How to tell if your RF seat is outgrown - Car Seat.Org - Carseat, Vehicle & Child Passenger Safety Forums

Jewels · 12-03-2007, 09:02 AM

How to tell if your RF seat is outgrown by height:

It seems that how to tell when a RF (rear-facing) seat is outgrown is a fairly common question. It can be really hard to tell when a RF seat is outgrown, and a common misconception is looking from the front of the carseat to see if it is outgrown. The seat will pretty much always look outgrown from the front before it is truly outgrown because you need to look from the side.

This picture shows the correct way to measure. A line is drawn perpendicular to the shell/back of the carseat over the top of the child's head (#1). Then a second line is drawn out from the top of the shell parallel to the first line (#2).

Now measure the distance between the two lines. When there is *less than one inch*, the rearfacing restraint is outgrown by height.

This picture shows a common misconception with how people measure to check for the one inch rule. The line is drawn parallel to the ground from the top of the shell. You can see how this would appear to show the seat is outgrown, however it is incorrect to measure this way and this child still has room to grow in this seat.

The best place to measure how much room is left in the seat is when the seat is installed in the vehicle. They're usually more upright in the house and the more upright they are the more shell there will be above the child's head making your measurements not acurate.

*Disclaimer* This 1" rule works for all infant seats. Some convertibles allow you to have the head even with the top of the shell, refer to your manual.

**The pictures used in this article are used with permission by An Aurora.

CDNTech · 12-03-2007, 10:38 AM

Great article!

Mama! · 12-09-2007, 06:05 PM

Very cool.

Our scenera doesnt say anything about head height, so I was wondering.

Brilliantmama · 01-03-2008, 10:02 AM

what about seats with an adjustable headrest, like the BLVD?

Patriot201 · 01-04-2008, 07:09 PM

Jewels,

What a GREAT post this is! This will be SO helpful to MANY people!

I wish I could give you rep MANY times for this one!

brightredmtn · 01-04-2008, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jewels

*Disclaimer* This 1" rule works for all infant seats. Some convertibles allow you to have the head even with the top of the shell, refer to your manual.

My manual actually says nothing about height limits for RF.

Jewels · 01-06-2008, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brightredmtn

My manual actually says nothing about height limits for RF.

I know the Britax MA allows the head to be even with the top of the shell. If you can't find it in the manual then I would call the company that makes your carseat and ask them.

An Aurora · 05-30-2008, 01:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jewels

I know the Britax MA allows the head to be even with the top of the shell. If you can't find it in the manual then I would call the company that makes your carseat and ask them.

Just to clarify, the new 2008 Britax manuals now state that the child must have an inch of shell above the top of the head to RF in their convertibles. As far as I know, this is retroactive.

Pepse · 06-27-2008, 02:29 PM

very cool, thanks for sharing. I will have to measure dd when she wakes up from her nap

rosey2007 · 07-16-2008, 05:56 PM

Thank you for making that clear.

NannyMom · 01-30-2009, 09:19 AM

Maybe this is a silly question... but.... If DD's head is sitting against the back of the carseat, and I take a ruler and put it against the seat, and measure from the top of her head to the top of the seat.... that'll give the same measurement as in the first picture, right?

Pixels · 01-30-2009, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NannyMom

Maybe this is a silly question... but.... If DD's head is sitting against the back of the carseat, and I take a ruler and put it against the seat, and measure from the top of her head to the top of the seat.... that'll give the same measurement as in the first picture, right?

As long as it's a ruler (not a cloth tape measure), and you make sure that you are measuring perpindicular to the shell. You want to avoid a tape measure because many shells round over at the edge, which would give a much higher measurement than what the child actually has.

tjham · 02-10-2009, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jewels

How to tell if your RF seat is outgrown by height:

It seems that how to tell when a RF (rear-facing) seat is outgrown is a fairly common question. It can be really hard to tell when a RF seat is outgrown, and a common misconception is looking from the front of the carseat to see if it is outgrown. The seat will pretty much always look outgrown from the front before it is truly outgrown because you need to look from the side.

