https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 11 Apr 2026 06:55:52 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/where-is-your-rear-facing-car-seat#post-158914 Tue, 15 May 2012 10:35:44 +0000 yin 158914@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had my husband install the car seat and went to the DMV to have it inspected. I'm so glad I did because it was not installed properly, and I was given the step by step instructions. We have it located in the middle using a seat belt. I would recommend having it inspected to make sure it is fitted properly. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/where-is-your-rear-facing-car-seat#post-158816 Tue, 15 May 2012 09:35:28 +0000 purrpletulips 158816@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We put our infant seat in the middle using the LATCH system (my car) and seatbelt (DH's car). Once we switched DD to forward facing we put her behind the driver's seat using LATCH (both cars) because it is easier to reach back and hand her whatever she has dropped while driving (I can't reach the passenger seat while driving in my car). When LO#2 arrives I think we will end up putting one seat behind driver and one behind passenger because the seat will probably not fit side by side. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/where-is-your-rear-facing-car-seat#post-158720 Tue, 15 May 2012 08:00:17 +0000 Andrea 158720@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We've had the infant and then the convertible seat both in the middle with the LATCH system, no seat belt. But if middle doesn't work for you, then I think that behind the passenger seat is the next best bet since you can still have access to the baby! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/where-is-your-rear-facing-car-seat#post-158718 Tue, 15 May 2012 07:57:59 +0000 mrs. bird 158718@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sorrycharlie: they are both just as safe if you get a proper fit. the center is the the safest spot in the car, it is perfectly ok to use the seatbelt! my mom is the CPST at the hospital she works at &amp; this is where she installed the carseat in my car for work using the seatbelt (now i have captain's chairs so it isn't an option for me) </p> <p>LATCH is meant to make the install easier, thus more likely to be done correctly. if you are going to be moving the seat or base frequently, some people find it faster &amp; easier to use than the seatbelt. i also like that it can't be easily undone. i've seen older kids accidentally unbuckle their sibling's carseat when trying to unbuckle themselves. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/where-is-your-rear-facing-car-seat#post-158707 Tue, 15 May 2012 07:29:58 +0000 Goldilocks1107 158707@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sorrycharlie: Our car seat inspector says they are both the same (belt vs. LATCH). During testing, the car seat needs to pass in any way it can be attached. It basically comes down to what works better in your car. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/where-is-your-rear-facing-car-seat#post-158697 Tue, 15 May 2012 07:22:19 +0000 sorrycharlie 158697@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>hmm I guess we'll have to see where it fits, and where our latch system is! my plan was for the middle of the backseat. is latch better than seatbelt? or vice versa? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/where-is-your-rear-facing-car-seat#post-158614 Mon, 14 May 2012 23:47:08 +0000 holdonforonemoreday 158614@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We currently have LO on the passenger side in a front facing seat. We will have to reinstall his former base where he is now to the passenger and put him on the drivers' side. I wanted the baby seat to go in the center but my DH says that LO will try to mess with the baby. I say his arms aren't that long! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/where-is-your-rear-facing-car-seat#post-158611 Mon, 14 May 2012 23:41:15 +0000 brownie 158611@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We just went to our second car seat inspection by the CHP. In our sedan, we have the carseat rear facing in the middle seat secured with the seat belt. Our car seat inspector prefers seat belt to the latch system (when rear facing). We got our convertible checked this weekend and it is with the baby on the passenger side with a seat belt. The guy told us that at least we had him on the correct side. </p> <p>Make sure that it is very very tight (i.e. doesn't move more than 1 cm). You may have to put your knee in it to get more tightness. My friend sits in her sons carseat while she adjusts it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/where-is-your-rear-facing-car-seat#post-158610 Mon, 14 May 2012 23:39:21 +0000 skibobrown 158610@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ours is on the drivers' side b/c our car doesn't have a latch system in the middle seat, and I read somewhere that more side impact accidents occur on the passenger side than the driver's side. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/where-is-your-rear-facing-car-seat#post-158606 Mon, 14 May 2012 23:16:18 +0000 lemondrop 158606@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We went to the local firefighter car seat installation day- he chose center with a seat belt as the best fit for our car. I really like it since we can take him out of either side without any trouble. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/where-is-your-rear-facing-car-seat#post-158415 Mon, 14 May 2012 18:59:28 +0000 banana 158415@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ours is also behind the passenger because of the curb-side thing. It's just easier to put our LO in his seat when we're on the curb vs hanging out in the street. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/where-is-your-rear-facing-car-seat#post-157949 Mon, 14 May 2012 13:08:59 +0000 Mrs. Superhero 157949@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My baby is on the passenger side and the two year old is in the middle because it's the only place her seat (sunshine kids radian) fits rear facing. When we upgrade the baby to a radian we'll put her in the middle and switch the toddler forward facing on the passenger side. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/where-is-your-rear-facing-car-seat#post-157945 Mon, 14 May 2012 13:04:17 +0000 heffalump 157945@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ours is behind the passenger, we don't have a latch in the middle, and we like to be able to see her in the mirror. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/where-is-your-rear-facing-car-seat#post-157942 Mon, 14 May 2012 13:02:50 +0000 mediagirl 157942@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is all really good information, thank you so much! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/where-is-your-rear-facing-car-seat#post-157937 Mon, 14 May 2012 12:53:30 +0000 Mrs. Stroller 157937@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mediagirl: if the latch feels loose get on the base (have DH do it) with one knee pressed into it and pull tight on the latch tightening strap. If you can't get to the police station, then some baby stores that sell seats will also check. I know the BuyBuyBaby near us has a certified person on staff who will check seats even if you didn't buy them there! