Turn him or get a new seat?

[TinaBlue]

My DS will be 2 in a month.  He's currently RF in a 2007 Britax Roundabout and is well under the weight limit (he's around 25 lbs., limit is 35 lbs.), but he's getting really close to the height limit (supposed to be 1" or more under the top of the seat).  The seat doesn't expire for 2 more years, so DH would like to turn him.  I had planned on keeping him RF to the limits of the seat, but I didn't think he'd outgrow it so quickly.

So...do we buy a new one with higher limits or just turn him?

Thanks!!

[chel]

Does ff give you more room height wise?

I think many people just look at a seat's weight limit to see how long a seat would last, and forget height.

[TinaBlue]

The user's manual says that the height limit for FF is 49" and the tops of the child's ears are below the top of the seat.  So, he'd be able to use the seat FF for a while longer.

[DahliaRW]

He'll probably get another 2 years out of it ffing.  BUT, he probably won't be ready for a booster by then, so at that point you'll have to buy another harnessed seat.  I would recommend buying another harnessed seat now with taller harness and shell (which is a lot of seats, the old roundabout is small) that will work rfing now and last until booster age.  Then you can just buy a dedicated booster.  I'd look at the true fit, complete air, or radian.

[JBaxter]

"I" would turn him at 2 and use the seat.   Who knows that new/nicer seats will be availible in 2 yrs but I would not waste a britax seat.  

[chickabiddy]

Britax seats are not that special.

I agree with Dahlia that you're going to need another seat to get him to a safe booster age/size.  Kids usually outgrow the Roundabout around age 3 (the shoulders also need to be below the top strap slots).  I'd go ahead and buy the new seat now and keep him RFing a little longer.

P.S.  The height limit on a Roundabout is 40", not 49", and most kids don't even make it to 40".  Are you sure you have a Roundabout and not a Marathon (the Marathon does have a stated height limit of 49", but most kids outgrow it between 42"-45").

[TheGirls]

I'd absolutely get a new convertible.  As others have said, you'll need another harnessed seat to get him to booster size anyway.  Since it sounds like he's on the tall side, I'd avoid Britax (all their seats are on the shorter side, though the Roundabout is a bit extreme).  My DD outgrew the Roundabout RF by height around 20 months.  She is still rearfacing in her Safety 1st Complete Air at 34 months,  38" and 35lbs.  No way on earth would she fit in a Roundabout, even forward facing, and she's not yet 40".  She has also outgrown the other Britax seats (Marathon, etc) by height rear-facing, though she could still fit FF for a bit, though probably not until booster age.  I'm confident her Complete Air will get her to 3.5 or so RF and to 5 or so FF.  

[alegna]

I am not comfortable with a 2yr old forward facing ever.

-Angela

[love4bob]

I would FF him, but get a new FF seat like the Nautilus. I am comfortable FF a 2 year old though. The Nautilus will allow him to harness longer(80lbs) and then also change to a booster when he is ready for that.

[chickabiddy]

Tbe Nautilus harnesses to 65#, not 80#.

[love4bob]

Oh yes, you are right! It boosters until 80.
 

Originally Posted by chickabiddy 

Tbe Nautilus harnesses to 65#, not 80#.

[chickabiddy]

Boosters to 100#. :)

[browneyeNYmomma]

I would buy another seat to continue rear facing. We have the True Fit, it seems to have a taller shell than many others and have been very happy with it. But when #2 comes along, I have my eye on a Complete Air, which also has a taller shell (just for sake of trying something different than what we already have).

[TiredX2]

Originally Posted by DahliaRW 

He'll probably get another 2 years out of it ffing.  BUT, he probably won't be ready for a booster by then, so at that point you'll have to buy another harnessed seat.  I would recommend buying another harnessed seat now with taller harness and shell (which is a lot of seats, the old roundabout is small) that will work rfing now and last until booster age.  Then you can just buy a dedicated booster.  I'd look at the true fit, complete air, or radian.

This is my reaction as well.  You're going to need to buy a new seat for him eventually anyway, might as well buy one now.