This picture shows the correct way to measure. A line is drawn perpendicular to the shell/back of the carseat over the top of the child's head (#1). Then a second line is drawn out from the top of the shell parallel to the first line (#2).

Now measure the distance between the two lines. When there is *less than one inch*, the rearfacing restraint is outgrown by height.

This picture shows a common misconception with how people measure to check for the one inch rule. The line is drawn parallel to the ground from the top of the shell. You can see how this would appear to show the seat is outgrown, however it is incorrect to measure this way and this child still has room to grow in this seat.

The best place to measure how much room is left in the seat is when the seat is installed in the vehicle. They're usually more upright in the house and the more upright they are the more shell there will be above the child's head making your measurements not acurate.

*Disclaimer* This 1" rule works for all infant seats. Some convertibles allow you to have the head even with the top of the shell, refer to your manual.

**The pictures used in this article are used with permission by An Aurora.

Are there pictures like this is show when a seat is outgrown FF? (lines drawn to show top of ears in relation to top of shell?)

Jennifer mom to my 7 · 02-27-2009, 02:34 PM

Britax has them in there new manuals (minus the adorable model of course).

Page 6-7 of the new marathon manual, right in the initial warning sections.
http://www.britaxusa.com/uploads/pro...-guides/10.pdf

mommycat · 02-27-2009, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jennifer mom to my 7

Britax has them in there new manuals (minus the adorable model of course).

Page 6-7 of the new marathon manual, right in the initial warning sections.
http://www.britaxusa.com/uploads/pro...-guides/10.pdf

Wow, really - on the reclined shoulder level?? I didn't imagine it like that at all. But then again, the recline they are showing is pretty exaggerated, isn't it? So when you look at a kid in their seat you just look straight on and the little bit of recline doesn't "show up" when you are looking like it does in the picture.

Jennifer mom to my 7 · 02-27-2009, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mommycat

Wow, really - on the reclined shoulder level?? I didn't imagine it like that at all. But then again, the recline they are showing is pretty exaggerated, isn't it? So when you look at a kid in their seat you just look straight on and the little bit of recline doesn't "show up" when you are looking like it does in the picture.

Right, pretty much I think their reclined level is if the seat is installed in recline level, which you cannot do over 33-35 pounds (not sure if the new manuals make a difference, the older 33 pound rf seats had a 33 pound recline limit when ff). As we know, if you can get a more upright install with a ff britax, the child gets more room

sparkyd · 03-12-2009, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brilliantmama

what about seats with an adjustable headrest, like the BLVD?

There was no answer posted to this question and I think it's a good one - I was wondering the same thing the other day.

Jeanum · 03-12-2009, 09:31 AM

Britax indicates there must be 1 inch of shell above the top of the rear facing child's head for determining if the Blvd. has been outgrown by height rear facing. There was a discussion of this in the online CEU chat held here with a rep. from Britax last year, and the Britax chat transcript is also posted here at or near the top of the Articles forum.

mommycat · 03-12-2009, 09:33 AM

So, 1" of shell and not headrest, yes?

Jeanum · 03-12-2009, 09:35 AM

Yes, shell.

erin327 · 05-16-2009, 10:40 PM

I found the post above (great thread!) when trying to be sure I was measuring head height correctly. I was using the right idea, but still have a question. Where do I draw the imaginary line at the top of the seat? At the top of the cover as it is when she is in it? Or press down the top of the cover and measure only to the top of the hard part of the shell? Thanks!

Jeanum · 05-17-2009, 08:51 AM

You would need to measure using the top of the hard plastic shell, and not the top of the padded cover.

erin327 · 05-17-2009, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeanum

You would need to measure using the top of the hard plastic shell, and not the top of the padded cover.

Thanks! Sorry to ask something that had just been asked. When I read the top post about measuring, the rest of the thread was not showing. It just said single post or something like that and only had the original. Now I can see the whole thread and realize how silly that looked to ask the exact same question back to back! Sorry!

Jeanum · 05-17-2009, 09:24 AM

No problem, glad to help.

racesmom · 07-03-2009, 10:58 AM

Where'd the pics go? I link this thread almost everyday. NEED the pics, pretty please.

