Anyone not using a convertible carseat?

cpinto13 · January 2009

I had no intention of using one, but after seeing all of the posts on here I am wondering if I should. DS. doesn't seem uncomfortable in his infant seat and as of now it looks like he is going to hit the 22lb mark (max weight for my infant seat) right around his first birthday. Did everyone start using them just b/c of DC weighing more than max weight for infant seat? or is there another reason. Educate me please. TIA

vanillacourage · January 2009

What is your alternative to a carseat? You can't just leave them in the infant seat until you put them in a booster.

suh5969 · January 2009

DD is still only about 18 lbs. but we need to switch because she was 28 inches at 1 year and will soon be 29 inches (max). The weight is more of an issue than the height I think. You still need to rear face if they are under 1 year, at least that is the law in NJ. Is it everywhere?

Summerly2 · January 2009

What were you planning on using between an infant seat and booster?!

cpinto13 · January 2009

I have a forward facing seat that starts at 20lbs. I plan on keeping him in the infant seat until he is a year and 22ish lbs and then putting him in the forward facing. The forward facing turns into a booster. I assumed convertible seat meant that it faces back and then forward, am I wrong?

Erin Mary Ackerman · January 2009

vanillacourage:
What is your alternative to a carseat? You can't just leave them in the infant seat until you put them in a booster.

My kids sit in hammocks that freely swing in the back of our grass fueled Prius. They are better able to express themselves this way. Plus, it's easier to play the pan flute.

Don't be so uptight.

stephm0188 · January 2009

I am using a convertable so I can keep him rear-facing as long as possible. I don't plan to turn him forward facing at 1 year.

SuperCuteBenz · January 2009

Summerly2:
What were you planning on using between an infant seat and booster?!

That is what I was wondering.

FWIW, Rear-facing is safer even past a year. I am assuming that you were going to go straight to a forward facing seat at 1 year (convertible = rear and foward facing). However, I would urge you to reconsider forward facing your DC.

vanillacourage · January 2009

BrahimBride:
Don't be so uptight.

Actually it was a valid question, but thanks.

lvisser · January 2009

You HAVE to rear face until at least 1 year old.

So unless your baby does not exceed the limits on their infant carrier at 1 year old, you will HAVE to get a convertable.

Erin Mary Ackerman · January 2009

aaaaaaaaaaand when did you stop seeing the funny?? Surprise

SuperCuteBenz · January 2009

Check out the links in this old post. There is TONS of great information.

https://community.thebump.com/cs/ks/forums/thread/8090230.aspx

cpinto13 · January 2009

Thanks for all of the info, obviously I am not too educated in the way of carseats...off to do some research.

Supercutebenz, thanks for the link!

SuperCuteBenz · January 2009

Also.... Are you sure your DS hasn't outgrown his seat by length already? Most children will hit the length limit before they outgrow it by weight. Obviously, he only needs to meet one or the other before needing to be moved to another seat.

Temp174496125006552 · January 2009

Please keep your son rear facing as long as possible! It's just much safer for him if, God forbid, you were in a crash. And, technically, the aren't supposed to be forward facing until a year. I plan on keeping him rear facing until at least age 2 (and quite possibly longer).

Ben was starting to get close to the weight/height limit about 3 months ago. So, we made the switch. I probably could have gotten another month out of the infant carrier (before he hit the limits), but it was just too heavy with him in it.

Erin Mary Ackerman · January 2009

vanillacourage:
BrahimBride:

Don't be so uptight.

Actually it was a valid question, but thanks.

meant it in a funny "ha ha" sort of way, dude. You're harshing my mellow.

Worcbride · January 2009

we switched cuz I got tired of lugging the carrier around and DD looked squished in it. She's only 18.5 lbs and over 27 inches but she's so much happier in the convertible seat.

vanillacourage · January 2009

BrahimBride:
vanillacourage:
BrahimBride:

Don't be so uptight.

Actually it was a valid question, but thanks.

meant it in a funny "ha ha" sort of way, dude. You're harshing my mellow.

LOL, sorry. There are so many asshats on here that my magnifying glass of humor has gotten foggy.

racegirl723 · January 2009

seans_grl:
Please keep your son rear facing as long as possible! It's just much safer for him if, God forbid, you were in a crash. And, technically, the aren't supposed to be forward facing until a year. I plan on keeping him rear facing until at least age 2 (and quite possibly longer).

