Car seat confusion for 6 month old

[AmyG87]

Hi all

My LG is nearly 6 months old. Last time I got her weighed (which was 5 weeks ago), she was nearly 17lb. I’m going tomorrow to get her weighed again.

She currently has the Graco Evo car seat but I’ve really been struggling to strap her in lately. I went into Mothercare the other day & the lady there told me that babies shouldn’t be wearing a coat in their car seats (what do you all do about this in winter), the top of her head shouldn’t reach the top of the seat (it is very nearly there), & that she can’t go in the group 1 car seat that my parents have as it is forward facing & she can’t be forward facing until 15 months old...

So I need recommendations for a combined car seat that is suitable from now & will last a good few years as I can’t afford to keep buying new seats! Preferably within £150 budget if possible

Thank you in advance x

That seat is ok until 29lbs so plenty of time left. Yes they shouldn't wear a heavy coat, put a blanket over the top if required.

She has no room whatsoever & very near the top of the seat. Even without a coat, I am struggling to fasten her in so it’s not going to last much longer.

Yes everything the mothercare lady told you is correct.

Sounds like you don't need a new car seat just yet.

If it's really cold I put a blanket over DD which she then kicks off immediately and also removes her socks . Or I just turn the car heating up.

I put a coat on her when we get out of the car.

Is there any insert that can be removed? I have no experience of combination seats but when mine were younger they went forward facing earlier which wasnt ideal.

Have you pulled her right down in the seat so that her nappy is pulled against the buckle? It’s amazing the difference that can make.

I’ve taken this photo from a FB car seat advice group to show the difference.

Is there a higher up setting for the straps to go through?

Have you taken the newborn insert out?

Sorry cross post.

I could understand if you were saying she physically doesn't fit in the seat but your issue seems to be the straps not fastening? Do they not extend at all? I don't have the same car seat but the one I have there is no way I would not be able to fasten the straps long after DD grew out of the seat itself. They extend to about twice the size she would ever need.

There aren't any newborn inserts or anything still in it are there?

The Concord Reverso is rear facing and does from birth to about age 4.

In terms of seats if it’s compatible with your car the Joie Stages is £150 I think and will can do from birth to 7years.

www.joiebaby.com/product/stages/

Any carseat that is group 0+1 will do what you need.

Rear facing is 5 times safer than forward facing. The Joie range (stocked by mothercare) are very reasonably priced and rear face (or forward face) until 18kg, approx 4yrs old but will depend on your baby's weight/height

Well.... the car seat lady in Mothercare is mostly correct.

Firstly yes you shouldn't use a coat in a car seat. Instead the best thing to do is to put a blanket over them once they're strapped in.

However I believe you that this doesn't make much difference - Graco seats are small.

They do grow much more slowly in the second half of the first year, so you may have longer to make a decision than you are thinking right now. But I think you're right to look at this.

If your parents have a Group 1 car seat this is running on older legislation, so no 15 month minimum age for this. However, she would need to be at least 9kg (which is 20lbs), so she is still not big enough for this seat, and additionally, you should be aware that it's much more risky to have a child forward facing, as this places a lot of pressure on their neck and spine, potentially culminating in life changing injuries, if you were to have a crash. This is considered particularly dangerous with babies under and around a year old, which is why the newer seats being produced to new rules have a minimum age of 15 months for forward facing. Really, rear facing as long as you can is the safest choice.

I would suggest that your best option would be one of the Joie seats. They continue rear facing for as long as you want/need and they're very reasonably priced. If you preferred around 18 months/2 years you could also turn it around to forward facing. Make sure you get one which includes Group 0, as that's the stage she's at now, but other than that, they are all good I think and a couple of them are under your budget range and will last until she is 4 or 7 depending which one you get.

Sorry couldn't help myself in the end Love a bit of shopping...

Joie Tilt, Rearfacing to 4 years, Forward facing to 4 years, £70 Kiddicare/Halfords

Joie Steadi, RF to 4 years, FF to 4 years, £100 Mothercare/Halfords/Kiddicare/Argos (Looks like more side impact protection + better recline)

Joie Stages, RF to 4 years, FF to 7 years, £120 Kiddicare/Halfords

Britax First Class Plus, RF to 2 years, FF to 4 years, £90 Amazon

Also:

Joie Every Stage, RF to 4 years, FF to 12 years, £160 Halfords/John Lewis

I know it's a bit higher but it goes for the extra stage. Though by that point you might be happy using a booster without backrest anyway, so could be a false economy.

These are the best prices I've found, and I wouldn't trust any other brand at those price points. There are a lot of cheap seats on the market, and most of them are awful, a few are good. Joie and Britax are definitely trustworthy brands.

If the infant insert is out and the crotch is pulled right forward to the buckle, how far is there between top of her head and top of the seat?

Would you like to share a picture (big emjoi or whatever over your childs face) and those with the knowledge can do a check?

Do the harness straps need taking up to the next slot?

Wow thank you for all of the responses

So I’ve checked & the infant inserts are still in (I just assumed they HAD to stay in - first time Mum with no idea what I’m doing)!

So I’ll try her in her current seat without the inserts & without her coat (I’ve been putting her in a cuddly cardi past few days to keep her warm). But think I will venture to Halfords to look at their combined seats x

The reason they shouldn't wear a coat is because you hand tighten the straps but there is still lots of air in the coat. In an accident? The straps compress the air and the child can come out from the straps.

OK to buy from Halfords but be aware their car seat salesperson training is shocking - you might not be able to trust what they tell you.

I would recommend buying from a brick and mortar store when possible because you can try the seat in your car and make sure it fits. So Halfords is a good bet in that sense.

Just one to watch out for in there - their own brand combined one is no good as only supports rear facing to 10kg (22lbs) so probably less than a year.

I don't know much about the Cozy n Safe one they stock but the higher end models they do look decent enough.

I think you'll find your fine now the inserts are out. I've looked back at my red book and my very tall ds was 17lb at 5 months and he didn't outgrow his group 0 seat til over 12 months!

I've just removed them for 15lb d's who was getting a bit squished

Car seat advice for mummies and daddies on Facebook is very helpful lots of knowledgable people on there for advice.

Try and keep her rear facing as long as possible - ours did til 4yo.

Be careful with the 'cuddly carries'. The whole reason you take a coat off is that it prevents you from properly/tightly securing the seatbelt because of the bulky jacket. In an accident the straps can be so loose the baby can literally fly out. Cardigan would be the same problem. There are scary videos on YouTube which could explain it better than me.

My 2.5 year old is in a joie advance rear facing with plenty of room to grow still. Its safer to keep them rear facing until at least 4 years old or more and theres many seats avalible that accomadate that.

All facebook car seat groups are insane. I recommend you don't join one if you like your sanity.

I agree hope baby is more comfy without the insert :)

Cardigans are less of an issue than bulky puffy coats.