This question may seem really silly but is it ok to place an infant/newborn's car seat on the side seat, rather than in the middle?  I drive a Pontiac Sunfire, so it's not a very big car, and am expecting my second child in September.  My daughter will be 21 months old at the time so she will still be in her convertable car seat so I will be having two car seats in the car.  My car is too small to put both of them next to eachother, one in the middle and the other right next to it on the side seat.  My question though is that I just wasn't sure if that's ok to put a newborn on the side seat of the car.  We eventually want to get a bigger car but we were trying to save up a bit first, but maybe we will have to be a little more rushed.  I would appreciate any input, thanks. 

I had to have a c-section with my son so it was easier for me to put him in with it on my side SO I say its fine.  Yea the middle is the safest BUT it is fine to put them on the sides.

Put  your oldest on the outside closest to the door and put the infant in the middle.  I know it's more convenient to have the infant carseat closest to the door but it's so much safer to keep new baby in the middle with the older child in the convertible carseat next to the window.  My mom used to install carseats for Head Start and was the coordinator for Safe Kids Safe Communitie's and according to NHTSA (National Highway and Traffic Safety Association) when it comes to carseat placement with limited space that is the best way to put them.

Thanks for your reply Amanda, but that's exactly my problem.  I really want to put the newborn in the middle but there is just not enough room in the back seat of my car to put the one in the middle and the other right next to it.  The back is just too small and and the seats are too bulky.

Hmmmm.....Do you have anything like a head start in your area?  If you do my suggestion would be to call them, or if you have something similar to them, or heck you can even call your local police or fire department and ask them where you can go.  But find someone who is certified in carseat placement, and ask them if they would install your infant carrier along with your convertible carseat in your car for you.  That way you know it has (1) been installed properly and (2) that they are in the safest place possible for your car.  Thats about my best advice I can give you short of your dilema of buying a new vehicle.

Because of the placement of the seatbelts in the backseat of my car, I couldn't put a baby car seat in the middle. I have my toddler's car seat on one side and my newborn's on the other side. FYI--you can take your car to aone of your local fire stations (find out which stations have people certified to do it) and they will install your children's safety seats for you . Then you know it will be done right. That's what we did.