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/where-is-your-rear-facing-car-seat#post-157935 Mon, 14 May 2012 12:51:37 +0000 Mrs. Stroller 157935@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Use latch OR the seatbelt, not both. It's a good idea to find a seat check before LO arrives. Most police stations will do it for you.</p> <p>Check your manual. It will tell you whether you can use latch in the center by going to the sides, most will not let you.</p> <p>We have ours on the driver side, however, the police officer who checked our seat recommends passenger side because you want to be at the curb taking the seat out when you're parked on the street. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/where-is-your-rear-facing-car-seat#post-157928 Mon, 14 May 2012 12:40:00 +0000 Goldilocks1107 157928@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In DH's vehicle, it's behind the passenger seat. We couldn't get the seatbelt tight enough to place it in the middle seat. And DH is super tall, so it couldn't go behind the driver's seat.<br /> In my car, it's in the middle seat. Which makes me feel good because my car has tons of airbags and I was concerned about the safety of having the car seat anywhere but the middle because of the side airbags. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/where-is-your-rear-facing-car-seat#post-157927 Mon, 14 May 2012 12:39:57 +0000 T.H.O.U. 157927@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have it in the center, but using the seat belt because the car says not to use the outer latches with it installed in the middle. </p> <p>In my husbands car its installed in the center with latch but he still gets it really tight and it doesn't move at all. It sounds like you need to tighten the straps. It helps if one person gets in the back seat and puts all their weight pushing on the seat and the other person pulls on the strap to tighten. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/where-is-your-rear-facing-car-seat#post-157917 Mon, 14 May 2012 12:32:46 +0000 mrs. bird 157917@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>carseats can only be installed using one or the other- LATCH OR the seatbelt. if your car has LATCH on the two outbound seats only, you can choose to use one of them, the seatbelt to install in the center or in some cars the car manual will tell you that you can use the two LATCH points closer to the center of the vehicle to install in the center seat (this should only be done if the car maker suggests this, look in the manuel that came with your car).</p> <p>the center is the safest spot if you can get the carseat installed there properly (which isn't always possible). but, in some cars that doesn't leave enough space for the 2 outbound seats to be used which could be a problem for some, or if you have a large seat/small car/tall parent, the driver's seat may be too far back &amp; not leave space for proper incline of the rear-facing seat, in which case putting the seat behind the passenger seat would be the best choice.</p> <p>it's all about finding what fits best for you, your car, and your situation. your hospital or the fire station should be able to make a suggestion for a safety check point if they won't do it themselves. car-safety.org is a great resource if you still aren't sure. sorry for the novel!! =) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/where-is-your-rear-facing-car-seat#post-157915 Mon, 14 May 2012 12:30:57 +0000 LivsMama 157915@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>also, if the seat feels loose with the LATCH system, you might need to shorten the strap a bit if yours is adjustable. It is ok if it moves up to an inch when you wiggle it from side to side. Watch some of these videos, they were really useful to us <a href="http://www.thecarseatlady.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.thecarseatlady.com/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/where-is-your-rear-facing-car-seat#post-157914 Mon, 14 May 2012 12:30:18 +0000 Mrs. Sunglasses 157914@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Passenger side, but I think we will move him behind the driver so that I can access the shell easier when baby girl gets here. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/where-is-your-rear-facing-car-seat#post-157913 Mon, 14 May 2012 12:28:34 +0000 LivsMama 157913@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Middle, with the seatbelt. Most cars do not have a Center LATCH system .But I do have to tell you - using both the belt and the LATCH together makes the car seat LESS safe. They are made to be secured by one or the other, so definitely undo one of them. We had ours checked out by The Carseat Lady in NYC and she told me that </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/where-is-your-rear-facing-car-seat#post-157908 Mon, 14 May 2012 12:24:30 +0000 Mrsbells 157908@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>our car seat is behind the passenger seat </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/where-is-your-rear-facing-car-seat#post-157905 Mon, 14 May 2012 12:19:56 +0000 mediagirl 157905@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PBandBaseball: yeah, we're going to get it checked out. Our hospital will do it before we leave if we don't get to the fire station in time. It's odd, it feels so loose just hooked in by those two little latches. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/where-is-your-rear-facing-car-seat#post-157904 Mon, 14 May 2012 12:19:40 +0000 SugarplumsMom 157904@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Behind the driver's side because that's the only place it'll fit. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/where-is-your-rear-facing-car-seat#post-157883 Mon, 14 May 2012 12:05:16 +0000 PBandBaseball 157883@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mediagirl: I think I read somewhere that you shouldn't use the seatbelt if you're using the latch system. Are you going to take your car to the fire department for a car seat check? They should be able to tell you if that's true. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/where-is-your-rear-facing-car-seat#post-157877 Mon, 14 May 2012 12:02:22 +0000 chopsuey 157877@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had and have our seat on the driver's side. Been meaning to move it to the right side but we keep forgetting. Lo is in a front facing convertible now </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/where-is-your-rear-facing-car-seat#post-157876 Mon, 14 May 2012 12:01:41 +0000 BeachMama 157876@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ours in in the passenger side. We tried the middle, but it didn't fit right and I'd prefer it on the passenger side so I can see baby girl a little easier. We used the latch system and not the seatbelt. Baby is due in 11 days....can't wait to start using it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/where-is-your-rear-facing-car-seat#post-157870 Mon, 14 May 2012 11:57:35 +0000 mediagirl 157870@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Do you place it on the driver's side, passenger's side or middle of the backseat? </p> <p>We installed our car seat bases this weekend and tried to install them in the middle seats. Well, the latch system on our base doesn't reach to put it in the middle. We ended up putting the bases on the passenger sides of our cars.</p> <p>Also...if you use the latch system, do you also use the seat belt? We used both the latch system and the seat belt. </p>