Can Infant Car Seat Last Until 7 Months?

Updated on December 11, 2012
J.O. asks from San Francisco, CA
18 answers

We are at 17.5 lbs - she's already pretty much filling this seat out. We are leaving for travels and not returning until she is 7 months old so I'm curious - if she's 5 1/2 months now at this weight - do you guys think we will be okay to keep her in this infant seat until we return??

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M.J.

answers from Milwaukee on

My kids were out of those by 4-5 months. Unless she is a tiny girl I would think she would need to be in a bigger seat before 7 months.

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M.P.

answers from Portland on

I'm having difficulty with this question. In my view, an infant car seat is the kind that clips onto a stroller and would not be safe by the time a child is 7 months old. If not for size, she'll be too wiggly. Perhaps you're talking about a different size seat.

I would suggest that you get the convertible seat now because you'll be having to buy it later, anyway. That way you don't have to be concerned about whether or not she'll outgrow it before you get back.

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T.S.

answers from Washington DC on

Depends on the size and weight limits on your particular seat. Most infants seats go until 22lbs, so I'd say you'd be fine... it'd be pretty remarkable for her to gain that much weight in two months. You don't need a new seat until the of baby's head has less than an inch to the top of the seat or baby has reached the maximum weight limit for the seat. The fact that she's "pretty much filling this seat out" now doesn't mean she won't still be fitting nicely for several months more.

I wouldn't worry to much. Enjoy your trip... and unless you're headed to the middle of the Amazon, you can probably pick up a carseat if you absolutely NEED a new one while you're gone.

HTH
T.

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G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

I'd say no. We didn't even use those infant carriers. They are bulky and heavy. We went straight to a rear facing full size convertible car seat. It was a bit hard in the smaller car but we put it in the middle and it sort of fit between the 2 seats. In the van we moved the passenger seat up as far as it would go and the car seat fit just fine.

When the kids turned 1 we turned it around and they were already in their carseat for the next 2-3 years. We did move all of them except one to a booster by 3, this one was too unruly and would get out of the booster and try to climb out. SO he got put back in a 5 point harness until he was too big for it.

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C.M.

answers from Washington DC on

I got rid of the infant seat when my daughter was 3 months and my son was 4 months. I went ahead and got them a convertable seat which goes from an infant size rear facing until a booster seat. My 5 year old is still using it :) I've heard once your baby's feet hang over the edge of the infant seat, they shouldn't be in them anymore

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J.O.

answers from Detroit on

Your seat has a weight limit. What is it? I don't imagine she'd go past 22 lbs. or above in that time. Also, there is a height limit. With most infant seats, they are outgrown when there is less than 1 inch of shell above the head. Please check the manual and stickers on the seat. I can't imagine she's close to this...but again, please check her fit and keep the weight limit in mind. You don't want to exceed either.

When you do get a new seat, you can get a rear-facing convertible for her. Most will fit a child to age 3 rear-facing, some less, some more, depending on the seat and child, and then forward-facing until 5 or 6, again depending on the seat. It's all about height and weight.

And to reply to the above post, you can clip an infant seat onto a stroller well past 7 months. You just need to follow the weight limits of the seat, and stroller. Our stroller can accept infant seats to 40 lbs! And there is one on the market that goes that high. So...well beyond 7 months. :)

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B.B.

answers from Missoula on

Check the manual for your seat. Some of them max out at 22 lbs., some are fine until 30lbs., and as the first poster mentioned, as long as she isn't too long for the seat, she will be fine. I think most kids grow out of their seats by length rather than weight You should check the specifications for your seat.

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A.V.

answers from Washington DC on

You can look at her growth pattern and determine if she's likely to gain those 2 lbs. If you have any concerns about it, just get a convertible seat and use it rear facing. Most of those go all the way down to 5 lbs and will fit her now. Find one she can be in for a while, as the recommendations for how long they should be in a harness keep extending. Our seat goes to 65lbs (my DD is 4) and after that I'll see what's on the market and what the law is.

