when to turn RF toddler to FF

[lizajane30]

DS (nearly 2, about 30lbs) is RF in a Roundabout. We don't know when he'll hit 33lbs, but I assume it will be between well-baby visits, which are the only times he is accurately weighed.

Should we turn him now while we know he's not over the limit? How can we keep him RF as long as possible without risking going over the limit? I know it can take a long time for them to gain weight at this age and we don't want to turn him too soon. We don't have a scale and as I understand it, adult scales are not accurate for lower weights.

Is there any wiggle room in those weight limits?

TIA.

-Linda

[amy919]

I am not a tech, but I would not personally turn my child at 30 pounds. With my kids, it could a year for them to gain those last three pounds. While I would never go over the 33 pound limit, I would not freak out if I weighed my child and found that they were 33.5 pounds. I would simply FF them immediately. My personal preference is to turn them at 32 pounds so I don't have to worry about it. A lot of it, for me, depends on the age of the child as well. I don't have an issue turning my children at 31 or 32 pounds because they're tiny and usually around 4 years old when they hit that point. My oldest will be 5 next week and just hit 35 pounds.

[joolsplus3]

I wouldn't turn him quite yet. It really could be 6+ months before he hits 33. At least make it to age two, hopefully through winter, before you turn him (and if you don't want to go to the ped for a weigh-in , maybe go to petsmart to weigh him (and it's a more fun outing than the zoo, lol)...and I'd say a (friend's) bathroom scale is 'accurate enough' for that weight, since the seat actually is tested with a 34 pound dummy rearfacing. :)

[MomToEliEm]

I took my daughter into our mailroom at work and used the box scales there. No one had a problem with me doing that. It was a lot easier using the box scale then my bathroom scale, and it probably was more accurate since it is used for postage.

I agree with the others, don't turn him yet. It may be a long time to gain that weight.

[lizajane30]

Thanks for the replies. I'm resisting all the pressure I'm getting from friends to turn him ("He's still RF? Why?? He'd be so much happier FF so he can see out!" BTW, he's not unhappy with RF, he doesn't know any different, does he?) but I definitely don't want to miss the mark on turning him.

Pet store scale--what a great idea! Never woulda thought of that myself, not being a pet owner.

Our ped is not nearby so I wouldn't take him in for a weight check.

-Linda, mama to Morgan STILL RF!

[SamPacey&Joshua]

Yep, I agree with everyone else, so I won't add to that.

It definitely could take quite a while for him to gain those 3 lbs. My son was 26 lbs. at 18 months, 28 lbs. at 2 years, and is 29 lbs. at 3 years. When he was 18 months, I was just hoping we'd make it to 2 rear-facing. Much to my surprise, his growth slowed WAY down and he's still rear-facing at almost 3 (in 2 days).

[Defrost]

Just for the record, since you said he's normally weighed at the doctor's office and they check weight while the child is nude or nearly so- the weight limit for carseats is fully clothed with shoes.

[dd9736]

I don't know how it is in the states, but in canada there is a public health nurse's office in every town wehre you can take your child in at any tiem to be weighed,