I always have my 4 month old sons carseat rear facing of course but does it matter where it is? Someone told me it has to be in the middle seat but I would much rather him be behind my passengers seat. Whats the rule?
2006-12-13 04:06:51 · 17 answers · asked by chelsfl83 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
The safest place is facing backwards, in the middle of the back seat.
2006-12-13 04:08:55 · answer #1 · answered by wvucountryroads 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Most rear-facing convertible seats WILL NOT properly fit in the middle and must be installed behind the passenger seat.
The car-seat MUST NOT touch the seats in front of it. It has to have room to move in and accident. It should be tight side to side, but if you notice it is only attached near the actual car seat back so in an accident it acts as a lever to slow the infant down and keep them in the seat.
In some cars with some seat pulling the passenger seat all the way up make it unusable for an adult to sit in.
I thought the only place was the middle and I couldn't get the car-seat installed at all!! So we got the police to do it (a good service by the way, get them to show you how. But make sure you watch them and learn you don't want to have to keep going back). And he said "Well firstly we are going to take the base off" (or the convertible seat) and "Secondly you have to install it behind the passenger seat" Man did we feel dumb!!! We thought we were going to need a different seat!!!
HOWEVER if you have SIDE IMPACT AIRBAGS even in the front seat you must have the car-seat in the middle or have the airbags REMOVED, not just switched off because they can still deploy. This is very important as the force of the airbag could kill and infant AND the chemicals in the airbag would burn them!
2006-12-13 04:32:47 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The instructions say the middle of the back seat is safest in case you get hit on either side. I agree, though! I almost break my back each time I try to get my big 15 lb baby + 10 lb car seat out of the middle of the back seat! I'm still waiting for hubby to move it to the passenger side :-) It's not a law that it has to be in the middle...it's just considered the safest position (to my knowledge).
2006-12-13 04:13:30 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
The ssfest spot in the car is usually the middle. It also depends on your car though. My car manual (subaru legacy) doesn't recommend the middle in my particular car. I think becasue of the way the middle seat is raised. Research shows the safest place in most cars is the middle which makes sense. If you get hit on the side your child has a good space between the side of the car and the car seat. The next safest place is behind the driver.
2006-12-13 04:24:21 · answer #4 · answered by jc2006 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We put ours in the middle of the seat. We have latches there that help secure the seat. I dont know if its a general rule of thumb but that is what we do. Research it online. I'm sure there has been some sort of study and that probably suggest something.
good luck
2006-12-13 04:12:45 · answer #5 · answered by Lisa 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The middle in the back is the best and safest. If your car has side air bags it could hurt your child if they are on one side vs the other. The middle is the safest. Go to your police station for check to make sure your car seat is in properly.
2006-12-13 04:51:47 · answer #6 · answered by Brown Eyed Girl 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's not a specific rule, but middle is usually safer. Just in case you are in an accident where the side of the car is damaged.
2006-12-13 04:38:10 · answer #7 · answered by angelbaby 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the new law states the baby should be in a rear facing seat until a least 3 1/2 yrs - 4 yrs. then they have booster seats.
2006-12-13 04:17:09 · answer #8 · answered by puss n boots 1 · 0⤊ 3⤋
No, it doesn't have to be in the middle. We always put them behind the passenger seat, that way you can see him while driving and the seat protects him.
2006-12-13 04:09:42 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
They say the middle because of side impact crashes. Give a little buffer between the impact and the child.
2006-12-13 05:01:39 · answer #10 · answered by gypsy g 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