Carseat for a 2-Door W 8 Mo Old

yes, keep her in the rear facing position as long as possible!!!

i LOVE LOVE LOVE my evenflo triumph(i think thats what its called). honestly, its the best and does fine rear facing in my toy matrix. the thing is, try to have the seat on whatever side the smaller person normally sits in, if you are large and push the seat way back, no matter what car you have, it wont fit.

the evenflo is great, it has knobs on the side that click to tighten and loosen so when you are changing seasons or coats, its super easy to adjust the straps. it also goes up to 50lbs which is great. the 5 point is safer than those backless boosters, so she could easily be in this until she is 5, before changing to a booster.

I found this on this website for the NYS law for child restraints:

http://www.nysgtsc.state.ny.us/media/seat-bro.htm

INFANTS SHOULD REMAIN IN REAR-FACING SEATS
UNTIL THEY WEIGH 20 POUNDS AND ARE ONE YEAR OF AGE.

There is more information on this site too. :)

If you live in CT the law is that the child must be one year old AND at least 20lbs.
As far as a carseat, we have a Britax, while they are the safest, they aren't the smallest, we had to buy a new car because our old car couldn't fit out two too well.
Good luck!

I also have the evenflo with knob strap tightener. Not only does that make it so much easier to adjust but I'm sure it is the most comfortable seat out there. At least for under 300 bucks. I tried the Eddie Bauer and my son's head kept flopping foward. I also used my sister's once and the same thing happened. I can't remember what she has, but it was the same sort of design. Don't get anything with all that extra unremovable padding around the head. I think the evenflo was around $130 or $150.

Also, I don't know if anyone else wrote this but they recently started recommending that you leave them facing backward until 2 years old although it is not a law yet. I know how inconvenient that will be with a 2-door but maybe you could leave her until her little legs get too cramped. Doesn't sound like it'll be that long if she's already 28 inches.

It's very important to keep babies rear-facing to 1 year AND 20 lbs. (both, not either/or) at the very least. It's actually much safer to rear-face to the limits of a convertible carseat, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. A forward-facing child is 4-5 times MORE likely to be killed or seriously injured in a crash than a rear-facing child of the same age. To each her own, but I'm not willing to take the risk. We were already in an accident when my son was 6 months. The car was totaled, but everyone was fine.

Here is a great website with lots of information, including recommendations on car seats - http://boards.babycenter.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?tsn=1&n...

I'm pretty sure that Babies R'Us will let you test fit different seats to see which will actually fit your car (just leave your baby home when you try to do this). Also, if you read the customer reviews on Amazon or similar websites that let you compare different models, you might find some good comments. I remember buying carseats as very stressful - you're a bad mommy if you don't have just the right one. Good luck!

L.,

Your daughter, if she doesn't like the car seat now, is not going to like the next one. She wants to be free. Save yourself some sanity and keep the infant seat as long as she fits. My son outgrew the infant seat at 4 months. It would have been AWESOME to have that at least another 4 months, just to have an easy portable way to carry him around, without having to put him in the carriage, or carry him in my arms. Love my son, and will carry him any time I can, but he is heavy. He still needs the benefit of sitting up after a meal, too, and that would have saved some valuable time after meals for quite a while too.

As far as a car seat that fits well in a small space, well, you'll have to check out the line up. Babies R Us has a bench seat in their showroom (at least in Henrietta NY they do) to try out what it would be like to set it up in the middle seat, as well as sit next to it. We have short benches in our minivan, and it is not exactly comfortable to sit next to the car seat when driving.

I don't know of any car seat that takes up less space - they all pretty much have the same profile just slightly different shapes.

Just remember: During almost any crash, the safest position in the back seat is the middle seat.

Good luck!
M.

As everyone tells you - she needs to be 20 lbs & 1 year before turning her around. You say she is 18 lbs.

I think you will have a hard time finding a non-infant, or convertible carseat that will fit easily into a 2-door. Check your infant carrier, it is probably safe until 22 or 25 lbs. If you can stand 4 more months she will probably be very happy in the car once you turn her around at 1 year as she'll be able to see you and where she is going. Until then most 8-12 month old babies are unhappy in the car.

My best advice is don't spend money until you have to and then find a forward facing carseat that is really good, not just one that fits backward in a 2-door.

Good Luck

The Britax seats are really good, pricy but safe. We got the one that goes up to 40 or 45 lbs. but wish we'd gotten the one that goes to 65 lbs. or higher.

