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When to switch to a convertible carseat?

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  • #1

    When to switch to a convertible carseat?

    I know we've talked about which ones are best and which ones everyone likes but my question is when do you switch? I know that my seat is rated to 32 pounds the problem is the straps, especially now that it is winter. I can barely get Adele in the seat in her winter coat and get it secured.

    I don't understand why they would rate this seat to 32 pounds and not put longer straps on it, but they didn't. And yes, DH & I have both looked at it repeatedly and there is no way to make the straps any longer. Last winter I had one of those fleece car seat covers but that doesn't fit over her anymore because she's to long.

    So especially for those of you that had infants/toddlers in cold climates, what did you do in the winter about their coats and their car seats? :huh:

    TIA!
    Wife to NSG out of training, mom to 2, 10 & 8, and a beagle with wings.
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Re: When to switch to a convertible carseat?

    Babies usually outgrow infant seats by height or by comfort (that curled-up infant position that's safe and secure for a new babe is no fun for a more mobile and aware kiddo) long before they hit the weight limit. I switched Eddy at about 7 months and 19 pounds if I recall.
    Alison

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    • #3
      Re: When to switch to a convertible carseat?

      My understanding is that coats in a car seat is actually a big no-no. Apparently the bulkiness of the coat can cause the straps to not tighten and fit around the child properly.

      DS#2 is now 9 months old and I just moved him into a convertible car seat, but that was because (1) he was getting too heavy for me to carry around in the infant seat and (2) he outgrew it (lengthwise). I just put a light, fleece jacket on him with mittens and hat, and then when we get in the car I throw a warm blanket over him.
      ~Jane

      -Wife of urology attending.
      -SAHM to three great kiddos (2 boys, 1 girl!)

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      • #4
        Re: When to switch to a convertible carseat?

        The measure I've heard repeatedly is if the top of their head is within an inch of the top of the infant seat. Cora only hit that recently even though she's 99th percentile for length--she must be all leg. :huh: She still hasn't quite hit the weight limit.

        I've been going round and round on the puffy winter coat issue, too. I've decided to order her one of these fleece buntings for the car seat (and perhaps under her puffy coat for the stroller, I'll have to see how it is when it arrives):

        http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/de ... 8&v=glance

        Right now I've just been putting a little fleece jacket on her and rushing her out to the car.
        Married to a hematopathologist seven years out of training.
        Raising three girls, 11, 9, and 2.

        “That was the thing about the world: it wasn't that things were harder than you thought they were going to be, it was that they were hard in ways that you didn't expect.”
        ― Lev Grossman, The Magician King

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        • #5
          Re: When to switch to a convertible carseat?

          Also, when looking through the http://car-seat.org/ link Alison had put in the other thread I came across this highly cheesy, sometimes dubious, but nonetheless interesting video about the snowsuit issue

          http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UM1LJaOIu34

          And also this one showing an alternate method of putting a kid in a car seat with a heavy coat

          http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLTVPqn0 ... re=related
          Married to a hematopathologist seven years out of training.
          Raising three girls, 11, 9, and 2.

          “That was the thing about the world: it wasn't that things were harder than you thought they were going to be, it was that they were hard in ways that you didn't expect.”
          ― Lev Grossman, The Magician King

          Comment

          • #6
            Re: When to switch to a convertible carseat?

            We were at the top of the head mark when Xander was 7 months (he was also 24 pounds) so it wasn't really an issue (he was born in Jan) Is she close to being ready to move size wise?

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            • #7
              Re: When to switch to a convertible carseat?

              So if you don't put the child in a coat how do you get them out of the car, into their stroller and into the building without them freezing? It was like 9 degrees here this morning with the wind chill and its only December 3rd!

              Height wise she is not close to outgrowing it, her feet hang over the bottom but her head is not within an inch of the top.

              ETA: So I watched the videos and I now see what they're saying about strapping them in and then zipping the coat. Her coat has a polar fleece lining so maybe I'll just put her in that for now and have the shell around for if she's going outside for an extended period of time. :huh:
              Wife to NSG out of training, mom to 2, 10 & 8, and a beagle with wings.

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              • #8
                Re: When to switch to a convertible carseat?

                I wish I had known all this before....we got a Chicco car seat rated to 30 pounds but there is no way he will stay in it until then. He is already squished in there. And it is such a heavy seat that I have barely moved it from the car. Should have got one of the lighter Graco's. We'll probably get a convertible seat as soon as I see them on sale (for $43 again ).
                Anyway. No advice. Especially on the cold weather issue. J was in a onesie today.

