Registered User
Actually, the capsule has to be either in the middle (which is the safest position) or the passenger side.
A capsule should never be installed on the driver side because that's the road side of the car when it's parallel parked.
You'd be hard pressed to get a child restraint installer to do it for you in that spot too, they aren't allowed to
BellyBelly Member
That makes sense Pandora...
Mine was put there yrs ago....and the phamplet was given to me in the office.. NRMA installed the seat... but there is also very little parralel parking here, its mainly 45 angle... the study didnt go into getting bub in or out, it was on how most crashes are head-on, or rear-enders and that in the middle is worst for both cases.... It may still be in DS's blue book
But thats was a while ago, I'm old now.....
Registered User
Mine was fitted by Kidsafe to behind the passenger. The fitter said that it was the best spot for it. I kinda trust that.
When we stayed with the ILs, though, they had a rearward facing seat in the middle. I had no issue with that either, although it was a pain in the hole getting her in and out.
BellyBelly Member
I've always been of the same thought as PB - behind the driver is safest.
I don't see why where you park your car has anything to do with the safety of your children while they are in a moving car? That argument has always stumped me.... I do get it to an extent with the whole being on the road side of the car, but seats are for when the car is moving, right?
Registered User
I have my DS (1) in a rear facing seat in the middle, my DD (3) behind the driver in a 5 point car seat and my DD (2) behind the passenger in her car seat.
I go in through the rear passenger side door, step up reach over and un-click DD (3) belt and she can climb out as I am taking bub out and into the pram and then undo DD (2)...I feel it is the safest for us.
I think that in the event of a front on accident the back of the rear facing seat would take most of the impact of anything that hits it...protecting bub...if it was one of the girls they would get the full impact of anything coming through.
BellyBelly Life Subscriber
yeah that and also it will depend on the shape of your centre seat as to whether it is appropriate to put a child restraint there rearfacing......if you have a hump in the middle as a lot of new design cars have it is not safe to put the rear facing seat there as it is not as secure......When we swapped from the baby capsule to a still reafacing convertible seat recently we had to move from the centre where the capsule was to the passenger side as the installer said it would not be as secure in the centre due to the hump in the centre seat.
Registered User
Hey question. Who are these installers anyways? Do they do a course or something that makes them the same all across the board?
We were going to get someone to install ours because I thought it was mandatory but then was told no... Please correct me if I have been misinformed.
See if we had a manual that came with these babies, we would know all the answers. ; )
BellyBelly Life Subscriber
It is not mandatory everywhere but yes some hospitals will not let you take the baby home unless you have the certificate of proper installation. IMHO and on the advice of an accredited installer I would always get it prpfessionally fitted for rear facing mode because the seats and capsules have to sit at a certain angle and they hav the correct inclinometer equipment to measure it is at the right angle and they may have toi pack the seat up or out to get the correct fit etc etc. The installer then showed us how to do it ourselves properly when we turn the seat later on....he said it is more staright forward to install a seat forward facing but rear facing should always be professionally done.
BellyBelly Life Subscriber
Mine is in the middle too... well it will be. Check with Iona where the point is in her car cause you have the same one dont you?
Qld Ambulance can install them for you Tams. Just have to book it in.
Registered User
The rules governing the restraint of children fall under the Australian Road Rules (thus, Australia wide). However you are best to check with your State police re any specific regulations which may state otherwise. In SA, there are no rules which state where in the vehicle (other than not in the front row of seats in a vehicle other than a utility).
Pretty Butterfly is right on the mark with her comments though - good post / info PB!.
We'll be installing the third car seat in the rear of our 'family' vehicle soon too, and playing with scenario's re - where to seat each child; we may end up switching the seats around a few times until we find what works for us.
Registered User
We put ours on the passenger side of the car because if it goes in the middle, neither seat can be put back and if it goes behind drivers side, DH wouldn't be able to drive the car (he's 6ft 4")...
when we have our second, the new one will have to go in the same spot and DD will go behind drivers side.
BellyBelly Life Subscriber
Well it seems the answer depends on who you ask! I looked up the nrma site and it recommends middle.. But not for a booster seat if it's only a lap belt.
So that answers my question enough for me.. We will put bub rearfacing in the middle and the two older ones in boosters either side. Dd will still be harnessed for a while but I think Ds might be right with the adult belt booster. Think you can get ones still with some harness attachment tho.
Plus I can't imagine putting the older two right next to each other anyway. Oh boy that's just asking for trouble lol!
Eta: we've had ours professionally installed before and they've never used any equipment to measure inclines etc. He padded it up underneath so it sat flush against the back seat.. Nothing to do with angles etc.
Last edited by Liz; February 20th, 2011 at 02:18 PM.
BellyBelly Life Subscriber
I think it must depend on who you ask...they guy who fitted ours is a tester who examines and certifies other installers and he used a little angled spirit level type thing to make sure the seat was at the correct angle and padded our seat underneath until the angle was correct.....some of the newer capsules actually have a built in levelling device (pegperego for example) where you wind up the capsule base until the ball is in the green zone indicating the base is at the right angle.....I dunno, it must be for some reason, not exactly sure what.....
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