Does car seat go behind driver or passenger? The answer to this question is neither. The safest place to put a car seat in the back seat of a car is to place the car seat in the center. Now, that may not always be possible to do, as in some cars there is no center, but for the majority of cars, and SUVs, the safest place to put your car seat in a car is in the back seat in the center position.
This is not just opinion, it is backed up by facts and statistics. There have been many studies that have shown that placing a baby car seat in the middle of the back seat is a much safer option than behind the passenger or driver seat. In the late 2000s a study published in the National Libray of Medicine defined that when children were placed in a car seat in the middle section of the rear seat they had a 43% less chance of getting hurt in an accident than had then been placed either behind the drivers or passenger side of the rear seat. That is a huge difference. Furthermore, if a baby or toddler were involved in a serious car accident they had a much better rate of survival than had they been placed behind the driver or passenger side.
As in most cars, there is a wide space between the driver’s and passenger seats. This is the space in which the baby is more protected in an accident because they will not take the impact of a driver or passenger seat hitting them in an accident. Of course all accidents can cause serious injury to anybody situated anywhere in a car, but based on statistics, it still seems that the center of the back seat is the safest place to put a baby’s car seat.
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What About Having Two Car Seats?
As with many growing families, there may be more than one young child riding in a car. If both children are young and still of car seat age, then it is recommended that the youngest or smallest be placed in the middle and the second child be placed behind the passenger seat.
Always remember that where you place the car seat in the back of the car is based on what best for the baby’s safety. Having the ability to see your baby is less important than having the baby in the safest position in the back seat of your vehicle.
Which Type Of Car Seat – Rear-facing, Front-facing, Or Booster Seat, Is Best For Your Child?
There are many different types of child car seats. Which type is best for your child?
Rear-facing seats:
Rear-facing seats are generally designed for babies and toddlers. They stay in the back seat of the car for as long as possible, and have the highest safety rating. These seats are not meant for older children, and should not be used by children weighing more than 40 pounds.
Front-facing seats:
Front-facing seats are designed for older children. They face forward in the car. These seats are not meant for babies, and should not be used by children weighing more than 40 pounds.
Booster seats:
If you have a growing child, a booster seat might be a better choice than a car seat. Booster seats offer higher visibility for the driver and a better view for nearby passengers. Because the booster seat is not secured to the car, it can be used for longer periods of time.
Booster seats are not made for infants, and should not be used by children weighing more than 40 pounds.
How To Choose The Right Car Seat For Your Child?
The car seat is the most important infant/child restraint on the market. More than 70% of car seats are not used correctly or installed correctly, resulting in unnecessary death and injury.
It’s very important that parents understand how to properly install their child’s car seat. A car seat that is installed incorrectly can be up to 4 times more likely to fail in an accident than one that is installed correctly.
When shopping for a car seat, parents should make sure that the car seat fits their needs.
Leather Seats:
Leather seats are durable and easy to clean. However, leather is more expensive than cloth.
Cloth Seats:
Cloth seats are easy to clean. However, cloth is less durable and more expensive than leather. When buying a car seat, parents should also consider when their child will be outgrown.
Infant Seats:
There are three types of infant seats: rear-facing, forward-facing, and convertible.
Rear-facing Seats:
Rear-facing seats are for infants who are no taller than 1 year old and weigh less than 20 pounds.
Forward-facing Seats:
Forward-facing seats are for children who are 1 to 3 years old.
Convertible Seats:
Convertible seats are for children who are 20 to 40 pounds and 40 to 80 inches tall.
How Much Weight Can An Infant Car Seat Hold?
All infant car seats carry different weights. It is important to know the weight of the seat so you can pick the right seat for your child. Most infant car seats can hold between 5 and 30 pounds.
Baby car seats that are designed to hold smaller babies will typically have a weight limit of 5 to 20 pounds. Most seats that are designed to hold larger infants can hold between 20 and 30 pounds. You will want to use an infant car seat that is designed for your child’s size.
For example, an infant car seat that can hold a child that is 20 pounds will be too small for a baby that is 30 pounds.
Most infant car seats are not designed to use with a booster seat. However, some seats can be fitted with a booster seat and are used to hold a child from 40 to 100 pounds. Some seats can also be used for younger infants who still weigh less than 5 pounds.
What Age Do Infants Need To Use A Car Seat?
Children under 20lbs should be in a rear-facing car seat. When your child outgrows the rear-facing seat, you can use a forward-facing seat until they outgrow it (40 lbs).
A child is safest in a car seat until he or she is 6-years old. If the child weighs more than 65 pounds, he or she should be in a seat belt.
Infants should stay in a rear-facing car seat until they reach the maximum weight or height limit. This is usually between 20 and 30 pounds, depending on the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Once they outgrow a rear-facing car seat, it’s recommended that they move to a forward-facing seat until they reach the maximum weight or height limit. This is usually between 40 and 50 pounds, depending on the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Children should not ride in booster seats until they are at least 4-years old and weigh more than 40 pounds.
Car Seat Types:
There are three main types of car seats: rear-facing, forward-facing, and booster. Each seat is designed to fit a different age group and has different features. Rear-facing car seats are specially designed for infants and toddlers. They have the highest safety standards, and they help prevent neck and head injuries.
Forward-facing car seats are for toddlers and preschoolers. They allow kids to better view the road and are appropriate for children up to 40 pounds. Booster seats are for older children.
They typically have a higher weight and height limit than forward-facing seats, and they lower the lap and shoulder belt positions.
Does Car Seat Go Behind Driver Or Passenger? article published on BabyCareGuru.com© 2023
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