[Gautam]

Anyone have an infant car seat in the center? I’ve read some inconclusive threads in the x3/x5 forums.

[NGT2]

Originally Posted by Gautam

Anyone have an infant car seat in the center? I’ve read some inconclusive threads in the x3/x5 forums.

I have mine behind the driver seat

[ezaircon4jc]

I have a Britax in the middle of our F10. I also bought a seat protector.

[bavarianboar]

Might work with some options offered by forum members here who can chime in.

A bit of digression and unsolicited advice:


For the safety, it’s better to keep the center placement of child seat only as a temporary option when driving 5 occupants including the child. The direct line of sight with the windscreen ‘exposes’ the front facing child to risk in case of a crash or windscreen damage.

(Happened to friend, a log from a truck driving in front fell, bounced and destroyed the windscreen on the highway, they have captain seats in the suv so nobody was hurt, broken glass reached the back seat area though. Front seats act as a shield when child seat is directly behind one)

Be safe out there mate, hopefully you are thinking about a short term option, or for in town hauling. Family is everything

[Gautam]

Originally Posted by bavarianboar

Might work with some options offered by forum members here who can chime in.

A bit of digression and unsolicited advice:


For the safety, it’s better to keep the center placement of child seat only as a temporary option when driving 5 occupants including the child. The direct line of sight with the windscreen ‘exposes’ the front facing child to risk in case of a crash or windscreen damage.

Believe it or not, there seem to be some reputable sources stating the opposite, which is why I’m asking. but most people do use the side seats, which I’ll probably also do so. Trying to collect info at this point. Safety is definitely the chief concern.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-l...y/art-20043939

If you're placing only one car seat in the back seat, install it in the center of the seat — if a good fit is possible. Placing the car seat in the center minimizes the risk of injury during a crash.

https://safeconvertiblecarseats.com/...-for-car-seat/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18450877/

If it's the only car seat, the safest place to put a forward-facing car seat is on the center seat of the back seat. The same can be said for a rear-facing car seat as well. It's statistically proven that the center seat is the safest place to put a car seat.

One study, conducted in 2008 to evaluate the association between a car seat’s placement in the backseat and risk of injury, showed that children seated in the center, between the ages of 0 and 3, had a 43% less chance of injury in a collision than children seated on the driver and passenger side of the vehicle.

Edit: wife rolled her eyes at the very idea. So that’s that.

[Gautam]

Originally Posted by ezaircon4jc

I have a Britax in the middle of our F10. I also bought a seat protector.

Which seat protector? Does it need to be specific to the car?

[NGT2]

Originally Posted by bavarianboar

Might work with some options offered by forum members here who can chime in.

A bit of digression and unsolicited advice:


For the safety, it’s better to keep the center placement of child seat only as a temporary option when driving 5 occupants including the child. The direct line of sight with the windscreen ‘exposes’ the front facing child to risk in case of a crash or windscreen damage.

(Happened to friend, a log from a truck driving in front fell, bounced and destroyed the windscreen on the highway, they have captain seats in the suv so nobody was hurt, broken glass reached the back seat area though. Front seats act as a shield when child seat is directly behind one)

Be safe out there mate, hopefully you are thinking about a short term option, or for in town hauling. Family is everything

Family IS everything. And people are sensitive if told they’re protecting their family in some incorrect way. And most of the time, things are up to interpretation and people make different decisions because the prioritize different threats. For that reason, I didn’t want to get too wordy before.

But since you make this very good point, I’ll add my two cents. I put the baby seat behind the driver. Now I have two kids, so the booster moved behind the passenger. I prioritize the seat behind the driver for two reasons:

1) Not putting it in the middle for the reasons you stated.

2) Obviously you introduce an increased threat from a side impact collision. The most likely way this happens is for someone to t-bone you. The left side of the car is most protected when turning left, across oncoming traffic. So if I’m t-boned while making a left, both me and the baby are as protected as possible. It allows me to drive in a way that simultaneously keeps me and the baby safe.

[ezaircon4jc]

Originally Posted by Gautam

Which seat protector? Does it need to be specific to the car?

I bought this one...

https://www.amazon.com/Brica-Seat-Gu...1&sr=8-17&th=1

[G30M]

i put the car seat wherever it needs to be put

everywhere has advantages and disadvantages depending on the exact event