Car seat placement in Rav4

Hi all,

I just had my shower and got car seats as a gift. I am trying to figure out what seats to put them in -- the middle and side or each side? And if I have to pick a side, which is safer: driver side or passenger side. I can't find any information on this and am hoping to get some advice. Any thoughts?

Thanks in Advance

 

Do you have the Latch system in your car? That may be a huge determining factor.

We drive a small SUV and our Latch bars are on each side. So we had to put one behind the passenger seat and one behind the drivers seat. The bad part -- they are so close together that we have never been able to sit back there with them. BUT, that is the safest way to attach the seats, and so we did it that way.

 

The middle is the safest so they recommend putting one in the middle. I put the other one behind me, drivers side. It is easier and then I set the diaper bag on the empty spot behind the passenger side.

 

All 3 seats in the back have latches so in terms of that, it doesn't matter. I think Dh and I will soon upgrade to a minivan but need to figure out what to do until then. Thanks for the feedback!

 

We also have a Rav 4 & have the car seats behind the passenger & driver seats ~ it is a tight fit & there isnt room for anything really to go inbetween the 2 car seats other than a small bag...
probably time for us to upgrade to something bigger as well!!!

 

I have a RAV4 too. My seats are on each side. I don't know what year you have, but mine is a little older (2004) and there was no way i was going to fit a car seat in the middle and one on the side. Too small! In fact, i still had to move my seat forward enoungh to fit the seats in and it was a bit uncomfortable as well. My two have finally gotten to turn front and am i glad. I can move again!

 

We have them in the middle and passenger side, but only b/c I am so tall that in order to put one behind the drivers side the seat had to be so far forward that I was squished!!

 

If you are going to put one in the middle and one at a window, choose the side that you will be able to load and unload most safely. For example, when I took the boys to daycare, the drive through for drop off had the sidewalk on the passenger side. So I had the arrangement set uip for easiest and safest loading/ unloading from THAT side of the car. HTH

 

since you asked, statistically, more accidents happen on the passenger side than the driver's, because so many accidents happen while making left turns--also statistically, the most dangerous place in a car is the front seat passenger's (shotgun).

that said, mine are in the rear middle and passenger side because i would be hugging the steering wheel with a seat behind me....

choose what works best HTH