5-month-old outgrowing a Snugride *32*?!!!?

[ProtoLawyer]

Yes, my son is Gigantor Baby (TM), but this seems ridiculous. Am I doing something wrong?

He's almost 5 months, and is above average for height and weight...maybe 19 pounds and 28 inches? His head is well below the top of the shell, and the seat's rated to 32 pounds and inches both...BUT I can hardly get the straps around him anymore.

The shoulder straps are at their highest position, fully extended. He isn't bundled up--just wearing a fleece shirt over a onesie.

Is he just long-torsoed? (How do you even measure that?) (In which case, do you have recommendations for a convertible seat that isn't super-expensive that will fit him?) Is there anything else I should be doing to extend the useful life of this seat?

Thanks!

[Llyra]

If he's under the height limit (one inch of shell above his head) and under the weight limit, I guess I don't understand how he's outgrowing it. Do the straps maybe need adjusting? They should be at or below the level of his shoulders, and tight enough that you can't pinch up a fold of them at the shoulder.

My DD1 outgrew her Graco infant seat at three-and-a-half months, but the height limits were a LOT lower then (2004) and it was common for kids to outgrow the seat young. The newer seats are a lot bigger.

If I were you, I would check the manual carefully, to find out if there's some way to adjust the straps.

[ProtoLawyer]

That's the thing--I don't get it either. I *think* I've adjusted the shoulder straps as far as they'll go. (The waist straps still have a little more room, but that's not where the problem is.) They almost have to strain to reach the buckle.

I'll double check the manual...I am kind of manual-challenged, so perhaps I'm missing something big.

[lasciate]

Turn the seat over and look at the shoulder straps - there should be two sets of loops.  Make sure the straps are connected to the metal plate using the loops at the very end, and not the loops partway up the strap.  That will give you extra strap room.

[lasciate]

This picture shows what I mean.  The arrows point at the sets of loops.

[ProtoLawyer]

Aha! Thanks--that could very well be it. I'll check when I get home. 

[leighi123]

My ds is 25lbs and 35" and fits in the snugride 32 by height and weight so I would guess that its the splitter plate on the tighter strap setting is the issue, if you bought it new then it came on the tighter setting!

[an_aurora]

Yeah, it's all one strap, so giving you more slack at the waist gives you more slack at the shoulder.  Are his shoulders above the top slot?  Usually at that point the baby's getting pretty close to the top of the shell as well.

[ProtoLawyer]

Hey, guess what? The car seat fits with room to grow now!  Thanks!

[an_aurora]

That's great! :)