Position of Infant Car Seat

Question

I was curious where are you supposed to put the infant car seat?  I've heard the driver side because you have more cushion in a front end collision, then I heard the middle is the safest, but I've also heard the passenger side so you can observe.  I'm lost.  I drive a 2007 Honda Accord and it has the side curtain airbags and I'm afraid my baby will be harmed in a crash, so I'm thinking the middle.  I'm getting my travel system for a hostess gift at my next shower, so I haven't made an appointment with the Fire Department to inspect the installation of it and was curious what you all knew.

chantal21 · Answer

lol...I know! It may seem silly, but I wonder if it's a real concern? My first instinct would be to seperate them, but I don't know. We have an SUV so it sits much higher than a car and I wonder if that makes any difference. I know if I had a smaller car, I would probably want the newborn in the middle no matter what. hmmmmm.....

Wendy80 · Answer

Hmm... that's a really good question!  Lol... I read that and I'm wondering myself what you would do in that situation.  I'd be worried about the same thing... you have a bored toddler sitting right next to his baby sibling (I can totally envision poking or taking the babies toys, etc).  I'd be interested in what IS the best position in that situation.  =)

motherofan18month · Answer

we had a truck when dh was born, even though the passenger side didn't have airbags the nurse that helped us out the day we brought him home said the middle was safer, but we got our car safe and running when he was 2 months old....if i had to go anywhere with him i just had my mom take me since she had a mini-van, now we have to get another vehicle since we have another on the way, because our firebird is a lil cramped because dh has to have his seat back so far so he isn't on top of the steering wheel..lol he's 6ft. so i know he needs the room, we already tested it out and neither ds's booster nor an infant car seat will fit behind him or in the middle because the middle is raised...but i have always heard that the middle is safest until they are old enough to have the seat turned forward facing!!

gokuangel · Answer

I always assumed the middle! Cus if you think about it look at all the angles you can get hit and what if you get hit on the bk part on the left or right side of door would you really want you want by the door at that moment? I wouldn't so i would assume the middle is the safest spot!

chantal21 · Answer

I have always wondered about this...and from day one my son has been on the driver side, right behind me. Now he can face forward and I put him on the passenger side so I can see him if I turn around. With a second baby coming...what do you do? If the middle is always the safest, don't you eventually have to move your first child to the side? This may sound stupid...but I was just wondering. Do you put the newborn in the middle with your toddler on the side? I would just be worried if no one is in the back supervising while I'm driving, not really knowing what my son would be doing to the baby...like poking him/her...or something silly like that!! lol Maybe I worry too much? I just thought they should be seperated until this baby gets a little older. What do you all think? I'm clueless! =)

jenkaye21 · Answer

I like the middle; feels safest and you can still see baby easily (well, backwards, but still..)  I've never had mine checked by the hospital or fire dept, tho, so I can't say what they would tell you.

Wendy80 · Answer

We brought ours to the hospital to have it installed (free.. why not?) and they just automatically put it in the middle.  We have an SUV.  I didn't ask why they chose the middle seat, but in my own opinion, like GRose said, if you're in a collision from the side, you're baby is a bit more protected (plus you don't have to worry about the side/curtain airbags).

sweetangel7 · Answer

I'm under the impression that the middle is safest...

hkenny · Answer

does this change in an SUV? I always see people with the car seat on the side in an Suv?

GRose · Answer

You dont have to make an appointment, all you have to do is walk into the police department or fire dept and someone will walk outside with you and check it right away. 

I was always more comfortable with putting Noah in the passenger side since my back seat was raised in the middle and it would make the car seat tip one way or another. I did however get a different car when he was about 5 months old and the back seat was even across, I then switched him to the middle since I think it is safer, if someone hits you on the side there is less of a chance that baby is going to get hurt being in the middle.