car seat position?

[AngelMum1]

hi all,

Where is the best place for baby's seat to go? Behind driver or passenger seat? When my oldest was born I didn't drive so always sat in back with her when on trips but this time round I drive so wondering where the seat should be when it's just me and baby in car. I'm aware they need to be in back and rear facing so that isn't the issue it just where to put the seat, I've googled and says middle seat but that seatbelt isn't great so needs to be either driver or passenger

Thanks all

[Jogsandwalks]

Literally either driver or passenger side. It makes no difference

[AngelMum1 in reply to Jogsandwalks]

lovely thank you, I know it seems a stupid question but wasn't sure if there's was a "correct" side they needed to be on

[Jogsandwalks in reply to AngelMum1]

For me personally, I put it on the passenger side as I felt like it balanced the car with my weight and his weight. And then when he got older and I spun the seat round to be front facing, having it on the passenger side meant I can use my rear view mirror to see him or turn around and glance at him briefly. But in terms of safety, it doesn't matter which side. But there are no stupid questions on this forum, we're all here to help each other. Congrats on your new arrival!

[Twiglet2]

if you can’t use the middle (I can’t I have no isofix there) then either one is the same but you could check if your seat has side impact features and if they need turned on as you just turn on the one for that side. One of the reason the middle is safer is that it’s an away from the airbags and these side impact features help protect from those as well as a side impact is my understanding. It was in our online carseat guide from the manufacturer.

I put mine behind my seat/driver for 3 reasons:

- quicker for me to get to him in a hurry if needed as don’t need to run round the car

- how I park at grandparents this means we are at the pavement side of the road (bit not always as passenger side is on the kerb side so we be to think about also passenger side is at the better side for a hard shoulder stop so I would need to take him out through passenger door in that situation). We have a shared driveway and this also puts him to our side of the driveway at home being on the drivers side so day to day this is safer for us.

- I felt I could see him better in my mirror but again this will depend on your car/headrests etc And actually as he’s getting bigger I might move him over to the other side as my view starting to get a bit restricted as his head is much higher up now and can’t always see if he’s went for a danger nap 😂

Hope some of that helps your thinking 🤗

[Debsdex11]

After the back middle seat I read behind the passenger seat is next best, in case of an accident it’s less likely to be impacted, but I think there is virtually no difference, as long as it’s in the back. Probably depending where you regularly park pick the side that’s usually next to the pavement to make it safe and easy to get them out

[BeBe84]

read your car model manual. mine specifically says no child seats in the rear middle for example. Halfords help fit car seats if you’re in U.K.

[FaithyBaby]

My partner and I are also just about to install a car seat for our little one who’s due in a few weeks…

The Royal Society for The Prevention of Accidents advises behind the PASSENGER seat is actually the safest as you’re more likely to be parked with that door on the pavement-side, as opposed to road-side. Which would obviously be dangerous. Hope that helps x

Royal Society for The Prevention of Accidents

[StarsAllAround]

Back passenger side is safer as most collisions and impacts happen on the drivers side. Also car seat should be rear facing.

[SRA8]

Easier to see them in the back passenger seat if you are driving than the back drivers seat.

[AngelMum1]

thanks all for your replies