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Confused about car seat regulations? Find baby car seat advice here.

Confused about car seat regulations? Find baby car seat advice here.

Car seats

Where to put car seat

18 replies

Rooandtwo · 12/03/2023 18:31

Hello

We have the Nina pipa next car seat which comes with iso fix base, but can also be used with a three point seat belt. Our car is a Ford focus edge with Isofix in two back seats but not in the middle seat. The middle seat does have a three point seat belt.

Advice seems to be that the middle seat is the safest place for a child’s car seat. However we have also read that up to 70%(?!) of the time seats fixed with just a seat belt are fixed incorrectly. If they’re fixed correctly however we have read that there should generally be no difference in safety between iso fix or belted seats.

I hope I have explained this clearly enough, and that someone (who isn’t overwhelmed by all the unknowns of anticipating a first baby in 6 weeks or so) can tell me what they would do? Would you use the car seat with isofix on the passenger side in the back, or with a seatbelt in the middle?

I so appreciate anyone able to help me decide about this.

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LIZS · 12/03/2023 18:32

Reaching the middle for a young baby is a pita.

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Muchtoomuchtodo · 12/03/2023 18:35

isofix on the passenger side.

you’ll hurt your back getting the seat with a growing baby in and out of the middle seat all the time and having to do the belt properly every time you use it is a pita and you’re more likely to make mistakes.

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LittleBearPad · 12/03/2023 18:40

Putting a baby in and out if middle seat with be a pita.

Back passenger seat is best

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Rooandtwo · 12/03/2023 18:49

A very good point succinctly made.

OP posts:

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Rooandtwo · 12/03/2023 18:52

I had only seen LIZS reply when I posted before. Seems like this is clear to anyone who has actually dealt with a baby in a car seat. I think as a ftm I’m susceptible to thinking any and all convenience should be forgone in order to be as safe as possible. Shopping for baby things is a minefield of this kind of thing. Thank you for making the choice seem so much clearer!

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SarahLHs · 12/03/2023 18:59

I know a lot of people have them in passenger side but we were advised to put our car seat in rear drivers side as if there is a accident your instincts will be to swerve to protect yourself so drivers side usually gets less damage

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recorderscansoundgreat · 12/03/2023 19:13

Just to confirm what others have said - we had a strap-in seat (without isofix) when DD was a baby, and I think I fitted it correctly about half the time - I was very tired, and you partially fitted it before putting the baby in, then added the diagonal strap afterwards (or not....). If we'd had a second child, we'd definitely have got an isofix base. And we didn't put the seat in the middle anyway!

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Dinosaursdontgrowontrees · 12/03/2023 19:24

We have our youngest in the middle because we have two other children who moan they feel sick if they are not beside the window. 🤦🏻‍♀️ It’s a massive pain in the arse to get the baby in and out. Also isofix is a total game changer. I would put the baby behind the passenger seat.

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BertieBotts · 12/03/2023 19:48

The middle seat tip is very old and dates from a time when cars weren't designed with side impact safety in mind, and neither were infant car seats. It is less of a concern these days, and there are often advantages to the side seats such as being able to use the base - bases are often forbidden in the centre, even if they can be belt fitted, because of the support leg not being allowed to be placed on the transmission hump.

Your car seat actually has more side impact protection built into the base, so it's one of the rare ones where the base is actually beneficial to use from a safety perspective. Usually particularly with infant carriers, there is only a negligible difference.

It is true that belt fitted seats are much more prone to misuse but this can be quite easily remedied by following the instructions carefully. The most common problems are:

incorrect routing of the belt (which does happen with infant carriers),
not pulling the seatbelt tight (less relevant with infant carriers),
buckle crunch/forward anchorage (unlikely with infant carriers)
not using tensioners or clips, which are not present in this seat to use anyway. Oh and the last common fail is using both belt and isofix together - people erroneously assume that it must be safer to use both. Usually, it's one or the other, consult manual if in doubt.

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BertieBotts · 12/03/2023 19:58

Also check your car manual - they may not even approve the middle seat for use with a car seat in which case the question is moot.

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Isthisexpected · 12/03/2023 20:08

I'm concerned you're leaving your child's safety up to the advice of people on a forum. Go to car seat safety websites for professional guidance! Your car seat manufacturer will also have a guide for your car.

childseatsafety.co.uk/ as an example

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Nejnej2 · 12/03/2023 22:46

We've got a cybex cloud on an isofix base in our Ford focus. After spending 1 day belting it in and out of my dads car, I would definitely recommend the base! So much simpler and you know it's securely fitted every time.

As PPs have said, the middle seat advice is old and lots of seats have good ratings for side impacts now.

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dizzydizzydizzy · 12/03/2023 22:56

Just don't do what we did with DC1..... on the way back from tbt hospital, we forgot to strap in the car seat .

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inappropriateraspberry · 12/03/2023 23:24

Drivers side! Then if you need to park in a tight spot, you only have to allow room on one side for you to get in/out and to get baby in/out.

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GodspeedJune · 12/03/2023 23:29

I started with my baby behind the drivers seat. We opted not to buy the isofix base so the seat is belted in. I’ve recently moved her to the front seat and turned off the airbag.

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Outwiththenorm · 12/08/2023 16:42

Revival of old thread I know (apologies) but can anyone confirm or link whether a middle (3 point) seatbelt that is just attached to the back seat of the is safe? I was sure I read somewhere that only middle seatbelts which attach to the roof of the car are safe, but cannot find it again.

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inappropriateraspberry · 12/08/2023 20:41

Outwiththenorm · 12/08/2023 16:42

Revival of old thread I know (apologies) but can anyone confirm or link whether a middle (3 point) seatbelt that is just attached to the back seat of the is safe? I was sure I read somewhere that only middle seatbelts which attach to the roof of the car are safe, but cannot find it again.

All the rear belts in our car are attached to the back/top of the seat, not the roof. I can't see why it would be an issue.

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BertieBotts · 14/08/2023 14:56

Outwiththenorm · 12/08/2023 16:42

Revival of old thread I know (apologies) but can anyone confirm or link whether a middle (3 point) seatbelt that is just attached to the back seat of the is safe? I was sure I read somewhere that only middle seatbelts which attach to the roof of the car are safe, but cannot find it again.

Check your car manual, it will tell you whether the middle seat is approved to fit child seats. But I think it's some kind of EU standard that all seatbelts must be safe to secure an adult, so it stands to reason that there wouldn't be any seatbelts in the car which aren't securely attached to anything. I think most middle seatbelts (3 point belts in the centre have been standard for ages) come from behind the seat, it only seems to be larger cars where they come from the roof.

Thanks

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