2009 Honda CRV and seat locations...

[Unregistered]

We just purchased a new CRV and I'm wondering what the optimal seat placements are. I have a 4 year old (will turn 5 next month) in a Graco Nautilus and will have a new baby in April in a Graco Safeseat. Should I try and squeeze the Safeseat into the middle or will that be fine outboard? I plan to switch the baby to a rear facing Marathon when she's around 4-6 months (No particular reason other than dd HATED her infant seat, we'll see how baby 2 does). Is there a rule of thumb for this??

[Pixels]

The rule of thumb is first of all everyone has to fit and have tight installs!

Second, the least protected child goes in the middle. The RFing child is more protected than the FFing child, so if you can do it, baby goes outboard, Nautilus in the middle.

It's ok if the seats touch or even press on each other as long as they are both independently tight. That means that you can take either one out, and the other will still be tight (move less than one inch at the belt path).

[MustangMama]

That doesn't mean that you HAVE to do it though. It is personal preference where you put which kiddo. I personally would put the RF child behind you and the FF child on the other side, both outboard. Unless you will have a frequent seat belt passenger in the back, I don't see why you wouldn't want to spread them out.

Just my :twocents:

[Pixels]

Because statistics show that the center seat is safer than outboard, and OP was asking about "optimal" placement. The child in the center seat is farther from the point of impact in a side-impact, and is much less likely to be affected by vehicle intrusion.

[Jeanum]

There's optimal as the goal but reality also factors in if the seats don't puzzle well and install independently side by side. There's also the "he/she's touching me" aspect if the older child is a bit overly enthusiastic about helping/poking the baby, or vice versa. :)