[^RaineDrop^]

I keep seeing car seat threads going around and I am like all over again.. When do I need to buy a new car seat for Summer? Do they make them so they still fit on the stroller or is that when you start having to leave it in the car all the time? And where do I begin looking??

Thank you guys

[~Annissa~]

When she reaches or exceeds her carseats weight or height capacity. Most are 20lbs for weight. then you'll go to a convertible which stays in the car. She'll stay rear facing till one year AND 20lbs or longer if you like. I plan to do extended rear facing with Lili. Convertibles are everywhere, but I'd do safety rating research on any you find. Some are tested better than others.

[rachna]

Depends on the seat. Jesse was in his infant seat til he was 18 months old, and honestly he would still be in it if we didnt need it for Zach. My seat goes up to 30lbs and 32 inches, he just was 32 inches at the drs yesterday.

We do extended rear facing so I'll keep zach in his infant seat as long as he meets the requirement for it.

[MaddiesMama]

We had to get a new car seat because Madalyn outgrew the height limit on it. Many people then told me that she can still be 26 inches or longer and sit in it as long as there is at least 1 inch between the top of her head and the top of the car seat, which there was. I didn't care, I would rather be safe than sorry and have her in a seat made for her height. She's well below the weight limit for her infant carrier, but she's just tall like her daddy. If I could do it over again, I'd have went with a convertible from the start. She was only in her infant seat 4 months and it seems like a huge waste of money since she wasn't in it long.

[GrowBabyGrow]

We bought a convertible from the beginning so Emme will be in it until it is booster seat time. And she will be rear facing until she is at least one. Maybe longer depending on her size.

[Izzy's_Mom]

Thanks for posting this I was wondering about it myself!

[neonhorn22]

David is still in his infant seat, but we're getting ready to put him in the convertible seat, rear-facing. You just have to look at the specifications for your carseat. Not all of them are the same. Some can hold more weight than others.

With Rachel, we used the infant carseat until she was about 8 months old, but even though David is about to outgrow his, I don't feel it was wasted money. We bought our infant carseat as a travel system, so even though we won't be needing the carseat here soon, it came with the stroller, and you don't need the carseat for the stroller. It has an adjustable back so that the baby or child can ride in the stroller sans carseat.

[*~Jen~*]

I move my kids to the convertible once they can sit up on their own well enough to sit up in the top part of a shopping cart. I rarely carry Caleb in the carseat anymore (way too heavy!). I don't even take it out of the car to bring him inside unless he's asleep. Ours goes up to 20 lbs. and 28 in. Caleb's only 16 lbs. and 26.5 in, so we still have time in it, but I just don't see the point once I'm not using it as a carrier anymore. Caleb is starting to sit up on his own a little so we'll probably retire the infant seat in another month or so.

[koalasandduckies]

It is defintely rear facing up to one year, but after that, if she is already past the weight requirements, you can switch to front. So you have to get one that will fit in your car rear facing. And then they are in the next one until they are 50lbs and 40 inches usually. Again the age for forward facing before booster varies. Alex was already forty inches and just under 40 lbs when we had to switch, only because she had to hang her feet over the front seat of the truck. And then you move to a booster until they are big! Dunno how long it really is or the weight requirments for the booster as we hav't hit that stage with Alex yet.

[twinsmake4]

I believe they are supposed to be in a booster until they are 60 pounds. And to give you an idea...my girls are 5 and 8 and they weigh 45 and 50 pounds.