Large and in Charge!

There are many, many rear facing convertable car seats, ranging from $40 Wal-Mart models to boutique brands even more expensive than Britax! Have fun shopping!

Absolutely not. There are some convertable car seats out there that go backwards p to 35lbs. You may want to look into getting one of those with the way he's growing. They need to be rear facing until atleast one year old for safety's sake.

My son has been large as well and regardless of what the car seat states, I had many people with different programs tell me that a child should not be in a forward facing carseat until their first birthday due to neck muscle strength. Based on that information I would assume this is why the age is the most important rule to follow with the car seat size.

I think it s horrible that you pediatrician even recommended that. If you aren't ready for a convertable carseat you may want to buy the SnugRide 32 which is an infant seat they will carry him a bit longer (not sure of the height limit though). Many people don't even use an infant seat and start with a converible so it is perfectly safe but I definitely wouldn't keep him in a seat he is to big for. Talk to a car seat tech if you are concerned.

we use the evenflo titan it is rear facing to 35 lbs and forward facing to 50 lbs it was just over 100 dollars he has been in it since he was 6 months old i love it adn he is 16 months and still rear facing

My kids were both out of infant seats by before 6 months...I don't remember how soon...but we just had a backward/forward facing seat that we put him in. The recline on most seats that face backwards is pretty substantial, so you don't need a baby who will sit up really well on his own to be able to put him in the seat. Also--your baby may well slow down dramatically too. I don't remember exactly, but my second was a LARGE baby--he was born under 8 pounds, but was wearing 18 month clothes by the time he was about 4-5 months old. He's now 22 months, and he's STILL wearing 18 month clothes! So he may slow down on you; I'd recommend doing the research, but not necessarily buying until you know he's there--babies grow at weird rates!

Oh--and we have an Evenflo rear facing/front facing carseat. We used an infant seat until they outgrew it, then the Evenflo from 4 months or so until 4 years, then switched right to a booster.

Do not worry about putting your son in a convertable carseat at this age. That is what they are made for. My sons were 3 months and 4 months when I started the conv. seats because carrying the infant seat was making me throw my back out. It will be way safer for your son.

His weight does matter for car seats! There's a reason why the manufacturers put weight limits on them. If your child is too big for the seat, he may not be protected properly in a crash. Buy one that has the highest ht and wt #'s possible- usually the most expensive ones.my middle and youngest children are tall so we bought a safety first alpha omega elite car seat. It has an adjustable back/headrest which has the added bonus of very easy seatbelt adjusting. I also know that pretty much any britax car seat is good.

I would ABSOLUTELY change seats before he reaches the max limits.

I have a convertible car seat. You can find them pretty much anywhere, but I've been happy with Albeebaby.com

Britax, as an example has one that is 5-33 lbs. Rear-Facing and 20-65 lbs forward facing. This will allow you to hopefully keep him within the weight limit for a rear facing seat until he is one.

(20lbs and 1 year old is the recommendation for turning him to a forward facing position)

We have the Eddie Bauer 3 in 1 that has the following options

Rear facing 5-35 lbs and forward facing 22-40 pounds
Belt positioning booster 40-100 lbs
5-Point harness with easy, up front adjustment
4-Position headrest adjusts with the harness so never needs re-threading
3-Position recline
3-Position crotch strap buckle
Mesh storage pocket and removable cup holder
Extra wide seat for comfort and support
Latch equipped for easy installation

Good luck!!!

All but one of my children were in a "bigger" car seat by the time they were 6mo. old the only one that wasnt was my 4th she was small enough until 8 mo. I am a big Britax fan they have a variety of seats. I currently have the Marathon but will need a different one for my now 3 1/2 mo. old as he is currently almost 26 in. I will need something that will fit my SUV rear facing and the marathon is too tall but the advocate and the boulevard are good models. I will post the link to britax website you can view the diff options. http://www.britaxusa.com/car-seats

Both my kids were at 20 lbs by 6 months. We bought a convertible car seat for my oldest, it's has detachable parts and the head rest moves up and down to fit kids of different heights, is both rear-facing and forward-facing. You can use it for an infant up to child of 80 lbs. Now that my youngest is over 20 lbs, we stopped using the infant seat for him, switched my oldest over to a forward-facing carseat/booster seat, and are using the convertible seat for him, rear-facing.
Even if the manufacturer's numbers are "arbitrary", you'll need a bigger carseat eventually anyway. Might as well get one you can use for all stages. I wouldn't think he'd be too young for a convertible seat like ours...sorry can't remember the name of it....got it at Toys r Us a year ago. These are designed for brand new babies too, they have head rests that fit brand new babies, so a 4 month old should be fine....especially one in the 99th percentile! :)

We've always gotten the Cosco brand of convertible car seats (three of them) and they have been totally fine. My only complaint about the Alpha Omega is that removing the cover (like if your kid pukes in it and it needs to be washed- it happened to us a few times) is kind of a pain. While I'm sure Britax is fabulous, there is no reason you HAVE to spend that kind of money. Shop around.

