5 lber in an RXT?

crunchierthanthou · May 3, 2012

I helped a family who is planning to skip the infant seat. However, the mom is in now the hospital with her water broken at 30 weeks. Baby will certainly be born early and likely going home in the 5 lb range. What are the odds of a baby that tiny fitting?

I'm skeptical. Yesterday we had the inserts in with the harness cinched all the way, and I think there was way more space than a 5 lb baby would fill.

I've seen references to different length Diono harnesses. Is that only longer, or shorter too?

christineka · May 3, 2012

Diono also has a shorter harness. I can't imagine that a 5 pound baby would fit properly, but at least the harness would get tight enough.

snowbird25ca · May 3, 2012

I don't see a 5lb baby fitting properly. I've seen 6lb babies who just barely fit.

What kind of vehicle is it? Will it install reclined enough? Sounds like a silly question, but I know that in my Outlook it would be impossible to get it reclined enough for a newborn.

katymyers · May 3, 2012

I work at a hospital in a Peds unit and a NICU and I'm gonna be totally honest with you, unless you're expecting that baby to be large at 30 weeks, going home at five pounds is pretty optimistic. I see babies that gestational age going home at more like four pounds or even less. I do highly doubt that baby will fit in that seat and due to how straight the back of it is the baby may not even tolerate it. My own baby came home at five pounds and was way too small for the majority of convertible seats out there and it really may not even be realistic to skip a bucket seat. If they have their hearts set on one I'd recommend a Combi Coccoro, they fit infants very well and have a lower minimum weight. Otherwise a bucket that seems to fit preemies well is a Graco SnugRide 30 which has a minimum weight of 4 lbs.

crunchierthanthou · May 3, 2012

Thanks for the confirmation. I'll tell them about a shorter harness and advise them to get an infant seat or CCO. I told the dad I was worried about it actually fitting a 5 lb baby, regardless of rating.

It seemed reclined enough. It was a BMW. X5?

kategunk · May 3, 2012

I own an RXT and came home with a 4#11oz baby (born at 5#2 at 34 weeks) My DD barely fit in her carrier...I just can't see a baby at 30 weeks fitting in anything but a carrier.

cookie123 · May 3, 2012

Wouldn't that be comparable to the harness height of a Snugride22 - 8 inches?
I would guess the baby would go home around 35 - 36 weeks, possibly longer if born that early. Most of our babies are discharged at 4.5 - 5.5 lbs.

A lot of times the Snugride 30 harness slots are too high for the smaller kids. I'd go with Corocco or the Keyfit or something that goes very small just in case. I've seen twice now where that Eddie Bauer Trailmaker travel system seat from Target didn't tighten enough for a 5 lber. I can't recall which seat it is. I think the On Board or Sure Fit.

It's this one:
http://www.target.com/p/Eddie-Bauer-Trailmaker-Travel-System-Sinclair/-/A-12418439

Brigala · May 3, 2012

I would suggest they go ahead and order the shorter harness for the Radian. They'll probably use it eventually. But they need to at least be prepared with a backup plan until baby grows into the Radian. If they just want something to get by with until then, they sell the Comfy Carry Elite at Burlington Coat Factory and I think it's only around $60 or so. It should fit a 4 lb baby.

5 lber in an RXT?

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