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Original poster

if you have one child car seat, what side do you put it on?

33 replies

juice · 17/09/2005 18:48

i have always wondered what side would be the safest to put dd car seat on in the back. and i can not come up in my own head which side would be safest. she is on the drivers side at the moment

so i was wondering what side everyone else had theirs on. see if people know which side may be the safest

thanks very much

OP posts:
jessicaandbumpsmummy · 17/09/2005 18:50

i always thought it should go on passenger side, but have to confess jess sits behind me and always has. Baby will obviously go in front and DH will have to sit in back!!!

lockets · 17/09/2005 18:52

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flamesparrow · 17/09/2005 18:54

Dd is on passengers side... no idea why though.

Never had the baby in the front, for the sole reason that I was more likely to crash the car by getting distracted by crying etc.

I suppose that if it is just one child, passenger is probably safest from the aspect of roundabouts - if someone's going to plough in the side of you, then it is on the driver's side.

Yorkiegirl · 17/09/2005 18:54

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Cooperoo · 17/09/2005 18:57

DD1 is on passenger side as this way I can see her when driving. This means dd2 is on the driver side. I guess it will stay that way too as means the bigger child will be behind the seat that can be adjusted (ie passengers).
Jessica's mummy - Why will your new baby (Congratualtions) 'obviously' go in the front? Just curious if your dd1 goes in the back.

jessicaandbumpsmummy · 17/09/2005 19:05

because ive only got a rear facing car seat and if baby cries DH can get to it easier than if it was in the back..... sorry, didnt mean to start something!

expatinscotland · 17/09/2005 19:05

It's in the middle of the backseat.

lockets · 17/09/2005 19:08

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flamesparrow · 17/09/2005 19:09

Lol - How is it we can even start squabbling over car seats?

littlerach · 17/09/2005 19:09

When we wre in the States we were told to put car seat in the middle at the back, as it's furthest from any glass.

lockets · 17/09/2005 19:10

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littlerach · 17/09/2005 19:13

Same here, at least not in this country.
I think we could with DHs car though.

Cooperoo · 17/09/2005 19:16

Sorry, hope you didn't think I was being funny, was genuinely curious .

Tommy · 17/09/2005 19:42

on passenger side so that you are on the pavement when you get them out

kid · 17/09/2005 19:44

When very young, in the front and then on the passenger side in the back. I put the car seat there as it was easier to reach from drivers seat if I needed to pass something back to DD.

DS (3.5) is on the drivers side now as it makes it easier for me to get him out when I get out of the car. Saves me walking around the car anyway!

hunkermunker · 17/09/2005 19:51

The order of safety goes:

Middle rear seat, nearside rear seat, offside rear seat, front passenger seat, driver's seat.

sanchpanch · 17/09/2005 20:18

my daughter is on passenger side in back, but i am an occupational therapist, and have to carry equipment in the car, otherwise she would be in the middle then any impact from either side wouldnt get her directly, if you know what i mean!

Hulababy · 17/09/2005 20:22

DD has always gone in the passenger side, in the rear. She's never been in the front as a baby. She's a 3yo now and has been int he front seat 3 times - because of necessity only, but I don't like to do it - it just doesn't feel as secure for her.

We have ISOFIX and they no longer put the fittings in the front seats any more, as the front seat is not as safe as the rear in a crash.

starlover · 17/09/2005 20:23

hmm thinking about putting ds in the middle now! although i think it would be a right faff getting him in and out....

never had him in the front.

Hulababy · 17/09/2005 20:24

We can't do the middle seats either, as again - no ISOFIX in the middle seat.

starlover · 17/09/2005 20:24

oh, at the mo he is on passenger side

laligo · 17/09/2005 20:27

my mum always told me passenger side safest as farthest away from oncoming traffic.

LIZS · 17/09/2005 20:28

That is intetesting about the Isofix in the front. We hired a car in August - new Megane -and it did have it which surprised me.

btw Hula are you still happy with the Jane Isofix seat ? Saw it the other day but was concerned that the back rest didn't seem fixed. dd's really needs changing, although she is still happy enough in her harness, but she is way off 15kg.

Hulababy · 17/09/2005 20:32

Yes. There was Isofix at the front in our Mark 4 golf, but not in the front in my new style Beetle or in DH's mark 5 Golf.

We really like the Jane Isofix seat. DD is 3y5m and she started using it when she was about 2y 10m I think. The back is attached to the booster cushion bit - screwed on, but only the base is fitted to the ISOFIX fittings. The wings on the back are quite substantial, so good in side impact apparantly.

Bozza · 17/09/2005 20:34

I only have a small car and two children so one at each side. When there was just DS he was at the passenger side because that is safer. When DD was born I moved DS to the driver side and put DD in the passenger side. My car is a 2 door so it means that I can get them both in (DS can scramble across) from DD's side and it is better that this is the side by the pavement.