Ridiculous question about baby seats...!

bestpud

When I had one child, he went in the middle of the back seat as I felt it was safer.

When I had two children I put one either side to stop them fighting.

When I had three children, I put the LO in the middle to stop the older two fighting.

Now I am back to one child and she sits in the front as it's a very small car and I think she is probably better protected there. Plus I can talk to her easier and we don't have to keep putting seats up to let her in.

Funny how your priorities change!

BTW, I don't think it's a stupid question at all!

Agutka

I don't think this is a stupid question, but he may be overthinking it. I thought about it and came to no conclusions. But ds was always behind the passenger, so that I can reach him from the drivers seat, or he can be entertained by the passenger. These days I keep him at the front with me, from the days of the snow, as he would be easier to get out in any scenario - I only have a tiny 3 door car. This will however not last long, as when we have a tantrum, he can almost reach me and has grabbed my arm on occasion. Don't think wrestling with baby is the safest option...

Surely there must have been tests done to answer this, though I suppose there was no conclusion...

fernliebee

I put DD behind me (driver) as then in the worst case scenario we are both on the same side, so I would swerve to avoid possible impact. Also I think if we had a crash and she was trapped and I wasn't I couldn't get to her, and vice versa. Middle is technically safest if you have the correct seat belt to allow it.

Ultimately we try to avoid serious crashes, and since getting pregnant with DD I am even more careful than before. I would rather wait a bit longer pulling out, than take a risk, pulling out on a close call.

Only dilemma is new baby due soon and so one of them will be on the other side to me (I have an old car so can't fit a seat in middle) so I will be debating which child to put on far side

Some people may think these are stupid questions/ thoughts but everyone is different. My children seats are rear facing so I know I am making sure they are the safest they possibly can be in the event of an accident, along with careful driving that is all I can do, the rest is luck/ fate.

Sagaris

Statistically the safest place in the car is the centre of the back seat - no help if you have more than one child though!

kindofagilr

We are planning on putting babybean behind the driver, then I as the passenger can tend to him (by leaning through into the back) if he needs it

delain

Get a 7 seater then put baby right in the middle.

Baby would probably be fine even if a bus hit you

Probably an extreme solution though

Spendless

When mine were babies I preferred them behind passenger seat as it was then easier for me to give them a quick glance to double check if they were ok or if they'd gone to sleep - I don't mean as I was driving along!

Janepig

Well I'm obviously a c rap parent because this is one thing I've never even considered! Lordy, some people don't half worry. Gawd help the fella in the OP when he has a second child!! Where's the rolly-eyed smiley when you need it.

Sometimes my children go behind the driver, sometimes behind the passenger, sometimes in the front. The minutiae of what I do is something I've never thought about.

Flame away .

Jxx

savingmummy

We have 2 children so one behind driver and one begind passenger.
Quite frightening when you think of what can happen.
I really dont think it matters where they are, what you do if an accident happens it is up to fate!!

You hear of children dying/surviving in major accidents, and the same for smaller accidents!

Somnium

I'm a trained car seat fitter and when they train us the seat safety goes...
middle back is safest, followed by back sides being equal and then front passenger seat. Actually the passenger seat we were taught is the worst seat in the car safety wise as it had been proven that the driver instinctively swerves away from an accident and this can put the passenger more in harms way! Don't know how much thought I would have given this if it hadn't been part of my training. The only issue with the back middle is that is not the easiest seat to access! I plan on having my LO behind the passenger seat as our middle seat in the back is too small to fit the infant carrier properly, and honestly thats the more important thing, where does the car seat fit best.