So wondering what is a safer spot for a carseat? we have an SUV and usually keep my son's carseat in the middle, but its getting hard to lift him into the seat now since its in the middle----I will continue to do so if its safer in the middle rather then on the side-- Which is safer the side or middle, once we have another baby he will have to go on the side but for now it doesnt matter...
Thanks
the middle b/c side collisions will have the least impact there. front and rear collisions are OK if seat is facing backward so rear facing middle is best!
carseat.org
In the MIDDLE and REAR facing....
I thought the same thing when I moved ours to the middle, it was so hard to get her in and out. Not to mention the tethers that go over the top of the car seat and clip to the rear window. It is like a circus in there. At 22 months my daughter climbs in her own seat, under the tethers and over the side impact "wings" of the seat. Ask your child to get in the seat, you didn't mention age, so you can get him/her buckled. My daughter did this without asking before I even knew she could get in/out of her own seat....now I don't have to do it. Then I sit down next to her and buckle her in.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8gU9zzCGA8
There should be no question on what is safest for your child after watching this. A little inconvenience on our parts is worth the trouble.
As for having two car seats in the car...find two that fit next to each other and keep one in the middle, the youngest. Leaving one end open.
I don't know about safer, but if you have a "split" drop seat, they usually suggest having the baby on the side that is bigger. The seat behind the driver seat (in my Pilot) is the single fold for the middle seat so my son is on the side behind the passenger seat. We took ours to the fire station to be inspected and installed and this is where they suggested!
www.seatcheck.org Find a free inspector near you & go get an inspection done. It's free and could save a life.
in the middle is safer.
From my friend's defensive driving course...
The middle is the safest, behind the driver is second and behind the passenger is the third. When you have multiple children, the youngest should be in the middle, next youngest behind the driver.
That is how I have my son and daughter. It took a little getting used to when my daughter was first born, but now we have our routine of getting in and out of the truck (SUV) and it isn't an issue.
Good luck!
I don't think any of us can really answer that question because it likely all depends on the kind of accident, where the car is struck, what other people/items are in the car.
Intuitively, I'd think the middle, but it's also the least impeded. So, if you have unrestrained items in the car, they may be most likely to go to the center because of centripetal forces.
It may be a good question to Google (especially Google scholar) or to pose to a local engineering school to see if they can study and give a good answer.
Wherever you can get the best install. READ YOUR VEHICLE MANUAL! Many vehicles don't allow the use of LATCH in the center of the vehicle, you must use the seatbelt only. Read the vehicle manual, read your car seat manual.
The middle rear facing IS the safest, but if you can't get a good install, then find the spot that gets the best install for your car seat.
www.safekids.org to find a CPST in your area to help you.
The center is the safest in terms of being in a collision, particularly a side impact.
