Big Kid Carseat at 8 months

Kristi - posted on 08/31/2010

My son turns 7 months on Sept 3rd and im getting ready to change his car seat. Hes at 21 pounds. His car seat now holds up to 22 pounds.

Sherri - posted on 08/30/2010

Actually now in the US they really want kids rear facing till minimum of 2 yrs old and preferably 3 yrs old. This is the leaflets now being handed out at my pediatricians office.



Rear-facing - Unmatched Safety



Rear-facing is the safest position the child can ride in. It is strongly recommended that all children stay rear-facing beyond the minimum requirements of 1 year and 20 lbs. Children should not be turned forward-facing until they reach the maximum rear-facing limits of a convertible seat (that allows rear-facing to at least 30 lbs). These limits are either the maximum rear-facing weight limit or when the top of their head is within one inch of the top of the seat shell, whichever comes first. While most parents are aware that they must keep their children rear-facing "until they are AT LEAST 1 year old AND 20 lbs", very few are told that there are significant safety benefits when a child remains rear-facing as long as the seat allows. For most children, rear-facing can and should continue well into the second year of life.

Megan - posted on 12/15/2012

If you are getting a car seat consider this one http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003XQ1...
it will last a long time and holds up well.

Michelle - posted on 09/10/2010

My first three children I the classic infant car seat, but my last one I just used the convertible car seat. Just make sure you follow the laws of your area and the directions of your car seat. There should be no reason not to switch him out to a convertible, but depending on the laws he will probably have to be rear facing. Go to the areas that do the car seat checks, like fire departments and such and they will make sure you have your car seat in correctly.

Here are a couple of links about child seat laws.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_safet...

http://www.statehighwaysafety.org/html/s...

Sherri - posted on 09/10/2010

In the US it is law until 1 to be rear facing but they are now trying to change it to 2 yrs.

Sammie - posted on 09/10/2010

I live in the UK...and i havent heard of anyone keeping there babies rear facing when they switch to a bigger car seat...Im just considering myself to buy one because my 10month old is growing out of her baby car seat, ive been looking around to buy a bigger one and it dosnt state anywhere on the information that they should stay rear facing untill there a certain age...I have a couple of friends who babies are around 8/10 months, and there all in forward facing car seats.

Heather - posted on 09/09/2010

Yes, he Should be switched to a REAR Facing Convertible carseat ASAP. Double check the news articles online, as 8 of them were considered unsafe. Also, most guidelines now recommend that you keep them rear facing until they are 2 years of age or at least as long as possible.

Lesley - posted on 09/08/2010

i would change him to a big kid car seat if he is touchin the top my grand-daughter is only 5 months old n is in one already as she is quite big so long as they are fitted properly n they have the straps that can be adjusted then he will be fine but i wouldnt wait for his appointment i would do it straight away

Tina - posted on 09/08/2010

Get a Convertible Seat that can be installed rear facing until it is Safe to forward face him. These can be rearfacing up to 35 lbs.
My daughter was similar...I went out and spend $180 on the Chicco KeyFit 30 (good to 30 lbs) and she never made it past 22lbs once she started getting mobile. :)

Terianne - posted on 09/04/2010

You can switch however it is extremely important that he is still rear facing. As others have mentioned you can get a "3 in 1" type of car seat. these are rear facing, forward facing and later convert into a booster seat.

you want to keep him rear facing because 1. it's the law and it's not worth the ticket/fine.

2. even though he's bigger, he doesn't have the reflexes developed yet that he'll have closer to a year old. if he's rear facing in an infant carrier, he may break a leg in an accident (though he wouldn't in a larger rear facing car seat) HOWEVER, if you put him forward facing before he's fully developed the reflexes to be able to support his head during an impact, he risks breaking his NECK if he's forward facing too early.

Krista - posted on 08/30/2010

I have found a carseat at walmart that will hold him up to 80lbs, thats convertible being able for rear facing and front facing, its called Safety 1st - All-in-One Convertible Baby Car Seat, Salt and Pepper
here is the description for it:
Designed for your growing child, the All-in-One Convertible Baby Car Seat features the Quick-Fit Harness System that never needs re-threading and EPP energy absorbing foam.

# Rear-facing 5-35 lbs, forward-facing 22-50 lbs, and belt-positioning booster 40-80 lbs
# Quick-Fit Harness System easily adjusts without re-threading
# EPP energy absorbing foam
# 3-position recline adjusts with one hand
# Baby car seat provides up-front harness adjustment
# Infant head support
# Infant body insert
# 5-point harness system
# Detachable cup holder

We are getting this one next weekend so hopefully it works out.

