Our elementary school child's booster seat says to check the car's documentation for proper placement. Our car's owners manual says to check the booster seat manual for proper placement. Do we put the seat behind the driver, behind the passenger, or middle?
The Safest Place to Sit in a Car
The safest place for a passenger is in the centre of the car's rear seat.
Stage 3: Booster Seat
Transport Canada is the federal agency responsible for child car seat safety. They have a page specifically for Stage 3, The Booster Seat.
The advice there is not to use a booster seat in a seating position that is not equipped with a shoulder belt. That may eliminate the use of the centre rear seat on some vehicles.
I have also seen a caveat on the S.E.A.T.S. for Kids web site that says:
If there is a bump in the vehicle seat or a fold down arm rest or a lap-only belt (for use with a booster - boosters must only be used with lap-shoulder belts), or if the seat does not install well in the middle for any other reason, then it is not safer.
Please note that most vehicles DO NOT have UAS anchors dedicated for the centre seating position. Whether you can "borrow" the anchors from the two outboard seating positions depends on whether this is allowed by both the child restraint manufacturer AND the vehicle manufacturer. Always read the instructions for both the child restraint and your vehicle. Most of the time you will need to use the seat belt to do an installation in the centre of the back seat.
Visit the Dealer for Advice
If the car owner's manual does not have enough information for you to properly install a booster seat, visit the dealer. As the manufacturer's representative, they have access to information on how and where to install the booster seat specific to the model of your vehicle.
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