***UPDATED***
You post got me thinking; my baby is going to need a new car seat soon (the one I had planned on handing down was in a car accident). I did a search and found this car seat on Amazon for under $150:
The First Years True Fit C630 Convertible Car Seat Recieves Highest Given Rating From the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

You can find car seats that are made to be rear facing for bigger children. They just will not be infant carriers. Many infant carriers only go to about 20lbs or so, but regular carseats can be rear facing until a much higher weight is reached. I would go with the carseat recommendations vs. the doctor. After all the carseat manufacturer is the one designing and testing their product for safety!

Wow your 4mo.old is longer and heavier than my 10mo.old

You have to stop using the infant seat when there is no longer 1inch of hard shell above their head. I'm iffy on the whole weight limit junk I'm more concerned about having adequate seat above their head.

They do make some infant seats that hold up to 30lbs and for longer babies. I have one sitting in my gargage you could have for free if you want. It's the Graco Safeseat. It's our spare and we have no room for it.

My daughter is 10mos. 26inches 18lbs and she has PLENTY of room in her Graco Safeseat she's only one the second harness and it goes up to 3.

Otherwise if your wanting to take him out of his infant seat you can buy a convertible seat he's plenty big enough for that. My daughter also uses a Britax Roundabout rearfacing still.

STATE law they have to rear face until 20lbs and 1 year old it's not whichever comes first it's both. And they are now recommending you rearface as long as the seat allows which is 30-40lbs on different seats.

heres the new rules ive been hearing: keep your baby rear facing until 18 months or longer.

regardless of weight, size, etc, baby's muscles arent properly developed until an older age, and if in a crash, there is a MUCH higher risk of injury than previously thought in size appropriate forward facing children of young ages.

so what i would do is either find something in the britax brand which makes seats for larger infants, OR just go out and get a convertible car seat which can be used in rear facing until he is old enough for forward facing; but no rush to turn that baby around even if he is big enough.

the carseat "magic" number is the height limits. if your child's head is no longer protected because they are too tall, it's time to move up. my daughter was only in the 50th percentile at 6mos but was too tall for her bucket and we went with a Britax convertible car seat. I agree - I love Britax. they have lots of options and are rated the highest in safety. they are more expensive but have large size ranges and washable seat covers. Good luck!

My daughter was the same way. We bought a new car seat...it was one that was for infant up until 55 or 60 lbs or something. Anyway, we felt it was safer, and when she outgrows this one, we should be able to put her in a booster seat.

S.,

All my kids were out of their "bucket" rear facing and into a convertible car seat when they were just a few months old because they were too tall. When your child's head is within a couple inches of reaching the top of the seat, you need to move him up. No, 22 lbs and 29 inches is not some magical number that changes your carseat from a miracle protector to a death trap. You can use it a little beyond that, but if his head and legs are going beyond the seat, it's time to switch. Most of those convertible seats will go until at least 35 lbs and 36 inches, and many will go beyond that. If you live in Minnesota, the law is now that they have to be in a 5-point harness until they are 4 years old, so keep that in mind when buying the next seat.

Good luck,
S.

Hey S.-

Yes, you will need a new car seat for your son. A car seat is outgrown (infant seat) when one of two things happens, there is less than 1" of hard shell seat above the childs head, or the child goes over the weight limit. If he's approaching the weight limit (most infant seats are 20, 22lbs. There are two that go to 30, one goes to 32). If you own one that goes to 20 or 22, start thinking about a CONVERTIBLE car seat for your son.

A few good convertible car seats are-
Britax Marathon ($250) Rear face to 35lbs, forward face to 65lbs. Fits most kids to age 6/7 in the harness.

Evenflo Triumph ADVANCE (Make sure its the ADVANCE model, $150). Rear face to 35lbs, forward to 50lbs. Easy to adjust (no rethreading he harenss, it has a dial to adjust) and will fit most kids in the harness to age 5.

First Years TrueFit65 ($150) will rear face to 35lbs and forward face to 65lbs. Fits most kids to age 6/7 in the harness. Has the tallest shell, great seat!

Graco MyRide 65 ($150) Will rear face to 40lbs and forward face to 65lbs. First most kids to age 6 in the harness.

