Carseat-what to do??

AMcLaws

My DD is just about too big for her car seat. It goes up to 20 lbs, and she's 19 lbs. Can accomodate up to 29 inches long, she's 27(ish) inches long. Her little feet hang way over the edge of her seat, and her head is within 2 inches of the top. I know its best/required for her to remain rear facing as long as possible, but just about every make/model we've looked at is too big for the back seat of our car. Hubby is super tall, so she sits behind me, and my knees are already pushed into the dashboard with her current seat. Any makes/models recommended for a compact car? We drive an 08 saturn aura. I read that they can sit front facing at 20 lbs, or 1 year old, whichever comes first. Doesn't sit right with me. Anyone else in this predicament??

TeacherVicky

The law here is to keep LO RF until 22lbs, but the recommendation is to keep them RF as long as possible.

I just installed the True Fit in my car today (RF), though I have more space. I will say though that it doesn't take up anymore space than DS's infant seat.

I plan on keeping DS RF as long as possible.

If I were you, I would go to BRU and try the seats in your car before purchasing, or else purchase from somewhere that will let you return (I think Amazon will let you return a carseat).

cast920

I have a mini cooper so I feel your pain! We wound up getting a Combi coccoro and it fits rear facing in my car. It takes up slightly less space than our infant carrier and base. I should be able to use my front seat again!

The old reccomendation was 20 pounds AND 1 year old. They recently changed the reccomendation to be rear face until at least 2 years old.  

 

StefandTodd

It's not 20 lb OR 1 year old, whichever comes first....it's whichever comes last.  Minimum age is 1 year, and if they're 20 lb when they get there, they can FF.  If they're under 20 lb at 1 year, they have to RF until they get to 20 lb.  

You cannot FF your under-1 year old (legally).

I hope someone can give you some make/model advice for a compact car.  There are also infant seats, like what you have now, that go to 35ish lb, if you can't find a convertible that fits into your car. 

https://www.ghsa.org/html/stateinfo/laws/childsafety_laws.html 

ETA: The LAW is 20 lb AND 1 year.  The recommendation is RF to 2 years MINIMUM, but really as long as possible after that.  

AMcLaws

StefandTodd:

It's not 20 lb OR 1 year old, whichever comes first....it's whichever comes last.  Minimum age is 1 year, and if they're 20 lb when they get there, they can FF.  If they're under 20 lb at 1 year, they have to RF until they get to 20 lb.  

You cannot FF your under-1 year old (legally).

I hope someone can give you some make/model advice for a compact car.  There are also infant seats, like what you have now, that go to 35ish lb, if you can't find a convertible that fits into your car. 

https://www.ghsa.org/html/stateinfo/laws/childsafety_laws.html 

ETA: The LAW is 20 lb AND 1 year.  The recommendation is RF to 2 years MINIMUM, but really as long as possible after that.  

 

Interesting....I have lots of family in law enforcment and I was given advice by them. I'll have to ask again to clarify

AMcLaws

Arizona law is that any child under 5 must be in some sort of child seat. Its recommended that they be 1 year AND 20 pounds before front facing, but its not a law. Believe me, I'd rather her be rear-facing.

 I'm doing extensive research to find one that will work with our smaller car. I refuse to buy from BRU because they're extremely over-priced. Hubby works at wal mart, and we get a discount, so we generally buy from there.

StefandTodd

AMcLaws:

Arizona law is that any child under 5 must be in some sort of child seat. Its recommended that they be 1 year AND 20 pounds before front facing, but its not a law. Believe me, I'd rather her be rear-facing.

 I'm doing extensive research to find one that will work with our smaller car. I refuse to buy from BRU because they're extremely over-priced. Hubby works at wal mart, and we get a discount, so we generally buy from there.

I don't want to argue with you, but for the sake of other people reading this...

It's the law to RF to age 1.

https://www.azgohs.gov/transportation-safety/default.asp?ID=15 

frogyie

What about putting it in the center of the back seat. It is a little harder to get them in but I believe it is the safest area in the car and will allow for the front seats to be adjusted.

CurbsideProphet

If Walmart does not sell a seat that fits in your you may need to elsewhere. I think it would be worth a few extra bucks to keep your child rear facing longer.

AMcLaws

I did end up finding one online at walmart! Just purchased it. It can be used to rear-face until she's 40 pounds, and forward facing until she's 65 pounds. Reviews on it all state that its excellent for a compact car. After reading demensions, measuring and such, we think it will work! Here's hoping!!

AMcLaws

frogyie:

What about putting it in the center of the back seat. It is a little harder to get them in but I believe it is the safest area in the car and will allow for the front seats to be adjusted.

 

We tried that with our existing carseat, and hubby wasn't able to sit back far enough to have leg room.

AMcLaws

StefandTodd:

AMcLaws:

Arizona law is that any child under 5 must be in some sort of child seat. Its recommended that they be 1 year AND 20 pounds before front facing, but its not a law. Believe me, I'd rather her be rear-facing.

 I'm doing extensive research to find one that will work with our smaller car. I refuse to buy from BRU because they're extremely over-priced. Hubby works at wal mart, and we get a discount, so we generally buy from there.

I don't want to argue with you, but for the sake of other people reading this...

It's the law to RF to age 1.

https://www.azgohs.gov/transportation-safety/default.asp?ID=15 

 

There again....it reads that infants SHOULD be...not that they MUST be .They only MUST be in a proper restraint seat until they are 5 years of age. Please believe me when I say that I discussed this to death with a family member who happens to be a sargeant in a local police department.

 I fully intend to keep my child rear-facing as long as possible, so she will be safe. I was able to find a seat that we believe will work. We've ordered it, and if it doesn't work, we'll return it and try another one.

