Car seat question - when did you face your baby forward?

[Antonia]

The baby is 9 months old and 25 pounds. He is in a car seat that is really designed for up to 22 pounds - the kind with the handle. But can you imagine carrying this big boy??
He is so tall his little head is at the tip top of the seat and his legs extend beyond the bottom of the seat by about 3-4 inches! He has to have a new seat now! He reminds me of a turtle with a shell on his back.

Can I face him forward now? Is there a rear facing seat you would recommend that will last a while.

He is really too big now for this little seat. Seems like it just happened all at once!

 

[marshallandcartersmo]

No, sorry. Don't face him forward yet. There are lots of car seats that go from reverse facing to foward facing. Invest in one of those so you won't have to switch again in 3 months.

 

[tiggger1]

I would get a combo infant toddler seat that you can use rear facing now and that will change to forward facing when turns 1..

 

[HelenePA]

my son is 26 pound and 32 inches and still rear facing. Its not an either or.. they MUST be 12months old and 20 pounds. You also need to get him out of his infant seat if its only designed up to 22 pounds. I have one that is designed up to 29 pounds or he'd be in a toddler combo seat!

 

[Minnesota!]

He can be in a convertible seat. They are ones you don't remove from the car (like on a base). Do NOT turn him around yet. Minimum age is 1 year. Recommended is 2. My boys were HUGE (over 20# at 2 months) and LONG...but its better they get broken legs in an accident then a broken neck.

 

[Antonia]

Anyone have a car seat they love and would recommend for a big, tall boy?? I want to get a seat that will accommodate the big & tall.

 

[Bren's Mom]

I would get a combo infant toddler seat that you can use rear facing now and that will change to forward facing when turns 1..

Oh goodness no...don't do the above suggestions either!

First, if your ds's head is at the top of the shell of his infant carrier he has long outgrown it. And he has most definitely outgrown it by weight. You need a new seat ASAP. When rear-facing there needs to be at least 1 inch of the car seat shell above their head. How long their legs are doesn't matter one bit.

Second, what you need is a convertible seat. One that goes rear-facing now and forward facing later...but MUCH MUCH later. NOT at age 1. Babies, especially between the age of 1 and 2, are 4-5 times safer rear-facing. Their spines have not completed fusing. Rear-facing is safer because in most accidents their entire body is cradled in the seat.

Convertible seats all have a rear-facing weight limit of somewhere between 30 and 40 lbs (a new one with a 45lb limit is coming soon) and a forward facing weight limit of between 40 and 80lbs.

My two top choices right now are the First Years True Fit and the Graco MyRide. Both sold at the major retailers and online. Both are good values and will last a good long time. However, there are other choices depending on your budget.

I encourage any parent/caregiver with car seat/child passenger safety questions to head to car-seat.org. Over there, we don't claim to be experts on Disney, and don't give Disney advice...we send people wanting THAT over HERE...LOL. So don't look for accurate car seat advice on a Disney board.

Feel free to pm.

Coleen, CPST

 

[Bren's Mom]

my son is 26 pound and 32 inches and still rear facing. Its not an either or.. they MUST be 12months old and 20 pounds. You also need to get him out of his infant seat if its only designed up to 22 pounds. I have one that is designed up to 29 pounds or he'd be in a toddler combo seat!

20lbs AND 1 year is the BARE MINIMUM set by law in some states, along with the minimum set by many manufacturer's. It is NOT recommended that a child be turned at that point, or at any time soon thereafter. Current AAP recommendation is to the limit (outgrown by either height or weight) for the child's convertible seat. For most kids that is over the age of *2*.

When your son turns one I would not turn him.

And FYI, check the stats on your seat. If you have an infant carrier certified for use in the US is is only a 20, 22, 30, 32 or 35lb seat. There are no 29lb limit carriers.

 

[ahutton]

My kids were all tall. I used the carrier seat until they were too big for it, and then invested in a more expensive seat that would last the rest of the years they needed seats. Rear to front facing when the pediatrician said they were ready, then it converts to a booster years after than (again, when the Dr. said it was time) and now I'm down to my last one in a seat. It saved us a ton just buying the seats as soon as they outgrew their carriers. Also - if you fly and will use one for that - make sure the convertible seat is FAA approved also!

I've watched friends buy less expensive seats, only to be shopping for new ones 18 months later when they outgrew the family or usefulness... It seems a better investment to get one that goes from rear facing to 80lbs/front facing booster!

 

[Bren's Mom]

Anyone have a car seat they love and would recommend for a big, tall boy?? I want to get a seat that will accommodate the big & tall.

You want one with high weight limits and tall top slots. If he chunky, as in wide? If he is he might be uncomfortable in a MyRide. That is narrower in the shoulders than some of the other seats. The True Fit should work. And also look at the Evenflo Triumph Advance. They recently changed the buckle on it and I don't like the new style, but you can try it. It might not bother your son or you.

