Going to the next car seat

Gretchen - posted on 03/16/2009

My son outgrew his infant car seat at 4 months old.  If their head comes within an inch of the top then they are too big.  He had to move into a convertible car seat so he can still face the back right now and when he turns one he can use the same seat facing the front.

Amanda - posted on 03/15/2009

I mentioned that I would give you an update on how I like the Britax Marathon. I bought it because I researched for a long time and only found really good reviews on it. My husband and I thought it would be worth spending the extra money for it being safer for our child ...  but we were so wrong. DON'T BUY THE BRITAX MARATHON IT SUCKS!!!  We have had nothing but problems with it. It was not difficult to install but we have a lot of problems with the adjustment straps. Because I am stupid for trying to be safety concious  and mailed the warranty card I am now unable to return it. In order to tighten the straps on the child you need tp pull the cord in the front. It sounds easy but it is not.  When you pull and it is close to being tight enough but not quite it locks and you have to start racheting the strap. You have to pull straight out which is very difficult to do when rear facing because the seat is there. They tried to show us in the store and it doesn't work bad when using a doll as a model and no seat in the way but it is with a real child and when installed in the vehicle.  I have to get right into my SUV and use all my muscles and might on most days just to get it tightened properly. Sometimes my husband has difficulty.  It was so not worth the extra money we spent!!  I hope this helps any potential buyers on convertable car seats.  DON"T WASTE ALL OF THE EXTRA MONEY ON THE BRITAX MARATHON... IT IS SO OVERPRICED AND REALLY NOT WORTH IT!!!!!

Mary - posted on 02/21/2009

Hey there! I am a carseat tech and I am willing to give you my two sence about this! And I hope it helps! I also have a 7 month old daughter, Miley, who is a porker! We just moved her out of her infant seat, although she can still be in it (we have the Safeseat Step1 which goes to 30 pounds), it is way to heavy for me to carry! We bought her the Evenflo Triumph Advance.



You are suppose keep your child rear-facing until the requirments on the seat. Almost all seats now go to 30-35 pounds rear-facing. The length don't matter. They may look uncomfortable, but would you rather risk their life by turning them around before they meet the requirments or before they are a year old! Trust me, they learn to deal with it. I also have a 3 year old, Anna, (who will be 4 in a few weeks) who just got turned forward facing. The longer they are rear-facing the safer it is!



You don't have to go and buy the highest priced seat just because you think that the more money you spend on it the safer it is! No, all carseats are equal in safeness and duriablity, they have to all meet the requirements. I could name off all the carseats that are on the market and tell you the pros and cons about them all and what I don't like about them, but thats not going to help you in deciding which ones fits your vehicle and your child the best! Yes its great to have an idea what other people like and I will agree with alot of the posts that the Alpha Omega is a great carseat, but that was for my first daughter. With my second daughter it was a totally different game! And trust me, as a tech, I have experinced all the seats out there. But really I can't make suggestions to you, because its against the law for me. But I can tell you to experiment with them when your at the store, see how the straps adjust, how easy it is to loosen and tighten the straps and also look at the weight requirements on them. It is a hard process finding the perfect seat for your child, but I promise you, that mommies don't make the wrong decisions on what is best for your child and chosing the right carseat that best fits you and your child is going to be a high priority because they are going to be in that seat for at least 3-4 years!



I hope I have helped you a little in making the right choice for buying your lil miracle his big boy seat. If you need anything else, feel free to ask me!

KEALA - posted on 02/19/2009

Both of my boys have gone to a big boy carseat right at 6 months and I have had no problem either time. (as long as they face backwards) With my first son I tried out a few different brands but I finally got what I wanted - Britax is really worth the money you spend on it. Its so safe and easy for you and baby. An added bonus is that my boys sit up high enough that they spend the whole car ride looking out the window. It makes for alot of quiet rides. But you definately dont want to kill your arm carrying him and dont want him to start hating carrides because he is uncomfortable. Good Luck!

Cara - posted on 02/18/2009

i just stated using a three stage one, goes from 5 - 65 lbs.. foreward and backward facing as well as a booster seat. its amazing and so compfy for aiden! he loves it.

Tenely - posted on 02/18/2009

we are just getting ready to put it into the car! It went well with my daughter so I am sure it will go well with my son.

Julia - posted on 02/18/2009

By carry do you mean out of the car?  Perhaps time to use the pram or baby bjorn out of the car now.  Is there a extra small padded insert you can remove back to basic seat padding only?

Lauren is about to move from a baby capsule (AUS) to a car seat but I am waiting until she hits 8 kgs.  She has been using a car seat reversed in our other car since birth and is fine in it.  Should be no problems if you change over.

Kristina - posted on 02/17/2009

I started using the next car seat when he was about 4 months old. You can use the next one at anytime as long as it faces backwards until they are 1 year old & at least 20 lbs. I love not having to carry around that heavy carrier. And my son loves it, because he loves to look lout the window and he and see everything now, and not just the roof of the car. Hopes this helps. Good Luck.

Lisa - posted on 02/17/2009

I have moved up to a bigger seat it is work out great and the baby loves it good luck

Jill - posted on 02/17/2009

I have changed my son to his "big boy car seat" rear facing ofcourse. I have a car seat that can be used from 5 lbs. to 50 lbs. I could no longer carry my son in the infant seat my  hand would go numb from his weight cutting off the circulation! what a beast!! LOL He was also uncomfortable in his infant seat he'd cry when in the car, now he loves his big car seat i took the head rests off the seats so he can look out of the back window while i'm driving. I don't hear a peep out of him the whole time in the car! it's great!! 

