I got my retro geo TFP (man. date 11/24/09) a few days ago and was wondering about the infant insert after reading on here that it supposedly had a 22lb limit. No where in my entire manual or on the insert or seat does it say anything about a maximum weight limit. It just says not to use when ff'ing and that it must be used till baby is even with the bottom slots. DS is only 18lbs right now at 9 months so it's not really an issue but he seems more comfortable with it in and I wanted to clear up the max weight limit question.
When I called I was told that there is NO max weight limit and that the infant insert can be used at any weight as long as baby is rf'ing. He just said that they changed the wording in the manual to make it easier for parents. He said it's never been a safety issue, now nor in the earlier TF that has the 22lb warning. He did say that a lot of parents had called saying their kids were "squished" in the seat or that the "straps were too short" and that he's had to tell them to take out the infant insert. He just said that most babies by the time they are 22lbs don't "need" the insert any more and that it's the parents choice to decide whether to use it or not.
I hope this clears up the question. The infant insert has 3 slot holes in it (same number of rf'ing slot positions in the seat) so it didn't make sense that it couldn't be used with a taller baby that would most likely be over 22lbs. I will continue to use the infant insert till DS2 doesn't seem to need it any more. I did take off the head insert, strap covers, and belly pad though since the strap covers seem a little long and stiff and the belly pad kept falling off every single time I put DS in or out of the seat. I like the Britax belly pad better as that one doesn't seem to fall off as much.
When I called I was told that there is NO max weight limit and that the infant insert can be used at any weight as long as baby is rf'ing. He just said that they changed the wording in the manual to make it easier for parents. He said it's never been a safety issue, now nor in the earlier TF that has the 22lb warning. He did say that a lot of parents had called saying their kids were "squished" in the seat or that the "straps were too short" and that he's had to tell them to take out the infant insert. He just said that most babies by the time they are 22lbs don't "need" the insert any more and that it's the parents choice to decide whether to use it or not.
I hope this clears up the question. The infant insert has 3 slot holes in it (same number of rf'ing slot positions in the seat) so it didn't make sense that it couldn't be used with a taller baby that would most likely be over 22lbs. I will continue to use the infant insert till DS2 doesn't seem to need it any more. I did take off the head insert, strap covers, and belly pad though since the strap covers seem a little long and stiff and the belly pad kept falling off every single time I put DS in or out of the seat. I like the Britax belly pad better as that one doesn't seem to fall off as much.