Hellobee Boards

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.

For many families, extended rear facing (after the age of 2) simply isn't a priority. The manufacturers give the consumers what they want.

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.

I believe the Cosco Next is a seat that's outgrown ff'ing before rf'ing, is that what you mean?

@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.

@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: which one are you looking at? The smallest I can find is 5lbs.

@sera_87: Maxi Cosi Pria 70 with Tiny Fit

http://www.maxi-cosi.com/us-en/car-seats/pria-70-with-tiny-fit.aspx Here's a review on it http://csftl.org/maxi-cosi-pria-70-with-tinyfit-review/

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.

@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.

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.

Our seat changes to a booster and goes up to 120lbs! We won't have to buy another I guess.

@Corduroy: You might like this site. We own the Britax HiWay, it was the seat we used when we lived in Europe.

http://www.carseat.se/

@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.