At what age did your baby outgrow their infant carseat?

Question

My baby's carseat says up to 22 lbs. My baby is 4 mos and about 16 pounds. I am wondering if we will have to buy another carseat before we go on Christmas vacation.

My baby's carseat says up to 22 lbs. My baby is 4 mos and about 16 pounds. I am wondering if we will have to buy another carseat before we go on Christmas vacation. My son is currently 24 inches long (last time I checked).

Answer 1

Each of my children were different. My son was out of his due to weight by 5 months, my daughter didn't outweigh the limit on hers until 11 months.

Here's how I would look at it if I were you: He's obviously going to outgrow the weight limit before he reaches one year old (which along with a minimum weight of 20lbs is when he can go forward facing), so you're going to be buying a convertible carseat (the kind that can be both rear- and forward-facing). Since you're going to have to do it anyways, its probably better to do it before you go just so you don't have to worry about it while on vacation. You don't get the convenience of getting to take the whole seat out, but as the baby gets heavier, you don't really want to be lugging the infant carrier and baby anyways (at least I didn't).

Even though we used the infant seat with our daughter until she was 11 months, we stopped using it as an infant carrier and just left the whole thing in the car from about 7 months old.

Answer 2

My son outgrew the length of it where his feet where hitting the car so we had to switch from the infant carrier seat to a rear facing convertible car seat. Your baby isn't likely to gain 4 pounds in the next two months but may be more comfortable in the convertible seat if baby is a long baby. Just remember to keep baby rear facing until first birthday AND over 20 pounds.

Answer 3

If the shoulder straps seem to be getting tight then get a new convertible seat. Make sure you put your baby in it before you buy it and that it fits into your car with the person in front still being comfortable. My daughter outgrew her infant seat by 6 months old (by length) and the first seat we got the straps pinched her head when we would take her in and out of the car and was to big for our car. We were sitting with knees in the dash.

Answer 4

Go buy a convertible car seat, We switched to a convertible car seat right when my son was able to sit in a shopping cart. You are suppose to keep them rear facing in till they are 20ibs and one year(which a convertible car seat can still be rear facing and then when they reach 20 ibs and one year then you can turn it around). My car seat goes up to 65 ibs so we will be using it for a while. Infant car seat usually only last in till the baby is about 20 or 25 ibs but most people switch to convertible way before that weight.

Answer 5

We outgrew by length before weight. We switched from an infant pumpkin seat to a rear facing convertable seat around 6 mos of age.

Answer 6

My 10 month old son is about 21 pounds and 28 or so inches. He just moved to a convertible a few weeks ago but we still use his infant seat to and from day care because it is easier to leave there. We are deciding what seat to buy for my husbands car, then he will be totally out. I don't think you will need one that quickly but you never know!

Answer 7

No. THe age is more important. Its generally (for rear facing seats) at least 25 lbs, so manyi nches AND 1 year of life. (so u need to check the heigh requirement on the seat) but do NOT move her forward facing til 1 yr. But yes, if the baby is really big u may find she's more comfortable in a convertible rear facing car seat.

Answer 8

My daughter is big for her age and she outgrew it at 9 months. I think you'll probally be safe until after the new year.

Answer 9

My daughter probably outgrew hers technically at 6 months, but I waited until she was about 10 months because I already had a forward facing seat to put her in...she's very big for her age!!!!!