Convertible Carseat Help

[ZakareyasMama]

DS is only 9 weeks but already 14 lbs and 24 in. He currently rides in one of those Graco infant seats but I'm thinking it's time to start shopping around for a convertible.  I have heard that kids usually become too tall for a seat before they exceed the weight limits. True?

We have a small car (98 Honda Civic- no LATCH system) and are planning to have more kids in 2-3 years, so we anticipate multiple carseats. Any recommendations?  

[gemasita]

I have a Honda Civic too (but we are still using an infant seat so I can't help you specifically).  But this website shows car/carseat compatibility:

http://www.carseatdata.org/

[ZakareyasMama]

Thanks for the website but the only submission for my car is one infant seat. 

[gemasita]

Oh.  Boo.  For mine (a 97), it said the Britax's would fit.  I was surprised.

[LittleBirdy]

I have a Ford Focus hatchback, and I love my Combi Coccoro.  Love it.  The only negative words I remember reading about it when I was researching was that the weight limit wasn't as high as some other convertibles, but we plan to use the Combi has a backup infant seat for number 2 so I think we'll get our money's worth.

http://www.combiusa.com/Products/Item.aspx?Item=12

(When I bought mine this winter, Amazon had the best price by far.)

[BabySmurf]

we have a small audi A4, and the infant seat was a tight squeeze....surprisingly most of the reviews i read indicated that the convertible seat actually fit better than the infant seat, which for us was true.  i would imagine that the higher the weight limit, the larger the seat though.  we got the britax roundabout 55 (http://www.amazon.com/Britax-Roundabout-Convertible-Seat-Davenport/dp/B003OUWIJE/ref=sr_1_4?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1310602287&sr=1-4) and it fits fine.  i have no idea about the chemicals though....

[WifeofAnt]

I have a Scion xD and you can really only use car seats in it if you're a short person, lol.  Luckily, DH and I are.  Where our Graco Snugride once fit (on the side), now we have a Graco MyRide 65.

[jeninejessica]

We have an 05 Malibu, which it looks like doesn't have much more backseat room than the Civic. We bought a myride65 for this baby, and did a test install in our middle backseat. It fits, with only a couple inches room between it and the front seat headrests.... but it does fit. In our car it sits slightly to one side, so there's enough room for an adult to sit on one side... or another forward facing carseat I think, but not another rear-facing, and a larger adult wouldn't fit well. A child out of booster seat could sit on the other side.. but it is a bit snug. 

I;m willing to stick with it for the added safety features, (it rear faces to 40lbs), but it is already on my mind about fit with another seat once we have another child. 

[MoonWillow]

bump :) 

[chel]

I have a 97 civic. I love the true fit. I can do 2 in the backseat but if you plan to have more you would want something smaller, but by then you would probably have a different car anyways.
I cant push the front seat all the way back. I don't need too, but if you do you might want to consider another seat

[Maedze]

A 24", 14 lb baby should have plenty of time (probably 4-5 months) left in even a standard small Graco Snugride 22.    I wouldn't panic, you have some time to do some research.

Incidentally, convertibles fit better than infant seats generally only because people usually wait until babies are older to buy them, and then they can be installed more upright.  A three month old infant still needs close to a 45 degree recline, so I wouldn't be in a huge rush to switch to an infant seat until your baby is older and you can definitely go with a more upright install.  

At that point, look for seats that have a high rear facing weight limit (40-45 lbs) AND a tall enough shell to keep baby rear facing 2-4 years AND can be installed fairly upright to give you plenty of room.   

[Hannah32]

We love our Evenflo Triumph 65. So easy to get the straps into place at the shoulders and to tighten. I HATE my Graco My Ride. 

[KaliShanti]

I love the Evenflo Triumph 65 too

[Marissamom]

I love my myride(s). the evenflo triumph is great too. 

[chel]

Originally Posted by Maedze 

A 24", 14 lb baby should have plenty of time (probably 4-5 months) left in even a standard small Graco Snugride 22.    I wouldn't panic, you have some time to do some research.

Incidentally, convertibles fit better than infant seats generally only because people usually wait until babies are older to buy them, and then they can be installed more upright.  A three month old infant still needs close to a 45 degree recline, so I wouldn't be in a huge rush to switch to an infant seat until your baby is older and you can definitely go with a more upright install.  

At that point, look for seats that have a high rear facing weight limit (40-45 lbs) AND a tall enough shell to keep baby rear facing 2-4 years AND can be installed fairly upright to give you plenty of room.   

One nice thing about the true fit is the removeable headrest that makes it smaller for kids under 22lbs.

Not sure about other cars, but with my 97 civic, a seat in the 45 recline goes under the top of the front seat and actually fits better than a seat in the more upright position