Which Side Of The Car Should The Baby Seat Be On?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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We recommend the passenger side in case you ever have to park on the street, you will be on the sidewalk side of the car putting baby in the car seat. Never install a rear-facing seat in the front seat in front of an active airbag.

Does a baby car seat go behind the driver?

You should only install a car seat behind the driver or passenger seats under the following conditions: If you have more than one car seat that needs to be installed. If your child is riding in the forward-facing position and you have another child riding in the backseat that doesn't need a car seat.

Does car seat go behind driver or passenger?

The car seat should always be installed in the back seat. That is the safest spot for your baby. If you can, put the car seat in the center seat. If not, it is fine behind either the driver or passenger side .

Is driver side or passenger side safer for car seat?

For ease of access and keeping an eye on a baby, the most common spot for a baby's car seat is the rear passenger side . But the study showed that children under age 3 seated in the center of the back seat had nearly half the risk of injury in motor vehicle crashes than children seated in either of the other positions.

Why is the seat behind the driver the safest?

Away from the most common side of impact, the rear passenger seat offers the advantage of giving you easy access to your child , with the restraint often being pavement side of the vehicle, away from the flow of traffic. It's still a safe location for the car seat to be as it is in the rear of the vehicle.

What is the safest seat in a car for a baby?

The safest place for your child's car seat is in the back seat , away from active air bags. If the car seat is placed in the front seat and the air bag inflates, it could hit the back of a rear-facing car seat — right where the child's head is — and cause a serious or fatal injury.

Can you put two car seats next to each other?

If you can't fit two seats right next to each other, you will have to use the two outside seats . There isn't really a preferred side for the as far as crash safety is concerned. There is virtually no difference between driver's side and passenger side in crash statistics.

Can you have 3 car seats in the back of a car?

Three car seats in a row in the back seat of your vehicle requires careful installation to ensure your children ride securely and safely. ... Unless specified otherwise in your vehicle's manual, use only one safety restraint system , either LATCH or shoulder/lap seat belts, not both together at the same time.

How much does a child have to weigh to face forward?

While 1 year and 20 pounds used to be the standard for when to flip car seats around, most experts now recommend using rear-facing child seats until children are 2 years old and reach the top weight and height recommendations of the car seat manufacturer, which is typically around 30 pounds and 36 inches.

Can you put a baby capsule in the middle seat?

It's one of the more common questions we get asked, and it's not always a straight forward answer! If you're looking to install a single child restraint in the back seat, the middle position is technically the safest , purely because it's the farthest removed from the sides of the vehicle.

Can the baby ride alone in the back seat?

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that infants and toddlers ride in a rear-facing seat until they reach the highest weight and height limits recommended by the seat's manufacturer. Safety experts say to do this based on a child's size, not age. Small children can stay rear-facing until age 3 or 4 .

How long should you sit in the back seat with baby?

All infants and toddlers should ride in a rear-facing seat as long as possible until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by their car safety seat manufacturer. Most convertible seats have limits that will allow children to ride rear facing for 2 years or more .

Can a newborn baby go in the front seat?

Always put your infant in a rear-facing child safety seat

What is the highest rated car seat?

  • Britax Boulevard ClickTight Anti-Rebound Bar Convertible Car Seat – Best All-Around Car Seat.
  • Graco 4Ever DLX 4-in-1 Infant to Toddler Car Seat – Best Car Seat for Growth With Your Child.
  • Chicco NextFit Convertible Car Seat – Best Convertible Car Seat.

How should a newborn look in a car seat?

“A newborn should ride semi-reclined , so that the angle of the car seat (where their head and chest rest) is reclined enough to keep the baby's head back and his chin off his chest, but never more than your child's seat allows,” Dr. Baer says.

What age can a child sit in the middle seat?

Why is the middle seat safest? Simply stated, the middle seat is the furthest from impact during a collision, as well as the furthest away from air bags. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends that all children under the age of 13 ride in the back seat, ideally in the center.

Maria LaPaige
Author
Maria LaPaige
Maria is a parenting expert and mother of three. She has written several books on parenting and child development, and has been featured in various parenting magazines. Maria's practical approach to family life has helped many parents navigate the ups and downs of raising children.