Car Seat RF, turn around?

Sept1799 · July 2013

My ds will be 18 months old. He has been rf in his infant car seat. He is 20lbs and only 29 inches long. He is outgrowing his seat. I understand that he is smaller than most his age.

the thing is I have a 2 door honda civic. It is almost impossible to have an convertible car seat rf in my car. I want be able to get him in or out.

I wanted to keep him rf to 2 years of age but I feel I have no choice. He would be changing 6 months or so shy of 2 years old.

I feel kind of bad. Getting a new car is not an option

frogkisser · July 2013

What is the state law in FL regarding carseats? Here in IN the law states that in order to be front facing a child needs to be at least 1 year of age OR 20 pounds. I have read that in other states they have to be at least 1 year of age AND 20 pounds. The law varies from state-to-state; you'll need to do some research.

Even though it'll be difficult for you to get him out, it really is MUCH safer for him to be rear facing. Hopefully some of the other ladies will weigh in and share some info/web reading on why rear facing is safer.

Edited for typo

FemShep · July 2013

Just an FYI, some states are now mandating that a child be RF until 2.

Also, both the CDC and AAP recommend the child stay RF until 2.

I also have a very small car, and I feel your pain. I have a Combi Coccoro car seat-it's RF and great for small cars, but is also a PITA to buckle. Have you tried googling for some other convertible options well-suited for smaller cars?

Sept1799 · July 2013

FemShep:
Just an FYI, some states are now mandating that a child be RF until 2.
Also, both the CDC and AAP recommend the child stay RF until 2.
I also have a very small car, and I feel your pain. I have a Combi Coccoro car seat-it's RF and great for small cars, but is also a PITA to buckle. Have you tried googling for some other convertible options well-suited for smaller cars?

its not abut the car seat fitting, it how am I going to get him in and out of the back seat of a two door car?

FemShep · July 2013

Sept1799:
FemShep:
Just an FYI, some states are now mandating that a child be RF until 2.
Also, both the CDC and AAP recommend the child stay RF until 2.
I also have a very small car, and I feel your pain. I have a Combi Coccoro car seat-it's RF and great for small cars, but is also a PITA to buckle. Have you tried googling for some other convertible options well-suited for smaller cars?
its not abut the car seat fitting, it how am I going to get him in and out of the back seat of a two door car?

It's do-able. You need a car seat with lower side profiles. Google "rear facing car seat two door car" for options.

bluejetta · July 2013

If you are on facebook there is a great group - search "Car Seats for the Littles" which is full of info on seats as well as moderated by car seat techs and plenty of others who have all sorts of helpful info on how to keep kids RF as long as possible. You can post the type of car you have and I'll bet they have specific ideas for models to try.

cast920 · July 2013

I have a 2 door car as well and my DD is RF. I hold her and climb in the backseat to get her into her car seat. At the moment I have a Combi coccoro but she will soon outgrow it RF and we will switch to a RF Diono Radian. Once we switch to the Radian I plan on teaching her to climb in the seat herself. She will be 2 in September and will remain RF until as close to 4 as possible.

RF in a 2 door car is not impossible and you should really keep your child RF until at least 2 years. It really is safer even if its a little inconvenient.

Sept1799 · July 2013

Estwd2:
Sept1799:

its not abut the car seat fitting, it how am I going to get him in and out of the back seat of a two door car?
Install it behind the passenger seat so you can climb in behind the driver's seat with him.
ETA - I heard Radians work well in compact cars.

i wish. Could I have a three yr old ff on the other side

shortstuff15 · July 2013

Nicb13:
Is that a typo?! He's 18 months and only 20lbs? Dang that's small.
Dude, I have a VW Beetle and DS is RF. It's not hard, just kind of sucks.

Probably not a typo. My oldest was only just over 21 pounds at 2 years. Yeah it's small, but not out of the realm of possibility.

As for the actual situation, I have no advice to give. If I were you, I would turn babe around because of the fact that you have a 3 year old FF on the other side. You've done well to get this far rear facing with a 2 door car! I had a smaller 4 door car and hated having 2 carseats in the back. I can't even imagine it with a 2 door!

ebp913 · July 2013

dhviel:
Nicb13:
Is that a typo?! He's 18 months and only 20lbs? Dang that's small.
Dude, I have a VW Beetle and DS is RF. It's not hard, just kind of sucks.
Probably not a typo. My oldest was only just over 21 pounds at 2 years. Yeah it's small, but not out of the realm of possibility.
As for the actual situation, I have no advice to give. If I were you, I would turn babe around because of the fact that you have a 3 year old FF on the other side. You've done well to get this far rear facing with a 2 door car! I had a smaller 4 door car and hated having 2 carseats in the back. I can't even imagine it with a 2 door!

Sorry but this advice is terrible. Do not turn your child. Look into the Diono Radian and see if you can get that to work. It will suck for a little while until he can climb in on his own but it's worth it!

lageorgiapaperie · July 2013

If you can get the car seat to fit, I would absolutely keep it RF. He sounds really tiny and would really benefit from ERF a little longer.