Bethany - posted on 02/16/2009

Quoting Lainie:

No. They HAVE to be 20-30 lbs. (check your car seat for its requirements) AND a year old. I just talked to a police officer yesterday who is an expert in car seats.

Can you move the shoulder harnasses up? Also, make sure his clothes aren't too bulky. That makes it seem tighter.

They don't have to stay in an infant seat that long- only in a rear facing position seat.  Many of the convertible seats can be used from day 1.  I think that a lot of babies are probably outgrowing their seats by now (or at least soon).  We're still using the bucket (my son still has more than an inch between the top of his head and the top of the seat) but have the new one ready to install.  Picking a car seat seemed like the hardest decision so far (after maybe choosing a name for my son!) and we finally settled on the Evenflo Triumph Advance also.

Something I just recently learned is that you should keep them rear facing as long as the seat allows- regardless of the 22 lb/ 1 year guideline.  If your seat will hold up to 35 lbs (or whatever) rearfacing the child is safest that way even if s/he is 2 years old!  Maybe you all knew this already but I just assumed you should switch at around 1 year so this was news to me.

Megyn - posted on 02/14/2009

We just bought a convertible seat, and our guy seems much happier. Even though it's rear-facing, he sits up more rather than having to lie down in the infant carrier. Plus, we don't have to worry about lugging him around in it!

Amanda - posted on 02/14/2009

I just bought my daugher a convertable car seat today. I am very excited about using it because I never liked the type of bucket seat and she does not like it either.  I did a lot of research and found that the Britax Marathon had a lot of great reviews by people. It is a little more money but if it is going to be more comfortable and safe for my child it is worth it. I will let you know how we like it after it is installed and we use it a little more. 

It is illegal and highly unsafe to put a baby forward facing before s/he is 1 year old, even if they are tall children.  Their necks and spines are not strong enough.  If moving up to the bigger seat before a year the child should still be facing backwards.  I think the childs safety is much more important than convinience.

Ldoo - posted on 02/12/2009

No. They HAVE to be 20-30 lbs. (check your car seat for its requirements) AND a year old. I just talked to a police officer yesterday who is an expert in car seats.

Can you move the shoulder harnasses up? Also, make sure his clothes aren't too bulky. That makes it seem tighter.

Kate - posted on 02/12/2009

We got the next car seat up just last week and he's much more comfortable. It's a convertible car seat, ie, can be used rear-facing until he's 12 kg then switched to front facing once he's bigger. He's much more comfortable, and so am I - he was getting really heavy.

Sylvia - posted on 02/11/2009

My son has outgrown his seat.. definitly both length and weight.

he's 7 months and weighs 25 lb. It was the same way with my first son, so i switched around 7-8 months, facing back and it was hard getting my first one in and out because we had a 2 door honda accord coupe.

but now i have an xterra so i imagine it will be easier for all of us...

and in regards to facing forward.

my first son I had to face him forward before a year because he was too long to face backwards he needed leg room, and i think itll be the same with the youngest

Danielle - posted on 02/11/2009

My daughter out grew the infant carrier in height but not weight.  But we have a Alpha Omega car seat for her in my car and it is great.  She loves it.  Never fusses when I put her in.

Tina - posted on 02/11/2009

Thanks everyone! I think it may be time to make the move to the next one :)

DeAnna - posted on 02/11/2009

I agree with Ashley! I wish I had done more research and got a convertible seat for my son instead of the infant carrier. Granted having them all bundled up and ready to go is a lot easier to do in the house than out in the car but my son is getting heavier everyday and I can't hardly carry him in the carseat anymore! Now that he is getting older and can hold himself up a lot better my husband and I have really started looking into getting a convertable seat. I don't know about you, but I am so confused and worried about what kind we should get. There are so many and I want to pick the safest one so just make sure you look into all the options and features! Also, make sure you get one that can face backwards and forwards for when he reaches the weight limit! :) Good Luck!

Lacey - posted on 02/11/2009

I say make the move. You don't want him to be uncomfortable and it can't be safe if she is getting too big for the infant carrier.

Lisa - posted on 02/11/2009

I'm planning on installing a convertible seat for my son this weekend.  He's just too heavy to carry in the bucket type seat!  I've got the Evenflo Triumph Advance, which will keep him rear facing until he's 35 pounds, then will keep him harnessed til he's ready for a booster.  I'm excited to get to try it out!

Ashley - posted on 02/10/2009

Hi Tina!

Your son probably did outgrow his infant car seat, lengthwise at least. I've been using the next one for 2 months now and it works great! If I could give you advice and if you have the money, invest in a car seat that he can use from here on out. With my son, who is almost 3(!), his car seat was $120, but it was for rear facing 5-30 lbs, then forward facing to 80 lbs. This way, you won't need to buy any other car seats, unless you want to buy a booster seat, which is what I'm doing. I wish I would've known before I chose the car seat/stroller combo. To me, it would have been more worth it to just use the one I bought for $120 instead of the combo. Although it is easier carrying your child in their seat. I guess both sides have their pros and cons!

Tina - posted on 02/10/2009

I know. You can still face them backwards in the next seat. It's just bigger......

Megyn - posted on 02/10/2009

I believe you are not supposed to switch to front facing until 1 year of age.