A new car seat already?
Nicole McMullin
May 06, 2008
I realized last night that my daughter has officially outgrown her infant car seat. I noticed over the weekend that her feet touch the backseat now, and we’ve remarked for a while that she’s getting too heavy to carry around in the seat.
It’s time to upgrade to a convertible seat - and my “thank you for being a citizen and paying your taxes” bonus rebate cannot arrive soon enough. Seriously, the convertible car seat that appears to rate highest with users (Britax) costs almost $300!
While there’s no price too high for safety, I’m pretty sure the price tag is justified by convenience and ease of use since other less expensive car seats receive good safety ratings as well. But there is something to be said for ease of use!
My mom recalls the days when car seats were less sophisticated and optional. Not with longing, everyone agrees that keeping kids safe is a good idea, but with a sense of wonder about how things have changed.
My great-grandparents regularly drove my cousin and me in their big yellow Buick when we were young kids. The four of us would pile into the front seat, Jason sitting in the middle and me on Nanny’s lap, and we would head down then road. If Jason or I needed a nap, we just laid down in the back seat where Nanny kept a few homemade purple pillows.
Of course, I also remember the night Pappy wrecked the Buick and I was not in a car seat. No one was injured, but my great-grandfather stopped driving after the accident.
Accidents happen still so I need to get the car seat upgraded as soon as possible. Sophia is a big kid (tall and fabulous) and we need to make sure she stays safe.
I need to purchase at least two convertible car seats, possibly three, so I’m going to start shopping for a good deal. I’m a little hesitant to buy used because I want to make sure that I have all the manuals and necessary parts, but I may change my mind if I can find the right deal.
I also have to figure out what to do with the car seat and bases we currently have. Should I take them to consignment store or find a place to store them in case we have another child in a couple of years?
Oh my - I cannot believe that I am already at the stage where I am talking about and considering another child.
Time flies.
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Cool design, great info!
Andros of Chad, Omaha
Jul. 3, 2008 at 03:32 AM
I’m not really sure what you mean by convertible car seat. Is that a booster seat you are talking about?
Discount Car Tires
May. 29, 2008 at 04:38 AM
Feet hanging off the bottom of the infant seat is not a good indicator of outgrowing the seat; outgrowing it by weight (usu. 20-22 lbs., depending on the seat) or height (also depending on the seat, but certainly when the top of the child’s head is getting ready to protrude over the back of the seat, and therefore not supported by the seat shell). Even when you move Sophia to the convertible seat, state law says babies have to stay rear facing to one year AND 20 pounds, not just 20 pounds OR one year…so most likely her feet are going to touch the backseat in the convertible seat, too.
The good thing about the Britax is that it is rated for higher weights for rear- and forward-facing, so you can use harness straps longer rather than just the car seat belt—trust me, the seat belt is easier to use, but the harness straps are better for as long as you can use them. The longer a child rides rear-facing, the safer they’ll be, so no matter what kind of seat you get, try to find one that is rated for a higher-poundage rear-facing. If we could all ride rear-facing, we’d all be safer! I learned from the police officer who taught my carseat training class that most crashes occur where we are pitched forward, toward the impact, and if we could be cushioned by the seat we’d all be good. There are a lot more cars on the road today than when we were kids, going faster, I would wager! So while the Britax scores points in this regard, the cost is prohibitive for most.
Many seats are “safe,” and i have found that the most important thing is to make sure they’re installed correctly, no matter what the brand or type. The rule “no movement of more than an inch from front to back away from the seat or side to side” or loosening of the seatbelt when you pull and yank on the thing is so important. So many people are in such a hurry or don’t know that the seats are marginal in the safety they can provide.
It’s a good idea to have more than one seat. The less you have to move it back and forth, the better. Secondhand seats are iffy…you don’t know if they’ve been in a crash if you get them from someone/place you don’t know. They may be missing parts/manuals, like you said. Most seats need to be replaced a certain number of years after manufacture, anyway, so why chance it? If you know the person and trust them, I say go for it.
As for saving the infant seat…as long as you’re going to use it before it “expires,” I say go for that, too! :o) How soon are you thinking about making Sophia a big sister? ;o) Save your manuals and pieces/parts in a safe place…you never can tell!
Beth of T-town
May. 8, 2008 at 07:58 PM
when you’re having fun!
becky
May. 7, 2008 at 07:06 AM
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