Sofi in her many seats

I've been told I'm a carseat manufacturer's dream. A new seat comes out, and I want it. Well, that's true. So I though I'd post some pics of Sofi RF in her many seats.



Here is Sofi in the Cosco Scenera. This picture was taken Nov 2008. We had 1 as a back up seat, and 1 in Grandma's car.

This is Sofi in the Britax Marathon. This picture was taken early spring 2009. This was her main carseat for awhile. When we needed to replace Grandma's carseat, I decide to give her this and get one with more legroom for the main carseat.

This is the Evenflo Triumph Advance. This picture was taken beginning of 2009. It's not my first choice of seats because of the knobs. But my husband has a hard time pulling a harness adjuster (an arm injury) so the knobs work well for him.

This is the Safety First Uptown. This picture taken April- May 2009. This is a backup seat, and is also used by my friend's daughter in my car. Sofi looked squashed in this seat, but she never complained.

This is the First Years True Fit. Picture taken April or May 2009. It gives her much more legroom than the other seats.

The new arrival, Graco My Ride 65. Picture taken May 2009. Sofi likes this seat because it has "pockets" (cup holders). I like it because it's easy to install, easy to adjust the harness, fairly lightweight to carry.

This is the Evenflo Titan Elite. Picture taken June 2009. We stopped using this seat last fall because I thought Sofi was too close to outgrowing it by height. I installed it to check again tonight, and she has a good 3 inches above her head (giving her 2 inches to grow).

Graco My Ride

The rumors are true. The Graco My Ride 65 will RF to 40 pounds and FF to 65 pounds. It is now a real seat. I have seen real life pictures of it. The seat shell measures about the same, or slightly shorter than the Marathon. However, the pictures with a child in it look like he has slightly more growing room in the My Ride than in the Marathon. The top harness slots are slightly below 17 inches. The Marathon is supposed to have 16 inch top slots, but often measure at 17.

What does this mean? Can my child RF until she's 6?! Probobly not. But those 34 pound 1 or 2 year olds can RF longer now :) It is said to be in stores the first week in June. And it's said to be $150-175. Great price for what sounds like a great seat. Can you guess where I will be everyday in June until it arrives? Or until the nice manager (Nick.... do you read my blog...?) gives me an exact arrival date. Babies R Us. I WANT THIS SEAT.

This is history in the making. The very first American carseat that can RF to 40 pounds. Very exciting :)

New seat coming out soon...

You've read my blog. You've done your research. You want to keep your child rear facing as long as possible. But you can't, you're child is 34 pounds at 18 months. You don't want to turn him forward facing (you read my blog about the injuries recieved to 34 pound, 18 month old Joel). You don't want to keep him rear facing beyond the American carseat limits of 35 pounds. So what do you do? Buy a Sweedish seat? They rear face up to 55 pounds. But they are illegal to use in the US, and are very expensive to get.

It looks like Graco may be here to help! It started as a rumor.... "Graco will be releasing a new high weight harness (HWH) seat this year." That rumor grew.... "Graco will be releasing a seat that will Rear Face to 40 pounds and Forward face to 65 pounds." WHAT?! Did we hear that right?! REAR FACE TO 40 POUNDS?! No, surely it must just be a rumor. Luckily for you, CarseatNanny called Graco and asked about it. And yes, There will be a new convertible that rear faces to 40 pounds. I almost jumped for joy! :) The Rumor is now truth. There is a seat called the Graco MyRide. We don't yet know how tall the seat will be. We're hoping it'll be nice and tall to accomidate an older, 40 pound child rear facing. It will be in the May/June issue of Fit Pregnancy magazine. It's projected to cost $150-175.

Don't worry. As soon as more info is available, it'll be here!

AAP Releases New RF statement

The American Academy of Pediactrics has released a new statement today on Rear Facing. They have gone beyond their previous reccomendation of "rear face to the limits of the seat". They now say to rear face to the limits of the seat, and at least 2 years old.

