https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 24 Apr 2026 05:04:13 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-the-point-of-convertible-car-seats#post-2429280 Wed, 20 Jan 2016 11:46:25 +0000 HabesBabe 2429280@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pumuckl: @Corduroy: There are tons of convertible car seats easily available in the US that also fulfill this requirement. You could just use your convertible car seat as a RF-car seat until your kid is mature enough for a booster, if that's your preference. You would never have to turn him/her around to the FF option. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-the-point-of-convertible-car-seats#post-2428955 Wed, 20 Jan 2016 09:43:03 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2428955@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Corduroy: I understand what your saying but unfortunately when its still just a recommendation that they stay RF its just not a big demand. </p> <p>We will for sure RF until age 2 but I dont know if we will be able to go much longer. Practically it just gets very complicated getting them in and out and my older daughter used to scream (until I reached back to hold her hand which wasn't a safe way to drive either). I'm hoping now that they can talk to each other it wont be an issue this time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-the-point-of-convertible-car-seats#post-2428878 Wed, 20 Jan 2016 09:11:49 +0000 looch 2428878@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Corduroy: You might like this site. We own the Britax HiWay, it was the seat we used when we lived in Europe. </p> <p><a href="http://www.carseat.se/" rel="nofollow">http://www.carseat.se/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-the-point-of-convertible-car-seats#post-2428850 Wed, 20 Jan 2016 09:00:47 +0000 Corduroy 2428850@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pumuckl: Thanks for chiming in, I was starting to think I was totally nuts. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-the-point-of-convertible-car-seats#post-2428704 Wed, 20 Jan 2016 07:26:29 +0000 Mrs. Champagne 2428704@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Torchwood: true about the demand issue. I'm the only person I know (IRL) who kept my kid rf past 1. Oh plus one girl I went to high school with who is very vocal about it on Facebook. </p> <p>All my friends said their kids legs were to squished. I have a super tall kid so... Whatever. He is still RF at almost 2 and will be for a while. </p> <p>Our seat changes to a booster and goes up to 120lbs! We won't have to buy another I guess. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-the-point-of-convertible-car-seats#post-2428696 Wed, 20 Jan 2016 07:00:33 +0000 Pumuckl 2428696@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Corduroy: Just to throw in a view from another part of the world: Here (Germany) it is possible to have seats that only rear face. My son is in a seat that can only rear face and it will probably still fit him at age 5 and he's a tall guy (40lbs, 40in at 2y9m). After this seat he will move to a FF booster type seat. Most of these seats are made from Scandinavian companies were RF is even more the norm. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-the-point-of-convertible-car-seats#post-2428694 Wed, 20 Jan 2016 06:47:10 +0000 catgirl 2428694@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Many convertible car seats fit average size children to a safe booster age. So the only seat you would buy is a booster. It is not a requirement to buy a combination seat (also known as a harnessed booster) if your child still meets the requirements to forward face in a convertible. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-the-point-of-convertible-car-seats#post-2428602 Wed, 20 Jan 2016 00:24:29 +0000 Torchwood 2428602@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>As has been mentioned, it's a consumer demand issue. VERY few parents overall care about extended rearfacing. I don't get it, since you'd think safety would be more of a priority, but if you look outside of communities like HB most people don't even go to 2 years still. And the industry won't take the time/money to do the research and development if there's not enough profit. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-the-point-of-convertible-car-seats#post-2428576 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 23:53:39 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2428576@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sera_87: Maxi Cosi Pria 70 with Tiny Fit</p> <p><a href="http://www.maxi-cosi.com/us-en/car-seats/pria-70-with-tiny-fit.aspx" rel="nofollow">http://www.maxi-cosi.com/us-en/car-seats/pria-70-with-tiny-fit.aspx</a> Here's a review on it <a href="http://csftl.org/maxi-cosi-pria-70-with-tinyfit-review/" rel="nofollow">http://csftl.org/maxi-cosi-pria-70-with-tinyfit-review/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-the-point-of-convertible-car-seats#post-2428571 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 23:50:33 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2428571@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Corduroy: Probably, I doubt we'll get a booster seat unless we have to. As long as our kid hasn't exceeded the weight 70 lbs &amp; height 52 " limits and he is still comfortable in the car seat I see no reason to stop using it. According to LiveStrong our LO may not out grow his carseat until 8!</p> <p><a href="http://www.livestrong.com/article/328220-the-average-height-and-weight-by-age/" rel="nofollow">http://www.livestrong.com/article/328220-the-average-height-and-weight-by-age/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-the-point-of-convertible-car-seats#post-2428560 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 23:37:05 +0000 sera_87 2428560@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: which one are you looking at? The smallest I can find is 5lbs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-the-point-of-convertible-car-seats#post-2428553 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 23:29:32 +0000 Corduroy 2428553@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: Do you think you'll go from that seat to seat belt? