Question FF minimums

jewlsvern

New member
I was just looking at the weight and height limits on my new Avenue and noticed the FF numbers. It says they should be 22 lbs and 34 inches to FF. So does this mean they MUST be 34 inches to FF or do you always go by the weight.

My DD is 21# and we plan to use this seat on our plane flight. Can I argue (if necessary) that she is not big enough to FF. I know the law is 1 and 20 but I see a lot of seats that start at 22 pounds to FF.
 
ADS

cpsaddict

New member
Dorel has said that the 34" is set in stone, therefore it must be followed. According to the car seat manufacturer, your dd is too small to be FF by both height and weight in the Avenue.
 

jewlsvern

New member
Dorel has said that the 34" is set in stone, therefore it must be followed. According to the car seat manufacturer, your dd is too small to be FF by both height and weight in the Avenue.

Thanks. That's good to know. She is not even 30 inches so I can tell family that she is too small to FF. They all think I'm nuts.

What about other manufacturers like Evenflo. Are their height minimums set like Dorel?
 

cpsaddict

New member
Well, I am not certain that anyone has ever questioned it. The reason that we know Dorel said it was set in stone was because the limit seemed much higher than other brands. I think most others are 30".
 

wendytthomas

Admin - CPST Instructor
Staff member
The law depends where you are. There's a proper use clause here in NC, meaning you need to use the seat properly. I actually got to tell a mom she was using one illegally this weekend because she had her seven month old forward facing. That was illegal. Using your seat forward facing at 1 years and 21 pounds would be illegal. However, using a booster rated from 20 pounds and 1 year would be legal, if one existed. Does that make sense?

Plus I don't know which state's laws a plane would follow. Would it change as it entered each one's airspace?

Don't go by the law. The manufacturer says 22 pounds and 34" and she's not big enough. And the FAA regulations state that the seat MUST be used as per the manufacturer. You're golden. :)

Wendy
 

April

Well-known member
Veering a little off topic here, but my Apex doesn't state 34" in the manual. Weird huh?
 

thepeach80

Senior Community Member
Veering a little off topic here, but my Apex doesn't state 34" in the manual. Weird huh?

I think it's on the seat though, I know it's somewhere. All the seats I've had from them have had that limit. That's what was so bad at the Summit I tried Ilana in. She's like maybe an inch shy of being even w/ the top slots of the seat and is not even 34" yet to even get to use it! By the time she hits 34", she'll be too tall for the seat entirely!
 

jewlsvern

New member
The law depends where you are. There's a proper use clause here in NC, meaning you need to use the seat properly. I actually got to tell a mom she was using one illegally this weekend because she had her seven month old forward facing. That was illegal. Using your seat forward facing at 1 years and 21 pounds would be illegal. However, using a booster rated from 20 pounds and 1 year would be legal, if one existed. Does that make sense?

Plus I don't know which state's laws a plane would follow. Would it change as it entered each one's airspace?

Don't go by the law. The manufacturer says 22 pounds and 34" and she's not big enough. And the FAA regulations state that the seat MUST be used as per the manufacturer. You're golden. :)

Thanks. I plan to RF her to 35# but I was a little concerned that a FA might make me turn her FF. This is the first time I've flown with a convertible. Last time I had no problems with her SR. But I keep reading about issues people have had with FA's. I am glad to find out she is too small to FF in that seat. Another reason to use it over her EFTA on the plane.
 

fyrfightermomma

New member
I think it's on the seat though, I know it's somewhere. All the seats I've had from them have had that limit. That's what was so bad at the Summit I tried Ilana in. She's like maybe an inch shy of being even w/ the top slots of the seat and is not even 34" yet to even get to use it! By the time she hits 34", she'll be too tall for the seat entirely!

Me too. My kiddo is 32" but is right AT the top slots of the Scenera and a lot of the Dorel combo seats. When she hits 34" it will be well outgrown.
 

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