When to switch to FF seat from RF KeyFit?

[amberskyfire]

Baby #2 is on the way and we have a New Beetle (yes, I know the car isn't the greatest as far as size and doesn't have the highest safety rating out there, but it is not possible for us to get a different vehicle for various reasons or we would have done it long ago) and I have been researching car seats to find out which is safest, which can be used the longest, and which will fit in our car.

My favorite of all of them so far is the KeyFit which does fit in a New Beetle. I also like it because it fits up to 30 lbs meaning I can keep the new little one RF for longer than I could any other infant seat because there are no large RF seats/convertibles that will fit in the Beetle.

Is a 30 lb child too small to move to a FF seat? I can't remember the weight requirements anymore. What's the best way to do this?

[TheGirls]

It is important to note that most kids outgrow seats (especially bucket seats) by height, not weight.  My DD's Snugride had weight limit of 22lbs and she outgrew it at 16lbs (4 months old). 

The most important factor for turning forward facing is age (spine maturity) not weight.  I'd be ok with turning a 30lb 3- or 4-yo, but they wouldn't still fit in a KeyFit, most likely.  The current AAP recommendation is until the limit of the seat or at LEAST 2yo to turn. Some small children may make it to 2yo in a Keyfit, but taller children will not.

Which convertibles have you tried?  Maybe someone will have suggestions for one that would fit.  Usually if you can fit a larger bucket seat (like the KeyFit) you can fit most convertibles at a more upright angle for an older baby or toddler.  

ETA:  I poked around a little on car-seat.org, and several people have gotten Britax seats to fit.  Those are pretty decent sized, so you should have quite a few convertible options.  I also saw a few mentions of the Cosco Scenera, which is super cheap (under $50) and fits well in small spaces.  It will get most kids to 2-2.5 RF at least. 

Edited by TheGirls - 10/15/11 at 10:20am

[amberskyfire]

I have a Cosco Scenera now and there's no way it will fit. It's too tall in conjunction with the front of the car seat. I'll check out the website, though. Thanks!

[TheGirls]

Remember that for an older baby it can be as upright as 30degrees instead of fully reclined at 45degrees.  I have a hard time imagining how a Chicco KeyFit would fit at 45 degrees, but a Scenera wouldn't at 30 degrees.  Definitely check out car-seat.org.  They can almost certainly tell you what will work and what won't.

[MacKinnon]

I find that infant buckets take up more space than convertibles because they go back further at that 45 degree angle. I'm in the midst of a car seat technician course, and we actually had this as an example in class. We could fit a convertible but NOT a carrier in the back of a truck. The KeyFit is a great start, but baby will be too small when he/she outgrows to forward face. My DD is barely 20lbs at 13 months and too tall for her KeyFit 30, she has had to move to a convertible RFing. Best luck finding something that works!

[chickabiddy]

A Britax Classic Marathon or Roundabout50 works well rearfacing in a Beetle.  Children who have just outgrown the Keyfit are in no way ready for a forward-facing seat (and they're probably nowhere near 30#).