12-09-2007, 06:05 PM	#3
Mama! CPS Fanatic Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 1,657	Re: How to tell if your RF seat is outgrown Very cool. Our scenera doesnt say anything about head height, so I was wondering. __________________ DS 4 36 lbs~42 inches FF in BB or Cougar Regent DD 5.541.5 lbs-46 inches17"torso FF in Madison/BBouquet/Cougar Regent and pink TB or Vivo spare

01-03-2008, 10:02 AM	#4
Brilliantmama Carseat Crazy Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Adirondacks, NY Posts: 188	Re: How to tell if your RF seat is outgrown what about seats with an adjustable headrest, like the BLVD? __________________ Bridget, mama to Abigail 04/15/04 30lb 38in (FF Princess Radian) Georgianna 08/22/07 ~27lb 31in (RF Shannon BLVD) Maple Kate's coming in October (Strawberry Coccoro)

01-04-2008, 07:09 PM	#5
Patriot201 CPS Guru Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 6,792	Re: How to tell if your RF seat is outgrown Jewels, What a GREAT post this is! This will be SO helpful to MANY people! I wish I could give you rep MANY times for this one! __________________ Common abbreviations used (by lovinwaves)

06-27-2008, 02:29 PM	#9
Pepse Carseat Crazy Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Ontario Posts: 426	Re: How to tell if your RF seat is outgrown very cool, thanks for sharing. I will have to measure dd when she wakes up from her nap

07-16-2008, 05:56 PM	#10
rosey2007 Carseat Crazy Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 174	Re: How to tell if your RF seat is outgrown Thank you for making that clear.

12-03-2007, 09:02 AM	#1
Jewels CPS Technician Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 4,004	How to tell if your RF seat is outgrown by height How to tell if your RF seat is outgrown by height: It seems that how to tell when a RF (rear-facing) seat is outgrown is a fairly common question. It can be really hard to tell when a RF seat is outgrown, and a common misconception is looking from the front of the carseat to see if it is outgrown. The seat will pretty much always look outgrown from the front before it is truly outgrown because you need to look from the side. This picture shows the correct way to measure. A line is drawn perpendicular to the shell/back of the carseat over the top of the child's head (#1). Then a second line is drawn out from the top of the shell parallel to the first line (#2). Now measure the distance between the two lines. When there is less than one inch, the rearfacing restraint is outgrown by height. This picture shows a common misconception with how people measure to check for the one inch rule. The line is drawn parallel to the ground from the top of the shell. You can see how this would appear to show the seat is outgrown, however it is incorrect to measure this way and this child still has room to grow in this seat. The best place to measure how much room is left in the seat is when the seat is installed in the vehicle. They're usually more upright in the house and the more upright they are the more shell there will be above the child's head making your measurements not acurate. Disclaimer This 1" rule works for all infant seats. Some convertibles allow you to have the head even with the top of the shell, refer to your manual. *The pictures used in this article are used with permission by An Aurora. __________________ Last edited by Jeanum; 07-04-2009 at 07:06 AM. Reason: fixed image links to display photos on behalf of OP*

12-03-2007, 10:38 AM	#2
CDNTech CPS Technician Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Alberta Posts: 4,576	Re: How to tell if your RF seat is outgrown Great article! __________________ Jen, CDN Certified CRS Tech A 03/28/02, Parkway/Oto M 05/05/05, Radian Car-seat.org Benefactor

01-30-2009, 09:19 AM	#11
NannyMom CPS Technician Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Maryland Posts: 4,146	Re: How to tell if your RF seat is outgrown Maybe this is a silly question... but.... If DD's head is sitting against the back of the carseat, and I take a ruler and put it against the seat, and measure from the top of her head to the top of the seat.... that'll give the same measurement as in the first picture, right? __________________ Mom to Sofi: 3 years, 30 pounds. RF in TFP, EFTA, BV, Marathon, MyRide Nanny to J: 6 years, Vivo, HB TB, Parkway A: 9 years, Vivo, HB TB, High Rise Baby S: 13 months, 24 pounds, RF in 3 Titans