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-the-point-of-convertible-car-seats#post-2428552 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 23:28:10 +0000 PurplePeony 2428552@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Corduroy: I wouldn't want a RF-only, non-infant seat. We are in the situation now where we're keeping DD RF as long as we can, but she's getting difficult about it and I'm afraid we'll have to turn her sooner than I'd really prefer for all our sakes. If we couldn't flip the seat around, it would mean getting an infant bucket (we wanted the convenience), a RF toddler seat for age 1-2, and a FF harnessed booster within the space of 2.5 years instead of a bucket and convertible that will last until age 5 or longer. I guess I don't see the point of 3 seats where 2 work fine? We don't anticipate getting a harnessed booster, just a seat belt booster when she's big enough and those are relatively cheap. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-the-point-of-convertible-car-seats#post-2428545 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 23:21:57 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2428545@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The convertible car seat we're getting has an infant insert for babies as small as 4 lbs, can RF until 40 lbs, and FF until 70 lbs. Based on all that I think our car seat is a bargain.</p> <p>I'd imagine at some point an older child would be uncomfortable RF if that meant they didn't have the option of stretch out their legs or changing their leg position. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-the-point-of-convertible-car-seats#post-2428538 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 23:14:01 +0000 Corduroy 2428538@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm thinking of it as an engineering &amp; product design issue. I don't see why the industry has stuck with the convertible seat model. It seems like someone could make a better, cheaper, sleaker seat for older children that only rear faced. It must be quite the challenge to make the same seat good in both directions. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-the-point-of-convertible-car-seats#post-2428531 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 23:09:27 +0000 Corduroy 2428531@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Kemma: No, I must not be making any sense. I'll blame lack of sleep + small phone screen. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-the-point-of-convertible-car-seats#post-2428528 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 23:07:27 +0000 Kemma 2428528@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I believe the Cosco Next is a seat that's outgrown ff'ing before rf'ing, is that what you mean? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-the-point-of-convertible-car-seats#post-2428527 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 23:07:07 +0000 Corduroy 2428527@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: Will you never have to buy a forward seat? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-the-point-of-convertible-car-seats#post-2428498 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 22:45:04 +0000 pinkcupcake 2428498@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not sure if I understand your question, but I personally wouldn't want a larger infant car seat that could accommodate an older child. It would make the seat heavier and bulkier, and when it's important to be able to carry the seat around a lot in the early days (when baby is napping), I would prefer a lighter weight seat, even if meant only using it to age 1 or less. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-the-point-of-convertible-car-seats#post-2428489 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 22:34:48 +0000 Anagram 2428489@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Corduroy: you mean you would prefer to buy more seats that each do only one thing?</p> <p>I prefer one convertible that can be used from infant to like 5-6 years old. I got a Clek Foonf and will probably get a Fflo for the next baby. I don't think I'll ever have any use for a forward only facing 5 point harness. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-the-point-of-convertible-car-seats#post-2428486 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 22:32:14 +0000 HabesBabe 2428486@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>There are quite a few convertible car seats that allow for extended rear facing. Diono, Britax, Graco, and the costly Clek all make seats that can rear face up to 40-50 lbs and can accommodate taller heights.</p> <p>For many families, extended rear facing (after the age of 2) simply isn't a priority. The manufacturers give the consumers what they want. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-the-point-of-convertible-car-seats#post-2428474 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 22:20:06 +0000 Corduroy 2428474@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>With extended rear facing, why are we spending money on seats that can go backwards and forwards? Why hasn't consumer demand dictated longer rear facing-only seats (non-infant) as a step prior to a forward only 5pt harness? Seems like you could get a better seat for your money that way.</p> <p>Does anyone make a seat like that?</p> <p>ETA: I'm envisioning a seat that is rear facing until whenever (2, 3, 4,6 - whatever law and/or consumer demand dictates) and then upgrading to a 5 pt harness. Why add the design challenges (&amp; consumer cost) of having a seat that must be able to sit rear facing and forward facing? You have to buy a to buy a forward facing booster at some point anyway, right? </p>