5 month old growing out of car seat!

[Wildfire81]

I do not know if you have the same style of seat in the UK, but I have a convertible rear facing to 40 pounds, and front facing to 70 pounds car seat. The only thing I do not like is convertible seats stay in the car. Also, my son will be able to stay RF until is is probably 3 years old. I feel more comfortable with him RF as long as possible.

 

[NoodleSnack]

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!

That's how it should be:

https://michigansafekids.org/car-seat-safety-info.htm

Use the right seat, the right way!

Rear-facing Babies & Toddlers – Click here to see different types of rear-facing seats.
Keep your infant in a rear-facing car seat in the back seat for as long as possible - up to the height or weight limit of the car seat. The “12 months and 20 lbs” rule often cited is the bare minimum to turn a child forward-facing. Rear-facing children are safest!
Once your child outgrows the infant seat, move her to a rear-facing convertible seat and use until she reaches the weight/height limit allowed by the manufacturer (that could be 30-40 lbs). Many kids will be over age 2 when they reach that weight.
A rear-facing car seat should be semi-reclined so that baby’s head stays in contact with the seat and does not flop forward. This is important to keep the baby’s airway open.
The shoulder straps should be through the slots at or below the child’s shoulders.
Never put a rear-facing car seat in front of an active frontal airbag.

 

[Gc85]

If you are interested in ERF I'd defo recommend the besafe izi combi isofix, its brilliant and althought pricey I think it's well worth it! It's rock solid when fitted and pretty high so LO can have a look out of the windows. I've also heard good things about the joie stages seat which I am considering getting for out second car. Just make sure you get the newer model as the older model has a lower RF limit (18kg vs 13kg).

If you can't stretch to ERF then your best bet would be a combination seat like the britax first class plus (brilliant seat, we've got one in our second car but LO is close to the 29lb RF weight limit), you can normally pick one up for £80-£90 quid https://www.pramworld.co.uk/brand/britax/britax-first-class-plus?gclid=CJ3q04rT1rcCFVDJtAoddAwAmg Or the maxi cosi opal, both will keep you LO rear facing for a good while longer

I do agree with PP that the seat belt can sometimes be a pain but I just tuck it down out of the way, just remember to put it back up again! It's a gripe that I am willing to put up with to keep my LO RF.

I wouldn't even consider turning a baby of 5 months ish FF regardless of them being 20lbs of over. There is no way their neck muscles would be developed enough to support their head adequately in an impact, the thought makes me shiver I've had whiplash from a low speed impact and it was horrible I can't imagine what that would do to a young baby

 

[happymummax]

If you are interested in ERF I'd defo recommend the besafe izi combi isofix, its brilliant and althought pricey I think it's well worth it! It's rock solid when fitted and pretty high so LO can have a look out of the windows. I've also heard good things about the joie stages seat which I am considering getting for out second car. Just make sure you get the newer model as the older model has a lower RF limit (18kg vs 13kg).

If you can't stretch to ERF then your best bet would be a combination seat like the britax first class plus (brilliant seat, we've got one in our second car but LO is close to the 29lb RF weight limit), you can normally pick one up for £80-£90 quid https://www.pramworld.co.uk/brand/britax/britax-first-class-plus?gclid=CJ3q04rT1rcCFVDJtAoddAwAmg Or the maxi cosi opal, both will keep you LO rear facing for a good while longer

I do agree with PP that the seat belt can sometimes be a pain but I just tuck it down out of the way, just remember to put it back up again! It's a gripe that I am willing to put up with to keep my LO RF.

I wouldn't even consider turning a baby of 5 months ish FF regardless of them being 20lbs of over. There is no way their neck muscles would be developed enough to support their head adequately in an impact, the thought makes me shiver I've had whiplash from a low speed impact and it was horrible I can't imagine what that would do to a young baby

That's the car seat I was thinking of getting forgot to mention in my first post I wanted to erf! Xx

 

[Siyren]

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

i know you didnt ask hun- but i just wanted to say you should never put a coat on LO when she's in a car seat- it stops the straps from fitting snuggly enough and in an impact a coat can compress- leaving the straps really loose and ejecting LO from the seat.


to op- i'd really recommend the britax 2 way elite- we have this (only ever having installed it rearfacing) and i couldnt recomend it more- my daughter will be four in october and she still has plenty of space left. i will say though that you'd be surprised how much the growth rate slows down- it doesnt matter if legs are over the end- and the top of the seat is ok until it hits eyelevel x

 

[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

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.