I'd suggest car-seat.org to get feedback on many more seats from moms using them and from car seat techs more familiar with them. I know lots of them, but certainly not all. And there are always new ones coming on the market.

 

[RadioFanatic]

I had to take my son out of the infant carrier at 6 months bc he was so big. I bought the Britax marathon which is both rear and forward facing and up to 60 pounds. I had him in it rear facing until 15 months and only turned it around bc he was too big to be rear facing. The experts are now saying to keep the seat rear facing as long as you can.

 

[DMickey28]

Britax Marathon. You can get them onsale right now online at various places. I bought mine online for $219. Target had a great sale last week or the week before on then. The Roundabout is good to, a bit less expensive and not as big.

My DS is also a big tall kid. He's 27 months and 40lbs and 40inches now. He outgrew his Chicco KeyFit by 5 months so we had him rearfacing in a Britax Marathon until he outgrew the weight on that rearfacing at about 20 months. Now it will last him until he is 65lbs. I am probably going to pass the Marathon down to his little brother or sister when they need it and upgrade him to a seat that will harness him up to 80lbs.

 

[Bren's Mom]

My kids were all tall. I used the carrier seat until they were too big for it, and then invested in a more expensive seat that would last the rest of the years they needed seats. Rear to front facing when the pediatrician said they were ready, then it converts to a booster years after than (again, when the Dr. said it was time) and now I'm down to my last one in a seat. It saved us a ton just buying the seats as soon as they outgrew their carriers. Also - if you fly and will use one for that - make sure the convertible seat is FAA approved also!

I've watched friends buy less expensive seats, only to be shopping for new ones 18 months later when they outgrew the family or usefulness... It seems a better investment to get one that goes from rear facing to 80lbs/front facing booster!

The seat you're describing, if I'm reading correctly...rear facing forward facing to 80 lbs and then a booster...don't exist. What DOES exist, is a 3in1 but they only HARNESS to 40lbs forward facing, not 80lbs. This is a problem with their advertising, it is misleading. The problem is many parents use them beyond the real weight limit, making them very unsafe. Most kids outgrow the 40lb harness on these by height long before by weight, usually around age 3 when they are really to young and too light weight to be safe in a booster. New 3in1s are now coming with higher top slots and a 50lb limit, so they're a little better.

But anyone buying a car seat should keep in mind that if a seat claims it can do everything you need in one seat, chances are it's doing none of them well.

When an infant carrier is outgrown, parents should carefully choose a convertible for their child that will get them to at least age 5 harnessed and then invest in a good, side impact protecting high back booster. Or alternately, if budget is tight, get an inexpensive 40lb 5pt seat and plan to buy a higher weight harness/booster combo (like a Graco Nautilus) later, around age 3-4 when they outgrow their 40lb convertible.

 

[DMickey28]

The seat you're describing, if I'm reading correctly...rear facing forward facing to 80 lbs and then a booster...don't exist. What DOES exist, is a 3in1 but they only HARNESS to 40lbs forward facing, not 80lbs. This is a problem with their advertising, it is misleading. The problem is many parents use them beyond the real weight limit, making them very unsafe. Most kids outgrow the 40lb harness on these by height long before by weight, usually around age 3 when they are really to young and too light weight to be safe in a booster. New 3in1s are now coming with higher top slots and a 50lb limit, so they're a little better.

But anyone buying a car seat should keep in mind that if a seat claims it can do everything you need in one seat, chances are it's doing none of them well.

When an infant carrier is outgrown, parents should carefully choose a convertible for their child that will get them to at least age 5 harnesses and then invest in a good, side impact protecting high back booster. Or alternately, if budget is tight, get an inexpensive 40lb 5pt seat and plan to buy a higher weight harness/booster combo (like a Graco Nautilus) later, around age 3-4 when they outgrow their 40lb convertible.

Very true. Thanks for posting it.

We are planning on going with the Britax Regent or Frontier (probably the Regent) when the next one needs the Marathon.

Another decent convertible, while doesn't get points on comfort, it gets pretty good safety reviews is the Cosco Scenera. It's about $40 ish at Walmart. It rearfaces up to 35lbs and then forward until 40lbs. You'll need a bigger one but it's cheap enough you can switch your DS into it NOW. Make sure you get it installed at a fire station or police station with a licensed tech. These seats are fairly difficult to install.

 

[Bren's Mom]

Very true. Thanks for posting it.

We are planning on going with the Britax Regent or Frontier (probably the Regent) when the next one needs the Marathon.

Another decent convertible, while doesn't get points on comfort, it gets pretty good safety reviews is the Cosco Scenera. It's about $40 ish at Walmart. It rearfaces up to 35lbs and then forward until 40lbs. You'll need a bigger one but it's cheap enough you can switch your DS into it NOW. Make sure you get it installed at a fire station or police station with a licensed tech. These seats are fairly difficult to install.