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                • #9
                  Re: When to switch to a convertible carseat?

                  Originally posted by Lamorna
                  I wish I had known all this before....we got a Chicco car seat rated to 30 pounds but there is no way he will stay in it until then. He is already squished in there. And it is such a heavy seat that I have barely moved it from the car. Should have got one of the lighter Graco's. We'll probably get a convertible seat as soon as I see them on sale (for $43 again ).
                  Anyway. No advice. Especially on the cold weather issue. J was in a onesie today.
                  Kirsty we have the "lighter" Graco, Adele is only 20 pounds and I haven't lifted that seat out of the car with her in it for MONTHS!
                  Wife to NSG out of training, mom to 2, 10 & 8, and a beagle with wings.

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                  • #10
                    Re: When to switch to a convertible carseat?

                    If you're not worried about being able to lift the carrier out w/her in it, then I'd go ahead and make the switch to a convertible seat. We could theoretically have used our convertible from birth on, as long as we install it in a rear-facing position, but that would be a PITA w/a newborn.

                    Davita just got this awesome boot for the stroller from One Step Ahead (and remember, that OSA is on ebates, too).

                    http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/pro ... ryId=86214

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                    • #11
                      Re: When to switch to a convertible carseat?

                      Originally posted by Jane
                      Davita just got this awesome boot for the stroller from One Step Ahead (and remember, that OSA is on ebates, too).

                      http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/pro ... ryId=86214
                      Small hijack: I have that stroller blanket too and LOVE IT. I took the kids for a walk this morning (I think it was about 20 degrees outside?) and they were both so toasty and warm that they both fell asleep!
                      ~Jane

                      -Wife of urology attending.
                      -SAHM to three great kiddos (2 boys, 1 girl!)

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        Re: When to switch to a convertible carseat?

                        Ok gang, so the Britax Roundabout came today and DH and I installed it after A went to bed. It is still rear facing b/c she is not a year yet. She is going to have NO leg room when I put her in it tomorrow. We installed it with the latch system behind the driver's seat because we couldn't get it anywhere close to tight in the middle using the seat belt. We also have it in the reclined position.

                        What are we doing wrong or is it normal for her to have no leg room with it rear facing? :huh:
                        Wife to NSG out of training, mom to 2, 10 & 8, and a beagle with wings.

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                        • #13
                          Re: When to switch to a convertible carseat?

                          Normal, from what I understand. They just rest their feet against the seat back and bend their legs a bit and they're fine with it. Try her out and see how she does.


                          On a mostly unrelated note, I installed Cora's convertible rear-facing on T-giving morning, and she ralphed all over it on two of her first five trips in the thing (including the maiden voyage). So today I switched her to front-facing, hoping that helps her motion sickness. I feel oddly guilty about it, as I planned to have her rf until the weight limit, but man those buckles and straps have a lot of little crevices. If this doesn't work I'm going to have to make her some kind of giant puke shield. Poor little wub.
                          Married to a hematopathologist seven years out of training.
                          Raising three girls, 11, 9, and 2.

                          “That was the thing about the world: it wasn't that things were harder than you thought they were going to be, it was that they were hard in ways that you didn't expect.”
                          ― Lev Grossman, The Magician King

                          Comment

                          • #14
                            Re: When to switch to a convertible carseat?

                            Poor kiddo and poor you! Puke is always harder in the winter, IMO, because you can't let it air out in the sun.

                            Don't feel too guilty. I changed Evie as soon as she was one because it reduced the crying. I figure that it is safer to have a less distracted driver with her front facing than a more distracted driver with her rear-facing. I think puke qualifies under that as well. :therethere:

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                            • #15
                              Re: When to switch to a convertible carseat?

                              Originally posted by cupcake
                              Don't feel too guilty. I changed Evie as soon as she was one because it reduced the crying. I figure that it is safer to have a less distracted driver with her front facing than a more distracted driver with her rear-facing. I think puke qualifies under that as well. :therethere:
                              Thanks. Extenuating circumstances!
                              Married to a hematopathologist seven years out of training.
                              Raising three girls, 11, 9, and 2.

                              “That was the thing about the world: it wasn't that things were harder than you thought they were going to be, it was that they were hard in ways that you didn't expect.”
                              ― Lev Grossman, The Magician King

                              Comment

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