Confession: we kept Theo and June in their infant seats longer than most people do. Partly because they're on the smaller side, and partly because the thought of buying and installing two new car seats at once made me want to lie down on the floor. But at a recent checkup, our pediatrician gently mentioned that June's head was getting close to the top of her seat's shell, and that was the push we needed.
So last month, at just over two years old, both twins moved into convertible seats. Here's what I learned, including the things I got wrong.
Quick note first: I'm not a car seat technician. Everything below is general, and the real authorities are your seat's manual, your vehicle's manual, and a certified technician.
Infant seat limits are about more than weight
I assumed you switch when the baby hits the weight limit. That's one reason, but not the only one. Every seat has a height limit too, and most infant seats also say the child's head has to be a certain distance below the top of the shell. June was nowhere near the weight limit, but she was close on height.
Moral of the story: read the label on the side of the seat and the manual, not just the box. The limits are printed right there.
Rear-facing as long as possible
This was the big one for me. When I pictured "convertible seat," I pictured the twins facing forward like big kids, finally able to see us and the road. Turns out, the current recommendation is to keep kids rear-facing as long as possible, until they reach the maximum rear-facing height or weight limit for their seat. For many convertible seats that's well past age two, sometimes up to around four.
So both twins are still rear-facing, just in bigger seats. Theo does not care at all. June complains she can't see Dan, so we put a small mirror on the headrest and now she makes faces at him at every red light.
And yes, their legs touch the seat back. I worried about that too. From everything I read and what the technician told us, bent legs are fine and kids just sit cross-legged or prop their feet up.
What we looked for (no brands, I promise)
- High rear-facing limits. This was our top priority, so we could keep them rear-facing longer.
- Fits three across or at least two comfortably in our minivan. We measured our second row before buying. Measure. Your car is smaller than you think.
- Easy-to-read level indicator. Getting the recline angle right is half the battle.
- Machine-washable cover. Non-negotiable with two toddlers and a snack habit.
- Price. We spent about $190 per seat. Every seat sold in the US has to pass the same federal safety standards, so the fancier ones mostly add convenience features.
We didn't buy used. You don't always know a used seat's crash history, and seats have expiration dates stamped on them. Our old infant seats expire in a few years, and we'll recycle them properly when we're done.
Installation: harder than it looks
Dan installed the first seat in about 25 minutes and was very proud of himself. Then I tried to wiggle it at the belt path, and it moved about three inches side to side. The general rule we'd read was that it shouldn't move more than an inch at the belt path.
We reinstalled it. Then again. The trick for us was putting a knee in the seat and pushing down with our body weight while tightening. Dan fixes HVAC systems for a living, and he said this was harder than some compressor swaps.
We also learned you usually use either the lower anchors or the seat belt to install, not both, unless the manual specifically says otherwise. That's something I'd never have guessed.
The car seat check event
Even after reinstalling, I wasn't confident. So I found a free car seat check event in our area through the local fire department. Many areas have them, often run by fire stations, police departments or hospitals, with certified child passenger safety technicians.
The technician was patient and kind and did not make me feel stupid, even when she found that both harnesses were too loose. She showed us the pinch test: after buckling, you shouldn't be able to pinch any slack in the strap at the collarbone. She also moved the chest clips up to armpit level. Both seats were technically installed okay, but she tightened one more.
It took about 30 minutes and it was the best half hour I spent all month.
What I'd tell a friend
- Check the height and weight limits and follow the manual.
- Keep them rear-facing as long as the seat allows.
- Measure your car before you buy.
- No puffy jackets under the harness. Put the coat on backwards over the straps instead.
- Get it checked by a certified technician. It's free, and you'll sleep better.
Now if anyone has figured out how to stop two toddlers from throwing their shoes at each other on the freeway, please let me know.
