spinoff -- rearfacing carseats

i have a carseat from a relative that is about 4 or 5 years old... i checked, and there doesn't seem to be any recalls or anything on it, it has never been in an accident; it seems safe. it can be rearfacing until 30lbs.

i am wondering if i should be getting something that can stay rearfacing longer? (i haven't even registered yet - LO due jan 1st)

will something with a 30lb max last until DC is at least 2?? any other carseats you suggest that stay rearfacing longer?

thanks.... feeling a little lost on this stuff but after reading some of these posts i am kind of worried about it all!!

Re: spinoff -- rearfacing carseats

I'm not sure, but I remember hearing or reading car seats expire after a few years, can you check if it expired?

We have a new carseat rear facing only, up to 30 lbs (Peg Perego Viaggio Sip) DS is a huge baby, at 26" long and 16 lbs, I think we will be able to use it at least until he's 8 months old. I don't know what we would do after that.

I'd love insight on this as well!

Re: spinoff -- rearfacing carseats

Check all the tags/markings on the carseat. We bought a 2nd carseat for DH's car and it said something like "d ont use after . . ." And the date was like ;ust under 2 yrs away. PS this was a "low end" convertible carseat.

Re: spinoff -- rearfacing carseats

What the others said, I would be more concerned with the expiration date of the carseat. I had an extra one for my dads car (my cousins gave it to me, it was about 4 yrs old or so) and the installers wouldn't put it in.

Re: spinoff -- rearfacing carseats

as previously stated most expire after about 5 years

i would also wait to get a convertible because there will be more that go till 40lbs rear facing that come out in august

Re: spinoff -- rearfacing carseats

i had no idea they expired! thanks!!

i guess that means i will be getting a new one.

oh, and thanks snowprincess, i will wait until after august to look again

Re: spinoff -- rearfacing carseats

There are a lot of seats to choose from out there, and as the PP stated they do have expiration dates. Personally, I have 4 Britax Marathon convertible car seats (2 for each car). They are rear facing up until 35lbs. Since you have some time, I would wait as long as you can to get the seat that holds the most weight rear facing if possible. Many mommies utilize an infant carrier and base for the first few months and then move to a convertible car seat. There is no way to gauge when your child will weigh too much for a particular seat. Even very big babies that grow fast the first year, their weight will taper significantly once they start walking and get more mobile. HTH!

Re: spinoff -- rearfacing carseats

I would check to see if it expired as well, there should be a date on the seat.

FWIW, my DS is 3 and just cleared 30lbs recently. That said, we only used the infant seat until he was about 11 months old, I totally laugh when I see all of these "infant" seats with these high weight limits b/c the odds of being able to use it that long are slim to none. Either the child won't sit in it, you won't be able to carry it or they will outgrow the length