*Hang in here with me while I try and explain the situation and ask for some advice!*
Jackson has just about gotten too long for his snug ride infant car seat. He has yet to reach the recommended max weight limit. Every time I buckle him in, I am finding it harder and harder to get his little straps over his shoulders. It is time to move up!
Joshua and Abby Kate stayed in their snug rides until they were 18/20 months old. When I moved them into a new car seat, I purchased the Eddie Bauer front facing car seat/booster seat combo. Their car seats hold a weight of 20-100 pounds. When they are at booster seat weight/height, I can simply use the lap belt from our van.
Here are my options...
I can buy a "regular" booster seat for Abby Kate and let Jackson use her front facing car seat. In order to do this, I would have to wait for Abby Kate to gain 4 pounds and turn 4 years old. She will be 4 in a couple of months and there is no telling how long it would take for her to gain 4 pounds. Jackson would have to weigh 20 pounds (getting him weighed today) and be 1 (which will happen in a few weeks). To me he seems too little to be forward facing in a straight back car seat. He still takes naps in the van and I would hate to have his little head not be supported.
*Approximate Cost of a Booster Seat - $40.
I can buy a convertible car seat for Jackson. I have done a little bit of research on these and I like what I see. I could still keep him rear-facing (but for how long), or he could be switched around to face the front if the car seat is a little reclined. Also, I would not have to wait on weight/height gain for Jackson and Abby Kate. The only thing is, is that, I would potentially be buying 2 more car seats/booster seats. The convertible car seats go up to a weight of 40 pounds. But maybe by the time Jack would need a booster seat, one of the older ones would be finished using theirs. (Which brings up another question - How long to kids have to stay in booster seats? I've seen 4'8" is the magical height to not have a booster seat, but there are some 6 year olds that are not that tall.)
*Approximate Cost of a Convertible Car Seat - $80 and up.
After writing it all out, I think that I am leaning more towards a convertible car seat. I have a coupon for $10 off a car seat at Babies R Us, so I will probably drag Jason out with me to the store this weekend. Clearly I've never had a convertible car seat. I am wanting to hear all of your opinions. Is there one that you would recommend over the others? Would you keep him rear-facing, or would you turn him around? What do you think?
**I emailed out Joshua's tee ball schedule. If you want a copy, just let me know and I will send it out.
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10 comments:
They say the Britax are really good, but they're pretty pricey. We have 2 Evenflo Triumphs and have been really happy with them. They have a deluxe model, premier model, and Advance I think that have some varying options, but they're all rear-facing to 35 lbs and front to 50 lbs. They don't make the exact model we have anymore, but it is a Triumph style. Grant's been sitting in his since he was 10 months old and it's still going strong, looks pretty much like brand new. I'd definitly recommend them!
I loved our convertible car seat that I got as a baby shower gift with Lawson. Started using it rear facing at about 7-8 months for him just b/c wagging around the infant carrier was a waste of time for me since he wouldn't stay in it. He used that until Jordan needed to move out of her infant carrier. At that point I bought Lawson what I thought would be his "until he doesn't even need a booster anymore" carseat--the one up to 100. J wasn't even 1 and still needed to be a little reclined to take naps too. A couple months later I was rear-ended and had to get new car seats. (Sidenote--I was sick to my stomach THROWING AWAY an almost brand-new carseat that looked just fine.) So...I opted for two that were the same--forward facing to 100. I will keep my kids in seats until the shoulder seatbelt straps hit them in the right place--age 6 or not...
I say... get Jackson a convertible...I think the one I had went up to 50 lbs and that would last him til he needs a booster seat. Keep the big kids in their "up to 100 lb seats" as long as you can and don't even buy plain booster seats.
We talked about this weeks and weeks ago...I had no idea you still had not decided!
Don't buy anything!!!! I have a convertible carseat that you can borrow. We just put it up in the attic a few days ago. If you are interested, I can bring it by so you can see if you like it.
Also, that's for the info on the friends links...I'll see what I can figure out.
i meant thanks for the info, not that's for the info. oops!
Technically, Hope should still be in a car seat because she doesn't weigh 80 pounds. She might be 18 before she weighs that much. We aren't even close to 60lbs. So, I'm not one to be giving car seat advice!
Thanks for all of the info Tracy! I feel like we are not as educated as we should be. Even when I switched Joshua and Abby Kate's car seats to front facing (at 20 months!), the installers were really insisting that they still remain rear facing. (And I would have done it, had my car seats been equipped to do so.) I had heard of the spine not being fully developed, but had forgotten the particulars. I am just not ready to turn Jackson around to the front. His little head would not be supported if he were front facing and we had an accident.
Thanks for all of the info girls!
Go convertible car seat for Jackson. We moved Anna to one at 3 months old because she was already near the length limit of the infant seat. Its rear facing of course and reclines back almost as much as an infant seat does so she sleeps very well in it. We moved Caleb to the convertible car seat at 5 months for the same reasons. We use Britax which are pricey but get the best safety reviews. There are lots of safe models for much less money. If you want Britax, you can get them much cheaper at baby overstock places on ebay. (new models, not used)
Also, you don't HAVE to turn the child front facing at one year and 20 lbs. That is just the earliest that you can. The Highway Safety Board actually recommends they remain rear facing for several years. We kept Caleb rear facing until 15-16 months. Use your own judgement.
We just moved Caley from her car seat to a booster. You are welcome to have ours. It has defnitely been used but it works perfectly.
hello, just noticed your blog and that you are looking for a carseat. the britax is one of the best, and can also be rear facing. very "paddy" for sleeping babies. I got my daughter hers when she turned one, she is almost three and still uses it. my five year old occasionally rides in it,too. when i got mine, the representative from britax was there, and had lots of neat things to say. i love mine, and they are very fashionable as an extra bonus!!!!
oh gosh...i couldnt tell ya seeing as how Im still not yet to that conundrum??? ;) good luck deciding! sounds like you have it pretty much figured out! ;)
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