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12-22-2012 at 8:53 PM
NM86
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Car seat help...

DS still uses an infant car seat.

It can be used until DS is 25 pounds. Right now he is 19lbs and 6oz.

So when are we supposed to switch to a convertible car seat?

What's the difference between that and the infant carrier? We don't lug around the carrier, we strap him in and out of it and leave it in the car. If he is asleep we will bring it inside and put him in it or if we are out and about we use the small stroller frame and just snap his car seat in there.

Should we make the switch sooner rather than later? Is a convertible one safer?

Sorry for all the questions...I'm just confused as to why everyone buys them so early if they can still use the infant one...unless of course LO is over the weight limit, etc.

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12-22-2012 at 8:59 PM
hayliedc
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We switched around 5 months so we could have a seat in each car. Also the convertible one is a roomier and sits up more. Lyla didn't like how much the infant one laid back.

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12-22-2012 at 9:13 PM
MrsLinding...
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We switched when Anna was trying to sit up in it, and freaked out when she couldnt. Also, it was a pita to lug around. The only reason I liked to was so she could stay asleep in it, but that stopped too. IMO the convertible seat is way more convenient.

Most infant seats also have length requirements too, not just weight. Like, if their head is above a certain point and such. You might want to check into that for the seat you have now.

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12-22-2012 at 9:18 PM
lancyjo
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If your baby is happy in the infant seat, I'd keep him in it as long as he's meeting the height/weight requirements. That was our original plan.

We switched Aria to a convertible at about 4 months because she was screaming all the time in the infant seat. We thought a bigger seat that sat more upright would help her be happier in the car.

We were wrong. She still screams bloody murder after about 20 to 30 minutes in the car. Our ped thinks she's carsick. Regardless, it sucks.

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12-22-2012 at 9:29 PM
jmccall79
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If he's ok in the infant seat, height and weight wise, I'd say leave him as long as you can. I switched Ian to a convertible seat around 5 months. He started trying to sit up in the infant seat and it was just easier for us. I'd say just check what the recommendations are for where his head is hitting at the top, I think they're supposed to be an inch from the top.

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12-22-2012 at 9:48 PM
NM86
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I just rechecked the height and weight requirements and the max weight is 35 pounds and the height 32 inches. DS is only 19lbs and 28 inches long. Looks like he can stay in this one for a really long time...maybe even up to 1 year old. I think that why I chose this one, so it would last a while lol.

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12-22-2012 at 10:08 PM
Jessicamer...
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My son is around the 75 to 80th percentile for weight, but average for length. His weight has less length to be distributed over, if that makes sense. Basically, he's a chunk. Because of his build, he "outgrew" the seat before he actually exceeded either the weight or length limits. It was getting quite difficult to get him in and out of the infant seat. That was our primary reason for switching when we did. I definitely thought we'd get more use out of the infant seat, and maybe we will next time! If your LO fits well and is happy, there is no reason to switch yet.



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12-22-2012 at 10:21 PM
jldubb0626
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We switched a little later than others, around 9 months or so. He wasn't near the limits, but he HATED being in the infant seat. He couldn't look outside like he wanted too, he was hot in it and just an uncomfortable mess. I don't think convertible seats are any safer than the infant ones, all car seat must meet the same safety standards. But obviously others have more personal reasons for switching out of them. I'd say if he's comfortable in it and you don't mind lugging it around, keep him in it until he hits the limits.


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12-22-2012 at 10:52 PM
footnotegi...
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We're switching sometime next week, when the one we ordered for my car gets in (silly me bought a 2 door car before getting pregnant, whoops!) For us, the reason for switching is that it has gotten to the point where a) I can't carry DD in the bucket style seat more than a few feet now because the combo is so heavy and b) she's tall enough that her shoulders are way up where the seat narrows and barely fit in, and there literally is NO slack left on the straps at all, we can't even have her in a thick sweater in the seat anymore. it's clearly no longer comfortable for her. 

This weekend, we will probably also be looking for a convertible to go in DH's car, but his is much easier as he has a 4 door.  


 
12-22-2012 at 10:56 PM
karleegirl
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No reason to switch if lo us under the size requirements, even past 1..

 
12-22-2012 at 11:07 PM
kayladay
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We switched because DS is almost past the max height on the infant seat. No other reason than just doing it now than later. 

