Least expensive forward facing only seat for occasional use? UPDATE Need help now! Please see...

[Pumpkin_Pie]

I often drive friend's toddlers and young children around in my car and need a second seat that is easily adjustable in height.  The only children that I have in the seat are over 3, and as old as 5 and all are average height and weight.  None are super skinny or chunky.  I would say that weights range from 32lbs to around 45 pounds (for the 5 year old).

If I ever do need to drive a smaller kiddo, I have a Complete Air that DS currently rides in that can be easily flipped RF'ing for the smaller child and DS can ride in the extra seat.  DS technically could be RF'ing still at nearly 4, but I flipped him FF'ing at Thanksgiving, and he is extremely happy and I feel that he is finally big enough that I am comfortable with him FF'ing.

I currently have a Cosco Scenera as my second seat, and when I have the 5 year old ride with us, he rides in the Complete Air and DS rides in the Scenera.  DS weighs 36 pounds.

Any suggestions?  I am low income, so price is definitely a consideration.  I also drive a very old Honda Civic (1998) that will likely need to be replaces within the next year or so.

ACK!!! See post 10!!

Edited by Pumpkin_Pie - 2/12/11 at 4:00pm

[leighi123]

The maestro is around $80

[DahliaRW]

The maestro is going to be your best bet.  Though the 5yo will outgrow it soon in harnessed mode (only goes to 50lbs) but if he's not too tall he can use it as a booster.  When it's outgrown as a booster, you can get a cheap turbobooster for the 5yo.

[Pumpkin_Pie]

How hard is it to adjust the height and straps on the Maestro?  I am looking online and can't quite figure out how height is adjusted.  I LOVE how easy the Complete Air is to adjust.  Just click the levers together at the top and push it up or down.  Easy Peasy.

[DahliaRW]

You have to unthread and rethread.

[Pumpkin_Pie]

Originally Posted by DahliaRW 

You have to unthread and rethread.

Hmmmm.... now that I think about it, it might be fine.  The straps need to be on the highest setting for FF'ing, right?  So why would a FF only seat even have height adjustments?  Is it possible for a harness to be too high when FF'ing?  Do you think I would even need to re-adjust the straps?  I am thinking that I would only need to adjust the tightness of the harness and we should be fine.  That is what I have been doing with the Scenera and everyone has fit just fine in that seat.

[leighi123]

It depends on how far apart they are in height.  You want it at the slot that is at or above their shoulders, but you want it at the first slot that achieves that, not just the heighest one, because for some kids that will be up by their ears/head making it uncomfortable.  

[Pumpkin_Pie]

Hmmm... now I am torn.  Is there another seat around that price range with an easier adjustment for strap height?

[dayiscoming2006]

I've been researching it and that is the best for the money. I have the cosco scenera and it drives me crazy cuz I can never get the straps to tighten the right way. I think I'm going to attempt to sell it. I just bought an evenflo maestro for a replacement for my 2 year old and it was such a breeze in comparison and way more comfy looking. The easy strap height adjustment thing I read about but I think it's in seats in the $150 and up range. 

Originally Posted by Pumpkin_Pie 

Hmmm... now I am torn.  Is there another seat around that price range with an easier adjustment for strap height?

[Pumpkin_Pie]

Ok, so I just bought the Maestro and Toys R Us with their trade in.  I traded in the Scenera and bought the seat for $60 and now I am a little concerned about the strap height on it.  I had DS sit in it and his shoulders are just about even with the top slots for the straps!  How on earth is it supposed to be used for average sized kids up until 50 pounds in harnessed mode?  I can't imagine my 5 year old will be able to fit in it tomorrow when I need to drive him to school.  Granted, I can put DS in it and him in DS's Complete Air, but those straps are seriously not very high.

I am considering taking it back to the store tomorrow to return, but I think I will lose my 25% off a seat and I won't have any backup seat.  ACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[an_aurora]

Are you sure you're not missing a strap slot?  The Maestro slots are about 18" which is a little higher than the Complete Air. If he fits in the CA with room, he should have room in the Maestro.

[Pumpkin_Pie]

Hmmm, I will have to look at it again tomorrow.  He has a pretty average torso and I sat him in it with the straps at their lowest setting and felt for the strap holes with my hand.  Maybe once I have the straps actually threaded through things will be a bit different.

Also, if the 5 year old doesn't fit well, can I use it with a seat belt without taking the harness off?  Can the harness just be loosened and sort of set aside?

[DahliaRW]

I'd look at the manual, but I believe that the harness is supposed to be removed.  But, if you're going to booster him, it's going to be way more cost effective to return the maestro and get a turbobooster, and it'll last you longer.  Also, if he's too tall for the harness on the maestro (which I doubt if he still fits in the CA), he's going to outgrow it in booster mode pretty much any time soon.  But the highest harness slots are really close to the top of the shell.  I'd double check.

