Err...did I buy the wrong carseat? (Does the Maestro not rear-face?!)

[fumofu]

I thought the Evenflo Maestro rear-faces. Just got it delivered from Amazon, and I'm reading the product manual and there are no instructions for rear-facing installation.

Did I just buy the wrong carseat for the grandparents' car/traveling?

And if so, I need help finding a seat! We use a Diono Radian RXT in our car, but I need a seat that DS will sit in once a week with the grandparents for lunch outings and a 30-minute ride to their house. Secondary to that, we'd like to have a lighter seat for air traveling.

DS is 19 months, 33", 24 lbs.

Also, I opened the box that was crushed and had two layers of tape over the opening, and the seat is bare with no plastic bag around it. Is this how it's supposed to be? The registration card is still attached to the harness belt.

Thanks!

[essnce629]

Yes, the Maestro is a combination seat-- which means it's a forward facing only seat that converts to a booster. It does not rear face.

For an inexpensive convertible for travel and part-time use you may want to check out the:

Safety 1st OnSide Air
http://www.amazon.com/Safety-1st-Protect-Convertible-Bedrock/dp/B004EBUX8K

Safety 1st Avenue
http://www.albeebaby.com/safety-1st-avenue-convertible-car-seat-22449ges.html

Cosco Apt
http://www.kmart.com/cosco-apt-40rf-convertible-car-seat-crestwood/p-024W004269530000P

[Joolsplus2]

Quickest way to know if a seat is convertible (rf to ff) or combination (harness then booster ff) is the weight limits. If it starts at 5 pounds, it's definitely a convertible. Starts at 20 or 22 or 25 pounds, combination.
The Easy Fit 65 is a fancy Avenue... http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=11563636

[fumofu]

Thanks for the heads up. Talk about pregnant brain, somehow I completely missed that the Maestro doesn't rear-face.

Off to read reviews. Thanks for the rec's!

So I've narrowed down to the Safety 1st Avenue and the Cosco Apt. How easy is installation (Grandparents will take the seat to a police inspection)? Does the Cosco Apt have padding, since it's tagged as an upgraded Scenera (which doesn't have padding)?

Thanks.

[edurnemk]

Yes, the Maestro is a combination seat-- which means it's a forward facing only seat that converts to a booster. It does not rear face.


:yeahthat: We got the Maestro as a travel seat when DS turned 3 and outgrew our convertible travel seat.

[fumofu]

Quickest way to know if a seat is convertible (rf to ff) or combination (harness then booster ff) is the weight limits. If it starts at 5 pounds, it's definitely a convertible. Starts at 20 or 22 or 25 pounds, combination.
The Easy Fit 65 is a fancy Avenue... http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=11563636

Checked out the Cosco Apt at Target today, it's a little too bare-boned without the foam.

So now I'm looking into the S1 Easy Fit 65. How easily does this install rear-facing? It's not something to worry about when it's in the grandparents' car. But when we're traveling, it'd be nice to have a seat that installs easily.

Thank you.

[MamaSnoo]

Don't know if you are planning to keep the Maestro or send it back, but I will say that when it is time for you to FF, it is a really great travel/occasional seat. We have taken it to the ILs, and MIL and FIL are divorced. We end up doing different activities in different cars, so the seat gets moved at least once a day. I can actually do the Maestro myself quite quickly. Not true for for our everyday seats.