MrsNole

Ugh, I feel your pain....we were at BBB yesterday trying out car seats in our car and DH and I were so frustrated that they were so huge!  And we have a 2012 Ford Explorer so it's not tiny! 

AMcLaws:

I did end up finding one online at walmart! Just purchased it. It can be used to rear-face until she's 40 pounds, and forward facing until she's 65 pounds. Reviews on it all state that its excellent for a compact car. After reading demensions, measuring and such, we think it will work! Here's hoping!!

What seat did you choose?

meg1974

I'm not familiar with your type of car, but I have a Nissan Sentra which is pretty small. I am able to fit a Britax Boulevard for my toddler and a Graco Snugride for my infant, right next to each other in the back seat. When I bought the Britax, I took a measuring tape to the store and found that most of the seats were within 1/4" of each other. 

When doing my research, I remember the Sunshine one being particularly thin, so you could look at that.

Also, as PP's have said, the safest thing is to RF as long as possible. The latest rec's are at least 2 years, or when they reach the max weight or height for their seat. With most convertible seats, the max weight for RFing is 35 - 40 lbs.  

jaeleigh25

My DH has an '07 Aura and we have an Evenflo Triumph rear facing.  If you have the recline up all the way, it fits. 

nbbride06

The convertibles actually take up less room than the infant seats.

AMcLaws

Maybe I broke into chinese when I said that I FULLY INTEND TO KEEP MY CHILD REAR FACING AS LONG AS POSSIBLE!!!! Was that clear enough??? Good lord, I came for advice....not judgement and ridicule. (and for what its worth, the officer told me that it was strongly recommended that she remain rear facing. He basically just told me that my child wouldn't be taken away IF she were front facing, which she won't be for quite some time) for those that asked, I got the Safety 1st Guide 65 Sport Convertible seat

SheLovesMrHip

I just looked AZ law up myself. I am glad I did, because it was good to know it BOTH and not one or the other.......Where in AZ are you? If you dont mind me asking? bumping from my droid

MrsNole

jaeleigh25:

If you have the recline up all the way, it fits. 

To RF you have to have the seat fully reclined.  I know for a fact on the Triumph and Boulevard. 

MrsNole

LalaMama81:

MrsNole:

Ugh, I feel your pain....we were at BBB yesterday trying out car seats in our car and DH and I were so frustrated that they were so huge!  And we have a 2012 Ford Explorer so it's not tiny! 

 This makes me laugh a little - so many people run to by an SUV when they have a kid or two (I am not saying you did personally) and then they find that they have no more space than they did before. We have a Saab 92x, which is basically a Subaru Imprezza sport wagon, not a big car at all. Our Britax Marathon rear faces perfectly fine, and that's a pretty big car seat. I had a Ford Escape for a rental recently and had way less space for the seats.  

Lol, yea.  That's not what we did but I know what you're saying.  DH about hit the salesperson when he tried suggesting we need to buy a new car!! 

MrsNole

Crash Into Me:

MrsNole:

Ugh, I feel your pain....we were at BBB yesterday trying out car seats in our car and DH and I were so frustrated that they were so huge!  And we have a 2012 Ford Explorer so it's not tiny! 

AMcLaws:

I did end up finding one online at walmart! Just purchased it. It can be used to rear-face until she's 40 pounds, and forward facing until she's 65 pounds. Reviews on it all state that its excellent for a compact car. After reading demensions, measuring and such, we think it will work! Here's hoping!!

What seat did you choose?

Are you very tall?  I have an Escape (smaller than an Explorer) and we have the Graco MyRide 65 and it fits behind the passenger seat.  I'm 5'7" and can sit comfortably. 

I ultimately want the car seat in the middle but it won't fit there (in DHs car) bc he is 6'2". Our big Graco Snugride 35 is behind the passenger now and though it's not uncomfortable for me, I still feel like I'm rather close to the dash. Whatever convertible we choose I know will have to go there.

AMcLaws

My DH is 6'7" lol. So the car seat must fit behind me. At 5'8", I'm not super tall, but I'm mostly legs lol

backinpgh

Put the seat in the middle?

AMcLaws

backinpgh:

Put the seat in the middle?

 

As I said, my hubby is 6'7" tall. We CANNOT put the carseat in the middle because he's not able to sit back far enough to safely reach the pedals. She MUST sit behind me. I'm between 5'8 and 5'9, but I'm all legs. So I'm squished as it is in our car. My knees are pretty much at the dashboard. However, I'd rather HER be safe than me be comfortable. But we HAD to find something that would fit the space that's being taken up now. (or less, if possible!!)  We should get the car seat sometime this week....we're hopeful that it will work!! If not, we'll return it and try again!!

bridein08

AMcLaws:

Arizona law is that any child under 5 must be in some sort of child seat. Its recommended that they be 1 year AND 20 pounds before front facing, but its not a law. Believe me, I'd rather her be rear-facing.

 I'm doing extensive research to find one that will work with our smaller car. I refuse to buy from BRU because they're extremely over-priced. Hubby works at wal mart, and we get a discount, so we generally buy from there.

 

You know, the reason for RF until at least one AND 20 pounds is because up until that stage developmentally, the spinal cord is able to be stretched/is longer than their spine. If you were in an accident, and a baby was FF the motion from the car accident would LIKELY sever/snap the babies spinal cord.  From a pediatric RN who has seen it before, please don't even consider FF before one and 20 pounds. I have seen horrific results of that decision. ETA just saw that you plan to RF as long as possible. Please let me know how the seat works- we have a Saturn Ion and LO has nearly outgrown the seat already at 4.5 months! I am already panicking a little since his infant seat barely fits- and we are not tall adults