When is it a good idea to switch from the newborn carseat to a bigger carseat?

Question

My baby is 7mo 18pounds but she is long her feet hang over the edge of her carseat...

Answer 1

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Answer 2

A carseat is only safe if the baby is in the recommended height/weight range for that particular seat. If you get a good convertible style carseat, you can use it as a rear-facing seat while your baby is under one year of age and as a forward-facing seat after that. Many of these type seats are safe for children under a year. Just read the manufacturer's guidelines to find out the recommended age, weight, and height ranges. But anytime a child outgrows a carseat, it is no longer providing adequate protection for him or her. Hope that helps.

Answer 3

Get a convertible seat, but keep her facing backwards as long as possible. Her legs will be fine, her neck is what you want to consider. Some seats can face back up to 35 pounds.

In Scandavia, children face the rear til 50 pounds.....four or five years old. They have FAR fewer child fatalities in car wrecks, and not once has there been a report of serious leg injurires.

Answer 4

I think I saw in your profile you are from Colorado - here are the laws for that state.

"Colorado law requires infants to ride in a rear-facing child safety seat until they are at least one year old and weigh at least 20 lbs.
Safety Advocates recommend that infants continue riding in a rear-facing position as long as possible for the best protection in a crash. Many larger convertible type child safety seats
will allow children to ride rear facing up to 30 or 35 lbs*. "

So with that in mind, the laws are exactly the same as in my state. Britax and many other carseat manufacturers make Convertable carseats that can be used both rear and forward facing. I switched my son to a Britax Boulevard when he was 7 months old (he weighed 19lbs at that age, and his feet, also, stuck out). Britax carseats car be used rear facing from 5-35 lbs and forward facing after 12 months and up to 65 lbs.

As for those who say it doesn't matter if their feet stick out - in an infant carrier, it ABSOLUTELY matters. A collision can send the carseat backwards, pinning their feet between the infant carrier and seat. It can lead to crushed feet, loss of blood supply to the lower legs and feet, dislocated knees, hips, and spinal injuries. I learned this in my last rotation. It's dangerous and should be avoided.

So quick answer - yes, you can switch her now. Your state laws allow it, and carseat manufacturers recommend it.

Answer 5

In the US the requirements for front facing carseats is 1 year and 22 lbs. Our pediatrician told us to keep her in the smaller one until she met those requirements even though she was a little long for it. I think you should consult both your pediatrician and look online for the local regulations for your area. If you get a new one the local police station and fire station will look at it for you too make sure you know how to hook it up. At least thats the way it is in my state. Good Luck!

Answer 6

She has to remain facing backwards until she is 1 but you can switch her into a carseat like this one--they can be rear facing and then when she is 1 you can turn it around and use it for a few more years. Our daughter is almost 2 and will get at least another year out of it!

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2404146&cp=2255983.2256187.2256196&cp=2255983.2256187&fbn=Brand+Name+Secondary%7CBritax&f=PAD%2FBrand+Name+Secondary%2FBritax&fbc=1&categoryId=2256196&parentPage=search

there are a ton of other ones out there but this is so you have a general idea.

Answer 7

My infant carseat also had a length requirement. You're not supposed to have them forward facing until they are a year. Maybe you get a new carseat that can be used both forward and rear facing. It would probably be big enough for your tall baby until she is old enough to be forward facing.

Answer 8

My doctor told me to wait until my children were around 1 year or about 20 pounds. She said it depends on the child. Both of my children weighed 20 lbs at their 1 year checkup, but my friends baby weighed 22 lbs at 3 months old. Her doctor advised her to keep him in the rear facing until he was able to sit up on his own. Then it would be ok to switch him. He is now 6 months old and hasn't even rolled over yet because he is so big. She ended up switching him anyway because she couldn't carry him. I would say as long as your daughter is comfortable in her seat, leave her in that until she is 20 lbs. Her safety is the most important thing=]

Answer 9

Well if your babys legs are longer than the seat id suggest changing to a bigger one an upright one, but the law says that they must be a certain weight to be in a certain car seat to get the weights and all the other info you should call your local health department and ask them this question!!

Answer 10

There are height and weight requirements on each seat. Typically a newborn seat is only recommended up to 20 pounds. I dont recall the height. Each seat should have the information marked or call the manufacturer

Answer 11

even though her feet hang over the edge you should still keep her in the infant car seat that Will happen but to be in a bigger car seat it Will go by the weight and also how good your child has total control over her head but your child sounds too young to be ain a regular car seat. Even tough her feet hang off its all about safety