Question Rear Facing Seats in Outboard position

alottahambys · Jul 21, 2011

I have only recently started posting although have frequently used this site for research for a couple of years.

With the addition of #6 under the age of 10 all riding in the Odyssey it has become an obsession of mine to configure my "favorite" seats in the ways that best serve our lifestyle. With that being said, I have always *assumed* that the safest place for the smallest of our crew was the 2nd row middle. However, today I read in an unrelated post that it is better to have the rf'er in outboard and the ff'er in center positions.

Can others please comment on this. I would really like to have others opinion on this before I start moving seats around in 100 degree Ohio weather!

I dont any cute pictures to add...yet

SafeDad · Jul 21, 2011

As long as the carseats are properly installed and used in any appropriate rear seating position, it probably doesn't make a whole lot of difference. That said, it is often recommended to put the "least protected child" in the "most protected seating position". Rear facing provides a great deal of additional protection in side impacts, so that is why a front facing child or a child in a booster would often be placed in the center, all else being equal (which it rarely is!).

luckyclov · Jul 21, 2011

CPSDarren said:
As long as the carseats are properly installed and used in any appropriate rear seating position, it probably doesn't make a whole lot of difference. That said, it is often recommended to put the "least protected child" in the "most protected seating position". Rear facing provides a great deal of additional protection in side impacts, so that is why a front facing child or a child in a booster would often be placed in the center, all else being equal (which it rarely is!).

Pretty much that. All of it.

I've never batted an eyelash having my rear-facer(s) outboard. They've always riden outboard, in fact.

I have my youngest RF'ing in an outboard captain's chair and my middle FF'ing in the other captain's chair. My oldest is center in the 3rd row in a highback booster. I do feel my oldest is safer in the center because he's, assumptively, the "least protected", but I'd still be comfortable with him in an outboard spot, too, if he had a proper fit there.

Put 'em where they fit in properly installed/used seats and they're as safe as they can be in any given situation.