When my DD was 3 months old, we had to purchase a convertible car seat (she had special foot braces that made her not fit into the infant car seat). I gave away our infant car seat to my sister who is still using it. Now we are having a baby and I want to know if its ok to use the convertible (rear facing of course) for a newborn. The only drawback I see is that you cant disconnect the carrier and carry the baby around that way (but I don't really get what that is so important, I've always wondered why people lug those super heavy things around instead of just taking their baby out and carrying the baby).
The directions say 5-48lbs, so we should be ok, right?
If you don't want or need the carrier, it sounds like your car seat will work for an infant. Just check to make sure it has proper head rests or any other inserts necessary to support a floppy newborn.
Check to see if your area has carseat fittings. One of our hospitals does it and some insurance companies, car dealers, health depts do it too. Then they will make sure it's installed correctly, that there are no recalls, or that it hasn't expired. (you didn't say how old your older child was and they are only good for 6 years or so)
They will separate the weight limits for rear-facing and forward-facing. Just double check the weight limits for each but it should be fine. Most seats are 5-about 30+ lbs rear and 20 or 25lbs-the weight limit for the seat for forward facing.
Remember that it is recommended that little ones remain rear-facing till they reach age 2 as they are far far safer in the rear-facing position.
And I'm with you! I bought my daughter a Britax before she was born that you couldn't remove from the car to carry in. I never wanted to leave my little one in the seat for a long time like that anyway. We sometimes carried the infant car seat that was my son's in the trunk and took it in to a restaurant or maybe for grocery shopping but I usually just wore my daughter in my mayawrap.
As long as the lowest harness slot falls just at or below the newborns shoulders then he can use it.
When rear facing the harness must be just at or below the shoulders for rear facing. Most babies are too small for this to happen so an infant seat is required. There are very few convertible car seats that fit newborns properly because of this requirement of the harness to be below the shoulders for rear facing.
The Eddie Bauer seat will rear face to 35lbs, forward face to 40lbs in the harness. Not 48lbs.