Ben was starting to get close to the weight/height limit about 3 months ago. So, we made the switch. I probably could have gotten another month out of the infant carrier (before he hit the limits), but it was just too heavy with him in it.

Ugh! The rear facing drama again. If it was so unsafe, they wouldn't let you face them forward at one year. I asked my pedi about keeping kids rear facing as long as possible after being implored not to turn my son forward facing when he reaches 1 year old (he's very tall and already crammed in there) and she said it's a nice thought, but most kids are too tall to continue comfortably riding rear facing much past 1 year.

My suggestion...check the height and weight limits and continue using the infant seat as long as your DS is within those limits AND comfortable. If he outgrows it before one year, then get a convertible seat and use it rear facing. If he stays in the infant seat until he's one year old, then go with your plan of buying the forward facing seat. GL!

Summerly2 · January 2009

racegirl723:

Ugh! The rear facing drama again. If it was so unsafe, they wouldn't let you face them forward at one year. I asked my pedi about keeping kids rear facing as long as possible after being implored not to turn my son forward facing when he reaches 1 year old (he's very tall and already crammed in there) and she said it's a nice thought, but most kids are too tall to continue comfortably riding rear facing much past 1 year.

I'm really not trying to be a biitch, but to say that most kids will be uncomfortable RFing after 1 is really uneducated. And if pedis are the ones sharing these kinds of opinions with patients, then I guess is at least partly why so many people have no understanding of WHY RFing is infinitely safer than FFing for anybody, much less small children. It's sad, really.

Temp174496125006552 · January 2009

I would rather have my son a little uncomfortable because his legs are long and touching the seat than his spinal cord snapped because we got into an accident.

You wanna turn your kid around at a year, whatever. I'll be keeping mine rear facing for as long as humanly possible.

Summerly2 · January 2009

Have the people who scoff at extended RFing and the crazy parents who do it actually watched the videos as to why? I honestly can't see how anybody could see those videos and choose anything but.

MandC17 · January 2009

racegirl723:
seans_grl:
Please keep your son rear facing as long as possible! It's just much safer for him if, God forbid, you were in a crash. And, technically, the aren't supposed to be forward facing until a year. I plan on keeping him rear facing until at least age 2 (and quite possibly longer).

Ben was starting to get close to the weight/height limit about 3 months ago. So, we made the switch. I probably could have gotten another month out of the infant carrier (before he hit the limits), but it was just too heavy with him in it.
Ugh! The rear facing drama again. If it was so unsafe, they wouldn't let you face them forward at one year. I asked my pedi about keeping kids rear facing as long as possible after being implored not to turn my son forward facing when he reaches 1 year old (he's very tall and already crammed in there) and she said it's a nice thought, but most kids are too tall to continue comfortably riding rear facing much past 1 year.
My suggestion...check the height and weight limits and continue using the infant seat as long as your DS is within those limits AND comfortable. If he outgrows it before one year, then get a convertible seat and use it rear facing. If he stays in the infant seat until he's one year old, then go with your plan of buying the forward facing seat. GL!

I'm not trying to be snarky, but have you checked out the links that SupercuteBenz has. If you watch that video you can see why it's safer for babies to be RF as long as possible. I would rather DD be a little "uncomfortable" riding RF than to be seriously injured or worse because I turned her around before I should have.

Temp174496125006552 · January 2009

Summerly~ I watched them. Gave me goosebumps.

sunshine723 · January 2009

convertibles are rear and forward facing, which is what she was referring to. we have just an infant seat, and recently bought DS forward car seat, which is diff. from a convertible. there

Summerly2 · January 2009

seans_grl:
Summerly~ I watched them. Gave me goosebumps.

I figured you had They did the same to me. That's why I can't honestly imagine watching them and deciding to do anything but keep your baby RFing as long as possible. But maybe that's just me Confused

Mominator · January 2009

racegirl723:
seans_grl:
Please keep your son rear facing as long as possible! It's just much safer for him if, God forbid, you were in a crash. And, technically, the aren't supposed to be forward facing until a year. I plan on keeping him rear facing until at least age 2 (and quite possibly longer).

