5 month old growing out of car seat!

[happymummax]

My DD is 5 months old today and starting to grow out of her maxi cosi car seat, what do you ladies reccomended I get? I think we'll be alright for another month or 2 xx

 

[girl friday]

Where does her head come to? She's ok until the tops of her ears reach the top of the seat. xx

 

[septemberbaby]

I don't think she's really growing out of it at that age...it's okay if her feet extend beyond the seat, it's more about where her head goes to...

Maybe post a picture if you're unsure?

 

[MrsButterfly]

I thought we were going to have the same problem at that age but actually he lasted till this month and he's 98th centile for weight and 91st for length. As long as they are below the weight limit (was 13kg on my cabriofix) and their head isn't above the top of the seat, you're ok.

 

[happymummax]

Her head is just about to reach the top of the seat so she's not far off, can't post a picture sorry I'm on my mobile xx

 

[girl friday]

If the top of her head hasn't reached the top of the carseat, she still has several centimeters to grow before she's too big. Growth speed gradually slows down so she should make it to 9 months. As 9 months is the earliest age you can move to forward facing, you'd need another rear facing seat before then.

 

[SmileyKez]

My lo is only 20 weeks but i think he is growing out of his. His head is nowhere near the top but the strap holes are below his shoulders!

 

[girl friday]

There are usually more than one lot of strap holes, double check in your instruction book.
We have the Graco junior group 0+ seat, we had it for DS1 too (98th centile for height) and he was still in it after his first birthday.

 

[SmileyKez]

Ive checked the instructions but im using the highest hole. There is another hole but its not useable and ive taken out the newborn wedge.

 

[bunnyg82]

If your LO's weight is less than 13kg and it's the head you're worried about then I'd look at the britax first class plus as its a bigger seat that rf to 13kg. Alternatively, there's the joie stages seat which is really reasonable at £150 and it rf to 18kg then converts to a group 2 seat

 

[bunnyg82]

https://www.joiebaby.com/stages

 

[icklemonster]

Quick hijack question - The Joie Stages one isn't isofix - does anyone know how easy it is to put a baby in when rear-facing? I just watched the kiddicare installation video and it looks like the seat belt would get in the way when putting baby in? xxx

 

[Lissidoll123]

I went to kiddicare as my LO is large and straps, although on top setting we rather snug. They said nope, fine as head still rests on the back bit and they said should stay in rear facing for as long as poss. With regards to the straps I just shuffle LO down a bit, it's normally only problematic if she has a coat on x

 

[Sunshine12]

It really depends on your car rather than car seats that people like TBH as there are loads that wont fit depending what vehicle you have. Your best bet is just to go into halfords or john lewis or wherever and try some to see what fits. You cant really go by the various websites either (as i found out last week!) We have isofix in both our cars so just bought a maxi cosi priorifix as we have no underfloor storage so it was fine in both. x

 

[kettle28]

If the top of her head hasn't reached the top of the carseat, she still has several centimeters to grow before she's too big. Growth speed gradually slows down so she should make it to 9 months. As 9 months is the earliest age you can move to forward facing, you'd need another rear facing seat before then.

Legally in uk forward facing can be from 9kg in weight

https://www.gov.uk/child-car-seats-the-rules/overview

 

[kettle28]

We just bought maxi cosi opal, it extends sideways as well as up from newborn to 3-4 yrs old

 

[happymummax]

I'm going to look at getting a be safe refacing car seat, there's a shop in my town that stocks them xx

 

[ticking.clock]

If the top of her head hasn't reached the top of the carseat, she still has several centimeters to grow before she's too big. Growth speed gradually slows down so she should make it to 9 months. As 9 months is the earliest age you can move to forward facing, you'd need another rear facing seat before then.

Legally in uk forward facing can be from 9kg in weight

https://www.gov.uk/child-car-seats-the-rules/overview

Yeah that's correct, and my lil one isn't far off the weight threshold for forward facing (2lb off and not even 5 months old) we had to buy the next stage that lasts til 4 years old, yes it's a struggle getting her in it rear facing but she really did need the bigger seat

 

[girl friday]

If the top of her head hasn't reached the top of the carseat, she still has several centimeters to grow before she's too big. Growth speed gradually slows down so she should make it to 9 months. As 9 months is the earliest age you can move to forward facing, you'd need another rear facing seat before then.

Legally in uk forward facing can be from 9kg in weight

https://www.gov.uk/child-car-seats-the-rules/overview

Yeah that's correct, and my lil one isn't far off the weight threshold for forward facing (2lb off and not even 5 months old) we had to buy the next stage that lasts til 4 years old, yes it's a struggle getting her in it rear facing but she really did need the bigger seat

Info from RSPoA says,that moving to forward facing earlier than what is obviously older guidelines (sorry, it was 9 months and 20lb with DS1) should only be done when a child can sit unaided for long periods (they state 30 mins as an indicator). Also, if you look at info in shops and online, forward facing car seats are advertised as suitable from 9 months.

I don't practice ERF myself and I know it's expensive, but having been rear-ended at relatively high speed (30-40mph) when DS1 was in a rear facing car seat at 5 months old, I wouldn't want to move to forward facing so quickly.
I also think it's stupid that car seat manufactures are making the seats so small. Across Europe, America, Australia etc more and more people are practising ERF, yet here in the UK the government info on the link gives no age limit and LOs are ready to move up at 5 months! It seems like a massive step in the opposite direction.

 

[Tattoo]

Quick hijack question - The Joie Stages one isn't isofix - does anyone know how easy it is to put a baby in when rear-facing? I just watched the kiddicare installation video and it looks like the seat belt would get in the way when putting baby in? xxx

We tried the Joie Stages in our Renault Megane, and it just would not sit flush on the seat. We've got a Britax Max Fit now, which rear faces from birth until about 4 years (I think it goes up to 18kg...does that sound right? ). It's Isofix only, so that's something to consider. We've moved our Greco Logico S infant carrier into my mum's car. LO is hurtling towards the 9kg weight limit, but it'll do for the next few weeks. I'm hoping we can replace the Logico S with something like the Joie Stages for my mum's car. I want LO rear facing a bit longer yet!