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12-22-2012 at 11:10 PM
sooner1981
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Something to check is how they sit in the seat.  My LO is in the 97% for height, but she is all legs (wearing 18 month bottoms that we have to bring in around the waist and still easily wearing 6 month tops!)  The important height measurement for all RF-ing carseats is how close their head is to the top of the frame.  So, my LO might reach the "average" height capacity for a RF-ing carseat, but still be fine because so much of her length is in her legs, while someone else's LO may be a few inches shorter than my LO and under the official height capacity, but actually no longer be safe in the carseat due to being tall through the torso.  In most RF-ing carseats, kids are safe until the top of their heads is within 1.5 inches of the top of the carseat frame--but every seat is different. This info. should be in your manual.
 
12-23-2012 at 12:09 AM
MollySm
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Lucia is still in her infant seat. She's below the requirements and doesn't mind it, so we're sticking with it. Financially it's great for us to be able to get through the holidays without having to buy a new one!

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12-23-2012 at 6:02 AM
silvercama...
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We skipped the infant seat altogether because I knew I wouldn't lug it around anywhere which would have been the biggest draw for it.

 
12-23-2012 at 6:49 AM
Jen0204
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We stopped using them around 6 months because they were too heavy for me to carry both of them in their infant seats and the convertible seats allowed them to sit upright more and seemed more comfortable for them. As long as they haven't outgrown them it's really just a matter of preference, especially if your LO seems content in it.

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12-23-2012 at 7:56 AM
sparks2987
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We use both, DH still has the infant carseat in his truck, Emily only weighs 14lbs so she could use it for a long time. DH wants to switch when we decide to turn her to forward facing (dont want to get into that debate again) and I am thinking she will be able to stay in the infant carrier until then. The limit is 35lbs and DH doesnt mind carrying her and he likes it because he can bring her in if she is asleep and she stays asleep.

I switched last month because the infant carrier barely fit in my car, had to push the seat all the way up and noone else could ride with me. Emily cries and cries when she was in the infant carrier in my car for some reason. I thought it would help. It didnt really, she cries less but still cries alot of the time.


 
12-23-2012 at 10:37 AM
suitern
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We switched L around 10 months.  He was fine in his infant seat, but looked like he was approaching the top of the height limit with his head near the top.  He is also very broad through the shoulders and was looking rather uncomfortable in his seat.  He really seems to enjoy his new seat, so I think it was a good time to switch! I am sure we could have left him in it until closer to 1, but I think it was a good time!

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12-23-2012 at 10:53 AM
NatesLady1...
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There's really no reason to switch as long as he is still meeting the requirements of the infant seat. I would still have her in the infant seat out of convenience's sake (can take her in a restaurant if she is sleeping and at least try to keep her asleep, although that is rare anymore, etc) but thanks to many ladies on this board, we moved her to a convertible because I no longer felt completely confident in our infant seat because we had bought it used off Criagslist. I figured we had to get a convertible one of these days anyway (although probably not for quite a few months from now because DD is SMALL, 15lbs and the infant seat went to 22 lbs) so I just went ahead and got one. That's what she rides in now as her main seat. So that's the only reason we've already "made the switch." Otherwise, I think it would be great to still have her in an infant carrier.

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12-23-2012 at 1:08 PM
sunnyday01...
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Even though there is a stated height limit on your manual, your LO's head cannot come within an inch of the top of the shell, even if they are within the height limit. 

We switched DS to a convertible around 7m because the infant seat we had expired. It was just easier too because I hated bringing the seat in to daycare (DH did pick up so I had to leave his seat so DH could bring him home). It also coincided with the time that he could sit up on his own so he could sit in the shopping cart & high chairs at restaurants independently.

They are both equally safe as long as they're being used properly. 


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12-23-2012 at 8:31 PM
MrMrsandBa...
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We have a convertible in DH's truck but I'm still using the carrier. I love it and will keep her in it until she outgrows it. There isn't a reason I've seen to switch her yet so why bother! I figure once she gets closer to the limits I will finally go out and buy one for my car. She cries in both so there is t really that reason...I think it is just personal preference.

I will say that I really like having the option of keeping her in the seat if she is sleeping or about to sleep when we are out and about!

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