When to move up to the second stage car seat?

[MummyDarlingSausage]

My ds is 6 mnths but already 20 lbs - we have the second stage car seat for him already as it was my dd's and it is recommended for 9mnths and over or 20 lbs. Is it safe for me to start using it now? Thanks for any advice.

I would keep him in the baby seat as long as possible. Where does his head come up to?

about 2 inches from the top

I'd keep him in the baby one if you can - and certainly if the second-stage one is front facing. He is too young to be front-facing IMO. Does the baby seat go up to 13kg or just to 9 (9kg is 20lbs, I think)?

His baby seat go's up to 13kg. I thought he might like to face forward and see us but I'll wait it's safer

It isn't just to do with the weight IIRC. A baby has to be able to sit and support their own weight before they are able to go into a forward facing seat. My ds2 was 8 months when we moved him but dd (who used exactly the same car seats) wasn't able to move up to a bigger seat until she was 12 months.

Rear-facing as long as poss is really the safest thing. ds is 2.2 and just 21 lbs (!) - is getting too long for his up-to-13kg seat, and we're looking for one that faces both ways. His body is still so little and rear-facing is a lot 'better' for them in the event of a crash. As far as seeing you goes - it's only the backs of your heads

DD is 15 months and we are just now going to put her in a seond stage seat as her head is coming near to the top of her maxi cosi cabrio seat.

I took her a few months ago and John Lewis said that as her head wasn't near the top and she was still under 13kg then she should stay in her baby seat.

OK I'll definately be waiting - I just wasn't sure. Thanks for your replies

dd was just under 9 months (although already 9kg) when she moved but it was either that or have dh drive with a screaming child distracting him, which i decided was much more of a risk.

Ds however has just passed 9kg but is still happy to sit in a rear-ward facing, so thats the way il keep him till he's too big!!

oh and btw my dd would still fit in a rearward facing one now at 2.8 as her head doesnt come above the top yet, but there was no way she was having it!