My friend bought the CA for her 6 month old baby. He's a small boy and his head doesn't reach the head wings yet. I told her that as long as the straps come out from at or below his shoulder height then it's ok to use, but also said to keep him in his infant bucket seat if he has not outgrown it (which I'm sure he hasn't) and to switch him to the CA once he is too big for the infant seat. Are my recommendations ok?
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CA question
- Thread starter PeachyPie
- Start date
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Brianna
New member
His head should reach the headwings if his shoulders are at or above the harness straps. I suspect he doesn't fit yet and should remain in his infant seat longer.
This thread has a picture of a baby who hasn't reached the bottom slots yet, and his head is within the headwings http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=136408
This thread has a picture of a baby who hasn't reached the bottom slots yet, and his head is within the headwings http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=136408
tarynsmum
Senior Community Member
This is my DS when we first got the CA. According to what I have in my comments that go with this pic, he was about 16 lbs and 27 inches., with a 10 inch torso, and around 5 months I think. I don't think he rode in the CA until closer to 10 months.
ETA: according to this pic, he "reclaimed" the CA at 18 months. He's still on the bottom slots.
ETA: according to this pic, he "reclaimed" the CA at 18 months. He's still on the bottom slots.
MommyShannon
New member
I agree. The way the harness moves with the head wings, the baby's head would be between the head wings if the harness fits. They move as one unit so the distance between the harness slot and head wings is always the same. DD2 was maybe 9 months when we started using it and is still only on the second slot I think at 2 years.
snowbird25ca
Moderator - CPST Instructor
Weight is only part of the equation. Our standards are weight based and not height based - the weight of a 5lb baby isn't going to make the seat fail standards in any manner.
However - if you read the manual it will say that the child needs to be at least even with the slots when the harness is at the lowest height.
Any kid who is close to outgrowing the infant seat will definitely fit the complete air. I've seen kids who are 4 months fit the seat and seen 9 month olds who need the 2nd from bottom slots. On the flip side, I've also seen kids who are 13 months and barely fit it.
If he's really that petite at 6 months then he probably doesn't fit the seat yet. She can switch to the complete air as soon as his shoulders are even with the bottom slots though - no need to max the infant seat and I wouldn't recommend maxing the height on an infant seat (so far as shell-above-head goes anyways,) unless there was a very good reason.
However - if you read the manual it will say that the child needs to be at least even with the slots when the harness is at the lowest height.
Any kid who is close to outgrowing the infant seat will definitely fit the complete air. I've seen kids who are 4 months fit the seat and seen 9 month olds who need the 2nd from bottom slots. On the flip side, I've also seen kids who are 13 months and barely fit it.
If he's really that petite at 6 months then he probably doesn't fit the seat yet. She can switch to the complete air as soon as his shoulders are even with the bottom slots though - no need to max the infant seat and I wouldn't recommend maxing the height on an infant seat (so far as shell-above-head goes anyways,) unless there was a very good reason.
Well I just heard more of her story... she was in an accident the other day, so the bucket seat isn't usable anymore. And she has the CA just sitting there. She'd like to start using it but it's CLEAR from pictures that her son is not big enough for it yet. She's aware she'll have to get a different seat though, and since the other guy was at fault in the accident, his insurance will have to pay for a new bucket seat.
tarynsmum
Senior Community Member
There are lots of convertibles that have lower harness slots than the CA (I'm not Canadian but since I replied to the thread once it pops up for me). I probably wouldn't get another bucket unless mom really wanted it for convenience sake.
In the first pic I posted, DS is wearing a 6-9month TCP romper (3-6 was too short). It's not like he had/has a short torso.
In the first pic I posted, DS is wearing a 6-9month TCP romper (3-6 was too short). It's not like he had/has a short torso.
LISmama810
Admin - CPS Technician
PeachyPie said:
It's not good to max out HER bucket because it's been crashed. There's nothing wrong with maxing out a bucket in general if that's what the mom wants for convenience or whatever. As for safety, there's no difference between a bucket or a convertible PRESUMING the child fits--and there are convertibles that fit infants well. So it's really a matter of preference at this point.
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