car seat nightmare 3 month old too big for rear-facing

[edam]

... but too young for forward-facing. Obviously at three months my nephew isn't able to sit up, but he's grown out of his rearward-facing rock-a-tot ? his body's too long and the straps are too tight even on the highest setting. Sister is desperate, apparently only thing thing Mothercare could suggest is one particular car seat that can convert from one to the other, but it doesn't fit her car! Any ideas?

Message withdrawn

The Mothercare guy checked and it doesn't fit her car or her dp's car... and we are all off on holiday next month involving looooong car journey.

Message withdrawn

I have the Jane Matrix and am currently using it for my 9 mth old who is 98% on height centile. There is plently of room it is up to 13kgs approx 12 - 18 mths.

There are cheaper car seats than this on the market which are a 0+ so up to 13kgs rather than 9kg and they are longer as DS's head is no where near the top when he is sat in it.

There are also ones which like Mothercare have suggested which convert from rear facing to forward facing - Mamas & Papas do one.

I know the last thing she wants to do is fork out more money, but I don't have any other suggestions. Hopes she finds a solution soon.

I have a very long 3 month old (his feet poke out of 6-9 month trousers, and that's with a cloth nappy on, too) and he still fits ok in our Graco carseat. Has outgrown the Britax one we have (I think it is a Rock-a-Tot, actually!)... I really think your Sis needs to shop around, some more.

Thanks everyone, that's really helpful. She's going to check out the Maxi Cosi Citi, Jane Matrix and call Mamas and Papas. And try out her Graco carseat ? she'd forgotten she had one with her travel system! (Has been using our old Britax one as based on crash tests when we were buying car seats around 18 moths ago is safer than Graco...).

3 months is quite young, but my DS was a big baby and by 5 months we put him in forward facing Maxi Cosi seat. Although it says from 9 months, he was at the weight range (98th centile) and when I called them they said it would be safe. He was a lot more comfy in there and has only jus tmoved on to the next stage seat (nearly 3 now)

Message withdrawn

Yes, agree weight is also very important - isn't it about 9kg? But also the ability to sit up independently and to be able to support themselves well. Otherwise in the impact of a crash serious damage can happen to a baby in a forward facing car seat. In some European countires children remain in rear facing seats until toddlers of 3 or 4 years, beause of the safety aspect.

I would have a look at an independent baby shop - they often have much larger ranges to choose from. There are number of car seats that can be used frm birth until 4 years - they are rear facing to start with, then you turn them round later. My PILs have the Bebe Confort Iseos which works this way.

Weight and age are both important. I know that the recommendations are often different in the US and the UK, but here babies are supposed to be 20lbs AND at least one year old before they face forward.

Anyway, 3 months is definitely too young.

Both of mine outgrew their original rear facing seats long before the age they were supposed to. My dd was very very long (off the charts...stupid hv insisted that she had been measured wrong as she couldn't possibly be off the chart). We bought a car seat in the usa that can go forward or backwards, is reclinable and is good from 0 to 80 lbs. (it eventually converts in to a booster seat). It's made by Cosco and is readily available in the usa. I've yet to find a car it didn't fit in. I'm sure there is something similar here. Or maybe you could get someone to bring one over for you. Are you in London? If you were, you could try mine out.