I have a newborn and a 22 month old. The backseat of our car holds three. I'm not sure if I should put the infant carseat in the middle where it is the safest and the toddler seat right next to it, which means the toddler may potentially reach over and hurt the infant OR put one car seat on the left and the other on the right exposing the more fragile infant to bigger danger while driver.
Any advice? Or has anyone had a similar problem, if so, what did you do?
2007-01-08 15:46:42 · 12 answers · asked by Peanuts 3 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
My kids are 14 months apart, and I had the exact same dilemma. After trying every configuration I could devise, my children now sit on opposite sides of the car. While it might be safer (in an accident) to have the newborn in the middle, my son enjoyed placing blankets over his sister's face and generally tormenting her. I finally decided that, overall, she would be safer by the door. The odds of her brother smothering her were much greater than the odds of her being injured by an accident. It works for us!
2007-01-08 15:55:06 · answer #1 · answered by Evalina Shezadreema 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The middle seat is safest, but anywhere in the back is still good. What matters is that you have them in car seats, so good for you!
The middle seat of my car is shaped oddly, so it will not hold the infant seat. When my daughter is born I plan on putting her behind the passenger sear. I'd prefer to put her in the middle, but the car seat will be more stable (and thus safer) to the side. If you think that your baby will be safer out of the reach of your toddler, I think that the side is the best place. My neighbor did this with her two kids and, although they were never in a wreck, it did work out nicely to have them seperated. That way if the 2 year old threw a temper tantrum, she couldn't hit her brother out of anger and frustration.
2007-01-09 01:26:07 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This entirely dependent on your toddlers behavior and your vehicle. The "safest" way to position the chilldren is by putting one child in the center and one right next to it on the passenger side(passenger side is a little safer than the driver side statistically). Usually, I place the younger child in the safer position. With that said, many parents find that their 2 children cannot be placed side by side because of behavior of an older child to an infant. If that's the case, then seperating the two is the only option. The other reason for seperating is if you cannot get a secure fit (less than 1 " of movement when you pull the seat side to side at the belt path) of both seats side by side, then you must seperate them.
PS, the answer directly above mine is completely false
Good Luck,
Kelly
2007-01-12 09:41:11 · answer #3 · answered by carseat xpert 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had the same situation. My boys are 16 months apart. I had to get a 'new' vehicle just before #2 was born, and we ended up getting a mini van, knowing that we wanted a third child eventually. So my boys were each by a door becuase the van had captin's seats in the back. Think of it this way. . .if the kids are seperated, you will not be checking back so much, nervous about the toddler poking the baby. This in itself is safer.
2007-01-08 16:25:50 · answer #4 · answered by misskenjr 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, you will need the child-seat for the toddler, and you should consider buying a childfare for the infant. Unrestrained babies are not protected one bit in a crash. It is not worth saving a few dollars to take the chance that your baby may be injured. And I have seen lap-babies bounce out of mom's laps on 2 flights in the last year; neither was a crash or emergency landing, just rough air.
2016-05-22 21:54:04 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The middle is the safest, but isn't always the best option. One side should be perfectly fine, especially if you are concerned about the toddler hurtnig the baby. You will be able to drive more safely if you aren't having to stop the toddler from hurting the baby.
2007-01-08 15:51:50 · answer #6 · answered by squire_rhiannon 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had separated mine, since my older one would always poke the baby. Yes, the middle is the safest, but it does not mean your baby won't be safe on the side. You baby is in a carseat, so you are keeping your babies safe. But your older one is more likely to poke or scratch the baby, than it is for you to get into an accident if you're a cautious driver.
2007-01-08 15:52:47 · answer #7 · answered by MRod 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First of all Calm Down!!!!! I think as new parents we worry way to much.
My girls are almost 5 years apart (now 14 and 9 )
I always put them one behind the driver and one behind the passenger. We were in a wreak once and the car seats did there job.
Good Luck TO you,
You Will make the right decisions
2007-01-08 15:52:29 · answer #8 · answered by skynickie 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I've always put my little one in the middle and the older in the seat behind the passenger seat(the second safest seat in the car) My kids usually keep to themselves.
2007-01-08 15:52:47 · answer #9 · answered by jade_143 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If the carseats are secure enough you can have the kids on opposite sides of the car.
2007-01-08 15:51:25 · answer #10 · answered by Me 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