Question about kid's car-seat

I got a 3 year old, and I was thinking about it the other day.........what's the best spot to put a car-seat. I know its kindda late to ask b/c my boi is three, but it never occur to me.

Is it better behind the driver's seat, behind the front passenger seat, or in the middle rear seat. I usually put the car-seat behind the front passenger position, but i got to thinking if someone hit me there......it would be a direct impact b/c my boi would be there.........so I'm thinking about switching to the middle. What do you all think?........... am i just paranoid?

 

I put the car seat in the middle on all my cars, im not sure what is the safeist

 

Middle would be Best IMO...At least it is easier to keep an eye on him too...

 

With only 1 child I suggest the middle due to side impact just as you said. I've seen enough pics where cars are completely crushed on 1 side.

My brother-in-law messed up his Integra so badly on one side that the paramedics said if there was a passenger there wouldn't have been much left of them.

 

I think it depends on age, doesnt it? I have my son in the middle right now(he's 11 months), but when he gets older I dont see how a bigger child seat would be stable in the middle. Im sure there is a law on how and where its suppose to go.

 

There isn't a law on where it's supposed to go unless you're talking about being negligent and putting them up front with out an option to turn off the airbag. There definitely is a right way and wrong way to install them though. If you need help, your local law enforcement or fire department will help.

At 11 mos you should take a look at his height and weight and think about changing up seats. There's an intermediate seat that will switch from rear facing to forwards facing and then another that is for toddlers with a removable back that will fit older children. I highly recommend Consumerreports.org. It'll give you all the ratings on the safety.

 

I always put it in the middle but with three now I aint got any choice... the older kids go on the sides.. newborn in the middle... ha ha

 

It also depends on the car. If the seat doesn't mount firmly in a given position (and some don't) then it's safer to mount it where it is solid, even if that means mounting to one side.

In my case, practicality rules, I'm a big guy, and scrunching up inside the back seat to get my boy out of the middle is hell on my back. So he goes on the passenger side where I can reach him without having to hunch over. Plus we can carry a rear seat passenger if we need to, putting the seat in the middle of an Impreza pretty much means that nobody can fit alongside it.

In my wife car we have the seat in the middle. But her car is much larger and it's much easier to get into the back seat to get him out. And we can fit four adults in the car even with the seat in place.

 

I always put him on my side when driving a 4-door, so it's easy to get him in and out. But I change cars all the time so I have to move the seats. He's been in the front of several Vettes, SC430, Miata and a Viper, all with the airbag off of course.