The middle seat in a car is very uncomfortable and cramped, nobody wants to seat there. However, a baby car seat in the middle is considered the safest placement.
Is a Baby Car Seat in the Middle the Safest?
It is unquestionably clear that the middle seat is both the farthest away from impact during a collision and also the farthest away from airbags in an event of a crash. So a baby car seat in the middle is the safest place for your baby during a car ride. It is vital for children who are under 13 to ride in the back seat of a car. This reduces the risk of serious injury or death from an airbag deployment. Additionally, it prevents them from distracting the driver. This is recommended by NHTSA as research has shown that this is safer than sitting in the front passenger seat.
The rear center seat is just about the only seat that is recommended for children to ride in because it is the safest location for a car seat. The center seat is also equipped with the LATCH system that is used for securing your child’s car seat.
What is the difference between LATCH, ISOFIX, and Lower Anchors?
LATCH or Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children includes a lower anchor that can be found at the seat and the top tether can be found on the back shelf more often or behind the rear seat. Installing a LATCH means attaching your child’s car seat with lower anchors and not the seat belt itself. For all forward-facing car seats, it is important to remember that the top tether is attached to the tether anchor. LATCH and ISOFIX are the same, only that ISOFIX is a term used in Europe.
What does borrowing lower anchors mean?
When your center back seat does not have dedicated lower anchors for the child car seats, you can “borrow” the two innermost lower anchors from another seat. However, these anchors cannot be used at the same time to install another car seat.
What is the standard spacing between anchors?
11 inches is considered the standard spacing between anchors. But if you are borrowing or using lower anchors for your center seat installation, the 11 inches might not be followed. Remember that it’s important to know what is the space between the anchors in your car. Refer to the manufacturer’s manual for child safety to check what should be the distance between your innermost lower anchors.
Why is borrowing lower anchor not allowed in all cars?
Federal safety regulations dictate requirements for strength for these lower anchors. These regulations are designed to ensure that these lower anchors are strong enough to support a child traveling in a car seat. In order for a vehicle to be considered safe, a strength test is performed, and lower anchors must pass lateral strength and federal forward for all designated seating positions where anchors are 11 inches apart.
Since spaces between borrowed anchors may vary from car to car depending on the type of vehicle, the standard can only have an 11-inch spacing. Testing to confirm the performance must be done by car manufacturers. Make sure to always consult your manual.
Installing Your Car Seat in the Middle:
- Check your car’s manual specially on installing your car seat.
- Make sure your infant or toddler is properly buckled in their seat before leaving.
- Make sure that their car seat are is appropriate for their age, weight, and height.
- Your toddlers and infants should be using a rear-facing car seat installed in the backseat until they reach the age for using your car’s seatbelt.
- It is important to never install a rear-facing car seat in the front passenger seat. Airbags in this place can injure or kill your children in case of an accident.
- A seat belt should fit properly across the upper thighs and should be across the chest from the shoulder. This is for lap belt and shoulder belt respectively.
- Seat belt fit can differ depending on the car that you are using. It is important to check the fit in every vehicle to make sure that your child does not need a booster seat. It is possible that your child may not use a booster seat in one vehicle and may need it in another. The typical age for children to fit in a seat belt is 9-12 years old.
- Keep your child buckled until the age of 12 or when they properly fit their seat belt. This is for their safety.
Conclusion
The best position to install your car seat depends on a lot of factors, their age, height, weight, the type of car seat, the type of car, and the type of seat belt. If you have more than one child that will be using a car seat, it is advised to place the most vulnerable child in the back center seat and place your older child on either side. This will ensure their safety in case of an accident. If you are not sure, check your car seat manual and car manual. It also never hurts to give a professional a call.
