Baby Carseats, when to switch?

Julee - posted on 03/26/2010

What kind of carseat are you talking about? An infant carrier or a convertible seat? If it's a carrier, then it sounds like it's time to switch to a rear-facing convertible car seat. If it's a convertible car seat you are talking about, I was told over and over again that they should not face forward until 12 months and 20 lbs. I have the Britax Roundabout 50, which can be used rear-facing up to 35 lb. (no length specified). We are installing it this weekend, because at almost 18 lb, Sofie is getting WAY too heavy to carry in the infant carrier.

Christine - posted on 03/25/2010

Thank you so much for your input, and suggestions! I've been doing some more research, but still so unsure! Ours is a convertible car seat, but for rear-facing it says it can be used for children 30 inches and under. He still seems content,(eventhough his poor legs are being a little scrunched) and I don't really want to buy a whole new car seat, since this one can be used for forward facing. Thanks again everyone!

Sissy - posted on 03/25/2010

My son weighs 21 lbs and his dr said they had to be 12 months old and weigh 20 lbs before switching fowards. He told me not to worry about length. look into getting a convertible car seat. We have my son in one and I feel that he is safer rear facing the forward.

Whitney - posted on 03/25/2010

My son is also 17 pounds and around 28 inches long. We still have him in his infant car seat and it is getting tight! We bought the safety first convertible car seat. You are supposed to keep them rear facing until they are 1 years old. This car seat goes both ways.

Chelsy - posted on 03/25/2010

First seat do you have???? I don't know of any that goes to 65lbs and is only 30inches. My son is 22lbs 4oz 30in and is in the Scenea from wal-mart and it rear faces 5-35lbs and forward faces from 22-40lbs. He is only on the second slot and there are four slots so even though he is tall he can still rear face. There is also the Graco MyRide 65 that has a slighly taller shell then the Scenera and the True Fit is also a good one and has a taller shell as well. Both MyRide and True Fit are 5-65lbs. The MyRide is 5-40lbs rear and 22-65lbs forward. The True Fit is 5-35lbs rear and 22-65lbs forward. So depending on how long you want to keep him rear facing depends on which one your gonna want. I know Wal-Mart has the MyRide for 129.00 and the True Fit for 159.00 i think and thats the cheapest i've found so far. Hope this helps :) good luck
Also to the person with the 3-in-1 it doesn't rear face to 50lbs it probably rear faces to 35lbs and forward to 50lbs and booster to 100lbs BUT most kids out grow seats by height before weight so be care.

Danielle - posted on 03/25/2010

I have the graco convertible one that I switch mine to for the same reason. It's still a little to small his feet touch the seat. I'm leaving him in that one till he's forward facing when I will turn it around....

Angie - posted on 03/25/2010

I remember with our son, the doctor had said he can stay in it until his head reaches the top, if his head is passing it, then he needs a bigger seat. My hubby and I were recently having this same discussion. Our Bella is not quite there yet!

Tessa - posted on 03/25/2010

The longer you rear face, the better and safer!! Good for you mama for wanting to keep him rear facing. There are some convertible seats that rear face up to 45 lbs. Look into the RADIAN carseats.

Kristen - posted on 03/25/2010

On the carseat paper I was sent home from the hospital with it says that once your child is 20 pounds he'she can sit facing front facing in the car so I think that would mean you could you use it once at 20 pounds but if he/she's head is still wobbley I would use the head support pillow things...One day I had no choice but to use my nephews 1 year old carseat as my boyfriend took my sons carseat in the car with him anyway...it worked fine I just put the head pillow in the be safe so his head wasnt wobbling around.

Deniece - posted on 03/25/2010

My 6 month old son is being moved into a new car seat due to his length. But I am buying the 3 in 1 by Eddie Bauer. My carrier only goes to 20 inches long and 20lbs and the rear facing part of this new one goes till 50lbs and the forward facing to 100lbs. So if you have a big baby, it will fit.

Becky - posted on 03/25/2010

Wow, he is tall! I know that our Graco infant seat (Safeseat) goes up to 32 inches, and 30 lbs, but, at 30 inches already, you might find it a little snug for him. I know a lot of infant seats do only go to 30 inches, but I think most convertible seats would go higher. I believe ours goes to 35 inches rearfacing. I just did a bit of a search online and Britax makes convertible seats that go up to 49 inches (and 35 lbs, for rearfacing.)
Please don`t turn your baby forward facing yet! It`s extremely unsafe! There has to be a better option out there.

Arin - posted on 03/24/2010

I was looking into when to switch to the front facing car seats also. They stress not until at least a year, because their neck muscles are strong enough to handle a front end collision. I decided I'm not even going to change Jackson's car seat until then. He's nice and snug in the one I have now and I'm fine with that.