Car seat placement question

[steph196]

I have a third row in my SUV, so I am planning to put both seats on the side of the middle row with two seats together and leave the third seat open to access the third row (does that make sense?). It will be easiest for me to lift the infant seat in if it is closest to the door and not in the middle seat. The thought of heaving an infant seat with a child into the middle seat sounds awful. I can use the latch on the seat closest to the door, but I would have to secure the seat with the seatbelt for whichever seat is in the center seat.
My question is, which car seat will be more secure using the seatbelt (and tether if I put S's seat in the center) in the center seat?

[The Foozzler]

Seatbelts are just as safe as LATCH. We use seatbelts with our Gracos because we can get a better install.

[steph196]

May 11, 2016 10:13:17 GMT -5 The Foozzler said:

Seatbelts are just as safe as LATCH. We use seatbelts with our Gracos because we can get a better install.

That's is great to know! I just assumed Latch was safer, so it makes me feel much better knowing this! Thank you!

[Deleted]

I am so confused by your post lol!! But I didn't get much sleep

Latch and seatbelt are both equally safe as long as they are installed correctly.

I would put Sydney in the middle and C on the driver side. That's what we have.

So D climbs in, either under his seat or through the front, and puts her chest clip on. I put Rhys in his seat. Then I get in and reach through the middle to buckle her (and unbuckle her that way)

ETA: ok I re-read without D all up in my face. Your plan sounds great! Sydney's seat will be great in the middle, just make sure to get a tight install!

[Deleted]

I think it's just one of those things you have to play around with to see what is most secure. I know when we had the bucket it was hard to clip in next to another seat.

[betsyray]

We will have three across because I have a small SUV. Max has outgrown the LATCH limit and Theo is close so we just did seatbelt installs on both Radians. As long as you can get a good, tight, install it's just as safe. We will have the two older boys next to each other and the baby behind the driver for the same reason...I didn't want to lift a full infant seat into the middle. I'm worried about the older two touching each other all the time, though :-P guess I will find out how well that works soon!

[steph196]

Thanks for all of the info! The single seat is behind the driver, so I will put Sydney in the middle and Cameron behind the passenger seat.

[shevacc]

Your plan sounds good to me. We originally had G in the middle next to X but at 2.5 she couldn't help but mess with him. I hope at 4 she has more restraint bc I plan on her sitting in the middle between X and baby in Nov.

[carawestt]

May 11, 2016 17:07:26 GMT -5 shevacc said:

Your plan sounds good to me. We originally had G in the middle next to X but at 2.5 she couldn't help but mess with him. I hope at 4 she has more restraint bc I plan on her sitting in the middle between X and baby in Nov.

We recently put Lincoln in the middle and Calvin next to him and they do awesome that way. It wouldn't have worked a year ago but they love it now. I'm just hoping Lincoln will leave the baby alone since she'll be next to him.

[Deleted]

May 11, 2016 17:42:33 GMT -5 carawestt said:

May 11, 2016 17:07:26 GMT -5 shevacc said:

Your plan sounds good to me. We originally had G in the middle next to X but at 2.5 she couldn't help but mess with him. I hope at 4 she has more restraint bc I plan on her sitting in the middle between X and baby in Nov.

We recently put Lincoln in the middle and Calvin next to him and they do awesome that way. It wouldn't have worked a year ago but they love it now. I'm just hoping Lincoln will leave the baby alone since she'll be next to him.

Yes Rhys and D share food and toys and she can hand him stuff. The "fight" very occasionally but it's mostly a great set up!!

[steph196]

May 11, 2016 17:08:43 GMT -5 Loco Coco said:

May 11, 2016 17:07:26 GMT -5 shevacc said:

Your plan sounds good to me. We originally had G in the middle next to X but at 2.5 she couldn't help but mess with him. I hope at 4 she has more restraint bc I plan on her sitting in the middle between X and baby in Nov.

Exact same thing here! I hope it goes smoothly for us both! I'm hoping the older Gs can help the babies!

That's my plan also! I want S to help me with the baby!

[katfco]

Infant seats are actually better on the outside versus boosters or older kids. There are so many more protective structures in place, if there was an accident, the infant seat would fare better than the booster/big kid car seat.

[steph196]

May 11, 2016 18:42:52 GMT -5 katfco said:

Infant seats are actually better on the outside versus boosters or older kids. There are so many more protective structures in place, if there was an accident, the infant seat would fare better than the booster/big kid car seat.

That is great to hear!