re: Car Seats

Quoting Buster's Momma =):“ Oh ok...I got the newer model that harnesses to 50. And when I do turn him around which will most likely ... [snip!] ... I'll be getting the Nauti so it won't matter. I'm glad those were the only reasons though! As usual, thanks for your help  ”

I wanted to show you a pick of my ds in his AOE. This is not that long ago, he will also be getting a Nautalis when the baby needs this seat. It is the older version so he is on the last possible height for harnessing. He just turned 2.

Just a little bump.  

Are any of you experienced w/ the 1st years tru - fit car seat ?
I just got this one and installed it for my daughter who is still rear facing and I intend on keep that way till 35 lbs .She is a long lil' girl though , and I realized that the slots on the side where you adjust the height of the straps are labeled "rear facing " and" forward facing" for the higher ones . She is on the last one labeled "rear facing " and could easily go up the next level . Is there any reason why it would be unsafe for me to put the straps up in the forward facing position or is the labeling just a suggestion ?

Quoting Punkerella-nips of steel!:“ Are any of you experienced w/ the 1st years tru - fit car seat ? I just got this one and installed it ... [snip!] ... reason why it would be unsafe for me to put the straps up in the forward facing position or is the labeling just a suggestion ?”

Good for you for keeping your little one rear facing! What does it say in your manual about it? The manual/labeling are not just suggestions - if it says not to do something, it hasn't been tested or didn't pass testing. But, if I remember correctly, the First Years company changed it recently and said that the 3rd slots can be used rear facing, and that it is retroactive. Changes like this happen with new seats on the market. Your seat just may of been in those seats that don't have the labeling. Just remember that the slots need to be at or below her shoulders while rear facing.

I will try to find the thread at car-seat.org where this was discussed tomorrow for you.

Quoting Andie.:“ Good for you for keeping your little one rear facing! What does it say in your manual about it? The manual/labeling ... [snip!] ... her shoulders while rear facing. I will try to find the thread at car-seat.org where this was discussed tomorrow for you.”

thank you ! I really appreciate your help! I just want to keep my lil girl as safe as possible ! 

Adding a link to a video that explains/shows why aftermarket products like head huggers and the Mighty Tite are dangerous:
http://www.ehow.com/video_4440678_aftermarket-car-seat-parts.html

Quoting Punkerella-nips of steel!:“ thank you ! I really appreciate your help! I just want to keep my lil girl as safe as possible ! ”

I couldn't find that thread, but got confirmation from a tech that you can use numbers 1-3 for rear facing and then 3-4 for forward facing. Sorry it took me a few days to get back to you on that.

I have another question. We keep hearing Britax is THE best car seat to use for our little ones? Is that true? We are buying a convertible seat this weekend for our daughter, and we were going to get another Graco (that's what her infant seat was) but now we're thinking of spending A LOT more on Britax, because we're afraid the Graco isn't as safe. Is that true?

Quoting Aislynn's Mama♥:“ I have another question. We keep hearing Britax is THE best car seat to use for our little ones? Is that ... [snip!] ... seat was) but now we're thinking of spending A LOT more on Britax, because we're afraid the Graco isn't as safe. Is that true?”

There is no "best" seat. Every car seat has to pass the same minimum testing. We have no clue if any go beyond that, they do not release that information. Britax does have very nice seats, they do have more features, but there are new seats coming out that are comparable for way less money. Your child will be just as safe in a properly used $50 Cosco seat.

Were you looking at the Graco ComfortSport? If so, I do not recommend that seat. It's the shortest seat on the market, kids grow out of it height wise very quickly. It also has a 30lb max weight limit for rear facing, while all other convertibles go to 35 lbs now.

I posted some recommendations above. If you want to stay in the Graco CS price range, the Avenue is a great seat - I own the Uptown, which is the same basically & we love it. If you want to have a seat that lasts longer, the True Fit is good. It goes to 65 pounds forward, and will likely last until your child is ready for a high back booster.

Quoting Andie.:“ There is no "best" seat. Every car seat has to pass the same minimum testing. We have no clue if any ... [snip!] ... the True Fit is good. It goes to 65 pounds forward, and will likely last until your child is ready for a high back booster.”

I'll definitely look into the True Fit seat. My daughter is extremely tall for her age and I'm sure she will always be. That's the reason we're looking at a convertible car seat in the first place. Thank you so much!

THANK YOU for all the information you have included in your post. 

When my fiance' gets home we are RE-INSTALLING both car seats in our cars. 

I'm sure they are in there "decently" but after reading/seeing everything here and in the thread where the 15 month old has passed due to a car seat incident... I don't think they're in there good enough. 

Its a pain in the ass to install them, but our daughter's safety is NUMBER ONE!!! 

Again, thank you for all the information. 

Quoting babygaga_mommy MD:“ THANK YOU for all the information you have included in your post. When my fiance' gets home we are ... [snip!] ... Its a pain in the ass to install them, but our daughter's safety is NUMBER ONE!!! Again, thank you for all the information.”

You are certainly welcome! If you have any questions, feel free to ask!

Quoting Andie.:“ Is your little one in a infant seat? You should get a convertible seat that rear and forward faces for ... [snip!] ... children's legs breaking in a crash when they touch the seat. There are more cases of broken legs in forward facing children.”

Could you maybe give me a source for the info on kids breaking legs more forward facing than rear facing? I need to show a friend. thanks!

Quoting Kyle's mummy(JAS0 :“ Could you maybe give me a source for the info on kids breaking legs more forward facing than rear facing? I need to show a friend. thanks!”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=ShowDetailView&TermToSearch=17497521&ordinalpos=2&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

This is a government study that shows that the legs are the most frequently injured part of the body in forward facing children:

"The lower extremity is among the most frequently injured body regions for children restrained by forward facing child restraint systems (FFCRS), accounting for 28% of their clinically significant injuries, defined as AIS 2 and greater injuries excluding concussions."

There are no documented cases of rear facing children having broken legs from touching the vehicle seat.

Quoting Andie.:“ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=ShowDetailView&TermToSearch=17497521& ... [snip!] ... concussions." There are no documented cases of rear facing children having broken legs from touching the vehicle seat.”

Ok thank you for that! appreciated!