Car seat in double cab (Orbit Baby)

Looking for advice as to which side of the rear seats y'all prefer your baby be fastened into and why.

I'm leaning toward fastening our daughter into the driver's side rear seat on the basis of being able to retrieve her more quickly in the case of an accident/other emergency. However while I find it to be a safer option, I want to be sure I'm not missing other elements, like the ability to see her.

The orbit baby infant car seat attaches to a car seat adapter which is secured using the LATCH system. The infant car seat is ONLY rear-facing, so seeing her may not be an option anyway.

 

I had to put my son's car seat in the middle, wouldn't fit comfortably behind either the driver's seat or passenger seat.

 

Middle of the rear seat is the best for an infant. You also have side airbags to think about if you put here on the right or left side.
I'd check with the local fire department (or a TW fire fighter) and see what they recommend.

EDIT: Apparently there is no "middle" LATCH points. I could have swore that they were there.

 

If she is the only baby then I would use the middle. She will be most protected in the case of a side impact and easy access from either door. If there are two car seats the I put the youngest on the passenger side since they are easier to see and reach from the driver seat when necessary. Also when parallel parked, it is scary getting a baby out on the driver side.

 

I have the car seat on the passenger side. I would have to have my seat too far up to fit it on the driver side. Middle wouldn't be a bad option. At the hospital I was told to put it on one side or the other. In my '09, I have safety latches on both sides of the bench. Would be a good idea to have it on the passenger side if you parallel park a lot.

 

The middle is the best. It also allows you to still carry addition passengers equally.

I have a 2yo and so they are on both the outer seats so the middle seat is useless. But, that was a know issue before the truck was purchased. My infant is behind the driver side as to allow my older boy to have more legroom. If he sat behind me, he would have non as my seat is all the way back. No issues for the infant once I removed the seat back on that side. Gained a little extra room that way and its only two bolts to remove it.

GL with the little one

 

Passenger side in mine. As said before, the legroom would suck due to my seat being back all the way. Plus, he kicks the back of the seat like a ninja rabbit.

 

There are not LATCH anchors for the middle seat; Only the two outside rear seats. LATCH anchors are required to be 11" on center from each other. The two center anchors (one from each of the outer seats) are more in the neighborhood of 19" from each other.

I just installed a base yesterday in the passenger side since there's no way I'd fit with it behind the driver's seat.

 

no idea what kind of car seat my brother has, but it is set up in the middle seat, rear facing with a mirror on the back of the seat so he can see his kid with a quick glance

 

I have a Britax Marathon on the passenger side. It is an awesome car seat.

Middle doesn't have LATCH anchors, driver side means you and your kid are hanging out in traffic (bad idea).

 

My 2 year old sits on the passenger side in the back my access cab. Id say passenger side in case you have to pull over and take care of an issue.

 

Carseats existed long before LATCH. Using the middle seatbelt is a perfectly acceptable way to secure your seat. It just isn't as convenient for in/out. An infant seat, however, typically snaps into a base that is not removed all that often.

You do not need to use LATCH to secure a carseat.

 

Correct

 

So using the middle seat while using the LATCH system is a no no?

I use the seat belt and the latch anchors. It may be overboard but it's my little buddy back there.

 

I always use the passenger side. 1- there is a plastic pad so she doesn't jack up my east backs. 2- the front seat folds down which can be convenient. 3-curb side. 4-easier to reach and or see.

The only negative is that for storage and other purposes I wish the single fold down seat was on that side. I have to go pick up my kid 6 times a year for visits and it's a 7hr round trip event all hwy. She's now 6 and we have been doing this for 3.5 years.

 

This. You should use the side that allows you to reach your child the quickest in an emergency (drivers) but in these trucks, middle would be second choice. Also, the child being in the middle of the car is safer in the event of a side impact (tbone) situation.

 

This.

Passenger side is safer for both of you when you parallel park.
Passenger side is safer in a head-on (which is typically driver's corner, not truly head-on).

Neither side is safe in a t-bone, but I recall reading a few years ago that more t-bones come in from the driver's side due to the reduced visibility of cross traffic.

 

I agree that the middle seat should not be used with the latch system.

I have a rear facing infant seat and have it on my passenger side in the back. The front seat needs to be moved up to make this happen. Not real comfortable for the passenger, but better him (or her) than me!

If you want to see the little guy install a mirror that sits on the head rest of the back seat. They are very handy and you can get one for $10-15.

I am about to upgrade the seat to a convertible as he is almost a year old now (25 lbs.). I am hoping that maybe that seat does not take up as much room as the current seat, but that is doubtful. If it sits a little more upright than the current seat I will be happy. Good luck!

 

Thanks everyone for all the input!

I don't parallel park too often. I reverse into most parking spots otherwise.

I may put her in the passenger's side, because of the overall lower risk to her (and hopefully me). The LATCH system is preferred to using a seatbelt and I don't have much of an excuse to ignore LATCH when I have it. Using the middle seat is for now out of the question.

Added benefit of letting my passenger(s) deal with the front seat's location instead of me .

Thanks again!