Carseat placements?

Hi Everyone
I was wondering where you would/do place your 12 month olds car seat. I hired a capsule for DD before her birth and they fitted it behind the passengers seat and I have always kept her in the same spot. Easy to see her when driving etc.
But MIL has been on my case to move her to the centre seat so that she can see out the windscreen. I'm not sure about this as it would be harder getting her in and out having to lean across as well as what if we're in an accident...she'd fly straight out the front.
Love to hear everyones view

Centre seat would be dangerous in an accident if anything came throught windscreen.

Perosnelly if there is only 1 child i would leave seat behind passanger seat and if 2 children behind each seat and not use middle seat.

When DS was tiny - we had the capsule behind the passenger seat, and then his seat behind there - until we turned it around and made it forward facing - then we moved to the centre seat. Reason for this was it was too hard for me to reach over when driving to get to him behind the passenger seat - plus I didn't like the idea of being in an accident - there were no side airbags in our car. I didn't worry about things coming through the windscreen as much as I did with people ramming the side of my car.

At the moment - he is behind the drivers' seat - and DD is behind the passenger seat. I don't particularly like this arrangement - but its the best we can do in the circumstances..

Actually, centre seat is recommended as the safest.....

As Janie says, the centre is the safest place. But it's not always possible. We have two that won't fit side-by-side, so we have to have one on each side. And if it's too hard to get the child in and out then it wouldn't work either. But if you can, you should go for the middle.

As for visibility, believe me, wherever they are they will see well!

BTW, how heavy is your 1yo? You should keep them rear-facing for as long as possible, it's MUCH safter. Most car seats allow them to be rear-facing until 12 kgs.

I was told by my fitting station that the order should be:

1. Passenger seat (DD2)
2. Drivers seat (DD1)
3. Middle

But soon DD1 will be in middle, DD2 Drivers side and new bub Passenger side

FYI, I think the reason the middle is considered the safest is due to side-impact collisions.

I did a bit of research a while ago, and actually found that the safest place is behind the drivers seat(sorry ladies) I think the reason for this is because in the event of an accident the driver naturally steers away from impact if that makes sense? Having said that we had Izzy rearfacing in the middle and now on the passenger side :doh: I figure mainly because if we are street parrallel parking i don't have to get her out in traffic. We are about to move her to behind the drivers seat and the capsule behind the passenger seat because DH won't be able to put the seat back with the capsule behind there. HtH and doesn't confuse the issue!

ETA: RACV recommends the CENTRE seat for child seats so maybe the next safest is drivers side?! Im confused too now!