Convertible Car Seats

[Deebs]

K1 is fine. If k2 fits forward facing in a seat, he should fit in the same seat rear facing. He may have to pretzel up. Where are the kids' heads hitting height wise on those seats? Also, are the straps for K1 above his shoulders? Straps go at or below shoulders rear facing, but at or above for forward. Anyone who "knows " you knows that you work your tail off to do what is best for your boys.

[MrsK]

The roundabout carseat tilts differently when it is rear facing than it does when it is front facing and the straps fit differently when it is tilted in the rear facing position. We couldn't get his big torso into it even with his legs pretzled up. His legs are relatively short. It's his chest that is massive. Of course, this is all the more difficult because he arches, fights, and wrestles as we are trying to crowbar him into the seat. The kid has some really good wrestling moves too. Anyway, this tilt issue is another reason that I'm not a fan of the roundabout. I thought I'd like it because it is more compact than the marathon or boulevard but it hasn't worked well for us.

K1's straps are at his shoulders, straight back, with the cross-section of the 5 point harness even with his armpits. K1 is tall and thin. Perhaps I should use the roundabout seats for him and use the boulevard/marathon seats for K2?

Thanks for the reassurance about my parenting but in the event of an accident it wouldn't matter what anyone knows if the kids are not safe. Even if I was blameless, if the boys were injured, I'd be heartbroken the rest of my life.

[Pollyanna]

I think giving K1 the Roundabout is a good idea and you'll feel better if you turn K2 back around to rear facing.

[Deebs]

I think the scenario you described of swapping their seats back is what I'd do. It's so tricky - the seat I had the hardest time installing in my SUV is the easiest in my van. People think I'm crazy bc I have all different seats, but each one fits best in its particular position within our cars, and then to the specific child who is sitting in it. I jus did a massive seat swap amongst my kids and, while I'm happy I did it, the uninstall, strap changes, and re-install left me in a pile of sweat. I agree that you'd never forgive yourself anyway if one of them were hurt, but doubly so if you felt you hadn't had the, in the best possible scenario. I look at car seats as instance, and it seems you have the same view. That said, try to do it when someone can help with the boys.

[MrsK]

I just discussed it with DrK. As luck would have it, I have a carseat freak out while he's on an out of town rotation. Poor guy thinks I've lost my mind. He kept asking what got me on this topic. He'll be back on Friday (when MILK, who believes carseats are entirely unnecessary and my insistance on using five-point harnesses is just an invention of my own parinoia, arrives). I'm not going to attempt to switch the carseats until he can help me. I'm afraid that if I start messing with it now, I might not be able to get the seats back into the car and then I'll really be in trouble.

[SuzySunshine]

I hate to throw another wrench into this but check K1's height in the Roundabout. If I recall from when you visited K1 is just as tall, if not taller then R and there are instructions in the manual about where the top of the seat is supposed to be in relation to the top of their ears. R was very close to being out of his and a friend with twins needed another seat so we went ahead and switched him out of it just last week.

[HouseofWool]

Yep, I had to switch S out of the roundabout bc she was too tall. At 4 I have her in a high back booster, but I wish she was still in a 5 pt harness.

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

We will have to get a new car if I can pregnant any time soon as I would then have two in rear facing seats and Dh can't fit in the drivers seat that way. It's an absurd reason to buy a new car but since mine is about to die anyway, that's our plan.

[oceanchild]

In reality, a crash taken rear facing in a five point harness is easier on anyone, it's just that, at some point practicality wins out.

I'm only just starting to research this particular subject matter, but this is the point my DH keeps making. I was starting to think he was crazy, so it was nice to see someone else say it.

[SuzySunshine]

One of the parenting magazines I follow posted this on fb this morning, what timing!

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[MrsK]

The thing that frustrates me is that the carseats do not fit the cars well when they are rear facing which makes the carseat recommendations impractical. I shouldn't have to drive a bus to accomidate two toddlers.

[Bittersweet]

Yep, my 21 month old is still rear facing and will be as long as physically possible. We specifically chose a seat (Britax Marathon) that has high weight/height rear facing capacity. You should see the looks we get as I fold him into his seat, though. My mother gives me untold amounts of grief about how she feels so sorry for DS.


ETA: I feel you MrsK! We had to try multiple, multiple seats to find a configuration that would fit in our cars. Very annoying!

[MrsK]

Really, what I need is a car with a rear facing backseat. With all the fancy options in SUV4, a reversable back seat should be one of them.

[SoonerTexan]

Okay, so is it a size or a weight/height thing? My 14 month old is the size of most 2 year olds and maybe a few 3 year olds. I cant see her fitting well rear facing all the way up to 4. I was going to keep her rear facing to the rear facing max limits of the seat or re-evaluate when she is 2. It is already hard to fit her legs in now.

[Vanquisher]

http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/StayRearFacing.aspx