Thanks for this thread! I'm in the middle of car seat swapping hell - just realized DD#2 has gotten too big to RF in her Cosco Scenera so turned that around Sat (she'll be 4 in May but is small). Then realized last night that DD#1 needed a harness adjustment on the Nautilus, straps were too low (she's 6). So I also checked on the Marathon and lo and behold, she's outgrown that (and I put her in it 3-4X a week and hadn't noticed!). So went to BRU's trade in sale today - gave them a backless booster hand-me-down for the 25% off. They didn't have any Maestros in stock to look at - I did like the Symphony but in the end the $90 difference in price made me choose the Maestro (BRU could order it online through the store). Then I get home and realize Maestro only has a 50 pound weight limit for harness - which we're almost up to (and I see that Julie did point that out, it just didn't register). Nautilus and most others seem to be 65. Also, after moving Nautilus to my car from DH's, I see in the manual that LATCH can only be used up to 48 pounds, so I had to re-do that. I thought I needed the locking clip but then I read my car manual and figured out how to do the ELR/ALR conversion by pulling the belt all the way out after buckling. Lots of chocolate involved in figuring this all out.
So, long story short. Maestro - cheap, but low harness weight limit. And be sure to check the LATCH weight limits for older kids (some cars are even lower than 48). And I think I'll be getting the Symphony now anyway, as both DD#2's seats expire later this year. Hate to turn in a Britax for scrap, but it expires first, in 3 mos.
As always, thanks to Julie! Just this little bit of carseat swapping is making me tear my hair out!
Last edited by Kendra; 02-06-2012 at 06:21 PM.
Lactivist, VBACtivist, ERFtivist (LOL!) Mom to Kate, 11/2005, c-section, MFAs to peanut, tree nut, dairy, OAS to watermelon & apple, outgrown eggs and sesame; and Amanda, 5/2008, planned homebirth, nka