Q about 40 lb weight limit

molly2004 · Dec 30, 2006

It dawned on me today....

Does the weight limit on the car seat refer to a child in his/her birthday suit or dressed? I didn't think it made much of a difference, but I weighed my son all dressed today with shoes and a light jacket (39 lbs) and then again with no shoes, no jacket (36 lbs).

The weight difference makes me wonder if I have to run out tomorrow and get a new car seat or if I can wait another few months. Conceivably, it could take him 6 months to gain the 4 lbs.

Am I splitting hairs?

Thanks.

Jen

tchrgrrl · Dec 30, 2006

My understanding is that it is fully dressed. I doubt they are testing carseats assuming we are going to be transporting naked kids LOL!

Robert · Dec 30, 2006

tchrgrrl said:
My understanding is that it is fully dressed. I doubt they are testing carseats assuming we are going to be transporting naked kids LOL!

It is as your child is dressed. At child seat check up events the children are weight as dressed.

Jewels · Dec 30, 2006

I am not a tech, and I am sure someone else will pipe in here, but I would say the seat is designed to hold 40lbs not a 40lb child + their gear!

To help you use your seat last longer you could take the shoes off when in the car and you should never use a big jacket in the car (just a fleece one and add blankets for warmth). Jackets prevent you from getting the harness as tight as it should be. The jacket between the child and the seat creates empty space making the harness that much looser in a collision.

Jewels · Dec 30, 2006

oops, took me so long to write that others posted before mine got up!

Lea_Ontario · Dec 30, 2006

Jewels said:
... and add blankets for warmth

Would you not have to then adjust for the weight of the blankets as well ?
Or no, because they are outside of the straps?

Jewels · Dec 30, 2006

Kashi said:
Would you not have to then adjust for the weight of the blankets as well ?
Or no, because they are outside of the straps?

I didn't think about that! I'm not sure?

What then if they are reading books, do you count that weight too?

scatterbunny · Dec 30, 2006

IMO it makes most sense to count the weight that the harness is actually RESTRAINING. That would be anything under the straps and actually ON your child. A book or blanket over the top of a child/seat is going to go flying, the carseat will not be restraining those objects.

But yes, weigh the child fully dressed because that's how they ride in the car.

Q about 40 lb weight limit

molly2004

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Robert

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