I know it's totally inconvenient to keep your daughter facing backwards, especially in a coupe, but it's best to continue doing it as long as you can, even beyond 1 year. Mine is 16 months and we still have her rear facing. Their heads are so big for their bodies and their necks are tiny, so even after they are 1 year old, they can get massive spinal injuries in the event of a crash.

Check out this YouTube video and you'll see why.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKIeExpDLDA

Hey L.,

I read your Q&A both to get info and give it. My babe is already 1 but not yet 20 pounds (aggh!) and I really want to put her front facing but I guess I can't. I just bought the big girl seat yesterday b/c she's been so uncomfortable in her infant one (19.2 pounds)and driving me bonkers! I still think I'm going to have a problem putting her rear facing and am majorly struggling to do the right thing and install it facing back until she gains the next 8 ounces.

But anyway, to answer your question... my sister in law has twins (yikes) and they were also having this issue. She got and highly reccomended the Evenflo Montgomery Titan. Montgomery is the pattern though, it's the Evenflo Titan that you're looking for. It's $99 (reasonable) and pretty moderate as far as not too bulky, not too slender. It has the 5 point harness and it has a sippy cup holder and a snack holder that you can attach or not as you wish. If you only have the 1 baby, don't worry too much about its bulk. You aren't going to be taking this one in and out the way you do with the infant carrier. It's far too much of a hassle to properly install and un-install. You're either going to have to get a 2nd one if you have a 2nd car or work it out with your mate about who needs the car with the infant seat.

I know most parents rave about the Britax and I don't doubt that it is good, but I don't know if I believe in spending 3 times the amount level of good. Britax apparently just has more padding but that also makes it bulkier and I don't know if that slightly extra padding really makes a life saving difference if one is in an accident that is that bad. Hopefully, none of us will be. So anyway, that's my reccomendation also- the Evenflo Titan. Good luck! -N.

make sure you get a car seat that can transition.

they need to be in a rear facing car seat til about 20 LBs
the infant carseat is only good UNTIL she is 20 lbs.

http://www.target.com/Convertible-Car-Seats-Baby/b/601-##...

any one of these would be fine,
remember, the point of a convertible car seat is to extend the life of the car seat, otherwise in about 2.5 years you will need to purchase a booster seat.

Good luck MOM

PS you cold always try and sell your vehicle on CARS.Com
and buy a new one , it might make sense with a growing family

It is law that they have to be rear facing until they are 1. After they are 1 if they are not 20lbs (it may actually be 25 pounds) they are supposed to stay rear facing. Talk to your pediatrician and see what they have to say. If may be inconvenient for you but you need to keep your child's safety as your first priority. I had a 2 door Chevy with my first and second children. It was a pain to have the rear facing seat but I did not turn it around until my child was the right age and weight.

Hi L.,
What do you mean she doesn't like her car seat? She doesnt like to go in it or she doesnt like to be in the car? Did you fix the straps so they are higher for older babies? Yes you have to keep her rear facing until 1yrs old and they are now recommending older. Its for safety and even though it makes it harder on you, it could save her life. Oh and with a 2 door have you tried putting the car seat in the middle seat and using a car seat base. The base makes it easier. I know its heavy, I have a 9month old at 18+ lbs and oh my. I do have a van though but I can see how tough it would be with a 2 door. Have you thought about trading it in for a 4 dr? That how we got our van, We had a Scion before SMALL SMALL car and we only had it 2 yrs, but we have 11y old twins and needed more room. ANyway, you might be able to trade in and get a great deal especially with the economy etc, they want to sale cars. Well, I hope everything works out hang in there
H. p.s. I also have a fabulous hubby who sacrifices for us. God Bless your family

I have a 2-door Honda Civic and hear you on the limited space in the back. I have an 18 month old and a 3 1/2 year old both back there everyday. I just changed my 18 month old from a rear facing to a forward facing seat last month. (she is very small and that was when she actually outgrew the infant car seat). When my 3 1/2 year old was little and we only had one car seat, we had an Alpha Omega Elite seat and it fit fine. I could even ride back there with him. Now we have my 18 month old in the Alpha Omega and my 3 1/2 year old in the Evenflo Triumph. They both fit back there fine though with 2 we couldn't fit one in backwards, not sure why, my husband did the install. There is no longer room for anyone else back there but there is room between the 2 car seats for some of their toys. Good luck.

