Safety Of Placing Convertible Seat in Side Seat (Not Center)?

[Anonymous]

I know the safest position for a car seat is in the center seat. But how much more dangerous is it to put it in the side seat? In a car with side air curtains.

The reason I ask is I wrenched my back putting my 30 pound toddler in the car seat the other day. She's not old enough to be able to climb in the seat yet.

[Anonymous]

OP, I have this same question regarding the safety of the middle versus the side seat.

My Chicco base will not fit in the middle using the LATCH system, so we have it on the passenger side in the back seat of our mid-size SUV. Is it better to use LATCH and have the car seat on the side, or NOT use LATCH and use the base in the middle with the seatbelt?

I haven't been able to find any answers, so I do hope someone with knowledge of this situation can help. Good post, OP, Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I have this same question regarding the safety of the middle versus the side seat.

My Chicco base will not fit in the middle using the LATCH system, so we have it on the passenger side in the back seat of our mid-size SUV. Is it better to use LATCH and have the car seat on the side, or NOT use LATCH and use the base in the middle with the seatbelt?

I haven't been able to find any answers, so I do hope someone with knowledge of this situation can help. Good post, OP, Thanks.

OP here, I just found a newsclip that said a child in the center position is 43% less likely to be injured in a side impact crash. As to whether belts or LATCH are better? I think both are fine as long as the seat is properly installed. LATCH makes it easier for us to properly install a seat, but if you can, you might want to get your seat and installation inspected by a car seat technician/fire dept./police dept. etc.

So I guess I will keep the car seat in the center position, and just risk more back injuries. Better me than her.

[Anonymous]

Teach her how to climb in.

[Anonymous]

We had out seats installed in Mont. County by a trained fireman. He said definitely put the seat in the middle without latch vs. on the side with latch.

[Anonymous]

For what it's worth, the Baby Bargains book recommends placing the seat where the latch is, even if on the side, because that is generally safer than the seatbelt. (In fact, a lot of cars these days won't accomodate a seat in the center position.) I would also recommend checking the NHTSA website (if you haven't already) and once it's in, having someone take a look. That said, I'm sure whatever you do will be fine. Car seats are so much better made made now than they were even 3 years ago. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Our cars are not equipped with LATCH in the middle, so we have always used the carseat in the side seat (behind passenger seat). And now with baby #2 on the way, there will be a carseat on each side just out of sheer necessity. A properly installed carseat is still extremely safe, so I wouldn't worry too much.. And any families with more than 1 child obviously can't use the center seat... So if you are really hurting your back, I would go ahead and use the side seat. Just my 2 cents.

[Anonymous]

I think the reason for latch being considered safer is that parents are more likely to install correctly. So if you're installing yourself, use the side seat with latch. If you get expert help with installing, it is just as safe with the seatbelt.

Now when will they start making cars with latch in the middle seat?

[Anonymous]

What if you have two kids?

[Anonymous]

I think if you only have one child, keeping them in the center seat is best. If you need to put them in a side seat, the seat behind the driver is safer, as it is natural instinct for the driver to protect their side of the vehicle. This was confirmed by my friend who is an ER doc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think if you only have one child, keeping them in the center seat is best. If you need to put them in a side seat, the seat behind the driver is safer, as it is natural instinct for the driver to protect their side of the vehicle. This was confirmed by my friend who is an ER doc.

I was always told the passenger side is the best place because that is curbside which is safer to enter and exit the vehicle from. I guess there are pros and cons to every choice!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our cars are not equipped with LATCH in the middle, so we have always used the carseat in the side seat (behind passenger seat). And now with baby #2 on the way, there will be a carseat on each side just out of sheer necessity. A properly installed carseat is still extremely safe, so I wouldn't worry too much.. And any families with more than 1 child obviously can't use the center seat... So if you are really hurting your back, I would go ahead and use the side seat. Just my 2 cents.

I second this sentiment. Having two kids, I don't have choice. That said, when I had only one child, I still put the seat on the side rather than the center because I wanted to reduce the amount of time it took to get in and out of the car while in traffic. Also, FWIW, I had my carseats installed at Children's Hospital, where they are HARD CORE about safety, and the installer didn't second guess my decision when I said I wanted it installed on the side.