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Babies: 6 - 9 Months
AMcLaws
member
Carseat-what to do??
AMcLaws
member
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??
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Re: Carseat-what to do??
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).
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.
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
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
We tried that with our existing carseat, and hubby wasn't able to sit back far enough to have leg room.
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.
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!
What seat did you choose?
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.
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To RF you have to have the seat fully reclined. I know for a fact on the Triumph and Boulevard.
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!!
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.
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!!
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
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