Car Seat Install?

[Black4runner]

I have a Chicco infant carseat with a base. I read on the internet (a recent study) and in a baby class that the middle seat in the middle row (if you have a 3rd row) is the safest spot to install a car seat.

I first installed the carseat in the middle using the seatbelt since I didn't know of the anchor/latch system. It was pretty secure front/back but moved very slightly side to side.

I found out from the manual that there are latches. 2 on the left and 2 on the right side (low anchors).

I hooked it up in the middle seat using the 2 innermost anchors. I was able to obtain a VERY secure base/carseat (more than the seatbelt). The inner anchors are a bit farther apart than if I installed on the outer seats.

I didn't see in the manual anything stating that you cannot do this.

Anyone have any suggestions?

I feel that I should install the car seat in the safest spot which should be the middle seat but if the 4runner is meant to have the car seat latch system only on the outer seats then I feel uncomfortable using the middle.

 

[snhrph]

This has been discussed on this forum MANY times (I know, the search button sucks : )

The reason for the positioning of the LATCH anchor sets - one behind the driver's seat (but a little closer to the center) and one directly behind passenger's seat - is to allow the unused rear seat to be folded. The 60/40 split fold-down second-row bench seat can be utilized if the carseat is latched to the appropriate anchors.

If the carseat is latched to 2 "inner" anchors it will cover the "split" of the rear bench.

Having said that, I have car seats latched to center (inner) positions in both trucks.