kids, SUVs, and car seats. Put my irrational mind at ease.

This is going to sound dumb, I know. I figure if I put it out there, I may feel better. I'm a very relaxed parent, but this is the ONE thing I can't shake, and it's worse with another on the way.

I have DS in the center of my cross-over SUV. It always gave me peace of mind (even though it is dumb) because it gives me a (false) sense of increased security if a car were to hit us on the side. Dumb, right?

Millions of kids are near the door in SUVs and sedans and nothing happens, or they are still safe, if they DO get into an accident...plus, you can't control everything. The rational side of me knows this.

Now I know I have to face this fear soon...

Anyone else have this fear? I figure if I shared it, I would feel less anxious and realize it's a common one.

Message edited 1/12/2011 7:41:45 PM.

Re: kids, SUVs, and car seats. Put my irrational mind at ease.

I am a carseat lunatic. When Jack was born he was behind the passenger side. Not the middle. I just knew I wouldn't have the strength to lift the carseat up and into the middle.

There are sooooo many people who put the baby behind the passenger and not in the middle.

I understand your fear though.

Would you consider putting the baby in the middle now, and your first DC behind the passenger seat so they are right next to each other?

Re: kids, SUVs, and car seats. Put my irrational mind at ease.

Honestly, what does your user manual say? I have a Subaru Forrestor and it says to use the side seats. In fact, the middle isn't even latch equipt. So I don't worry. You are having a second child.. you don't have a choice.

Re: kids, SUVs, and car seats. Put my irrational mind at ease.

Yeah, that's what I plan to do - baby in the middle, older DS on the side. I was thinking of making the transition now, so I can get used to it.

I drive so safely and slow and I always worry about everyone else on the road. I have to nip this before it becomes a bigger issue than I already have created in my head!

I guess we all have things as parents that make us worry with irrational fear. This must be mine.

Re: kids, SUVs, and car seats. Put my irrational mind at ease.

I was very worried about this as well, for all of the same reasons. I just figure that since my manual recommends behind the passenger seat, then it must be the safest place in the car. I drive a Subaru, and the middle seats aren't equipped for LATCH, so I figure there has to be a reason for that!

Re: kids, SUVs, and car seats. Put my irrational mind at ease.

my dd's are next to each other, i feel the same way...i wish i had a 4 person accross seat so they could both be in the middle....my youger dd is in the middle, and i pray i never get hit on the side dd's on...

i rolled my car over 3 years ago, on black ice - no fault, etc - and dd wasn't with me, thank goodness, but i fear it each and every icy day...

Re: kids, SUVs, and car seats. Put my irrational mind at ease.

I'm no help.. I agree with your irrationality.

Re: kids, SUVs, and car seats. Put my irrational mind at ease.

Posted by sfp0701

Honestly, what does your user manual say? I have a Subaru Forrestor and it says to use the side seats. In fact, the middle isn't even latch equipt. So I don't worry. You are having a second child.. you don't have a choice.

Re: kids, SUVs, and car seats. Put my irrational mind at ease.

i would have perferred to put DS in the center for the same reason but our car manual said the car seats should go behind the passenger or driver's seat for max. safety. so DS is behind the passenger's seat.

Re: kids, SUVs, and car seats. Put my irrational mind at ease.

My kids were on each side from day 1, in a Jetta. There was no LATCH in the middle, plus it would have been way impractical to have on in the middle and one one the side.
Now with #3 coming, we got a minivan. DD and DS are in the second row, on the sides, baby will probably go in the back middle.
This is where the car is equipped with LATCH.

Re: kids, SUVs, and car seats. Put my irrational mind at ease.

Interesting - I mena, obviously I HAVE though of them getting hit on either side - but my rational (Irrational?) for putting Sean on the passenger side INSTEAD of in th middle was my fear of him somehow going flying through the windshield -

Re: kids, SUVs, and car seats. Put my irrational mind at ease.

just wondering why behind the passenger seat is safer than behind the driver's seat? I alwas thought it was safer to be behind he driver.

Yes, I have the same irrational fear as the op.

Re: kids, SUVs, and car seats. Put my irrational mind at ease.

No matter where your child sits in the car you're going to be nervous that something will happen. I feel that way too! My DD sits on the passenger side of my car and I think about getting side swiped a lot of the time and I find myself using the right lane more often just because if I do get hit on the side it will be the side opposite where she is sitting. Driving with children will always make you nervous though because god forbid something ever happened so I hear what you're saying!