The center of the back seat is statistically the safest place in the car. Research from real crashes shows that the center is safest – particularly 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% safer than those sitting on the side.
What side do you put a car seat on?
The safest place for your child’s car seat is in the back seat, away from active air bags. If the car seat is placed in the front seat and the air bag inflates, it could hit the back of a rear-facing car seat — right where the child’s head is — and cause a serious or fatal injury.
When should I install my infant car seat?
Anytime between 35-37 weeks is a good time to install your infant (or convertible) seat in preparation for the big day. If you go into labor before 35 weeks, your baby will probably spend some time in the NICU, so you’ll have plenty of time to figure it out in the meantime.
Can you put two car seats next to each other?
Type of vehicle: In some cars, two car seats will not fit side-by-side in the back seat. In these situations, it is most important to have each car seat safely installed, even if they are placed on opposite ends. … In these situations, it may be safest to have the car seats on opposite sides.
How much does a child have to weigh to face forward?
While 1 year and 20 pounds used to be the standard for when to flip car seats around, most experts now recommend using rear-facing child seats until children are 2 years old and reach the top weight and height recommendations of the car seat manufacturer, which is typically around 30 pounds and 36 inches.
When can you switch to forward facing?
One-third of states in the U.S. have updated their child passenger safety laws to require rear-facing seats until age two. Some state laws and some convertible car seats say that kids can ride forward facing if they are at least one year old.
Can you have 3 car seats in the back of a car?
No room for a third child car seat
Children under 3 must be in a child car seat. If there’s no room for a third child car seat in the back of the vehicle, the child must travel in the front seat with the correct child car seat. Children aged 3 or older can sit in the back using an adult belt.
Do you have to sit in the back with a newborn?
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that infants and toddlers ride in a rear-facing seat until they are 2 years old or until they have reached the maximum weight and height limits recommended by the manufacturer.