Where is your carseat? - Page 2

[Trixie Pixie's Mom]

center of back seat rear faceing.

[alegna]

Dd is RF on the passenger side (though VERY soon we have to turn her ff )

RF is ALWAYS much MUCH safer.

The center is always safer.

We have a civic though and if dd is in the center it's not really reasonable for anyone else to sit in the back...

-Angela

[rootzdawta]

Originally Posted by alegna

The center is always safer.

-Angela

This largely depends on your car. The manual for my car says either door is recommended (*not* the center) not to mention I don't get a tight install in the center.

[merry-mary]

Originally Posted by Bredette

For the lovely toddlers. Do you put it still in the middle? Or do you feel safer on the ends (behind driver/passenger). I've heard different opinions. What are yours?

Middle is safest place, hands down.

That said, my DS is on the passenger side. We're expecting another baby in a few months, so I'd have to move him anyway. I've installed the infant carseat base on the left backseat and DS is on the right. I like this b/c I can see the infant seat in my mirror attached to the back of the backseat and I can turn to see DS easily over my shoulder.

[unityco]

Originally Posted by rootzdawta

This largely depends on your car. The manual for my car says either door is recommended (*not* the center) not to mention I don't get a tight install in the center.

Good point! Centre should only be considered safer if all other factors are equal. If your vehicle prohibits child seats in the centre, then centre is definitely NOT safer; if you get a better install outboard, then outboard is safer; if you cannot access the carseat properly to do the harness when in the centre, outboard is safer.

There are many things to take into consideration when considering carseat placement. The safEST option for you may differ from someone else's.

Always, always, always read the manuals from BOTH your carseat and your vehicle to be sure you are using them correctly.

[alegna]

Originally Posted by rootzdawta

This largely depends on your car. The manual for my car says either door is recommended (*not* the center) not to mention I don't get a tight install in the center.

Statistically the center is the safest- ASSUMING it is approved for a carseat AND you can get a good install of course

-Angela

[lauraheartslittle1]

Just turned forward facing at 33 months in the passenger's side seat. I would have him in the middle but my car does not allow for latch in the middle per a car safety tech who installed it and I can't get a good secure fit with just the lap belt in the middle.

[wonderwahine]

we moved ours to the middle when my parents were here, and we haven't moved it back, so far ds doesnt mind it, so im not moving it.

hes also foward facing, and we have no guilt over it being that way.

[ryansma]

Captains chair behind the driver's seat in our Odyssey.

[hottmama]

Originally Posted by Neth Naneth

In the middle front facing because he is too tall to be rear facing.

What seat do you have? Most children fit RFing by height until long after the weight limit (33 or 35 lbs.) in all but a handful of smaller, low weight limit seats (which will be outgrown by height FFing soon anyway and need replacing). I'd recommend a new seat if your 18 mo. old has outgrown a seat rear-facing already. Good choices include the Evenflo Triumph Advance, the Fisher Price Safe Voyage, the Sunshine Kids Radian 65, the Britax Boulevard, and the Recaro Como. I have NEVER seen a <2 yr. old that would be too tall to RF in any of those seats. My 36" tall, 31 lb. 2 yr. old is comfortably rear-facing in a Radian 65 and will be until he hits 33 lbs.

[askew]

RF in the back passenger side. We can't get a good install in the middle and only have the latch connectors on either side. I have at least a dozen airbags including side impact curtains so I feel he is safe there.

[emmasmommy]

Captains chair behind the passenger in our van ff (5 yo dd is in a booster behind the driver).

[CortLong]

Since I have (almost!) 4 kids this is the setup in our honda odyssey minivan

DD #1 (6yrs) in the very back row on the driver's side. (in britax pkwy booster)

DD#2 (3yrs)is FF in the very back row on the passenger's side (in britax marathon)

DS (17 months) is RF in the captain chair behind the driver's seat (in britax marathon)

Baby (not yet born- but anyday) will be in the captain chair behind the passenger's seat (in chicco keyfit 30)

[cognito]

Milo rides in several vehicles.

1) 02 Chevy Blazer with only 2 backseats & our primary vehicle. He is RFing behind the driver's seat. Seatbelt install.

2) 99 GMC Jimmy which doesn't allow carseats in the center. He is RFing behind the driver's seat. Seatbelt install.

3) 06 Chevy Aveo. He rides RFing in the center position. Seatbelt install.

4) 91 Ford Bronco XLT. He rides behind the driver's seat because the seat installs best there. Seatbelt install.

Jareth will be here in May so we may have to make some adjustments.

[Perdita_in_Ontario]

2 vehicles here for our 2.5 year old (FF now):

In our SUV: Passenger seat - no tethers allowed in centre for FF. She was RF in the centre however. Although I wouldn't make it a reason to go on the side, it's certainly much easier to get her in the seat when it's high up.

In our smallish-size sedan - Centre still - and yes, it's more difficult to get her in and out, but lately she can climb in/out by herself.

[cutekid]

My DS is forward facing in the middle. He sits there because we have to shoulder belts for my older step kids, and the center is lap belt only. Additionally, he was opening the passenger doors while going down the road. We don't have child locks on the back doors.

[treqi]

In the front passenger seat (there is no airbag) RF.....

[LizaBear]

We've got 3 kids in carseats in our car.

DS - 5 yrs - FF behind driver.
DD - 3 yrs - FF middle seat.
DS - 1 yrs - RF behind passenger.

[Jes'sBeth]

our DD is forward facing (too heavy at 31 lbs in Canada to rear face any longer) in her Marathon behind the drivers seat.

We get a WAY WAY WAY better install outboard than in the centre. She used to be on the passenger side but we street park and getting her into the passenger side was meant that we had to scale 3 foot snowbanks for awhile and my pants were getting too wet. Plus it's really hard to carry a toddler over a big snowbank, get the door open and get the kid in when you're in your 3rd trimester of pregnancy. I hate having to stand in traffic and buckle her in but has it ever made getting her in and out easier! At least we park mostly on a quiet residential street!

(and don't forget, most cars do NOT allow LATCH installations in the middle)

[mamapixie]

5 yo is in the middle of the backseat, but that's because it's the only place his Radian installs correctly in my car.