02-27-2009, 02:34 PM	#14
Jennifer mom to my 7 CPS Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 1,019	Re: How to tell if your RF seat is outgrown Britax has them in there new manuals (minus the adorable model of course). Page 6-7 of the new marathon manual, right in the initial warning sections. http://www.britaxusa.com/uploads/pro...-guides/10.pdf __________________ Jennifer and my 7 ds 4/91, dd 9/96, dd 11/99, dd 2/03 pink monterey, dd 10/05 cougar regent, ds 1/07 rf radian XTSL, ds 10/08 rf boulevard

03-12-2009, 09:31 AM	#18
Jeanum Moderator - CPS Technician Emeritus Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 10,258	Re: How to tell if your RF seat is outgrown Britax indicates there must be 1 inch of shell above the top of the rear facing child's head for determining if the Blvd. has been outgrown by height rear facing. There was a discussion of this in the online CEU chat held here with a rep. from Britax last year, and the Britax chat transcript is also posted here at or near the top of the Articles forum. __________________ Regards, Jean DD1 Age 8, 62 lbs. & 52" Monterey/Parkway/Olli DD2 Age 4, 43 lbs. & 42" Britax Frontier/Radian80/Recaro Signo

03-12-2009, 09:33 AM	#19
mommycat CPS Technician Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 2,122	Re: How to tell if your RF seat is outgrown So, 1" of shell and not headrest, yes? __________________ Cat in Canada DS1 5 yo - 40 lb (42") - FF in 2Radians/TrueFit/Traditions/MA DS2 2 yo - 27 lb (34"/13.5"torso) - RF in 2MyRides/2Sceneras - and still BF Also in possession of a Graco SafeSeat-loaned out, 1 AOE-traded out for the Traditions, an EFChase-loaned out and 1 Clek Oto + 2 demo seats: SafeSeat and SnugRide. DS1's opinion of the new addition (Edgemont Dots MR): It's ok but he likes it least. Why? "Well, it's just... too polkadotty!"

03-12-2009, 09:35 AM	#20
Jeanum Moderator - CPS Technician Emeritus Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 10,258	Re: How to tell if your RF seat is outgrown Yes, shell. __________________ Regards, Jean DD1 Age 8, 62 lbs. & 52" Monterey/Parkway/Olli DD2 Age 4, 43 lbs. & 42" Britax Frontier/Radian80/Recaro Signo

05-16-2009, 10:40 PM	#21
erin327 Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 23	Re: How to tell if your RF seat is outgrown by height I found the post above (great thread!) when trying to be sure I was measuring head height correctly. I was using the right idea, but still have a question. Where do I draw the imaginary line at the top of the seat? At the top of the cover as it is when she is in it? Or press down the top of the cover and measure only to the top of the hard part of the shell? Thanks! Last edited by Jeanum; 05-17-2009 at 08:48 AM. Reason: removing full quote of the original post for bandwidth and picture quoting guideline purposes :)

05-17-2009, 08:51 AM	#22
Jeanum Moderator - CPS Technician Emeritus Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 10,258	Re: How to tell if your RF seat is outgrown You would need to measure using the top of the hard plastic shell, and not the top of the padded cover. __________________ Regards, Jean DD1 Age 8, 62 lbs. & 52" Monterey/Parkway/Olli DD2 Age 4, 43 lbs. & 42" Britax Frontier/Radian80/Recaro Signo

05-17-2009, 09:24 AM	#24
Jeanum Moderator - CPS Technician Emeritus Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 10,258	Re: How to tell if your RF seat is outgrown No problem, glad to help. __________________ Regards, Jean DD1 Age 8, 62 lbs. & 52" Monterey/Parkway/Olli DD2 Age 4, 43 lbs. & 42" Britax Frontier/Radian80/Recaro Signo

07-03-2009, 10:58 AM	#25
racesmom CPS Technician Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Eastern Iowa Posts: 263	Re: How to tell if your RF seat is outgrown Where'd the pics go? I link this thread almost everyday. NEED the pics, pretty please. __________________

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