rear facing car seats toddlers

11 month old – Car seat question?

My baby sits in a toddler seat (not a carrier, but not a big kid car seat either) that faces rear, I sometimes drive a truck with a king cab (front seat and full back seat 4 door) I think my baby should sit in the middle back seat, but my husband thinks she should sit in the middle up front with us. We do have three other kids and they usually sit in back and the baby sits up front with us. Who is right? Where is the best place for my baby?

If there are active airbags in the front, it is ABSOLUTELY NOT OKAY for a rearfacing child to ride there. Even a very milk accident can be fatal for a rearfacing child in front of an active front airbag. Even though she is in the middle, the driver and passenger side airbags still affect the middle position.

When thinking about who goes where in the car, the general rule is that you want to put the least protected child in the most protected position. Your 11 month old is probably your most protected child, unless you have an older rearfacing child. As to who should ride in the front, ideally it would be your oldest child in a forward facing 5 point harness seat unless you have a child over the age of 12. The safest seat in the truck is the middle of the back seat, so you should put your least protected child there if possible. If you can tell me the ages and sizes of your children as well as what seat they are in I can give you more information.

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