Replacing Scenera RF40 after a minor crash

[slsolomon]

My husband and 2 yr old son were in a minor car accident last week. The insurance company will replace the Scenera RF40 that we have with a seat of comparable "quality". My question is, is there another seat at "comparable quality" that might be a better idea? Especially because this seat has a 40 lb max FF.

My son is 27 months, weights 35/36 pounds, and is about 36" tall. We use a Marathon Classic in my car and also have a Safety 1st Alpha Omega that is currently in my mom's car but my husband would prefer it in his car.

We are also expecting another baby in April and my plan was to move my son into a harnessed booster just before his third birthday when the new baby moves out of the infant carrier.

Is there anything better than the Scenera at a similar cost/quality with a higher weight limit?

 

[Brigala]

If your son is forward-facing, I'd probably go with an Evenflo Maestro. I would say it's comparable quality with a Scenera. But it's forward-facing only. Cheapest price I'm aware of right now is $68 at Walmart.com.

Otherwise, really a Scenera is about the best seat you can get in its class of low-cost convertibles.

If your son is rear-facing, I'd probably ask the insurance company to reimburse you for the actual cost of the Scenera 40RF and use the money toward something a little longer-lasting since he's getting close to its upper limits. If he's forward-facing, I'd probably get a Maestro and worry about getting a convertible for the baby later.

A word of caution on the Alpha-Omega seat you have. That's one of the most commonly mis-used seats out there. The most common models don't allow the harness to be used in its highest position. Check the back of the seat for hard-to-find embossed letters that say "Top position for booster use only" and also check your manual. Also, the most common versions of that seat have an upper weight limit of 40 lbs (some versions have weight limits of 50 or 65 lbs). Many parents don't realize this because it says it goes up to 100 lbs on the box, but that's referring to the booster function, and it doesn't actually work properly as a booster seat so it really doesn't "count." I think every kid I've ever seen come to a check in that car seat has outgrown it by height and/or weight and the parents didn't even realize it.

 

[slsolomon]

Thank you for the reply. We were just at Target tonight and saw the Evenflo Maestro and I am thinking we might go with that since he is forward facing.

Thanks for the heads up about the Alpha-Omega. He hasn't been in that seat in a couple of months since it has been in my mom's car, but I will check into the weight limit and be aware of the top position issue, I had never planned to use it as a booster. I never really liked that seat :thumbsdown: