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.

Should 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.

What side do you put an infant car seat on?

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.

Should car seat go in middle or side?

The center of the back seat is statistically the safest place in the car. Research from real crashes shows that the center is safest – particularly because you can't take a direct impact in the center. One study of kids 0-3 years old found that kids sitting in the center are 43% safer than those sitting on the side.

Is the driver side or passenger side safer?

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.

Infant car seat installation

26 related questions found

When can babies face forward in 2021?

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.

Where is the safest place to sit in a car?

Car. When traveling by car, the middle rear seat is the safest spot, especially for children. This is because the rear middle seat is the furthest distance from a potential collision on either side of a vehicle. This seat also offers a level of insulation if passengers are sitting on either side of you.

Can infant car seat go in middle?

The safest place for your child's car seat is in the back seat, away from active air bags. ... If you're placing only one car seat in the back seat, install it in the center of the seat — if a good fit is possible. Placing the car seat in the center minimizes the risk of injury during a crash.

Can a child sit in the middle seat?

If the middle rear seat has a three-point (lap and diagonal) seat belt, this is the safest place to put a child restraint (unless the manufacturer's instructions say one of the other seats is better) because it is the furthest away from the sides of the car. ... Most child car seats require a three-point seat belt.

When should I install my infant car seat during pregnancy?

Plan to have the car seat at least 3 weeks before your due date so you will have time to install it correctly and learn how to buckle the baby in safely.
...

1. Know whether your car has the LATCH system. ...
2. Try locking and unlocking the buckle while you are in the store.

Can you put car seats side by side?

The left-side and the right-side of the back seat are both appropriate positions for the second car seat. Many people have opinions on which is the safest position, but highway safety reports show that there is no statistical difference in terms of safety.

When can I put my baby forward-facing?

“Children aged between 6 months and 4 years must be restrained in an approved rearward or forward-facing restraint. Once your child has outgrown their rearward-facing restraint (this usually happens from around 6 to 12 months of age) they can be moved into a forward-facing restraint.”

What side should car seat be on UK?

We're here to help you to decide the best position for your car seat: 1) Rear Middle: The Safest Spot! The safest place for your car seat is the rear middle seat due to its maximum distance from passenger-side air bags and any potential impact.

Where should the harness straps lie on an infant?

Use the Correct Harness Slots

On rear-facing car seats, the shoulder straps should come through the car seat slots at or just BELOW your child's shoulders. On forward-facing seats, the shoulder straps should be at or just ABOVE the shoulders.

How long can a newborn be in a car seat 2020?

Many car seat manufacturers recommend that a baby should not be in a car seat for longer than 2 hours, within a 24 hour time period. This is because when a baby is in a semi-upright position for a prolonged period of time it can result in: 1. A strain on the baby's still-developing spine.

Do baby car seats have to be professionally fitted?

It is recommended that baby and child seat restraints are professionally fitted by an authorised fitting station. Babies that outgrow their capsules (usually around six months) can be transferred to a seat for children aged six months – four years.

Can a 2 year old sit on your lap in a car?

Presently, under English law, children can travel without a car seat in a taxi or minicab (including Uber, car service, etc.) if they sit in the back seat and wear an adult seat belt when they are 3 or older, or sit without a seat belt if they are under 3 (i.e., you belt in and they sit on your lap).

Is the middle seat the safest?

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.

Which is the death seat in a car?

The passenger seat next to the driver of an automotive vehicle. [So called because this seat is said to be the most dangerous one in the event of an accident.]

Can my 1 year old sit in a front facing car seat?

However, if you were to ask if your 1-year-old should sit in a front-facing car seat, the definitive answer to that is a resounding "No," according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, who recommend keeping your child rear-facing until the age of two, or to the highest weight and height allowed by the carseat ...

How much should you weigh to sit in the front seat?

at least 9 years of age. 4 feet 9 inches in height. 80 lb in weight.

How long should a baby be in a rear facing car seat?

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.

Is rear facing always safer?

Rear-facing is still the safest way for children to ride, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics which recently updated their guidelines in 2018. Every transition actually reduces the amount of protection a child has in the event of a crash.

Can you put 3 carseats one row?

It may take a bit of maneuvering and creativity, but it's entirely possible for you to fit three car seats in the back of your vehicle. It's crucial that you learn how to fit car seats three-across properly. Failure to do so can jeopardize the safety of your children.