No offence but I never said I was going to put my daughter FF just that at under 5 months old she near the weight limit,
I'm not stupid enough to even consider putting her FF, was just pointing out the weight limits mean nothing either as my LO is nowhere near ready to be FF only by weight!

I've had 3 kids and as a childminder I am well aware of the risks, sadly some people won't be which is why I highlighted the fact that you can't go by just 1 criteria (age or weight) but by what is the safest option

 

[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.

No offence but I never said I was going to put my daughter FF just that at under 5 months old she near the weight limit,
I'm not stupid enough to even consider putting her FF, was just pointing out the weight limits mean nothing either as my LO is nowhere near ready to be FF only by weight!

I've had 3 kids and as a childminder I am well aware of the risks, sadly some people won't be which is why I highlighted the fact that you can't go by just 1 criteria (age or weight) but by what is the safest option

Firstly sorry, I didn't want to imply I thought you were stupid. I quoted the stream of quotes as they all related to my initial post and my experience.
The second part of my previous response was a rant at car seat manufactures and government guidelines that don't seem to help parents keep LOs rear facing much beyond 5/6 months.

 

[ellie27]

New Joie Stages, sold by Babysrus/Toysrus rear-facing to 18kg!!! Possibly up to around age 4. Priced at £129.99 at the moment. Last weekend was an extra 20% off so I got one for my son for £104!!

My son is 19 months and around 25lbs - this seat should do him a couple years rear-facing.

The belt is in the way, but I managed to lift him over it, he is 19 months and I manage. As I am typing I am thinking maybe I can try putting him through under the belt???

My 3.5 yr old daughter is in the Maxi Cosi Mobi - rear-facing to 25kg! She has plenty of room - a great seat, it doesnt sit up against the back seat, rather it has a leg/prop and sits at the edge of the back seat so plenty of leg room for child. She is comfy in it now and will be fine for another couple years, and then my son will move into that. Mobi is around £245.

 

[Gc85]

New Joie Stages, sold by Babysrus/Toysrus rear-facing to 18kg!!! Possibly up to around age 4. Priced at £129.99 at the moment. Last weekend was an extra 20% off so I got one for my son for £104!!

My son is 19 months and around 25lbs - this seat should do him a couple years rear-facing.

The belt is in the way, but I managed to lift him over it, he is 19 months and I manage. As I am typing I am thinking maybe I can try putting him through under the belt???

My 3.5 yr old daughter is in the Maxi Cosi Mobi - rear-facing to 25kg! She has plenty of room - a great seat, it doesnt sit up against the back seat, rather it has a leg/prop and sits at the edge of the back seat so plenty of leg room for child. She is comfy in it now and will be fine for another couple years, and then my son will move into that. Mobi is around £245.

How have you found the joie for leg room?? I am thinking about getting one for our other car but I am worried about the lack of leg room compared to the besafe? Also I know it can only be RF on the most reclined position how do you find this? My LO loves being upright and I am not sure she'd like it?? My other contender is the multi tech 2 but I just can't decide

 

[Peggy O]

We have BRitax Chaperone, and LO is no where near too big for it at nearly 5 months. (It's a mammoth seat, weighs a ton) I hope she can stay in it for the 1st year, it has a 30 pound weight limit. LO is pretty long though. We got got for free from OH's brother, so I have not done much research on carseats. Seems like a good one though.

 

[ellie27]

Yes, the joie must be fully reclined but my son is fine in it, not sure if you can see the recline from the pics? I thought it would be really reclined for him, but when I put it in its fine, I think perhaps my actual carseats are sloped and that makes it more level.


Leg room, again, from the pic he has plenty room. They really can still sit comfy with bent knees too.


The multi-tech just didnt fit in my car, buckle/belt crunch.

 

[icklemonster]

Thanks very much Ellie for posting the pics, that is very helpful to see xxx