Here is the link, and the article.
http://aapnews.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/30/4/12-a

Keep your toddler in a rear-facing car seat until age 2 (not 1)
Lori O’Keefe
Correspondent

New research indicates that toddlers are more than five times safer riding rear-facing in a car safety seat up to their second birthday. Following are some safety tips for car seat use:

All infants should ride rear-facing in either an infant car seat or convertible seat.
If an infant car seat is used, the infant should be switched to a rear-facing convertible car seat once the maximum height (when the infant’s head is within 1 inch of the top of the seat) and weight (usually 22 pounds to 32 pounds) have been reached for that infant seat as suggested by the car seat manufacturer.

Toddlers should remain rear-facing in a convertible car seat until they have reached the maximum height and weight recommended for the model, or at least the age of 2.

To see if your car seat is installed properly and to find a certified passenger safety technician in your area, visit http://www.seatcheck.org/ or www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cps/cpsfitting/index.cfm. You also can call 866-SEATCHECK (866-732-8243) or 888-327-4236.



Here is Ruthie rear facing at 19 months. Doesn't she look comfy? Rear facing provides a nice recline for sleeping too.

Q and A time

Okay quick question, okay maybe not so quick. J is 30 lbs. Should he still be rear facing? He has about another inch before he is taller than the two inch rule for his car seat. My husband and I talked about getting a new car seat and we are not sure what to do. Money is tight since I am not working, hopefully that will change by the summer. We know that J is going to be tall and weigh more than most kids his age. He is about the same height/weight as a lot of the two year olds in his class. Should we purchase a better car seat than what we have? Sitting on the floor, he's 19.5 inches to the top of his head.

Since J is under 2 years, and still under the weight limit for rear facing, he should remain rear facing if at all possible. What seat is he currently in? Also, it's a 1 inch rule, not a 2 inch rule. He can continue rear facing in the seat as long as he's within the weight limits (is your seat a 30, 33, or 35 pounds seat?), and has 1 inch of seat shell above his head. Since money is tight, I would reccomend the Cosco Scenera for $35-60 or the Safety First Uptown/Avenue for $65-90. The Uptown and Avenue have a taller shell than the Scenera and more padding/foam as well.

This is the proper way to measure how much room is above a child's head. Imagine a line at the top of the carseat (the top of the shell, don't include cover padding). Imagine another line at the top of the child's head. Both lines should be at the same angle as the carseat. If the child has more than 1 inch between the 2 lines, he still fits in the carseat RF.

This is the wrong way to measure the space above the child's head. The line should not be level with the ground. It should be at the same angle as the back of the carseat. This looks like the seat is outgrown, but she really has more growing room.

Here is a picture of a child with 1 inch above her head. She now needs a new carseat to remain RF, or needs to turn this seat forward facing.

*NOTE- These pictures were used with permission from their owners at www.car-seat.org*

Q and A time

I have a question too. I have a Britax Decathlon for my nephew and I'm having the hardest time getting it installed facing backwards in the infant position. Any tips? The tether straps aren't long enough to lock it in. Is the middle the best place to put him (only place with the metal bottom tethers, so that's where I placed it.


What vehicle do you have? I suggest you start by checking the owners manual for it's information on LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren). Most (though not all) vehicles don't allow you to use LATCH in the center. There are usually a set of LATCH anchors for each outboard seating position, and they can not be used for the center. If the LATCH straps aren't reaching, than you may be trying to use the anchors in the wrong seating location.


The middle seat is the safest as long as you can get a good installation. If you can get a better installation outboard (side), than that is safest. Also, if you want to keep the carseat in the middle, you can install with the seatbelt. LATCH is not safer than the seatbelt, it was simply designed to be easier.

Q and A time

My charge is getting close to needing the next size seat. She is in a carrier car seat now. What would you suggest for a seat that can do both rear and forward facing and can last to at least 40 pounds?

I suggest you look at my post http://carseatnanny.blogspot.com/2008/11/carseat-likes-and-dislikes.html For convertible seats. A convertible seat is one that will go rear facing and forward facing. It'll tell you my likes/dislikes of the various seats. Different features are important to different people. There are nice seats in all different price ranges as well.