You just bought a car seat for your baby so they can go with you whenever you have to run errands. And traveling with your baby is no joke, not to mention it’s terrifying to think that there are crazy drivers out there. You drive safely but there are just some drivers who drive carelessly. You can’t control the other drivers on the road, but you can do something to make your child safe inside your car. And that is by using a car seat. But can you put an infant car seat in the middle?
They say the middle seat is the safest position in a vehicle. If you place the car seat in the middle, your baby will have the utmost protection from unexpected accidents. And to make your baby more safe when traveling, you can pair the car seat with an infant stroller.
This guide will break down why the rear middle seat is the safest spot for the car seat of your baby, the installation challenges, and how you can install the car seat in the proper way.
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The Consensus: Why the Rear Middle Seat is the Safest Location
The safest location where you can place the car seat of your baby is in the rear middle seat. It is because this position has the greatest distance from potential impact zones. It is located between the two outboard seats. Not to mention, the middle seat is also the farthest from side collisions, which are one of the most dangerous types of crashes.
Another reason why safety experts recommend this spot is its balanced position. Being placed in the middle of the car means that the exposure to intrusion from either side is minimized. It gives your baby solid protection compared to door-adjacent seats. When you install it in the right way, the infant car seat in the middle can give your little one the protection they need.
Statistical Evidence: How the Center Position Reduces Crash Risk
Research from real crashes shows that the center position is the safest. This is because you can’t take a direct impact in the center. One study of kids 0-3 years old found that kids sitting in the center are 43 percent safer than those sitting on the side.
A study of all fatal crashes in the US found that the person sitting in the center of the back seat had a 13 percent increased chance of survival than those sitting in the back but on one of the side seats.
- Farthest from impact zones: With your baby in the center position, they’re far from both sides of the vehicle, where many collisions tend to happen.
- Better protection during side-impact crashes: Side crashes are really dangerous, and the center seat lessens direct force on your baby.
- Natural buffer zone: The seats on both sides of the car serve as your baby’s protective barrier, protecting them from broken glass, crumpled doors, and side airbags.
- Located in the strongest part of the vehicle: The center position is designed in every strong way. It gives you the stability so you can install the car seat securely.
- Uniform alignment in the vehicle: Your baby stays in the center, so the car seat remains properly in its position during sudden stops or turns.
Installation Challenge: Checking for Lower Anchors and Tethers (LATCH)
It can be a bit challenging to install an infant car seat in the center because of the LATCH system limitations. There are many vehicles that don’t have the dedicated lower anchors in the center position. You need these anchors to install the car seat in a secured way.
Lower anchors are provided only for the outboard rear seats for most cars, not in the middle. Although, some vehicle manufacturers let you borrow inner anchors from the side seats, so you can create a center LATCH position. But that is not universally permitted. It entirely depends on the vehicle’s owner manual and the car seat manufacturer’s guidelines. If you use anchors that are not approved, you are compromising the safety of your child.
Infant car seats do not need top tethers but you need to install it tightly and in a stable position just to be sure. An alternative you can do if the center seat doesn’t have the lower anchors, you can install the car seat with the vehicle seat belt. Don’t worry, this is still safe and will give your baby protection.
Mastering the Seat Belt Method for Center Seat Installation
In the case where the lower anchor is not available in the rear middle seat, you can alternatively use the seat belt installation method. You just have to do it in the right way. The truth is, safety experts say that if you installed a car seat properly using the seat belt, it will have the same level of protection as one installed with LATCH.
For it to work perfectly, you need to lock the seat belt. The seat belts in some modern vehicles automatically become locked when they’re fully extended. You may need a locking clip if you have an older vehicle model. Once the belt is locked, it prevents the car seat from loosening over time.
After you secure the seat belt, you need to press down firmly on the infant car seat and check for movement at the belt path. The infant car seat should not move more than one inch side-to-side or front-to-back.
When the Middle Seat Isn’t an Option: Vehicle-Specific Issues
There are instances where the middle seat is not available for you to install the infant car seat. Many cars have narrow or raised center seats, and this makes it difficult for you to secure and level the car seat. The uneven cushions or pronounced humps hinders the base from sitting flat. And this may compromise your baby’s safety.
Another common issue why you can’t install the car seat in the center is because of the seat belt geometry. In some vehicles, the seat belt in the center comes from the ceiling or side panel instead of the seat itself. With that being said, it can interfere with proper belt routing or make it harder for you to lock the belt tightly.
Additionally, there are vehicles that don’t allow you to install a car seat in the center position. And some vehicle manufacturers prohibit borrowing lower anchors for LATCH installations
If you can’t install the car seat in the middle position, you can place it on the rear outboard seat. It also fits in there, and they are still safe as long as you install it in the correct way.
Prioritizing Safety: Correct Installation Trumps Location
- It doesn’t matter if you bought a car seat with all the safety features if you don’t install it in the right way. You need to follow the right instructions to make sure that the car seat protects your baby. And also regardless of the position of the car seat, whether in the center or in the outboard rear seat, when you install the car seat properly, it will significantly reduce the risk of injury in a crash.
- The middle seat, which is the safest position for infant car seats, can still be unsafe if there are loose, improperly angled, or incorrectly routed seatbelts. Common mistakes like not locking the seat belt, incorrect recline, or excessive movement can put your baby’s safety at risk.
- As mentioned earlier, if you can’t install in the middle position, go for the rear side seat with a solid installation. This is the safer option you’ll have. Safety experts always say that a car seat installed correctly in the back seat has far more protection compared to one placed in the ideal location but not installed in the proper way.
Guidelines for Three-Across Seating and Multi-Car Seat Scenarios
It can feel a little bit overwhelming when you try to install and fit multiple car seats in one row. You really need to plan when doing three-across seating and multi-car seat setups. Follow these guidelines to make sure that you do it right and all your children are properly secured.
- Confirm that your car is approved for three-across seating by checking the owner’s manual and measuring available space.
- Select slim or narrow car seat models that can fit side-by-side.
- Avoid mixing installation methods in a way that causes crowding.
- Before you secure the outboard seats, install the car seat first.
- Make sure that each car seat has less than one inch of movement at its own belt when tested separately.
- Follow the manufacturer’s rules for LATCH spacing and anchor usage.
- Double-check that the seat belts and buckles are accessible and not twisted or pressed under adjacent car seats.
Final Checks: Ensuring a Secure and Acceptable Center Seat Fit
You have to perform a few final checks first before you settle on the rear middle seat for your infant car seat.
- Check the tightness: The car seat should not move more than one inch side-to-side or front-to-back at the belt path.
- Verify proper belt routing: Make sure the seat belt or LATCH system follows exactly the car seat manufacturer’s instructions.
- Ensure correct recline angle: Most infant car seats come with a built-in level indicator; adjust until it shows the proper position.
- Confirm vehicle compatibility: Make sure the center seat of your car is suitable for a car seat.
Final visual inspection: Make sure the car seat is upright, straight, and not leaning to one side.