Greetings from a car seat expert!

[BeBo]

I've just bought my second 9th generation Corolla. I got a new 07 LE with side airbags and VSC to replace a 03 sport that was stolen from me.

I'm glad to have found this forum.

I know quite a lot about car seats so please feel free to PM me with any questions you may have on that topic.

[Shelbrain]

Any recommendations for a new seat? Once she hits one, we need to replace it with a forward facing seat, right? The seat she is in now is made by Chico.

[BeBo]

Originally Posted by Shelbrain

Any recommendations for a new seat? Once she hits one, we need to replace it with a forward facing seat, right? The seat she is in now is made by Chico.

Nope you don't have to replace the infant seat as long as your baby still fits in the infant seat. As long as she is under the weight limit and has at least an inch of hard shell of the car seat above the top of her head, she still fits. Do you have the Key Fit 22 or Key Fit 30? The Key Fit 30 can last for quite a while.

When your daughter outgrows her infant seat you'll get a convertible that can go rear facing then forward facing when she hits the rear facing weight limit. The new recommendation from the American Academy of Pediatrics is to keep your kid rear facing for the max of the seat. A new convertible will usually rear face for 33 or 35 lbs plus usually the same one inch of hard shell rule for height, but check the manual of the seat you decide on.

My 19 month old DS is 23 lbs and he rear faces in a Britax Boulevard in my car and a Britax Roundabout in my DHs. We had a Marathon in my Corolla that was stolen. I only bought a Boulevard to replace the Marathon because I got a really great deal on it. The Roundabout is a great compact seat and has been great for travel, but it only goes to 40lbs total as opposed to 65lbs for the Marathon/Decathlon/Boulevard.

There is a really big sale on Britax seats coming up at the end of this month. www.babycatalog.com and www.albeebaby.com are great online stores that will offer free shipping and participate in the sale. I think it starts around February 24th.

Another great seat is the Evenflo Triumph Advanced. Just make sure it's the Advanced. It will rear face to 35lbs I believe and it forward faces to 55lbs.

So long answer, no you don't have to flip at one and rear facing is so much safer you should keep your child rear facing in a convertible.

Please feel free to ask any more questions when you decide on a particular seat!