What convertible seats have high RF weight limits?

[rosie29]

DS is about to outgrow his convertible car seat, it is a Graco (something) that goes RF to 30 lbs. What can we get to replace that seat that will still allow him to RF? Also he is a tall guy, so I'm not sure if that may be a factor as far as him outgrowing something quickly. I'm not sure what his height is but will know tomorrow at his 3-yr. check up.

Thank you. I'm sure this is answered elsewhere but after checking the wonderful sticky above I just couldn't find the answer to my question w/o a lot of digging. :

[Flower of Bliss]

A Britax Marathon/Decathelon/Boulevard would work. They RF to 33 lbs, and have a pretty high seat back. I think a Costco Scerena (not the one with the pull down bar) is often recommended too if you're not able to afford a Britax.

I'm sure lots of others will chime in with recommendations (but I bet they all say Britax )

Sage

[SomedayMom]

I am not sure when they are coming out, but I have my eye on the new Recaro convertibles for my new little guy. I think they are due out within the next few months, if you have that time. They look awesome and have higher limits than the Britaxes.

The bigger Britax seats and the Sunshine Kids Radian are probably your best bets for RF and giving you plenty of FF harness time of what is available right now. Cosco seats have high RF weight limits, but probably won't last you very long for height.

[chickabiddy]

Cosco Scenera rear-faces to 35 pounds. Britaxes and Radians rear-face to 33. The new Recaros rear-face to 35 pounds.

[Leylla]

The new Recaros aren't coming out till August, but you can pre order them. (I pre-ordered 2 Signos)

But yea, for $40 you can get a seat for 5 more pounds...and at this point *most* kids don't grow quite so often, and 5lbs can make a huge difference.

Steph

[notneb]

We use the Cosco Scenera. It rearfaces to 35 pounds then forward faces to 40 pounds, has the same high saftey ratings as the Britax seats and costs about $40.

[bobandjess99]

Any cosco/dorel seat is going to RF til 35 pounds(including the eddie bauer line) and then ff to 40 pounds. This includes the Scenera, which is a great $40 seat, within nearly everyones budget. The new recaros will also RF to 35 pounds, with a ff limit of 70 pounds!!. The Britaxes RF to 33 pounds, with a 65 lb ff limit . Anything by Graco or evenflo only RF to 30 pounds. EXCEPT the NEW TRIUMPH which debuts this summer, and will RF to 35 pounds, and FF to 50 pounds, with a new higher shell! With the new limits, this seat is expected to compete with the Britax seats in terms of longevity/ability to accomodate larger kids(up to 50 inches), for less price. The FPSVD, built on the britax marathon shell but sold by Fisher price for HALF the price of the Ma, also RF to 33, and the FF to 55. The RADIAN 65 or 80 also RF to 33 and trhen ff to 65 or 80 pounds. As always, the weight limits are but one portion of the limit, seats are outgrown by height as well, wqhen the head is no longer within the shell RF (usually within 1 inch), and when the shoulders are above the top slots FF - (MOST seats, when FF, are outgrown by HEIGHT well before weight!) .

[rosie29]

Hmmm. Well, it turns out DS is only 27 1/2 lbs (with clothes on!), so we've got some time! I can't believe he isn't closer to 30!! So we'll look into the Recaros when the time comes. And I'll check where his head hits on his current seat. Thanks, mamas!

[LinzluvsGJ]

The Cosco Alpha Omega goes to 35 or 40 lbs rearfacing I believe (I'd have to look at the manual to be sure which). My 2 year old is still rearfacing in it but not nearing the weight limit at all at 25ish pounds. My other daughter had to be turned right after turning 2 simply because of height though 'cause we couldn't get her into the seat properly anymore rearfacing since she was really tall so I don't know from her.

[chickabiddy]

Originally Posted by LinzluvsGJ

The Cosco Alpha Omega goes to 35 or 40 lbs rearfacing I believe (I'd have to look at the manual to be sure which). My 2 year old is still rearfacing in it but not nearing the weight limit at all at 25ish pounds. My other daughter had to be turned right after turning 2 simply because of height though 'cause we couldn't get her into the seat properly anymore rearfacing since she was really tall so I don't know from her.

The Alpha Omega has a rearfacing weight limit of 35 pounds. There is no seat being sold in the U.S. with a rearfacing weight limit above 35 pounds.

A child is too tall to rear-face if there is less than an inch of hard shell above her or his head. It is fine if the legs are bent or crossed or squished. In the event of a crash, broken legs heal much better than broken necks/spines.

[LinzluvsGJ]

Originally Posted by chickabiddy

The Alpha Omega has a rearfacing weight limit of 35 pounds. There is no seat being sold in the U.S. with a rearfacing weight limit above 35 pounds.

A child is too tall to rear-face if there is less than an inch of hard shell above her or his head. It is fine if the legs are bent or crossed or squished. In the event of a crash, broken legs heal much better than broken necks/spines.

That's true... our current daughter is still rearfacing w/ her legs slightly bent and I'm in no hurry to turn her around. Our older daughter it became a problem because we not only had trouble getting her buckled properly rearfacing from being so long-legged and long torso'd, but she was pushing against the seat working the carseat loose during trips which concerned us. (she was taller than a standard 3 year old when she turned 2!).

I wish they would make heavier able seats for the US-- I know some people with heavy babies that turn into heavy toddlers and it can be a challenge finding an appropriate seat because the child is still very much in need of a full-service rearfacing or even forward facing standard carseat (not just a booster) just heavy-weighted.

[bobandjess99]

Originally Posted by LinzluvsGJ

I wish they would make heavier able seats for the US-- I know some people with heavy babies that turn into heavy toddlers and it can be a challenge finding an appropriate seat because the child is still very much in need of a full-service rearfacing or even forward facing standard carseat (not just a booster) just heavy-weighted.

THEY ARE!!
FINALLY!!!

there are now numerous options for HWH (higher weight harnessing) seats in the US.

The FPSVD harnesses to 55 pounds, the Britax convertibles harness to 65, all with about 17.5 inch top slots.

The radian 65/80 harnesses to 65/80 pounds, with 18 inch top slots - AND- they say you can use this seat up to one inch OVER the top slots.

The APEX/Biltmore harnesses to 65 pounds, with either 17 or 19 inch top slots, a cheap choice ($99), but you do need a high seat back or headrest behind it.

The regent harnesses to 80 lbs, with 21 inch top slots.

The new TRiumph coming out soon will harness to 50 pounds - still a nice advantage over the usualy 40 pound seats, although not as high as some others, but it will be CHEAPER than most of these other seats... so that is a consideration....no info yet on top slots, but the current 40 lb triumph has a 17 inch top slot, so we assume it will be 17 or HIGHER!

The new Recaro convertibles (July and August) will harness to 70 pounds, with 19 inch high top slots.


so....there are a few options...and more coming.....finally the manufacturers are catching on to what the market is demanding....