Car seat placement in a van?

Unregistered · Dec 14, 2006

I am looking for some advice. I have a 96 Dodge Grand Caravan with the bench seats (2 seat bench and then 3 seat bench in back). I have two children, one forward facing one rear facing. I heard the 2 seat bench is safest but I feel uncomfortable putting a car seat in the seatbelt closest to the passanger door (where the space is to get to the back seat) cause the seatbelt never seems to stay tight and stretches across the opening to get to the backseat. I was wondering where are the safest spots to put two car seats in a van?

joolsplus3 · Dec 14, 2006

I don't think that spot is dangerous to use, I do it all the time in my Honda (and if anything, it's a nice center seat for a forward facing child). What age/weight kiddos and seats are you working with?

abacus2 · Dec 14, 2006

The seatbelt not staying tight is a problem; if you can't get a tight install try a different position and/or use a locking clip if needed.

RubysGirl · Dec 14, 2006

Do you need to maintain easy access to the rear seat? Is it possible with that belt buckled tight? If so I'd say your only problem would be with that seatbelt locking. There are three types of seatbelts. One that is switchable. A switchable belt is one that clicks as it returns if you pull it all the way out. Try it. If your's doesn't click and you can pull out out, let some go back, and pull it out again, it is not switchable. Now look at the latch plate on the male end of the buckle, does it have anything on it to cinch the seatbelt when pulled tight? This is a cinching latch plate. They're great but sometimes they do loosen. If you're sure it's a cinching latch plate you can filp it over before you buckle the seat in. You may need another set of hands.

Now if there's just a slit on your latchplate, nothing to cinch it, you need a locking clip.

Now if none of that helps, or if having both seats buckled on the front bench prevents you from getting to the rear and you need to, I'd put your forwardfacing seat in the rear center possition, and the rearfacing seat directly behind the driver. I hope that helps.

Victorious4 · Dec 14, 2006

The center-most seat is generally the safest, assuming you can get correct installation in the spot....

Have you read the vehicle manual to know what kind of manual seatbelt locking mechanism it has?
Do you need to acces the 3rd row frequently?

Depending on all of this you may or may not want to put 1 child in the 3rd row, but it can be difficult to know for sure through the internet ~ have you found your local CPST to help?

skaterbabs · Dec 14, 2006

You probably have locking latchplates, which means the shoulder portion of the belt will slide freely. Test for movement where the lap-portion of the belt goes through the seat. If it works itself loose, flip the male end of the buckle upside down and buckle it. That should prevent the loosening and prevent needing to use a locking clip.

Car seat placement in a van?

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