Car seat query

[scw2]

Fred,

If you wish, PM me a phone number and I will have a child passenger safety technician contact you with specific info for your vehicle and car seat. My organization oversees the child passenger safety training program for LA, so no problem having an expert give you a call.

Does your group or other similar groups maintain websites with education for expecting parents? I know we are always learning and there is newer and better technology so I am always wondering whether normal websites are spouting outdated advice or not.

[LSP552]

Does your group or other similar groups maintain websites with education for expecting parents? I know we are always learning and there is newer and better technology so I am always wondering whether normal websites are spouting outdated advice or not.

Here is a quick link for some basic info. Our website is in the process of being updated, but I can post up some other links when I get back in the office on Monday. If you have specific questions, shoot me a PM and I will have an child passenger safety instructor give you a call.

http://www.lahighwaysafety.org/child.html

[Kyle Reese]

Gents,
Thank you to all for taking the time to educate me on this subject. Just an update, I've visited the Alexandria Sheriff's Office, and got some hands on education installing the base properly.


My wife sends her appreciation for all of the information provided here as well.

This is why I love this forum.

[ubervic]

...latches are quite possibly the best invention since sliced bread, but I haven't seen any cars that utilize them for the middle seat unfortunately.

I believe this is the reason why a car manufacturer would recommend the left or right position of the backseat rather than the center area, as the latch anchor is much more secure & stable.

It's been quite a few years since my kids were in car seats but, as I recall, the latch was just becoming the standard in passenger vehicles as my younger child was moving out of car seats and into the 'booster' style seat.

Congrats to the OP on your growing family.

[JAD]

Congratulations, Fred. I am an older parent. For me center position kicked my butt with a long awkward lean to install the seat in its base. I mount outboard for that reason. I use the passenger side for the same reason German cars have the gas cap there -- safer access if you have to on the road side. Also, lets you reach the baby easier as the driver. Useful for finding a dropped binky early and strong-hand strangling later.


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[Kyle Reese]

Congratulations, Fred. I am an older parent. For me center position kicked my butt with a long awkward lean to install the seat in its base. I mount outboard for that reason. I use the passenger side for the same reason German cars have the gas cap there -- safer access if you have to on the road side. Also, lets you reach the baby easier as the driver. Useful for finding a dropped binky early and strong-hand strangling later.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thank you my friend!

[ragnar_d]

In my wife's car (2014 Terrain), the car seat base is mounted in the middle. My car (2011 Explorer) has bucket seats and can't have it mounted in the middle. The base is mounted behind the passenger seat so its easier for me to check on her if I'm flying solo (wife will ride in the back seat if we're together).

The center seat thing was suggested to us by the guy who helps install the carseats (fellow I work with, his dad is one of the guys that trains all the firefighters, police, etc. on how to install them). He went through everything and showed us how to do the seatbelt setup properly on my wife's car.

[cricket]

For what it is worth, I found that center vs. right/left placement had different impacts on my outward/rear visibility for various combinations of seats/vehicles. That may be important to you.

http://thecarseatlady.com/is-latch-safer/

The above website claims that LATCH install is not safer than using a seatbelt install. LATCH is supposed to make it more difficult to mess up the installation/securing of the seat. But apparently misuse is still very high.

[Painkiller7]

My first kid is due in aug, so I've been doing quite a bit of research as well. If this isn't too late for you OP, from what I've found; either is safe, with center being ideal.
If you can swing the 300 bucks, the cybex aton 2 has manually deployable "wings" dependent on which side of the car the seat is placed. The wings are supposed to help with energy transfer. The only downside is it's an infant seat meaning it won't last too long.

[DMF13]

For what it is worth, I found that center vs. right/left placement had different impacts on my outward/rear visibility for various combinations of seats/vehicles. That may be important to you.

http://thecarseatlady.com/is-latch-safer/

The above website claims that LATCH install is not safer than using a seatbelt install. LATCH is supposed to make it more difficult to mess up the installation/securing of the seat. But apparently misuse is still very high.

Also, be aware that as the kid gets older you are not supposed to use the LATCH system. My kids' seats say that once the kids reach 40lbs we are not supposed to use the LATCH system, and switch to the seat belt install.