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Original poster

Car seats - 8 mo too big for baby seat?

9 replies

Swizzler · 01/06/2007 20:03

We have a basic car seat for DS (can't remember what it's called but it's red). Supposed to be suitable for up to 13 kilos, but DS's head is just at the top of it now and I can't see it lasting more than a few weeks. We don't have a car but will be going to a wedding at the end of the month and will be travelling by car.

What do we do now? Is he still too little for a forward-facing seat? Are some baby seats more roomy than others?

OP posts:
Seona1973 · 01/06/2007 20:09

the minimum weight for forward facing is 20lbs and they need to be able to sit unaided as well. If your lo is below that weight then they would have to stay rear facing for a while longer - either in the existing seat or in a combination seat that goes both rear and forward facing (turn it round when lo reaches 20lbs)

My 8 month old is 23lbs but is still rear facing as that is the safest position for him to be in.

Original poster
Swizzler · 01/06/2007 20:11

The last time I weighed him (about a month ago) he was 21 lbs so def over 20lb He can sit up well.

Combination seat might be an idea - would prefer him to be rear facing if poss Which car seat do you have?

OP posts:
Seona1973 · 01/06/2007 20:19

my ds is still in his infant carrier (mamas and papas) so I havent had to buy a combination seat - sorry!! Maybe someone else will come along who has used one, or you could do a new thread about combination seats.

NannyL · 02/06/2007 17:59

so long as he is over 9kg and CAN sit up well it is fine for him to be in a group 1 car seat.

The most important thing is the weight and they use age as a guideline.

group 1 car seats are suitable for chidlren form 9 - 18kg and so long as he is within that weight he will be safe enough.

It is true howner that trvalling rear facing is the safest way to travel.... but the car seats that do best in independant crash tests are NOT the ones that forward and rear face...

a really safe seat to buy (if you are not having isofix) is the maxi cosi tobi or maxi cosi prior btw

Wallace · 02/06/2007 18:05

nannyL - isn't it 9kg and 9 months old?

NannyL · 02/06/2007 19:11

well as far as i know they are SAFEST in a rear facing seat for about the 1st 3 / 4 YEARS of their life... and in some countries they stay rear facing until 12 months

BUT really (as far as i understand) its about development.... some 9 months olds cant evn sit up or roll over..... while otehrs are walking.
I understand that the 9kg thing is to do with the ratio of the head weight to the rest of the body weight (someone elxplained it to me once and while i cant recall exactly how to explain it i got it at the time).... apaprently around 9kg the head is not so heavy in relation to th rest of the body so it is safe to be forward facing...

also babies who can sit up etc have muscles that are developed enough to help support the head.

Car seats are done primarily by weight with age as an apporximate guideline...

there are some 9 month olds who will be over 13kg and therefor NOT safe in a grouop 0 car seat... in the same way that some childr3en under 3 are over 18kg and not safe ina group 1 (or the oterh way, my little charge is 5 years and STILL not 15kg so still in her group 1 car seat cause she hasnt made it up to group 2 yet.

You need to be guided MAINLY buy the weight of a child.... If they still fir in the seat then they are safer travelling rear facing, but babies who are 9kg and can support their heads and sit well are technically safe enoygh in a forward facing seat.

A child under 9kg (even if they are long or over 9 months, or even over a year+ etc) is not safe in a group 1 car seat though.... full stop.

(another of my charges didnt make 9kg until 13 months! so remained in her group 0 seat until then)

Jojay · 02/06/2007 19:15

I've got a Britax First Class that goes forward and rear facing, and my DS is v. comfy in it. Fortunately I've not had to put it to the test in a crash situation, but it feels very secure in my car, and means I will probably leave my son rear facing for longer than if I'd gone from infant carrier straight to front facing.

Rhumba · 04/06/2007 13:28

I took my DS out of his baby seat at about that ages as his head was above and he was over 9Kg. We were living in bronley at the time and had a car seat safety rep (may be work finding out if your council do it too)

From waht i remeber the info I got was basically what NannyL said. They are better rear facing for as long as possible but if they are too big then you will need a new seat. They did not particualy like the ones that rear and forward face and so I went for a maxi cosi.

My mum has a first class for when we visit and I have never managed to get it to fit as well as my maxi cosi.

Can't remember but i think you look at the height of their eyes compared to the height of the top of the headrest on the grounds that lower than this could cuase whip lash.

Slim · 04/06/2007 13:36

Thanks for the replies (is Swizzler btw) - will look out for a new car seat. He does sit really well so may go for the maxi cosi as he'll be in it for a while.

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