Deborah - posted on 08/30/2010

I wish my son could have stayed rear facing longer but he is very tall for his age and his legs were jammed up towards his chest so it was a safety hazard. But when I turned him forward facing I bought the Graco Nautilus 3 in 1. Only downside is that it can only be used forward facing. But he can stay in the five point harness till 65 pounds and the booster feature till 100 pounds. I know so many parents that think it's okay to put children in just a bottom booster seat just because they turned 3. It is so much better to keep kids in 5 point harness seats as long as possible.

Jae - posted on 08/30/2010

My son was 21lbs at 6 months old so I know what you mean. I didn't switch him to the big carseat yet because I was just too nervous, but when my oldest was that big at 8 months I think I did switch him to th big seat but it still had to face the rear for safety

Deborah - posted on 08/30/2010

My son was switched to a bigger carseat when he was 6 months old. As long as you keep him rear facing a bigger seat is fine. When you go buy the carseat check the recomendations for use. I know you are suppossed to keep a child reaer facing until their first birthday but it also combined with the child's height and weight.

TIffany - posted on 08/30/2010

My son was only 8 months as well when he outgrew his infant carrier. I I switched him to one of the convertible car seats that can face backwards as well as facing forwards. When he turns a year old you can switch it around so that it faces forwards, but til then he still needs to be in a rear facing car seat. :)

Amanda - posted on 08/30/2010

All 3 of my kids were out of their infant carseats at 6months. Get a convertable carseat that can be rear facing or forward facing and keep him rear facing until he is 1. Then you can turn the carseat around on his birthday. Convertable carseats generally hold between 5 and 40 lbs.

Erica - posted on 08/30/2010

I put my son in his big boy car seat when he was 8 months, and put it front facing just because it wouldnt sit right rear facing. he loves it unless we go on long trips. I see nothing wrong with it. but I guess its really up to you in the long run.

Ashley - posted on 08/30/2010

When my son was 8 months old I moved him into a convertible car seat. The car seat was still rear facing, but it was bigger. We now have it forward facing and it holds up to 40 lbs if I'm not mistaken...just whatever you do still keep him rear facing!

Sherri - posted on 08/29/2010

Yes you need to switch him and just make sure it is still rear facing. It should be rear facing till at least 2. New recommendations are recommending till 3 yrs old before forward facing them in the US. My 3 boys where in convertible carseasts by 4-6mo's due to size and not fitting because of there winter clothing on.

Jenee - posted on 08/29/2010

By big kid car seat I hope that you mean a convertible? Yes he can go into a convertible since many of them are from 5lbs - 40lbs rear facing. That being said your child still needs to be rear facing. It is AGAINST the law at 8 months to turn them front facing in most states. If is isn't law then it is best to leave them rear facing for as long as possible. The AAP stated that they should be rear facing till they are 2 years old.

Sara - posted on 08/28/2010

at least your child is staying in his seat haha. by the time my daughter was 4 months old she was already trying to escape out of her infant seat, and by the time she was 5 months old she knew how to get out of it lol. shes almost 3 now and wild as ever! chicco infant seats go up to 30 pounds

Dora - posted on 08/28/2010

You can definitely switch him into a big kid car seat. Quite a few of them you can place rear facing while they are still on the little side and then switch to front facing once they are bigger and their necks are much stronger. I agree with September. We also got the Britax for our son and absolutely love it!!!!!!!

[deleted account]

We moved our son up to the bigger car seat at 9 months because he literally out grew the other one. As long as it's rear facing, it doesn't really matter if they are in the carrier or the bigger car seat.

Krista - posted on 08/27/2010

ok great thank you for all the replies. I have talked it over with my fiance again and we have decided to switch him to a bigger one. Thanks again!!!:)

September - posted on 08/27/2010

I think it would be ok to switch however I would get one that can be used rear facing and forward facing and keep him rear facing for as long as possible. Our son will be 2 in October and we just switched him to forward facing. I wanted to be sure to keep our son as safe as possible for as long as possible! We got the Britax convertible and love it!

Theresa - posted on 08/27/2010

You can switch him, but get one that can still be backward. He needs to be rear facing until at least 1 yr old.

Ashley - posted on 08/27/2010

I had to do this with my first because she was an 8lb 14 oz baby at birth and gained her 22 lbs by the time she was 1 but she is super tall so by the time she was about 7 months she was tooo tall for the seat so we bought one of those 3 in 1 car seats that do from 5lb til like 65 lbs this wway she could still sit rear facing for the time that she should be then switch to forward facing after her one year point!

[deleted account]

You can put him in any rear facing carseat. Me moved my daughter out of her infant carrier one at 6 months cause she hated it!! Just keep rear facing till 1 (that's the law in most places).

Kerri - posted on 08/27/2010

I changed my son into a big carseat when he was like 7 months! The way I look at it is it's your son if you think he's ready then do it when you see fit! Good luck.