Current recommendations: http://www.nhtsa.gov/PR/NHTSA-02-11

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L.M.

answers from Dover on

It is impossible for us to know this. Every child is different both in proportions and growth. Your child could reasonably still use that seat based on weight but where is she on height? Also, the reverse could be said (ok on height but not so on weight).

My son was out of his regular infant car seat at 3 months because it went to 20 lbs and he was 19 lbs. Ironically, we had a car accident when he was at 18 lbs so rather than replace it with a new infant seat, we got a convertible one instead. My daughter was in a convertible one very early because I hated her infant seat (which was used but safe) because it was difficult to use. She is still within the height/weight to use it (she's 6) but it is about to expire so we just replaced w/ a new booster seat.

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K.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

Well, it really depends on the height and weight limits of your seat. In many car seats, babies outgrow the height before they outgrow the weight. My son was always in the 90-95% for height and weight and he stayed in his infant seat until he was nine months old (at which point he was 20 lbs; don't remember his length). Newer seats probably have a higher height and weight limit than his did five years ago.

Most likely, she will still fall within the required limits when you return from your trip.

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G.L.

answers from Eugene on

You should have plenty of time. My 7 month old is 25 lbs and still in his infant seat. My other son outgrew it by height before weight. I think most are good to 30 lbs and 30 inches?

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L.L.

answers from Topeka on

Mine is filling it out to and it goes up to about 22-24 lbs but carrying it with my baby in it is becoming heavier and heavier but will you be able to travel without carrying her in an infant seat if so then use it till you come back if not use a different one

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P.K.

answers from New York on

She will be fine to at least a year if not later then that.

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D.G.

answers from San Francisco on

What is the weight limit on your carseat? The limit on mine is 32 lbs. Also look at the height limit, if you don't have the book for your seat you can easily condition online

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I.G.

answers from Seattle on

Check the weight limit on your seat. Ours had a limit of 35 lbs but my DD outgrew it at 14 months because the straps were too short.
Most newer infant seats actually have a weight limit of 30 lbs, some 35 lbs. Older models go up to 20 or 22 lbs.

It does not matter how "uncomfortable" your baby looks or how long her legs are! As long as she is within the height and weight limits she can ride in it.

Just another hint for travel abroad: some countries (EU) require that you secure your child in a seat that is up to their safety standards, which many American models are not. You can get ticketed if you get pulled over with your child in an unapproved seat. It never happened to me (I was also never pulled over) but that's what I was told...

Good luck.

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S.S.

answers from San Francisco on

We went to Mexico when my twins were five and a half months old and returned when they were seven and a half months old. I bought a convertible seat as they were already 19 lbs before we left and I'm glad I did! We only brought one pack n play because they shared it and boy, they filled it by the time we got back! My first son was out of his infant car seat by six months, so it made sense to move up one seat for them, too, especially since we didn't want to get into buying seats while we were away. If in doubt... I would definitely suggest moving up and out of the infant seat before you go. It can't hurt!

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L.O.

answers from Detroit on

my kids grew out of the seat in height not weight.. some kids are roly poly.. but if their head is still safely insidie of the seat they are fine.

check the maximum height and weight limit for yoru particluar seat..

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C.B.

answers from Sacramento on

I didn't have time to read all the other posts so some of this will be duplicate information.

I went to a class given by a law enforcement officer who was also a mom. She said to look at the baby's height and weight compared to the carseat's recommendations.

Regarding height, the baby's head should rest well below the upper edge of the carseat. If the baby's head is taller than the upper edge, the crown of her head isn't being properly protected.

As for her weight, the car seat's belts are designed to hold only up to the weight limit listed in your car seat manual. The car's seatbelt will hold the car seat firmly to the car but the car seat's belts will only hold up to their listed maximum weight.

You don't mention where you are traveling to but some other countries are known for their crazy drivers. Since you know she is "filling this seat out" now, I would replace it before the trip. This is a safety device and keeping your baby safe is the most important factor.

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