seating position

pj2rc

New member
DD1 is 4 and in Maestro. DD2 is 2 and RF in Avenue. In my 7 passenger Sienna I have them in the 2nd row w/ DD1 behind the driver and DD2 in the center (captains chair moved from outboard to center). Since I've read that the most protected person should be in the least protected seat .... should their seats be switched? In my mom's car they have to both ride outboard since the seats don't fit next to each other and in DH's truck DD2 has to ride read center because there is no room for her seat RF behind a front passenger.
 
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swtgi1982

New member
RF is always more protected then FF, so FF seat should be center.

I believe so anyways, from what I was told maybe someone else will chime in.
 

jourdysmom

CPST Instructor
I also think that the FF seat should be center, but I am a brand new tech, so a tech with more experience may have a better reason than I for a different opinion.

The safest is "As long as the seat fit the child, fit the vehicle and is used properly".

Have you tried switching them? Are both seats and seat belts the same? Does the RF seat interfere with the driver seat if you switch them? Those are all the things I would think about first.
 
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Mae

Well-known member
I also think that the FF seat should be center, but I am a brand new tech, so a tech with more experience may have a better reason than I for a different opinion

Yes, the least protected child always goes in the safest position. Since the center is roughly 30-40% safer than outboard and RFing is significantly safer than FFing, you would ideally want the FFing child in the center.

Does the center position have top tethers available?
 

DahliaRW

New member
Technically, yes. But if you look at the outboard seat in a sienna, it's already a good 8-10 inches away from the door. So I really would just do what is convenient and works best for you.
 

pj2rc

New member
Thanks! yes both seats have top tethers. I didn't think about the RF behind the driver fit -- I may have a long time ago when I originally put them the way I did -- lol -- but wasn't thinking about it now. I may play around & ask DD1 if she minds switching. As DahliaRW pointed out, the outboard isn't really hugging the door, but, everything else being equal, I want them in the safest positions possible. ....... as another thought -- do the side curtain airbags change anyhting? As far as them coing down on a RF or FF seat?
 

wendytthomas

Admin - CPST Instructor
Staff member
No, side curtain airbags are fine next to carseats. They go down and across, not into the cabin.

Wendy
 

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