Ben was starting to get close to the weight/height limit about 3 months ago. So, we made the switch. I probably could have gotten another month out of the infant carrier (before he hit the limits), but it was just too heavy with him in it.
Ugh! The rear facing drama again. If it was so unsafe, they wouldn't let you face them forward at one year. I asked my pedi about keeping kids rear facing as long as possible after being implored not to turn my son forward facing when he reaches 1 year old (he's very tall and already crammed in there) and she said it's a nice thought, but most kids are too tall to continue comfortably riding rear facing much past 1 year.
My suggestion...check the height and weight limits and continue using the infant seat as long as your DS is within those limits AND comfortable. If he outgrows it before one year, then get a convertible seat and use it rear facing. If he stays in the infant seat until he's one year old, then go with your plan of buying the forward facing seat. GL!

I don't know about you, but I go to my pediatrician for medical advice, not advice on car seat safety. Yours is quite obviously behind the times in his knowledge because extended rear facing is now found to be safest. A broken leg is a lot less serious than a broken neck or back. You do what you want though.

sunshine723 · January 2009

I can't imagine it would be safe to be RF if your kid was way too big for the seat? Even though he is RF? Oh, and I might not have been clear but even tho I bought the new seat we aren't using it yet. Just used xmas gift card to buy it.

CCMoxieMom · January 2009

These may help you make up your mind....

Here is a crash test of a 12 month old RearFacing
https://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v163/jen_nah/carseats/?action=view&current=video06A_MGA_213_RearFace-Convertib.flv

Then, here is the SAME 12 month old ForwardFacing
https://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v163/jen_nah/carseats/?action=view&current=video06B_MGA_213_ForwardFace-Conver.flv

My son was rearfacing in a Britax Decathlon until he was 20 months old and my daughter will be for as long as she tolerates it. I'm not taking any chances!

Summerly2 · January 2009

sunshine723:
I can't imagine it would be safe to be RF if your kid was way too big for the seat? Even though he is RF? Oh, and I might not have been clear but even tho I bought the new seat we aren't using it yet. Just used xmas gift card to buy it.

I would hope that extended RFing is typically done within the height and weight limits of the particular seat the child is in. My kids are both in Britax Marathons. This particular seat allows for RFing up to 35 lbs, so it is safe to do so as long as your child is within that range. Honestly, you should be able to get minimally 2 years RFing out of a convertible carseat.

Temp174496125006552 · January 2009

sunshine~ Ben's convertible seat is RF up to 35 lbs. If his legs are a little long and touch the seat, big deal. Like Mominator said, I'd rather deal with a broken leg than a broken neck.

racegirl723 · January 2009

To clarify I know that RF is better and I think that is pretty common sense. I am not advocating that people turn their kid FWF for convenience or do it early. I will keep my DS rear facing as long as possible, but I will not do it to the point that he is miserably uncomfortable. I simply think the advice that is given on this topic is entirely too drama filled. To me, the comments come off as alarmist. Every kid is different and each parent will have to decide when it is appropriate after 1 y.o. to turn their kid around. That's all.

FWIW, my pedi is not behind the times, she is just realistic. It's not as though she offered her opinion unsolicited either. My pedi always asks general safety questions like "is he sleeping on his back", is he using a RF car seat", etc. When she asked about the car seat I told her that I had heard it was best to leave my DS RF as long as possible even beyond 1 y.o. Knowing that my DS is on the larger side both height and weight wise, probably influenced her response.

sunshine723 · January 2009

I see. I didnt realize they went so high in weight.

sunshine723 · January 2009

I see. I didnt realize they went so high in weight. DS

sunshine723 · January 2009

I see. I didnt realize they went so high in weight. DS is only

sunshine723 · January 2009

I see. I didnt realize they went so high in weight. DS is o

sunshine723 · January 2009

wow I don't know how that happened... anyway, I was saying the DS is only just under 17lbs, so he has a way to go.

Summerly2 · January 2009

All seats are different. Check your seat and see what it says as far as how long it is safe to RF (weight and height limits).

breezey2323 · January 2009

BrahimBride:
vanillacourage:
BrahimBride:

Don't be so uptight.

Actually it was a valid question, but thanks.

meant it in a funny "ha ha" sort of way, dude. You're harshing my mellow.

lol @ harshing my mellow. That may just be my new favorite thing to say.

Want a personalized experience?

Anyone not using a convertible carseat?

Re: Anyone not using a convertible carseat?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards