I drive an 03 Civic. It doesn't have side airbags, and I have heard, if your car doesn't have side airbags the rear facing seat should go in the middle. My car also has a small "hump" in the middle seat and is somewhat narrow. My husband thinks I'm totally crazy. I don't think my car has the LATCH system either.
Does anyone know where I can read up on something like this or have experience in this situation?
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
I've always gotten excellent advice from the techs on the board below:
kiwi / 691 posts
I have a Honda Fit (2010) so I feel your small car/big car seat pain! Are you able to fit a rear-facing car seat in the middle and still fit people in both front seats? In our car, we have the car seat behind the passenger seat and we have to push the passenger seat up almost as far as it will go. If the car seat was in the middle, we'd have to push the driver's seat up as well and then my husband (he's 6' tall) wouldn't be able to fit in either front seat.
We are thinking about getting a bigger car now and I'm so sad. I love my Fit!
papaya / 10560 posts
Probably. The middle has a little hump though that I'm worried about. I'm pretty small (5'4") and no one usually rides in my car. We are getting a Pilot soon!! But I'll probably have the baby before the car 
blogger / pomegranate / 3300 posts
Babies r us, fire departments and highway patrols sometimes do a "instal your car seat day" you can take it and they will show you how to install it properly.
bananas / 9628 posts
your '03 will have latch (if you're in the US, it was required of manufacturers by then) =)
middle is safest if you can get the seat in there well, if not then go with the passengers side to give you room behind your seat. i've never used one, but i've hear the combi coccoro is the best for fitting in tight spaces. maybe go try some in your car at BBB or BRU.
http://www.albeebaby.com/combi-coccoro-convertible-car-seat-keylime-green.html
papaya / 10560 posts
thanks @mrsbird i might play around with the car seat today and see what i can do. i did try to clean out my car at the car wash though and it was killer--belly in the way!
i forgot to mention i already have a keyfit 30!
hostess / wonderful persimmon / 25556 posts
I don't have rear airbags and I have her on the passenger side of the car. If I were to try to put the seat in the middle, I would be eating my steering wheel. I have no choice but to put her on the side.
pear / 1728 posts
is the middle an actual seat? or is the back a 2 seat? If there are 3 seatbelts in back, it can go in the middle, but there is no center LATCH so you will have to use the seatbelt to install it. Your owner's manual usually has a section on that as well
coconut / 8279 posts
Look in the owner's manual - my '08 (2-door) Yaris didn't have a LATCH in the center, so I put the carseat behind the passenger's seat. I went to BRU to try carseats and the only one that fit comfortably was a BabyTrend carseat. According to charts online a MaxiCosi seat would have fit but I couldn't find a store with one and didn't want to get it and have it not fit.
I don't love out infant carseat but it fits. I did get a new car (a Prius) so when we move to the next carseat I'll have more options. Totally stinks having a tiny backseat with a baby...
papaya / 10560 posts
@livsmama the middle is an actual seat, but it is tiny and has a hump and lap belt, not a full belt. I guess I just have to get out the owner manual and look at everything.
@rachiecakes-i don't mind putting the car seat behind the passenger seat but since we only have 1 base, and if my husband is riding in my car, he has to put the seat almost all the way back. Tiny back seat, tiny baby...hope it doesn't last all that long!
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