Should I place my childs car seat in the middle or by the window in the back seat?

Question

Ok, here's the deal. I drive a car that failed the side-crash test, so therefore my car doesn't handle too well if you get t-boned. So because of that, I have my daughter's car seat in the middle. HOWEVER, when it is in the middle, no matter how tight I have the belt (I use LATCH), the car seat can still be moved side to side if you push on it. I think the main reason it does that is because the middle seat is raised slightly higher than the seats by the window. So as you can see, I don't know what to do. Do I put her next to a window even though my car failed the side-crash test, or do I leave it in the middle?

Answer 1

I agree with Chick02...you should put her on the side. If she is in the middle no matter what side they hit you on she will be highly affected. Whereas if she is on the side there is the chance that the car will hit the other side. If the seat is wiggling in the middle, it is unsafe all together. Imagine if they hit you from the back...

Answer 2

In most vehicles you can NOT use LATCH in the center seat.  You need to check your vehicle manual.

A solid install (less than one inch of movement at the belt path) is much more important than a center install.

Click the link below for a message board with amazing techs who can help you.

Answer 3

well it seemes to me that either way you need a new car but the safest place would be the middle. Even if the seat does move if something was to hit the side of the car you and your daughter would be terribly injured. Just try to get the seatbelt as tight as possible and make sure that the belts that are made into the seat are on tight too!!

Answer 4

I think either way you are taking a risk, but it is better to have her by the window because it may end up being less of a risk. Your car may have failed the side impact test, but if you get hit with her in the middle it could still cause a lot of damage. Maybe more than having her on the side. Just think if you have her on one side and get hit on the other then she will be fine, but if she is in the middle and you get hit she could get thrown.....so I say put her on the side and just be careful when driving. And next time try to find a safer car.

Answer 5

Hi, You are going to leave it in the center seat, what you will want to do is, Neel in the seat with all of your body weight & get the seat belt as tight as you can possably can. You may have to ask someone to help with this procedure. once you have done this you should see that the seat no longer is loose, it may take a couple of attempts to get it right. I know you Love Hailey, so be patiant and you will get it tight. lots of luck;) Bill

Answer 6

well the best thing to do is always to put the car seat in the middle having the car seat

im providing a link were it will allow you to have a visial on the topic

I wish you luck

http://www.edmunds.com/ownership/howto/a...

Answer 7

Use the window seat directly behind the driver's seat, and try not to get T-boned on this side.

Answer 8

I had a friend who was recently pulled over for speeding. Her baby's car seat was in the middle and moved side to side the way you described, regardless of how tight she strapped it in. The police officer chewed her out and told her that if it didn't fit the middle properly it needed to be installed on the side.  If you had a crash and you're baby was in the middle it would still get violently whipped from side to side and would likely sustain a head injury.  I have the same problem with my older model car.  :(

Answer 9

i would say leave it in the middle.

Answer 10

There is no really safe place to have anyone in a car.  There will be over 40,000 of you die this year so take a real good look at what is real.  There is a much better place for a child to be than in the back seat.  

Just being in an automobile is highly dangerous at any time and any7 place.

Answer 11

The LATCH system was designed to keep the seats from moving forward too much. I have mine on the side and the seat can move side to side a bit. I was not designed to be used in the middle, so you're probably getting a little too much slack. If you leave it in the middle and use LATCH, Try using the middle belt to augment the LATCH system.

If the middle is a shoulder belt, when you connect it, put weight on the car seat (your knee should work) and cinch up the belt. While holding it in one hand and keeping your knee on the seat, pull the shoulder belt completely out of the roll. When you let the shoulder belt retract, you should hear some ratcheting noise and not be able to pull the belt back out.