Father's and Mothers I need your help

Okay. We're expecting our first child this summer. I'm trying to figure out the best and safest position for the kid. We've got an Equinox which won't be a problem but for the truck I need opinions. In the back I don't feel like the base is tight enough and it's it's a bitch to release the carseat. Now with the front airbag off, is it safe to have them up front?

 

I don't think cops will like you having the car seat in the front even if the air bags are turned off.

 

First off, congrats! Second, is there any way to put it right in the center? That's where we tried to keep Levi's when he was that young so we could keep a better eye on him. It also might fit there easier.

Third, need anything? We are about to get rid of all our baby stuff.

 

As safe as anywhere in the cab. Avoiding accidents is the key.

 

Haven't tried the center. I'll go do that. Facing forward or backwards?

What do you have?

 

Newborns ALWAYS should be rear facing. Do not install the seat forward facing. Read your car seat instructions, they will tell you the height and weight restrictions and when you should turn the seat forward facing (usually around 2 years old).

I would very strongly suggest going to your local fire department or police station since you are unsure about how to properly install the seat. 99% of fire departments and police stations will show you how to properly secure the seat and where it should be in the vehicle. It is well, well worth the trip and you can ask them all the questions you want.

Rear facing in the front seat with the air bag off is perfectly acceptable. That's the whole point of being able to turn the air bag off. Any vehicle with a full rear seat does not have the ability to turn off the front air bag because, if you have a full rear seat, the car seat should be back there. The front seat with the air bag off is perfectly safe.

 

When they are first born it needs to be in the backwards position. Later you will be able to put in forward facing.

 

Backwards. When he was that small anyway. We went forward facing after about 9 months. He hated rear facing.

Everything. And I'll be down again in a few weeks

 

HAHAHA! A portable daycare center with fresh air and free water all day!

 

lol Perfect!

 

The fact that I actually laughed out loud at that is one of the many reasons people shouldn't try to convince me otherwise when I say I never want kids.

 

I know it needs to be backwards. We have a car seat clinic at work that I can ask about. I'm going to try the center position because on the sides its a bitch to unhook the seat from the base.

 

It's all in the car seat.

My family of 4 has grown up in our access cab. IMO, ditch the infant carrier for the truck and get a higher end car seat. The infant carriers aren't as safe as a dedicated seat anyway. Go with something that has a slimmer profile like the Britax Marathon series. Britax are some of the safest seats and very highly rated. Pricey.. but worth it.

One side of your truck should have the anchors for the safety locks on the car seat, I believe it's behind the drivers seat. My youngest rode there backwards until he was old enough to sit forward, ~6-9 months. Then I put him behind the passenger seat and moved my older son, in a smaller seat, to behind me. The worst time for space is the infant seats rear facing which is how they should be for safety. We turned our sons forward facing when their feet looked uncomfortable, if I remember right between 6-9 months.

Now my 6 year old sits in a booster behind me and my 4 year old sits in a graco behind my wife.

Don't try a middle configuration, not safe. Also, if you prefer to use the seat behind the passenger seat use the seat belt method as there are no child seat locks. Pull the seat belt all the way out to get it to lock, fasten it through the car seat and then pull it tight. I put all of my weight down into the car seat and continue to pull the belt as tight as possible. I can get it damn tight..

This is the Britax Marathon that my youngest sat in behind me for a bit (the slimmest infant seat we found, it will hold a kid up to 60lbs I think):



This pic shows the Graco seat my oldest sat in, now my youngest sits in it. This is the slimmest profile seat we've found. (Not for an infant obviously, it becomes a booster)



Space between the seats, plenty of room for purses, bags and pillows:

 

The passenger rear has the bars for the base hooks. I'll try the seatbelt though. See if that helps

 

In some seats you can do both..

 

i've got two toddlers in my double cab. main reason i bought the taco was for the ease of getting them in and out.

they don't have a ton of leg room but it's usually just to pick them up from the sitters a couple miles from home.

personally i would keep the little one in the rear, even if it's a pain to release. they will be so wedged in there they aren't going anywhere if there was a crash.

 

No to the front seat as others have said, unless it rear facing

Another poster said you can go from rear facing to front after 9 months, that is wrong and dangerous. No sooner then two years old should they be in a front facing.

My wife has the britax in her pilot , they are awesome, solid and tough. But a bit too cumbersome for the tacoma. I bought some cosco sceneras for the tacoma. They fit well.

But at the end of the day, please dont put your kid in a forward facing car seat at the age of 9 months, unless he is a beast (20+lbs) and height doesnt factor into the equation.

 

agreed, they say to keep your kid rear-facing as long as can. basically until his legs are so long they hit the backseat.

we have the same thing, those britax sare the Cadillac of car seats. i've got a couple costo seats for short ride to daycare and back.

 

I figured the back out. I just have to do a little wiggle to get the seat out of the base. It's the most secure and safest. The front works but I like the fact that I can use the front seat to keep it more secure. The front looks safe but I don't think I'd do that.