Baby Car Seat In The Middle

May 7 2008 the safest spot for a baby s car seat is in the center of the back seat rather than on the sides according to a new study.

Baby car seat in the middle.

An infant car seat is designed to protect a child in the event of a crash by forming a protective cocoon. For the best chance to easily secure three seats look for a vehicle with a flat rear 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. The seats for newborns are placed facing rearward so that a child will be pushed in to the.

It was found that the most common location in the vehicle for a car seat was the rear passenger side 41 of parents put the child s car seat here. Never place a rear facing car seat in front of an airbag. If the middle rear seat has a lap only belt check the child restraint instructions to see if it can be fitted with a lap only belt. Airbags can kill young children riding in the front seat.

Deep contours for the outboard seats or raised center humps can limit the flexibility to move car seats. The safest place for your child s car seat is the back seat away from active air bags. A study published in pediatrics showed for children newborn to 3 years old sitting in the center rear seat is 43 safer than sitting on the side in the back. In fact a study in the journal pediatrics found that kids are 43 percent less likely to be injured in a car accident when their car seat is in the center position.

Keep your child in a rear facing car seat for as long as possible until your child reaches the seat s maximum rear facing height and weight limits usually around age 4. But some automakers that produce cars without dedicated middle seat lower anchors have an anchor from each outboard seat position that can be used to securely install a car seat in the middle. Buckle children in car seats booster seats or seat belts on every trip no matter how short. Although older passengers using seat belts can decide.

Most parents already know that the middle of the back seat is the safest spot for children in car seats because the center of the car provides more insulation from side impact crashes.