The seat has gotten heavy - your little one is bigger and it feels like your arm is going to fall off...

If you're wondering when is the best time to transition your baby from an infant seat (or bucket seat or pumpkin seat) to a convertible car seat this guide is for you!

Babies can outgrow an infant car seat in three ways:

• By Weight: All infant car seats have weight limits. Many infant seats have a maximum weight between 30-35lbs. Read your manual to confirm what yours is! 

• By Height: All infant car seats have height limits. Most infant seats have a maximum height between 30-35 inches. Read your manual to confirm what yours is!

• By Head Height: Some infant seats also have a “head height” limit. This means the top of the baby’s head must be at least one inch from the top of the car seat shell, regardless of their overall height. Read your manual to find out if your seat has this limit!

If your baby reaches any one of these three limits, they have outgrown their infant car seat. No need to wait for all three!

You can keep using an infant seat while your baby is within all the limits, but many parents choose to move their baby to a rear facing convertible when they are around 8-10 months. It can be quite a workout carrying a 20lb baby in a 10lb carrier! 

You don’t need to “max out” your baby’s infant car seat. If they fit correctly in a rear facing convertible, you can transition them!

Guest Post by Britney Schroeder, CPST (@buckleandlatch)