[Pumpkin_Pie]

Originally Posted by DahliaRW 

I'd look at the manual, but I believe that the harness is supposed to be removed.  But, if you're going to booster him, it's going to be way more cost effective to return the maestro and get a turbobooster, and it'll last you longer.  Also, if he's too tall for the harness on the maestro (which I doubt if he still fits in the CA), he's going to outgrow it in booster mode pretty much any time soon.  But the highest harness slots are really close to the top of the shell.  I'd double check.

I can't use only a booster in my car because the 5 year old is only one of the children that I transport regularly in my car.  The child that I most often have just turned 3 and weighs 38 pounds.  He will need a harnessed seat for quite a while longer.  I just need a seat that will accommodate everyone.  I know it is a tall order, but I really need to not be taking seats in and out every day, or multiple times a day.  The 5 year old only gets a ride to school in the morning, which is literally a block and a half away.  I would just walk him there, but it is when I am headed to DS's preschool and I am headed to work and it is just quicker and easier to put everyone on the car and drive to his school for the quick drop off.  It is so frustrating.  I wish I could somehow fit 3 across so that I could have everyone fitting back there.  But then again, I can't afford to buy much more than what I have already.

[sapphire_chan]

Personally, for a block and a half drive, I'd go ahead and get small, light, cheap, belt positioning booster for the 5 year old. Unless there's a really scary intersection or something along your route.

I bet you could find one that would tuck under the front bucket seats and your 5 year old could pull it out himself and set it up.

You could call it the "going to school seat" or something to make it clear that it's just for short trips just in case you get a turbo booster later on for longer trips.

Those sorts of boosters also aren't much wider than the kids who fit in them, so would probably even fit between two regular carseats if you needed that option--and you would definitely want him in the middle.

[mama2soren]

 DS rides in the Scenera.  DS weighs 36 pounds.

If DS still fits in the Scenera, he most definitely will fit in the Maestro.  The Maestro's top slots are about 3 inches higher.

Are you absolutely certain that a 3 across won't work with a narrow booster like a TurboBooster, the CA, and the Scenera?  I know 98 Honda Civics are different than the 02+ models, but I have seen several combos of 3 across installations in 02 Civics, including a TurboBooster, Marathon, and Radian (all FF).  While the Radian is a bit narrower than the CA, the Marathon would be wider than your Scenera.  If the Scenera or CA were RF, it might even be easier to fit all three.

I know car seat troubles can be frustrating!  I hope you get some good answers tomorrow when you have more time to play with the Maestro.  

[mama2soren]

Originally Posted by sapphire_chan 

Those sorts of boosters also aren't much wider than the kids who fit in them, so would probably even fit between two regular carseats if you needed that option--and you would definitely want him in the middle.

He'd be safest in the middle only if he has a high backed booster.  I used to have a 97 civic, and I remember that there is no headrest for the middle seat.  So, a HBB would be necessary if he was in the middle.  A booster can take up a bit more room than a car seat, because there has to be sufficient space to get the seat belt buckle in and out without much difficulty.  But, with two other narrow seats like the OP has, it could be possible to fit all 3 across.

[an_aurora]

Oh yeah, I missed the fact that he rides in the Scenera.  He will have TONS of room in the Maestro!

[Pumpkin_Pie]

I feel like this is getting all muddled now.  DS rides in a Complete Air, I no longer have the Scenera, as I used it to trade in for the 25% off coupon at Toys R Us today to buy the Maestro.  The Maestro and Complete Air are my only two seats now.  DS will not be riding in the Maestro unless another child needs his Complete Air seat.  He loves his own seat and understands that he occasionally has to give it up, but that is his regular seat.

There is no headrest in the middle position of my back seat, and I am pretty sure I would not be able to fit a high back booster in between the CA and the Maestro.  There is very little room between the two as is, and I can't imagine buckling a seat belt in there too.  There just would not be enough room.

I will be driving the 5 year old tomorrow and am going to have to hope for the best.  I am going to see if he fits in the Maestro, and if not, he will have to be in the CA, which I know he fits in.  If that is what we have to do, then that will be what we do.  I only drive him a few days a week, and only in the mornings to school, so no longer trips at all.

The child that I do drive around most of the time is DS's best friend who is 3 and weighs 38 pounds.  This is the one that I was really concerned about in the Scenera.  He is right on the edge of the weight limit, so I wanted to ditch the Scenera.  The Maestro will be perfect for him, although I will have to try him in it to see about strap height.  I am guessing he will be fine though if I just had DS in funny when I was checking out the height.

The only reason that I had DS in the seat to begin with was to check strap height, not because he will be riding in the seat on any kind of regular basis at all.

Hope that helped to fill in the details.  I feel like I need some sort of flow chart here to keep this all straight.  I am the owner of the seats and my head is spinning!

[dayiscoming2006]

For your price range, the maestro is best. I can't imagine it being dangerous to leave the harness straps under the 5 year old and strap him in with the regular belt. I personally would do it since you only drive that short distance.