Stupid Question - car seats

[essexgirl31]

I am due in 3 weeks and my very organised dp wants to have a go at fitting our car seat. This may seem a ridiculous question but should it be behind the driver or the front passenger seat? I'm thinking about how I will see the baby when I'm driving on my own (one day when I will be brave enough to go out with a newborn!!)

Sorry - not quite sure where to post this!

Thanking you in advance

doesn't matter tbh, I used behind passenger seat, but you can get mirrors to enable you to view.

it should go behind the passenger seat IIRC (there was a talk and my mum and baby group from a road safety person)
where abouts in Essex are you, as there is a place in Old Harlow where you can test various seats out to see which fits best

I reckon behind passenger seat

• will be on pavement side for putting them in and out
• easier to see child from driver's seat (get mirror to strap to headrest thus)

Personally I would put the baby behind the passengers seat but I recommend a mirror. One from Halfords is good. It is huge and £10.

Passenger seat for getting them in and out on pavement: and get one of those mirrors that strap onto the headrest so they reflect to your review mirror: they are very good: just remember to have a brief glance and keep your eyes on the road!! Can be easily distracted cooing at the nipper!!

Thank you all - your comments are really helpful and make lots of sense. I hadn't thought of any of those things! Behind the passenger sest it goes. And I will buy a mirror.

RubySlippers - I'm in Loughton - went to Harlow Mothercare World for advice and tried lots of car seats out. We have a 56 plate Ford Focus and have had huge problems getting a car seat that fits! But thank you for the tip.

Thanks again

They go behind the passenger seat because when you turn right and pull out across the road the oncoming traffic hits the driver side. This is the most common point of contact for a side collision. You want the baby on the other side of the car. If you have two children the smaller and more vulnerable child goes on the passenger side.

oooh Essex girl - i live in Loughton!!!
There is a lovely mum and baby group on a Wednesday morning at the local health centre
CAT me if you want more details

just to confirm I work in vehicle safety, if only one baby then behind the passenger seat and try and avoid going for the front seat if you can help it, more likely to have an impact on drivers side

the mirrors from halfords/mothercare are great but £10 is expensive for a bit of plastic and I've seen them at NCT as new sales and car boots for £1!

I'm really confused about this, as everything I ever read when my DD was little said that it should be behind the driver... has the advice changed?

Small additional piece of advice
If you buy the mirror, if you have a central rear headrest, put it on that one and angle it so you can still see... i find the view a lot better as the car seat handle obscures the view if its on the same seat the carseat is fitted to.