HELP! When do they REALLY outgrow the Roundabout?

[deenass]

I know technically it's 40 lbs/40 inches but there were posts about the ears being level with something (or not level - this is my question).

I thought I had bookmarked this but when I looked I hadn't. Searching gets me nowhere.

DS is 40 inches (or just a hair short) - so when do I have to get him into a Marathon/Regent?

Edited b/c of typo.

[o_mom]

Rear-facing - head even with the top of the seat (older manuals say tops of ears)

Forward-facing - tops of ears even with the top of the seat shell.

[egoldber]

Well, they can outgrow it several ways:

1) tops of shoulders above highest harness slots
2) weight
3) top of head even with top of shell (my older manual says the ear thing too, but I was advised by the techs here that Britax does not really consider this accurate anymore)

My DD outgrew the RA when she was around 3 1/2, when the tops of her shoulders were above the highest harness slot. I moved her into an MA at that point.

I just realized a few days ago that she is close to outgrowing the MA, because her head is almost even with the top of the shell! We have about a half inch above her head. I had been looking at the harness slots and thinking we had plenty of room because that's how she outgrew the RA, but now I am looking around at Regents.

[Joolsplus2]

For FF, go with "shoulders just above the top slots"...the top of head even with the top of the seat is for rearfacing, NOT forward facing. It's not meant to be confusing, but it is :(
Here's my Sarah in her MA, about 6 months before she completely outgrew it... her head is plenty higher than the top, but the point is for the back of the seat to prevent whiplash when FF, when RF it's to keep the head contained so it doesn't come in contact with the seatbacks or door panels)

http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/FFAlbum/Sarah.aspx

Julie CPS Tech and mom to 3 in seats
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFAlbum/SarahMA.aspx

[Joolsplus2]

The easiest way to tell is when the shoulders are just barely a smidgen over the top slots or the weight limit is reached (make sure the cover didn't slip down and make the top slot look lower than it is...it can fit kids from 38-44 inches overall height, depending on how leggy or torso-ey they are)

:)
Julie CPS Tech and mom to 3 in seats
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFAlbum/SarahMA.aspx

[egoldber]

Thanks for clarifying! :)

[tjham]

I had just looked at this on the RA guide on the Britax website. It still says tops of ears level for both RF and FF! Why the heck don't they have the latest info on their OWN SITE? So annoying!

[Joolsplus2]

Monika tried to put a few of us in touch with her Britax contact re: updating the manuals, but nothing's come of it so far :(
Julie CPS Tech and mom to 3 in seats
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFAlbum/SarahMA.aspx

[Joolsplus2]

Yeah, the FAQ says top of head even with the top of the seat... Who's in charge there? Seriously... :P
Julie CPS Tech and mom to 3 in seats
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFAlbum/SarahMA.aspx