We have a Buick Park Avenue and plan to put the kids' carseats 3 across in the back seat. My big kids have Sunshine Kids Radian seats and my baby will be in a Graco Snugride.

Is it better to have the baby in the middle or on the side?

I have my infant seat in the middle 2nd row of our van seats. It is very awkward to get it in, but it seems to be the best choice right now. In our truck we have the infant base right next to the door and it is much nicer to lift in. [cheerful]

I always wonder about the seat placement in my van, you know best place for the littles vs the bigs but I could never find any info on it. :(

This is what I have read.

Middle is always safest. Rearfacing in the middle is the ultimate safest.
If you have a FFing carseat, they would be safer in the middle, with a RFing carseat on the outside - because RFing is safer than FFing no matter where in the car. Does that make sense?

I don't know if that helps or not. If you have a FFer and two RFers, I think I would put the FFer in the middle, and the RFers on the outside.

Although, I really don't like having any kids on the outside. Maybe we should invent a car that has no outside seats! LOL! Like a brownie tray that makes them with all edges. Just the opposite.... in a car.... hahaha! OK I'm being weird. ;)

Yep ^^

Center most point of the vehicle is always *the* safest. Rear facing there being the absolutely safest you could provide.

However, rear facing, alone, provides such a drastic increase in safety. From there, it is suggested that the least protected passenger be in the center most point.

You have 2 in Radians and an infant seat. Assuming at least one of those Radians is forward facing, that is the one you want in the center, allowing the rear facers to be outboard.

If both Radians are forward facing (and certainly if not now, at one point they will be while you still have a rear facer) don't sweat it. Keep the baby rear facing outboard as they are more protected and...it'll be easier to load/unload. :)

All of that, provided you get a good install on each of those seats in their respective positions. ;)

My Radians and my van do not play well together. I'll hope your car is more friendly. :)