As far as the set up, put the seat RF behind the passenger, or in the middle if it will fit. Get in the back on the driver side. You'll probably have to sit in the back seat to get him in. Not ideal, but 6 months isn't that long if you want to flip him at his birthday. GL!

oliversmommy32912 · July 2013

Try a Radian. I bet you could get him RF in a Radian without too much trouble because it pretty much has no sides if that makes sense. It will be a pain but if you could even just get him another six months RF it would be way worth it IMO. If you do end up turning him the Radian is still a great seat. It's really narrow which is great for small cars and you can use the 5 pt harness to 80lbs I believe. You will probabky need to get the angle adjuster so that it will sit a little more upright.

sunnyday016 · July 2013

A Graco MySize is very compact, and would probably fit.

Ditto checking out Car Seats for the Littles on FB. The techs on there will help you come up with a do-able solution that will not include turning him FF or buying a new car. It can be done and I am very sure that they could help you.

Temp123197812503460 · July 2013

It is not the cheapest seat but much less than a new car, what about the orbit toddler seat? I think it "docks" at any angle so you can put him in side or forward facing and then spin the seat once he is buckled. Or maybe that new graco that lets you take it out of the car with a base for bigger babies?

Temp123197812503460 · July 2013

The Graco click connect 40 is the one I mean that let's you snap in and out the seat but fits taller kids

salt78 · July 2013

I have a Mazda 3. It is not a big car and we can fit a Britax Marathon 70 convertible rear facing behind the passenger seat as long as we push it up a bit. It might suck getting him in and out, but I think the pros of keeping your child rear facing to two greatly outnumber a little inconvenience.

HeidiP14 · July 2013

It's not impossible. We have a 2 door Civic and although most of the time we don't use that car we have at times. We have an Evenflo triumph and Maxi Cosi Priori which are both on the smaller side and it works fine behind the passenger side. Just have DS climb into the backseat and climb back there with him to buckle him. I would rather the inconvenience to keep my baby safe and RF as long as possible. And I have a big guy LOL.

peach81383 · July 2013

Stay rear facing. It may be a pain but not impossible. As previous posters have stated look into more compact convertibles that will make it easier on you to get him in and out. My daughter is 14 months, 34" & 29 lbs... she is a big girl! I am given a hard time about keeping her rear facing from everyone I know because her legs are a bit scrunched. I have the back seat reclined to give her a little extra room but she is not able to extend her legs. She is not bothered by it and neither am I. "broken leg - cast it, broken neck - casket". Rear facing is the safest for your child. Watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Q8gU9zzCGA8#at=342 We have a Britax Marathon 70-G3, not ideal for a very tall child but we didn't realize she would be so huge when we bought it. Her height is mostly in her legs so she has plenty of room to grow before exceeding the height (seated height) & weight limits for rear facing.

sunnyday016 · July 2013

peach81383:
Stay rear facing. It may be a pain but not impossible. As previous posters have stated look into more compact convertibles that will make it easier on you to get him in and out. My daughter is 14 months, 34" & 29 lbs... she is a big girl! I am given a hard time about keeping her rear facing from everyone I know because her legs are a bit scrunched. I have the back seat reclined to give her a little extra room but she is not able to extend her legs. She is not bothered by it and neither am I. "broken leg - cast it, broken neck - casket". Rear facing is the safest for your child. Watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Q8gU9zzCGA8#at=342 We have a Britax Marathon 70-G3, not ideal for a very tall child but we didn't realize she would be so huge when we bought it. Her height is mostly in her legs so she has plenty of room to grow before exceeding the height (seated height) & weight limits for rear facing.

The phrase "broken leg-cast it, broken neck-casket" perpetuates the myth that RF kids are in danger of breaking their legs. They are not. Broken legs are a common FORWARD facing injury.

SheLovesMrHip · July 2013

FemShep:
Just an FYI, some states are now mandating that a child be RF until 2.
Also, both the CDC and AAP recommend the child stay RF until 2.
I also have a very small car, and I feel your pain. I have a Combi Coccoro car seat-it's RF and great for small cars, but is also a PITA to buckle. Have you tried googling for some other convertible options well-suited for smaller cars?

Pretty much what is bolded is what I agree with!

My DD is almost 22months and is the size of your son, I have an Acura MDX with a RFing Recaro and plan on keeping her that for a long while! My husband also drives an Acura but its a TSX and is small, but I seriouslt do not care how much of a PITA it is to get her in and out, she will remain RFing.

SheLovesMrHip · July 2013

Nicb13:
Is that a typo?! He's 18 months and only 20lbs? Dang that's small.
Dude, I have a VW Beetle and DS is RF. It's not hard, just kind of sucks.

My kid is almost 21months old and is only 21lbs.....define small? I mean if Mom and Dad arent big people then why would the child?

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