seat educator class! Good job for doing your research and protecting those babies!

Monilee1017 · January 2016

I have a latch in all seats. What we did with the two is have the oldest in the middle and the baby on the side. DS1 was always so good at entertaining DS2, once old enough. Now we are doing oldest behind passanger, toddler in middle, baby behind driver.

Latina211508 · January 2016

I always have the youngest in the middle. I'm pregnant with my fourth. The baby will take the place where my third child sits (the middle). My daughters will sit on each side of the baby and my son (eldest) will be moved to the third row. My SUV also has anchors on all the seats but I have used just the seatbelt before in other vehicles.

lwebley · January 2016

We have a car seat on each side (4Runner). Both rear facing, both using anchors. (DS is almost 2) I didn't really want DS tossing things too close to LO (water cup, toy car, etc)

OrangeFox · January 2016

We just moved DS from the middle to behind the driver. DH is really tall and needs to sit with driver's seat all of the way back in order to drive comfortably. So the new baby will be behind the passenger seat. The center is the safest place because of side impact and car rolling. Unfortunately, the two car seats are too big to fit side by side or I would have put one of them in the center and one behind the passenger.

Ebiejay · January 2016

Only one seat for me but I was checking my car manual and it specifically said that if there are two child car seats they should be on the outer sides and not the middle. It obviously will vary between vehicles so absolutely check your own manual, and agree with pps about getting it checked by a trained professional in the fire or police department.

RunnerMeg · January 2016

DS1 (2 years 8 months) is behind the passenger seat, rear facing. This baby will be behind the driver seat, also rear facing. Both seats us the seatbelt install. It is just as safe as the LATCH system and can use used from birth until they are out of the car seat. No weight limitations on seat belt install like the LATCH.

nickilynn0516 · January 2016

We have toddler on anchor and seat belt. We will probably do the same for baby if it works.

SummerOH · January 2016

The safest spot is whatever the manufacturer of your car says in the manual. People assume middle, but that's not true for all cars. Many car seats are incorrectly installed because parents don't check the specifications for their particular cars.

Mommyduclos · January 2016

There is truly very minimal difference from one spot to the next. You are supposed to put the "least protected" child in the middle. So actually if you have a child in a booster seat or forward facing he/ she would go in the middle over a rear facing infant. But truly the best place Is wherever it can be properly installed!

Mommyduclos · January 2016

nickilynn0516 said:
We have toddler on anchor and seat belt. We will probably do the same for baby if it works.

You may want to double check this but everything I've read said to use the anchor OR the seatbelt and to never use both together

mamakculb · January 2016

nickilynn0516 said:
We have toddler on anchor and seat belt. We will probably do the same for baby if it works.

Do you mean on the latches and seatbelt or the back anchor and seatbelt? If you have it installed with latches and seatbelt you could actually be putting your baby in danger. Most recommend not to do this because the seats are not designed to distribute weight this way and could break during an accident. Seatbelt and the back anchor are however, a safe installation.

SummerOH · January 2016

I highly encourage taking your car to a place that is able to do a car seat check. Your pediatrician can advise you as to locations, or Google, but often fire or police stations can do it.

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