RFing weight limits?

mol13 · May 1, 2008

It seems like so many of the seats have RFing weight limits of 20 pounds or so! We bought the EFTA for the height adjustment but our son is just about out of it RFing in weight, and he's only 8 months old! The ComfortSport goes to 30 pounds RFing so we'll be able to keep him that way as long as we can. We'll probably get a Nautilus after he outgrows the ComfortSport FFing.

So...what's the deal with the low weight limits for RFing? And what should we get instead of the EFTA if he's over the RFing limit? I'm guessing that we'll have to turn him at 18 months or 2 years because he's probably going to be too heavy.

natysr · May 1, 2008

The EFTA has a RF weight limit of 35 pounds.

Jeanum · May 1, 2008

If by "EFTA" you're referring to the Evenflo Triumph Advance convertible seat, it has a rear facing weight limit of 35 lbs., among the highest rear facing weight limit seat options in the U.S. currently, and you should have ample time left to continue using it rear facing so long as your baby is under the weight limit and has at least 1 inch of plastic shell above the top of his head. :thumbsup: It should outlast the ComfortSport height-wise and weight-wise for a significantly good amount of time due to the ComfortSport's lower weight limit and shorter shell. Your EFTA is really a good choice for extended rear facing. :thumbsup:

Older infant seats usually had 20 lbs. rear facing weight limits, as did some older convertible models. Most currently available infant seat models have 22 lbs. or 30 lbs. weight limits, and convertible carseats in the U.S. can typically rear face up to 30/33/35 lbs. now depending on the model.

PixieEMT · May 1, 2008

mol13 said:
It seems like so many of the seats have RFing weight limits of 20 pounds or so! We bought the EFTA for the height adjustment but our son is just about out of it RFing in weight, and he's only 8 months old! The ComfortSport goes to 30 pounds RFing so we'll be able to keep him that way as long as we can. We'll probably get a Nautilus after he outgrows the ComfortSport FFing.

So...what's the deal with the low weight limits for RFing? And what should we get instead of the EFTA if he's over the RFing limit? I'm guessing that we'll have to turn him at 18 months or 2 years because he's probably going to be too heavy.

Do you mean most rear facing infant seats go to 20lbs or so? That is true. Most have 22lb limits a few select have 30lb limits.

Most convertable seats now go to 35lb rear facing. Only a few select go to 30lbs like the ComfortSport and Evenflo Tribute (5pt and OHS models) .

HTH-Sara

joolsplus3 · May 1, 2008

I *suspect* the labels are just confusing... they probably say something like 'use only in a rearfacing position for children under 20 pounds and 1 year' that makes it look like that's the limit. Britax also has wording like that and it's very misleading.

cpsaddict · May 1, 2008

joolsplus3 said:
I *suspect* the labels are just confusing... they probably say something like 'use only in a rearfacing position for children under 20 pounds and 1 year' that makes it look like that's the limit. Britax also has wording like that and it's very misleading.

I agree. I get this question a lot. They mean you MUST use it rearfacing until 20lbs and you MAY use it rf beyond 20 and up to 35. Even the older Triumphs had a 30lb rf weight limit.

mol13 · May 1, 2008

It seemed as though it said to use for infants 5 to 20 pounds rear-facing but thanks for clearing that up!

wendytthomas · May 1, 2008

mol13 said:
It seemed as though it said to use for infants 5 to 20 pounds rear-facing but thanks for clearing that up!

It does. It's just terribly said.

The only seat that has come out in the past two or three years without a 33+ rear facing limit is the Combi Zeus, which has a 22 pound limit, I believe. And a 40 pound forward facing limit. And a $300 price tag. I wonder how their sales are doing.... Everything else that has some out has been 33 pounds, and now everything new coming out is 35 pounds.

Wendy

mol13 · May 1, 2008

What would it take to improve the labelling on the carseats so that parents know that weight-wise keeping them rear-facing is a feasible option and safety-wise a much better option?

I don't think that the infant carriers need to change because frankly who really wants to carry a kid who is over 20 pounds in an infant carrier? I probably could have kept my son in the SnugRide for another 2 months or so but since he's all upper body, his head was getting close to the top and I heard from someone that if the head is less than an inch or so from the top of the infant seat, the baby can't use it anymore.

Another friend has a daughter who is currently 10 months old and bigger than our son but she's all legs.

RFing weight limits?

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