Can Infant Car Seat Go In The Middle?

As a parent, you’re constantly worried about your little one’s safety, especially on the road. When I first bought infant car seats, I had many questions about them: can they expire? Can I use them without a base? Can infant car seat go in the middle seat of the car? And so on.

This is mainly because on-road safety regulations are constantly changing. Moreover, ill-fitted car seats are a leading cause of infant deaths. So, if you’ve already bought your car seat, and learned how to install it, but don’t know where – let me help!

From the correct position, installation, factors to consider to alternatives to the middle seat – you can find those answers here!

Factors to Consider Before Choosing Middle Placement

Vehicle Size – Without a spacious car, it gets difficult if you need to fit an infant car seat, a forward-facing car seat, and a booster seat side by side.
LATCH System – Not all cars have the lower anchors of the LATCH system present in the middle seat. So, don’t just assume you can install the infant car seat in the middle seat. Check your manufacturer’s manual!
Car Seat Spacing – The approved spacing between the lower anchors in the LATCH system is 11 inches. If the manufacturer’s guide prohibits using the lower anchors in the center, those lower anchors are only safe for the side seats.
Safety Concern – No matter where you place your little one, you’ll need to know how to install the infant car seat properly. Otherwise, they won’t be completely safe. However, the middle seat reduces their injury risk by 41%.
Seatbelt Installation – LATCH was invented as an easier method to install infant car seats. The car seatbelts are equally secure if you can do it right. However, as I mentioned before, if the LATCH anchors are on the outer sides, you can’t use them to install the seat safely in the middle.
Convenience – If you install the car seat in the rear window seats, it can be difficult to push the seats back. This is especially difficult for taller people sitting in the front or driving the car.

Specific car seat placement for your new baby often depends on your family’s needs, convenience, and the vehicle itself. For instance, being a mother of six, the middle seat wasn’t always a viable option for me. It’s always an interesting game of Checkers or Tetris, trying to fit every seat perfectly.

Important: Please remember that an incorrectly installed infant car seat in the middle will put your little one at a higher risk than a correctly installed seat on the outer side.

Why is The Middle Seat Safest?

The middle seat is the most common place for infant car seats. Almost 41% of parents put their little ones here because it’s safe and convenient.

father-securing-baby-in-the-middle-of-the-backseat

The middle seat is often called the ‘crumple zone’. When the side seats suffer the highest impact, the middle remains a bit more protected.
Plus, it also offers ample space for the parents to safely and effectively install the car seat, using LATCH or seatbelts.
The middle seat also has a three-point seat belt, unlike the window seats. But, it does depend on the make and model of your car. So, always keep that in mind.
It also makes it easier to keep an eye on your new baby regardless of whether you’re in the driver or passenger seat.

Recommended Reading: Infant Car Seat Behind Driver Or Passenger

What About Front and Rear Window Seats?

The front passenger seat is never ideal for children younger than 13 because the airbags can’t sufficiently protect them.

If you’re in an accident, the active airbags can fling your baby’s rear-facing car seat forward with a lot of force, causing near-fatal injuries. We don’t want that.
You also cannot install a rear-facing car seat in the front. It is dangerous and illegal. The only alternative is you deactivate the airbags manually, or it deactivates itself when an infant car seat is installed.
Even for forward-facing car seats, you must push the vehicle seat as far back as possible to ensure their safety.

infant-car-seat-seen-from-the-window-of-a-car

The rear window seats aren’t always the best option for the parents. It was inconvenient for me when I was driving alone with my infant.

The driver-side rear seat makes you stand on the roadside to bring your little one in or out.
Also, most T-bone and broadside collisions happen on the passenger side. Therefore, some don’t like to put their little ones on that side.

Installing the Infant Car Seat In the Middle Seat

Installing an infant car seat may seem complex and overwhelming for new parents. But don’t simply wing it, either. Over half of the parents aren’t doing it right, leading to near-fatal or fatal accidents.

Step 1 – Pay attention to the placement of the lower anchors (discussed above). They’re not always placed in the middle seat, thus, indicating you must install the seat behind the driver or passenger seat.
Step 2 – Install the car seat base by locating the small metal hoops near the foot of the vehicle’s seat. Then, connect the lower anchor attachments on the car seat with these hoops. The straps or attachments should be straight and tight.
Step 3 – Check the base’s angle. It should be at 30 to 45 degrees. You can also use the car seat angle indicator for this. This is important since babies and infants should sit at a semi-recline angle!
Step 4 – Now, just attach the infant car seat to the base, and you’re set!

Remember: The NHTSA says that the parents must use the LATCH system or the vehicle seatbelts to install the infant car seat, but never both.

Step 1 – Know your car’s seatbelt system and how to lock it. The mechanism varies with your car’s make and model.
Step 2 – To lock the vehicle’s seatbelt properly, pull it all the way, then let it retract. You’ll notice a click while it retracts, indicating it’s sealed.
Step 3 – Place the infant car seat base on the seat at the right angle and install it. All infant car seats have a belt path to secure them. Thread the seatbelt through the rear-facing car seat’s path.
Step 4 – Next, we’ll need to tighten the base. Place one hand on the base, and pull the seat belt with another. You should also make sure there’s no slack in the seatbelt. The base shouldn’t move more than an inch, back and forth, or side by side.
Step 5 – Now, you can attach the infant carrier to the car seat base and enjoy your ride!

When Is The Middle Seat Not Safe?

Car safety is a bit of a woozy thing, isn’t it? Just know that the safest place for your little one is in the back seat, away from the active airbags. That’s why the middle seat takes preference, but isn’t always the safest.

Here are a few instances where the middle seat may not be secure:

When you install the car seat incorrectly, that causes safety concerns. This is especially true when the lower anchors aren’t placed at the outer side seats, or the middle seat doesn’t have an Isofix to accommodate your car seat.

isofix-infant-car-seat-fastening-close-up

If you have to accommodate two infant car seats or a booster seat, the middle seat isn’t the best option. Most vehicles aren’t even spacious enough to accommodate two car seats side-by-side.
When the manufacturer’s guide says that middle seat installation isn’t viable for your car, listen to them. Car seat installation should always be done according to the manufacturer’s manual.

Final Words: Can Infant Car Seat Go in the Middle

Finding the safest spot for your little one doesn’t have to be complicated.

You need to consider two primary factors – correct installation and your convenience. With my firstborn, Avery, I always put the infant car seat in the middle.

And if you have multiple children or a smaller car, don’t worry too much if your vehicle can’t accommodate the car seat in the middle. Focus on installing the infant car seat correctly.

Your time with your little one in the car should be fun. Don’t let the stress about perfect placement take away from that joy!