How can I keep my DS RF as long as possible?

Hi,

I have twin boys who are 14 months. One is already 28lbs and 33.5".As far as I can tell useless Transport Canada only lets convertibles rf until 30 lbs and even the US Britax convertibles only rf to 33lbs.He is putting on .5lb to .6lbs a month, so in a Canadian seat that gives him roughly 4 months and a few months longer in a US one.

That means he will be FF from 18-22 months or so?! How on earth have some of you got RF 3 and 4 year olds??????????? Or is my math wrong, lol.

Another issue is my other twin is 5lbs lighter. So obviously he can RF much longer but what do I do about the bigger one? Have one RF and one FF? They know when the other has got something different to them so I cant see that going down well-but at that same time I dont want to FF my little guy sooner than I have too.

Alternatively, should I just skip a convertible for the bigger one and get him that Recaro seat I have been reading about? Or is he too small?

Any thoughts? Thanks.

Mizzum

[Joolsplus2]

How so long? Skinny, skinny, skinny kids! I know several moms of twins who have one RF and one FF, it's not a big deal. I agree, the seatmakers lowering all their limits to 30 in Canada is utterly tragic.. .the seats are tested with the 33 pound dummy (an average 3 yo), and Cosco goes to the extra effort of weighting that dummy to 35 pounds (same seats as the US, just lableled differently). You can't get the Recaro in Canada, and it would probably only harness to 40 pounds, anyway. If you go with the Graco Platinum Cargo, it'll harness to 48 pounds, and the Evenflo Chase harnesses to 47 pounds (top tethered, in Canada ONLY).

Sooo...when you say, 'skip the convertible', what are they in now????
Julie CPS Tech and mom to 2 in seats
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFAlbum/SarahMA.aspx

[Joolsplus2]

Never mind about what are they in now... UK infant seats go to 13KG, right? So for the moment you're still fine :)
Julie CPS Tech and mom to 2 in seats
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFAlbum/SarahMA.aspx

Hi,

They are in their European convertible (Concord Ultimax). You may remember my ongoing car seat saga. We are moving to Canada in December so am looking for car seats to replace my Concords.

So I cant get the Recaro in Canada either? What the **** can you get there? It is appalling.

What do you recommend then? Just get a Britax convertible and FF in it when he reaches the limit? I am not familiar with the other seats you mentioned and really want to stick with EPS and SIP if at all possible.


Thanks for your advice.

Mizzum

They outgrew their infant seats length-wise in May so have been in the Concord since then.

Mizzum

[Joolsplus2]

Right, duh (I get all into answering and forgot who asked! lol) I knew that in the back of my mind!
Julie CPS Tech and mom to 2 in seats
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFAlbum/SarahMA.aspx

[Joolsplus2]

Yeah, it's awful, the lame selection up there! Small market share and expensive testing is why (who wants to spend hundreds of thousands to get a seat certified when you only might sell a few thousand? almost no one....).
The Platinum Cargo won't be the quality you're used to (which is why you'll probably want the Britax...), but it does have EPS foam, tall top slots, a nice harness adjuster and straps, and of course the 48 pound limit (top tethered, in Canada only...I have to keep saying that, because it's the same seat as the US, but the US has no top tethering law, and the seat will not pass at that weight if it's not tethered). The Marathon also has tall top slots and a 48 pound weight limit (33 RF in the US, I might make the parental decision to go a bit above 30 if it were me, knowing that the 30 was arbitrary...but that's just me...)...of course, it also has a 65 pound weight limit in the US, in case your big boy stays pretty big and you need to go a bit above 48 pounds harnessed.. again, that's against labeling in Canada, but only because of the way the law is written that car seats go to 48 pounds....

I hope the rest of the Canada experience is better for you than THIS funky little issue, lol :) (I hear it's lovely up there, even from my friends who import Wizards and Huskies and Bodyguards up there illegally)

:)
Julie CPS Tech and mom to 2 in seats
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFAlbum/SarahMA.aspx

Sorry to bug you but what do you think? Theoretically speaking if I was moving to the US :) Would the Recaro be better for him as it will last longer, or should i get the convertible and RF for a few more months??

Thanks. I never thought a decision on a car seat would be so hard!

[Joolsplus2]

I'd still go with the Marathon (or Boulevard ;) )... even without the rearfacing, you could definitely get the harnessing till age 5... if you went with a seat with a 40 pound limit, he could b 3 when that happens, and you'd be stuck buying a Marathon anyway (you want to keep them harnessed to *at least* 5 or so...maybe even consider a Husky later...but really boostering is less safe than harnessing in most crashes). So even if you are going straight to forward facing (which I wouldn't... he might hold steady under 30 (or 33) pounds for 6 months or more if you're lucky), it's probably the longest-use bang for your buck (er, $700 bucks! :P). Or, a Young Sport AND a Marathon, and switch them back and forth depending on who's over 40 pounds.. but 2 marathons is probably easiest...

:)
Julie CPS Tech and mom to 2 in seats
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFAlbum/SarahMA.aspx

Thank you very much. I think what you are saying is the Recaro is only for harnessing to 40lbs but the MA is higher (even in Canada) so I should stick with Britax so I can harness longer? Ok if I am understanding you correctly that is what i will do.

You wouldnt be able to quietly direct me in the direction of the "rebel" thread I saw you say is posted at ivillage? I cant find a thread there which covers my topic of interest? :)

Thanks again.