Seat Location in Honda Odyssey?

We currently have our two kids riding in the second row of our Honda Odyssey. The 3-year-old is in a Husky behind the driver, and our 21-month-old is rear-facing in an Alpha Omega in the second row center. (The Odyssey allows that seat to be in the center, or moved to the side behind the passenger.) The Alpha Omega is a 2001 and does not have LATCH, so it is installed with the seat belt.

On our last long (8-hour) trip a few weeks ago, there were several incidents of hitting, poking, and putting feet in each others' faces. We're looking at another long trip in a few weeks, and my husband wants to change the seating arrangements. One option is to move the 3-year-old to the back seat and leave the 21-month-old where he is. This is a bit problematic, because the seat belt holding the Alpha Omega stretches across the walkway on the side. There are no lower LATCH anchors in the third row, so we'd be attaching the seat with the seat belt there. The few times that I've sat in the 3rd row of the van, it seemed very unprotected. I felt like something hitting us from behind would be very catastrophic.

Sliding the 21-month-old over to the side behind the passenger would be less safe in a side-impact collision. We have a Evenflo Triumph that our 21-month-old was in until he got too tall for it rear-facing, but if we were to turn him forward, we could go back to that one. It has LATCH, so it wouldn't have the problem of blocking access to the 3rd row if we move the 3-year-old back there. Or maybe removing the "feet in the face" option would re-instill harmony between the two kids.

Are there studies out on the safety of various seat positions in a passenger van? Would moving the 2nd row seat to the outboard position be safer than turning my 21-month-old around forward facing?

Thank you for any insight you can provide.

- Ingrid

I would personally just slide the passenger side seat back out to the passenger side from the center. The rearfacing child is VERY well protected in a side impact crash, even outboard.
I have the same van, and don't have any qualms about the safety of the third row, as there is quite a bit of crush space behind it, but I generally can't stand having my kids so far back there, especially on a long trip But I have always had to keep my kids separated, so they've both just always sat with the seats apart, and I've always been very comfortable with that arrangement.

The center of the third row probably is a bit safer than the outboard spots in the second row. Side impacts are far more frequent and severe than typical rear impacts, and there's even less crush space on the side than in back. That said, the captains chair's in most minivans do give a bit more crush space than most bench seats. Also, as Julie said, carseats with a 5-point harness give reasonable side impact protection also, especially when rear-facing.

We also own the same minivan, and our kids have always been in the second row separated by the aisle. With properly installed and used carseats, kids will be very safe in the back of most vehicles, regardless of seating position.

Question on Combi Avatar

Question for Darren:
Actually this is related to the car seat review you posted for the Combi Avatar.
You mentioned you have one in Sundance color and I like that color. I went to a baby supplies shop but could not find the Sundance color. I saw one in the Crimson color. I like that fabric, which is in some sort of "mesh" like fabric, rather than the "velvet" fabric in most other car seat brand. It is more "breathable".
Is your Sundance color seat also in this kind of "mesh" like fabric?

thanks.

Unfortunately, I have not seen the other fabrics to compare. The Sundance fabric is definitely not a plush, velvet type of fabric. It almost feels like foam padding with a very fine mesh on the outside.