car seat positioning

Mum and Dad have just fitted a new car seat for DD in their car - they were reading the instructions, which said that if you have a split rear seat, to not put it on the split seat (now, i'm not sure exactly what this means, but guessing, that its the single seat, as opposed to the seat and middle bit).

But I was wondering what do you do if you have 2 or more car seats? We've just moved DD from the middle spot to behind the passenger side (I know the middle is safer, but the combination of DD getting big and me getting big makes it hard to get her in), and we had planned to fit the capsule behind the driver seat, as we don't think it will fit in the middle along side DD's seat. So surely, then one of the seats is on the split seat? :dunno:

So, what do the instructions mean? And whats the best way to arrange 2 car seats?

depends on what car u have

i am of no help, sorry.... but also wondering best place for toddler seat and newborn capsule, as in what side of the car is easier for getting the kids in and out safely.... i've just got a normal backseat so really only have two options, either baby behind driver, or toddler behind driver... is there any advantage to either?

oooooooooops that wasn't meant to be a hijack, its sort of the same question isn't it??!!

I'm not entirely sure what is meant by that? A split seat is where one section of the seat and fold down and the other section can stay upright. But I'm not what is meant by 'not put it on the split seat ' ???

emma1979 - with 2 seats, the safest spot for the youngest is behind the passenger, the other seat behind the driver. The middle is always the safest, but only if you've got one child seat.

What they mean by split seats is

If your seat splits in the middle of one seat then you should not put a baby seat there because in an accident the anchor strap will go between the seats and it will not hold the seat in place, which will cause the seat to fly forward. I am not sure if the car will even have a hook where this could happen my old car didnt!!!!

I hope that makes sense!!

Thanks for that bit of info nikki. I didn't realise you couldn't put a child seat where the split goes. You learn something new everyday :D

Thats ok anytime :D

We had both girls, on the side until about a month ago, now DD1 is in the middle and DD2 in reverse position is behind driver. :D

Are you a member of the RAA? Id go get the car seats installed through them. We had ds car seat installed there the first time and they were so knowledgable about it we are planning to get the second car seat installed through them too. I think it only cost about $15 or someting like that and we learn't so much about installing car seats.

Love my kids - so, its mainly older style cars that have split seats? I know both mum's and mine have a single passenger seat, and then the split, and then the middle and other passenger seat. So the split isn't in a seat as such? Ours has 3 anchor points, so I'm guessing that the car anufactures wouldn't put them in if it wasn't safe (or you'd hope not!!)

Isabel - we got our first fitted at the red cross, but didn't bother when we turned it round or moved to the edge seat. I was thinking when it comes to putting the capsule in, I might take it back and get them to have a look at DD's seat too. (PS like your new ticker! And I'm guessing from your signature, that you're not waiting any more!! good luck!!)

Queen - our orignal plan was to have one on the side and one in the middle, but it really doesn't look as if it would be a good fit, as the seat on the side seems to go into the middle seat anyway.

Jodi - would you put the youngest behind the passenger or driver? We were thinking that we'd put the capsule behind the driver, so DD would be getting out onto the path, and not the road. :dunno:

Sammy well i dont think that they would put an anchor point in such a position!! The car that i had at the time was a 1999 model!!! I will be putting the baby capsual behind the driver seat as it is more convienet and I have a 4wd and its too hard to put a new born baby up in the middle seat!! Goodluck i think its a bit of trial and error anyway!!

From a safety aspect and crash statistics (this goes for all passengers in cars in country crashes) survival rate of people behind the drivers seat is higher than that behind the front passenger (because a driver will instinctively manouver a car to avoid an obstruction - thus the people on the left side of the car usually take the brunt of the impact, there are always exceptions though. Hmm, i'm digressing sorry.

We have DS (5 mths) in the middle of the backseat and DD (22 mths) in the rear left.

I don't like having my back to traffic - especially when I'm taking my babies out of the car.

Currently DS is behind passanger seat.

But when I get his new car seat installed he will be behind driver and baby will be behind passanger, DH did want DS to stay where he is BUT the issue is that DH is tall and needs car seat back to drive and no way a rear facing seat will allow that so rear facing must stay behind passanger.

Did ask man about putting DS in middle when I was getting his seat turned around at 14+ months) and he said middle for an older child can be painful as they touch and hit baby or chuck stuff on them.

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Love my kids - so, its mainly older style cars that have split seats? I know both mum's and mine have a single passenger seat, and then the split, and then the middle and other passenger seat. So the split isn't in a seat as such? Ours has 3 anchor points, so I'm guessing that the car anufactures wouldn't put them in if it wasn't safe (or you'd hope not!!)

Isabel - we got our first fitted at the red cross, but didn't bother when we turned it round or moved to the edge seat. I was thinking when it comes to putting the capsule in, I might take it back and get them to have a look at DD's seat too. (PS like your new ticker! And I'm guessing from your signature, that you're not waiting any more!! good luck!!)

Queen - our orignal plan was to have one on the side and one in the middle, but it really doesn't look as if it would be a good fit, as the seat on the side seems to go into the middle seat anyway.

Jodi - would you put the youngest behind the passenger or driver? We were thinking that we'd put the capsule behind the driver, so DD would be getting out onto the path, and not the road. :dunno:

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Ours is a 2008 model car, and we have split seats. So it's not just older cars. A lot of new cars have them as well.
We have our youngest behind the front passenger, the oldest behind the driver. When I stop the car, I unbuckle DD1 and she gets out of the passenger side door. She always waits until I get around that side of the car first. That way I have her getting out with me there, and I get DD2 out at the same time. That's what's worked best for us anyway.

ETA: I just re-read that, and not sure that it makes sense?? Hope you can understand it LOL

I have youngest behind driver as I get her in and out and my older two get out the passanger side. They are 6 and 9 and for school pickup drop off this works great as I can pull up and then can get in and out in safety.