I was wondering if anyone knows the correct car seat positioning for a toddler booster and a newborn car seat.

Question

I have the three anchor points.

I understand the forward and rear facing. Also the way to install. I more need to know where to place each seat along the back seat. So whether its one on either side, or one in the middle and one on the side?

Answer 1

First, if your toddler can still fit in a harnessed seat, then use one - if he/she is under the seat's weight limit for rear-facing, use it rear-facing, it's much safer. :-)

Next - the middle is the safest position in the rear seat. That said, it only works until you have two children. So, the logic now is, the least protected child in the most protected position. All following scenarios is valid IF and only IF each seat is in tight independent of the other seat - e.g. one seat isn't holding the other in place for that seat to be installed tightly. They also assume you're in the US - driving on the right side of the road.

IF your toddler is also rear-facing, then newborn goes in the middle RF, and toddler goes in any outboard position.

IF your toddler is forward-facing, baby goes outboard, and toddler goes in the middle. Barring any circumstances where toddler has to exit vehicle on the passenger side (e.g. my son's preschool drop-off line), baby goes behind the passenger.

If the seats can't be installed correctly next to each other, then each child will be outboard. In this case, I'd check to see if there is a seat with good side impact protection that will fit in your car, especially if the toddler is forward facing.

IF your toddler is in a booster, I'd try everything I could to make sure that he/she is in the middle seat (safest position for least protected child).

If you have more questions, check out www.car-seat.org. There are child passenger safety technicians on the forum who will be glad to help you figure this out. hth!

Answer 2

If you have all three spots with LATCH, then it really doesn't matter. They will probably fit better with one on each side.

However, with a rear facing infant, it may be easier to put that seat in the middle and the toddler on one side or the other because of the bulk of the infant seat. Especially if you or your passenger is tall.

I kept my son's infant car seat in the middle of our car, and then when he switched to a forward facing toddler car seat, I moved him behind the passenger seat, because we can see him in our baby mirror best from there, and he can see out the window, and it's easiest to reach back while still looking at the road that way.

Also, LATCH doesn't always work best. Make sure your seat does not move, at all. If it does move, try a seatbelt with a locking clip(instructions should be in with the car seat) and see if you can get it tighter that way.

Good luck!

Edited to add: if your child is still in a toddler seat(not the booster) then he/she can also be positioned rear facing. We choose not to do this, because the seat didn't fit as well, but it is an option to keep a child rear facing until they are 35lbs. Some even say it's best. However, our seat fit tighter, and all around better being forward facing, I just wanted to give you all your options.

Answer 3

Newborn car seats should face the back of the vehicle. If by "3 anchor points" you mean LATCH system, then just thread the restraint for the seat through the appropriate holes, and clip the clips at either end of the restraint to those metal loops just under the seatback of the back seat. (Slide your hand between the seat where the seatbelt comes out and feel around for them.)

Booster seats are forward-facing, and are installed basically the same way for LATCH, except the holes for the restraint belt is probably in the back of the seat. Also, the top of the seat can be anchored by clipping the top clip to the loop BEHIND the back seat.

In the US, your local fire station can inspect your car seats to insure they are properly installed. Safest place to install a car seat is the middle back seat. Next safest is the back seat behind the driver.

Answer 4

The newborn seat is to go behind the front passanger chair. The toddler booster to go behind the drivers chair. Putting children in the middle seat is the un-safests of all the back seat places as if an accident occurs there is nothing shielding the child from flinging forward if for some reason the seatbelt gives or isnt tight enough.

If in Australia, contact the Ambulance service and find out which station does child seat instalation/checks.

Answer 5

The best thing to do is trial and error. But it seems that in most cars you have to do one on each side to get the correct fit. We have both a Corolla and an Explorer and in both cars we tried putting the seats side by side so that the infant seat could be in the middle. But we couldn't get a tight fit that way so in the end we had to put one at each door. Because of the space between the back seats and front seats the infant seat is behind the passenger seat in the Corolla, and behind the driver's seat in the Explorer.

Answer 6

The newborn is safest in the middle but if you have a side crash rated seat its probably wisest to put it on the side since a toddler side by side with an infant is not always the wisest thing. Accidents happen and toddlers are curious, and when youre doing 75 on the highway you cant stop things like at home.

Answer 7

Take the seats & car to the RTA and ask them! From what I've seen in other people's cars its one car/booster seat behind each of the front seats. Whether this is correct or not, I'm not sure.

Answer 8

Newborns until 1 year old and 25 lbs and 30 inches are rear facing...

Over 1 and the seat weight/heaight requirements is forward facing...

Answer 9

it incredibly is definitely no longer counseled. My woman chum has a similar subject. she has the older childrens beside one yet another. The oldest is in a booster, it incredibly is a sprint smaller.She is interior the middle, on account that she will climb in herself. the baby and a pair of year old on the door factors. Her automobile doorways certainly have marks from the seats. Oh, pay attention for cup holders, she had to take hers off too. Oh, yet another concern, I certainly have a 2 year old and 9 mos. old. I would desire to maintain them aside, because of the fact now and returned my 2 year old will supply the toddler issues she isn't think to have. i'm fearful of her choking. in basic terms a tip.

Answer 10

put the newborn in the middle and the toddler on one side