Car seats - when to make the switch to convertible?

tee18 · August 2013

My 15 lb 12 week old does not usually like riding in the car. He jut doesn't seem to like his maxi cosi mico car seat. We have a graco my ride 65 that we could use, but I hadn't been planning on making the switch this early (for convenience really). I'm now wondering if he'd be more comfortable in it. We are making a 4 hr trip next weekend and am hoping it will be a better ride! Any thoughts? Have you made the switch?

pnutg · August 2013

I really don't know when to make the switch. We have the britax roundabout. Hoping to hold off as long as possible but my sons also over 15 lbs at 11.5 weeks.

capstone52501 · August 2013

Our son hates his infant car seat, and when I say hates I mean "scream at the top of my lungs until you get me the heck out of this contraption" hates. LOL

I was at Target and found a nice convertible for 1/2 price, heck ya I bought it. He no longer screams in his seat, in fact he has been known to fall asleep in it and he will even talk and play. Errands are now much more enjoyable. Personally I think the infant seats are so tight fitting, to protect them of course" that for some babies it is just too confining.

mommatotwo2 · August 2013

Most convertibles go as low as 5 pounds, just check the rear facing weight limit on it, they have to rear face until at least 1 year old and 20 pounds, although they are now recommending 2 years or as long as possible.

But I agree with @mommacakes4u convertibles are hugely inconvenient for things like running errands when you have a baby that does not yet sit up on their own, because you have to carry them. But f you are a baby wearer, it's not going to be an issue. It's more the fact that you can't easily push a shopping cart while holding a baby.

Mommy2CB · August 2013

My DS1 stayed in his Graco Snugride 35 until he was 6 or 7 months. That's when he was really getting heavy for me.. He switched to his Britax Roundabout and he's currently still in it rear facing at 2 years. I figure once DS2 hits 6 or 7 months I'll switch him to the Britax and get DS1 a bigger convertible. I plan to rear face as long as possible.

mommatotwo2 · August 2013

Another thought if you have the room is to leave your infant seat base installed but also install your convertible since you already have it. That way you can use the convertible for long car trips but use the infant seat for trips where you know you will need the convenience of the infant seat, like the grocery store, etc.

FmrAFBrat · August 2013

I'm not planning on switching LO for awhile. My seat goes to 32 inches & 35 lbs so he is comfy and has a ton of room to grow.

I used the same seat for older DS until he was 9 months. By that point he was 30 inches and 22 lbs. It was just too much of a PITA to get him in and out of the car. I could have made it a year though and used it until he hit the 32 inch limit.

jesselayne8 · August 2013

I switched my first child when she starting sitting in a restaurant high chair at 6 months. She was no where near the weight/height limits. I will probably do the same with DS.

sugarmamma · August 2013

jesselayne8 said:

I switched my first child when she starting sitting in a restaurant high chair at 6 months. She was no where near the weight/height limits. I will probably do the same with DS.

This.

Lucky for us, DD has started adjusting to the infant seat- before it was all scream everywhere we went.

CanuckFan03 · August 2013

I switched DS around 7 months. But I stopped taking the infant seat out of the car a few months prior, as he was just too heavy to lug around in the seat, and he could sit properly in the stroller.

be888 · August 2013

We have the Mico as well, and our son does fine in it. He gets upset only when he's trying to poop while seated, since he can't stretch his legs. We are not planning on changing for a convertible until he reaches the weight limit and/or height, or if it gets too hard for me to get him in and out of the car in the seat. If you already have your convertible I would try it to see if it makes a difference.

tee18 · August 2013

Thanks everyone!

It think we will try the convertible (it is rear facing for as little at 5 lbs) in the other seat to see if it makes a difference before removing the base for the Mico completely. My husband is a bit resistant because he likes to carry around the bucket seat and isn't sure it will make a difference so maybe that's a good compromise so that I can try it out this week before our road trip. I do babywear and barely ever use the bucket seat in a store or stroller since he prefers to be held or just sit in the stroller outside of the car seat, so it won't make too much difference to me - although, it is convenient to strap him in the house! We will see how it works this week. I have to make the trip to the children's hospital that's 45 min - 1 hour away a couple times a month by myself as well so I'm really hoping I can find a way to make it a happier car ride for him soon!

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