A baby MUST be rear facing until 20 pounds AND one year old. I don't know if it's "the law" or not, but it would be extremely dangerous for you to put your little girl forward facing right not. Truthfully, who cares that she "hates it." All kids fuss in the car seat when they are little. I kept my kids rear facing until they were 20 months (I would have kept them rear facing longer except we got a new car and while I was having the seats professionally installed, I figured I'd change them at that point). See if you can live with it for another few months and then you can go forward facing with a larger car seat (I love the Britax Marathon).
The nice thing about the marathon is that they can stay in it for a long time. My five year old is still in it!

It is a law that the child be 1 year and 20lbs before you can face the child forward.

Hi. I can't reccomend a carseat as I have never had a 2 door car since I've had children. However, it's the law that a baby face backward until they are 1 yr and at least 20lbs. It's not just a size issue, it's because a baby's neck and back and not usually strong enough to with stand the force of a front/rear collision until 1 yr. My babies have all been close to 30lbs by 10 months, and that's when I turned their seats around, but I'm not advising it. Good luck finding a carseat. Sorry I couldn't help with that part.

Hi L.,
I would inquire about your state laws they vary state to state from your chamber of commerce and also by contacting the manufacturer that makes the car seat they are very helpful too or go to the internet look up safety rules for car seats in your state. God bless.
M.

Rear facing is the law until 20 lbs., 20 inches, AND 12 months of age (2 out of 3 don't cut it). Longer is better, obviously, but both my boys were turned around on their first birthday. (They were big.)

As for getting her in and out - I'm assuming the passenger side seat slides forward when you flip it forward? Use that side to get her in and out, putting the seat itself closer to the driver side (so you have a spot to sit in and then put her in the seat).

HTH

The Britax Marathon or Evenflow Triumph will probably fit. They are both really good! Get one and try it out. If it doesn't fit, you can always return it!

Ohhh, I feel your pain!!! I have a Honda Civic Coupe... at least you have the Accord, hahaha.

It is absolutely the law that she remain in a rear-facing car seat until she is 1 years old AND 20 lbs.

How does she not like the infant car seat? Is it the straps, are her feet up against the seat? I had those issues too.... but I didn't want to compromise her safety..... so I kept her in the infant car seat when we were driving, but as soon as we got anywhere like the supermarket, I took her out of the seat and places the seat back in the car and then she sat in the cart... she much preferred that view anyways than from the car seat.

It unfortunately is a lot easier to keep her in the infant seat where you can "drop" it into the base than to get all jammed in the back seat yourself trying to get her in and out when rear-facing.

However, on my daughter's first birthday I immediately put in a forward-facing seat. I highly recommend the Britax Roundabout both for it's A+ safety as well as compact size for the tight back seat. In my coupe, it's pretty easy to get her in and out of it from the passenger side - I do not recommend it on the driver's side.

Good luck!!

First off, it's a state thing. Each state sets their own requirements. Second, it truly is the most safe position for your child to be in a rear facing position until atleast 1 yr old. The reason, if you are in an accident, your daughters neck can not handle that kind of colison. Her head is to big still compared to her body and it is very dangerous for her to be forward facing before 1. Third, pedi's and car installation specialists now recommend that your child stay rear facing for as long as possible. My daughter turned 1 in July. Her car seat is rear facing to 35 lbs I think. I will keep her that way until she reaches the seats limits. I know it sucks and it's difficult to get her in and out, but what is more important here, your inconvience or her safety. 8 mos is really just way to young to be forward facing.

to find out the law about the car seats for you area, call your local police department or the state troopers. they will also make sure you have it installed correctly if you take it down there to them. They can also suggest the best car seat for your child and vehicle.

I have a 2-door honda civic. my daughter is now 16 months. Advice # 1, keep her rear facing as long as possible. it is safest! I turned my daughter forward at 14 months because at that point I was kind of throwing her over the top of the seat and hoping she landed straight.

Anyway, get a convertible seat. one that faces rear and front. that way, you can still keep her safely facing rear until AT LEAST 12 months, of not more, and then turn her around. I have the Alpha Omega, but i honestly don't recommend it (the straps get caught and stuck). I heard the Eddie Bauer is great and If you can afford it, go for the Britax.

I have her in the middle and my passenger seat goes forward far enough that it is easy for me to squat behind it or sit next to her to strap her in. Good Luck!