You're welcome.

You might be sad to learn they've discontinued the Regent. So if you really want one...get it now! The Frontier is replacing it.

And I agree, the Scenera is a great, inexpensive seat. It's what I had in mind when I posted my alternate scenario above; get that now and save for something like a Nautilus (or whatever else similar is on the market at the time) in a couple of years. It's also sold at Target, Kmart, sometimes Big Lots, and several places online.

 

[bumbershoot]

Definitely go to car-seat.org.


But to answer the question of when I turned DS....

He went from the Graco Snugride to a Britax Roundabout at 4 months, when he outgrew the Graco by height. He was in the Snugride (and the travel/second car Cosco Scenera), rear-facing, just about to the rear-facing limit, which I believe was 33 lbs for the RA and that or 35 lbs for the Scenera (it's been awhile). I say "just about" because hubby was convinced that E would be that weight any moment from then, and couldn't really internalize the whole "even though there have been no legs broken while rear-facing, we would still prefer rear-facing broken legs than forward-facing death due to hideous head/neck trauma" thing, and begged me to "let him" turn DS. He had a growth spurt that took him *just* up to 33...we turned him, and then DS sat there at 32.5 for probably a year.

But finally he truly was beyond 33lbs and it was OK. But right before the weight limit for rear-facing in the Roundabout is when we turned him forward-facing, to specifically answer your question.

Then the RA and Scenera were outgrown by height, so we got a Nautilus, which we'll use with the 5 point until he approaches the weight limit for the harness, then we'll see what else is on the market.

I am a short adult and was a short kid, and I remember WELL doing absolutely stupid things with our seatbelts. If I couldn't trust my own self as a kid and pre-teen...I'm not going to trust my little dude in a booster with a seatbelt...5 point harnesses as long as they make one that fits him.


car-seat.org. they'll help you out perfectly.

 

[AllyandJack]

All 3 of mine are still RF. I did turn my oldest at 23mo when DD3 arrived because we moved her to the middle and her carseat is really tall. It was hard to get my seat back enough (I'm almost 6ft tall) to drive safely.

Then, the fights began. Every trip was a nightmare with my 2 oldest DDs fighting because they were facing each other. So, I put DD3 in the middle in her Chicco KeyFit (a little bit of a pain to get in there over the other car seats) and put DD1 RF behind the passenger seat, which is rarely used.

She has about 6lbs to go until she's out of the RF maximum and she's in the 78% for weight and 98% for height. Her knees are bent, but she doesn't care.

So, I have DD1 (turned 2 in June) RF behind the passenger seat in the Radian, DD3 (born in May) RF in the middle in the Chicco, and DD2 (turned 1 the day after DD3 was born) RF behind the driver's seat in a Britax Marathon. I have another Radian, so when DD3 is too big for the Chicco, she'll go into the Marathon RF in the middle, DD2 will go in a Radian, RF behind the passenger seat, and DD1 will go in a Radian, FF behind the driver's seat. But, she'll be almost 3 by then, so it'll be time.

DD2 is a peanut. I suspect we'll be toting her to college in a RF carseat!

And, there is peace in the back of the car. For now.

 

[Bren's Mom]

Ally, if your Radian is a date of manufacture of Sept 2008 or newer it now has a 40lb rear-facing limit even though the stickers state 35lbs. The recertified the seat and then made it retro to 9/08. Info on the site. So if you'd like to keep someone rear-facing past 35lbs you might want to check into that.

 

[AllyandJack]

Ally, if your Radian is a date of manufacture of Sept 2008 or newer it now has a 40lb rear-facing limit even though the stickers state 35lbs. The recertified the seat and then made it retro to 9/08. Info on the site. So if you'd like to keep someone rear-facing past 35lbs you might want to check into that.

I'll have to check that out....I know we ordered the 2nd one this year, so it may have been manufactured after 9/08. I can't remember when, exactly, we ordered the 1st one though.

I assume the date is on the seat? The 2nd one is still in the box, so that should be easy to see.

My biggest problem with it is the height. It's so tall and I'm so tall and, even in my SUV, the driver's seat just doesn't go back enough to let my legs stretch out. I found that my reaction time to the brake was compromised.

I love them though....I was horrified when I was trying to figure out how I was going to get 3 across the back in my Explorer. My friend is a Safety Tech and showed me how it could be done with the Radian being so slim. Slim, yeah....but TALL.

 

[tiggger1]

Oh goodness no...don't do the above suggestions either!

forward facing later...but MUCH MUCH later. NOT at age 1. Babies, especially between the age of 1 and 2, are 4-5 times safer rear-facing. Their spines have not completed fusing. Rear-facing is safer because in most accidents their entire body is cradled in the seat.

I am not saying keeping rear facing past a year isn't safer but the law says 1 year AND 20 lbs....

and until the law changes its the parents decision if they choose to turn them at a year..