https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 18 Apr 2026 20:10:33 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/4-months-too-soon-to-transition-to-convertible-carseat#post-278967 Sat, 01 Sep 2012 02:19:22 +0000 erinpye 278967@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@betsyboop: That was our clue. Before, she had always loved being in the car, and then she just started to scream non-stop. The carseat change helped TREMENDOUSLY! She still gets restless a bit sometimes, but that's just because she's also older and more alert, so she gets bored. Giving her new toys, songs, etc. helps, plus she's more upright in the new carseat and as she grows, should be able to look out the windows even more. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/4-months-too-soon-to-transition-to-convertible-carseat#post-278963 Sat, 01 Sep 2012 02:11:47 +0000 betsyboop 278963@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@erinpye: I'm wondering if my LO is really uncomfortable too since she recently has started screaming whenever we go for car rides and never did this before! Hoping a new seat might change all this! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/4-months-too-soon-to-transition-to-convertible-carseat#post-278960 Sat, 01 Sep 2012 02:00:52 +0000 erinpye 278960@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had to get one when our LO was about 4 months. She's also very tall (90th percentile in height), and she was super uncomfortable in her infant carseat. She likes her new convertible one much better and fits it well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/4-months-too-soon-to-transition-to-convertible-carseat#post-278734 Fri, 31 Aug 2012 18:11:26 +0000 Protectlove 278734@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am a Child Passenger Safety Technician and the previous posters have it right on- a convertible seat can be used from birth if used in a rear facing position and it is a good fit for the infant. You will get a long life out of a convertible seat if you begin using it at 4 months but be sure to read the manufacturers height/weight requirements and keep her rear facing as long as possible following those requirements. If you are at all unsure see if you have a local agency that offers individual car seat inspection/fitting checks. Cheers! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/4-months-too-soon-to-transition-to-convertible-carseat#post-276303 Thu, 30 Aug 2012 14:12:07 +0000 chopsuey 276303@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We switched LO to a convertible when she was around 7 months old. Since your LO's still young I would make use of your infant seat for a bit longer.<br /> We paid a pretty penny for ours so I wanted to use it for as long as possible! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/4-months-too-soon-to-transition-to-convertible-carseat#post-276269 Thu, 30 Aug 2012 13:50:55 +0000 regberadaisy 276269@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I already purchased a Britax when they were phasing out the old models. But I'm waiting until she either hits the weight or height limit. She'll likely hit the height limit soon. She's 4months and I think she's only 2" from the top now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/4-months-too-soon-to-transition-to-convertible-carseat#post-276252 Thu, 30 Aug 2012 13:39:48 +0000 betsyboop 276252@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks everyone! We may take @cocobee's advice and test some out in the store before deciding! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/4-months-too-soon-to-transition-to-convertible-carseat#post-276059 Thu, 30 Aug 2012 11:23:03 +0000 Mrs. Pen 276059@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Try out the carseats in the store before buying, if you can.</p> <p>We originally were going to purchase just a convertible to use from birth. And when we bought it for my sister, we installed it in her car and found out the recline wasn't as reclined as it needed to be for an infant! We were so disappointed, and she ended up having to purchase an infant seat as well.</p> <p>Make sure you know what the correct recline angle is and that the carseat can go to that angle in your car, and that your LO is comfortable.</p> <p>Some convertibles, although they say 5lbs+, don't recline hardly at all. So it's really like 22 lbs+. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/4-months-too-soon-to-transition-to-convertible-carseat#post-275901 Thu, 30 Aug 2012 10:13:55 +0000 looch 275901@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just double check that your LO meets the height and weight requirements. Otherwise, there is no reason to not use the convertible in a rear facing position, as the others have written. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/4-months-too-soon-to-transition-to-convertible-carseat#post-275899 Thu, 30 Aug 2012 10:12:37 +0000 Mrs.B 275899@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>As long as it's rear facing it is fine. They usually are approved for use from birth on up. We will be using an infant carseat but I plan to get a convertable once LO is 5-6 months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/4-months-too-soon-to-transition-to-convertible-carseat#post-275892 Thu, 30 Aug 2012 10:08:32 +0000 sorrycharlie 275892@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>some people use convertible carseats from birth! as long as it's rear-facing, you're fine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/4-months-too-soon-to-transition-to-convertible-carseat#post-275883 Thu, 30 Aug 2012 10:02:45 +0000 T.H.O.U. 275883@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Also, if your infant is tall, don't just go by the height listed on the seat. You may also need to go by where their head hits the top of the shell (usually needs to be 1" below the top). For example, my infant carrier said up to 30lbs and 30". However, even at 23 inches or so, my daughters torso was so long that when sitting her head was within in inch of the top of the seat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/4-months-too-soon-to-transition-to-convertible-carseat#post-275882 Thu, 30 Aug 2012 10:01:22 +0000 T.H.O.U. 275882@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Quick answer no. </p> <p>Long answer, the length of the seat and how their legs are positioned is not an indicator how well they fit in the seat. The new AAP recommendation is to keep kids rear facing until the age of 2 or until they outgrow the seat rear facing. Most of the time by age 2 the legs will either hang over the side or be scrunched up. That is OK!! They are still much safer rear facing then if they were forward facing! </p> <p>I don't know that switching to a convertible will give you much more leg room. Most convertibles are safe though, especially by 4 months. We went ahead and started using our convertible around that time as a second seat in my husbands car. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/4-months-too-soon-to-transition-to-convertible-carseat#post-275874 Thu, 30 Aug 2012 09:55:21 +0000 betsyboop 275874@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO is rapidly approaching 4 months, and is quite tall/long for her age and it looks like her feet will be hanging over the edge of her infant carseat very soon. We are considering getting a convertible carseat, but am wondering if it's too early. Thoughts? </p>