SunshineKids Radian65 ($250) wil lrear face to 40lbs, forward face to 65lbs. Nice narrow seat, but can be a pain to install in some vehicles, definently a 'try before you buy' seat in your car.

Steer clear of the '3 in 1' seats like the Alpha Omega or the Eddie Bauer. THey are ok for rear facing... to 35lbs. But they are a jack of all trades, master of none. They are short shelled, and most kids outgrow the harness in height long before weight, and they make bad booster seats, as they hold the belt too far away from the child as they are a wide seat. They just aren't worth the money, as you want your child to be in a 5pt harness as long as possible, until at least age 5/6yrs old.

Also, please do some research on extended rear facing. A child is safest riding rear facing, and all convertible seats will rear face until 33 or 35lbs... most kids can easily rear face until age 2 in a convertible car seat listed above, many to age 3 and above. My boys rode rear facing to age 3 in the Marathon. Even the AAP has changed their recommendations to rear face to age 2 and 30lbs. Please research EXTENDED REAR FACING for more info, or send me a msg and I'll direct you to more info. It sounds like your pediatrician isn't too well informed on car seat safety, so its best to look elsewhere for your information (www.car-seat.org, www.safekids.com)

A car seat is outgrown rear facing when one of two things happens.... there is less than 1 inch of seat above the head, or the child goes over the rear facing weight limit.

A car seat is outgrown forward facing when one of three things happens.... the ears become level with the seat back, the shoulders go over the top harness slot, or the forward facing weight limit is reached.

When a child is rear facing, you want the harness slots AT or BELOW the shoulders.

When a child is forward facing, you want the harness AT or ABOVE the shoulders.

Your son is not too young for a convertible car seat in the rear facing position. My boys were out of the infant seat at 4 mos and 5mos, they too were big boys. Once you decide on a convertible car seat for your son, go to www.safekids.com and find a car seat event in your area to get the seat isntalled properly, and to learn how to properly use the seat and get some good advice. For your sons age, you will have to recline the seat a little so he can sleep comfortably and his head doesn't bob. When he gets a bit older and you rear face him beyond his 1st b-day, you can sit the seat more upright, as kids that age don't bob as muc hwhen they sleep, and they like to see more out the back and side windows.

A car seat expires after 6yrs from the date of manufacture, you cannot use it after that date. Also a car seat that has been in a car accident cannot be used anymore. Evne unseen damage can be deadly. Thats why its not wise to purchase a used seat.. unless youtrust the person you are buying it from with your childs life, don't purchase a use seat, you don't know its true history.

Please feel free to message me if you have questions or need some more links or info.

Listen to the carseat manufacturer! It's a simple thing to get a convertible carseat, and the manufacturer mean what they say about those limits! Carseats are only tested and approved for the limits they say on the seat.

Besides, if you buy a big enough convertible carseat; it will last until he's big enough to go without one. Our Britax Marathon has limits of 35 pounds rear facing and 65 pounds 49 inches front facing.

One more thing, check babycheapskate.blogspot.com, they can tell you where to get the best deal on a convertible. We paid $209 including tax and free shipping for our Britax.

According to our car seat technician, who is also a paramedic, the height is less important than the weight for rear-facing seats. Until he passes the weight limit on the seat, he should be safe in the one you have.

All children under 1 year old need to be in a rear-facing car seat. You might be able to find a replacement one that better fits your weight and height needs. Just don't switch him to a front-facing seat until he's at least one year old! Shop around until you find a new seat that fits your son's needs.

I think head control is another reason for staying in the infant carseat, but there are some great alternatives. I have a Britax which goes from 5 lbs to 65 lbs. You can recline or raise it to sit more upright and you can still use the head inserts too. I love this carseats. I have 2 of them. I would use your best judgement. If he looks uncomfortable, he probably is.

Your son is not too young for a rear-facing convertible car seat. I have a Cosco Scenera and it was made for babies 5 to 40 pounds. I had to switch my son to that around 6 months. It is a pain in the butt when you don't have a seat for them to sit in while you are out and about, but safety is more important.

Personally, I always err on the side of caution. I would get a new convertible car seat as soon as he outgrows the weight recommendations on his current seat. Think of how you would feel if you were in an accident and something happened to your precious little one and you hadn't gotten the new seat. Wouldn't you always ask if he would have been alright if only you had bought a new seat? My son was also big for his age as an infant. He got a new Britax convertible car seat at 6 months and I have never regretted my decision to do so. He was in that until he moved on to a booster seat - about 3 years!

Good luck with your decision!
J.