Caps for Sale was one of my favorite books when I was a kid and it also makes an appropriate title for this blog! 🙂
As many of our readers know, retail models of the Evenflo Maestro come with cup holders that are permanent once they are attached to the shell. However, “institutional” versions of the same seats (sold to CPS programs) come without cup holders. In their place are little plastic caps that cover the holes in the shell where the cup holders attach. While most parents (and kids) are happy to have a carseat with dual integrated cup holders – those features take up a little extra room. For a parent or caregiver trying to fit two carseats side-by-side or 3-across the back of a small or mid-size vehicle – the lack of cup holders on the Maestro can make the difference between installation success and failure.Â
  
  
I recently discovered that Evenflo will sell the little caps separately to consumers who own Maestro models. Now, if you’ve already attached the cup holders then this info won’t help you because you can’t detach the cup holders once they’re locked into place. If you try to pry them off, you’ll probably wind up damaging your seat and no one wants that to happen. However, if you have a new Maestro that hasn’t been “assembled” yet, you can call Evenflo Customer Service (aka Parent Link), give them your Maestro model # and order “Armrest Cap” (Item # 24101591). For a pair of caps, it should cost around $7.50 with shipping included.
FYI – It’s very important to cover the holes in the shell with either the caps or the cup holders otherwise your child can get a finger trapped in there.
  
Side-by-side difference:
Just called even flo and they now say that can not sell the armrest cap. Unfortunate.
Hi Beth – I just measured a cupholder-less Maestro at 18″ . HTH!
How wide is the Maestro without the cupholders attached? We’re looking at a 3-across setup in both our cars to make room for newborn twins.
Amazon claims that the Maestro is 20″ wide, but I’m wondering if going without cupholders would shave 2-3″ off that total and give us a less expensive alternative to buying new Radians for our 3-year-old.
last summer when I was trying to find a 3 across combination I was able to easily take the cup holders off the secure kid bru display.
Okay. Thanks for the info! I’m going to have to play with a few Maestro models next time I’m in my carseat storage room. I’ll report back with an update.
To get the cup holders off you turn the seat upside down and press on that pointed tab in the opposite direction of the lip. It pushes that tab under the lip and then they lift out. Evenflo is really good about explaining it to you if you ask, they have better words for the lip and tab.
The cup holders in my daycare lady’s car kept popping off on their own (tight 3 across). I called evenflo and they sent me the caps for FFS, so it’s interesting they are now charging for them, after refusing and then allowing it again!
Great review, some people don’t know about this and it’s a valuable tool!
@ Jessica – it could apply to the Secure Kid if you find a retail model that comes unassembled. But the ones I’ve seen have come out of the box with the cup holders already attached.
@ Arden – I don’t think you can pry off the caps (without damaging the shell) once they’re attached but to be honest – I haven’t tried. They definitely don’t just pop off – if they did, that would be a problem since the holes in the shell are an entrapment hazard.
What about the reverse? Can you install caps first and add one or two cup holders later?
I love the title of this post! Also good to know about the Maestro. 🙂
Very cool, yay Evenflo.
does this apply to the secure kid?
I’m all ears about how to get the cup holders off because when I’ve tried it was a definite no-go. So what’s the trick?
Yes, I agree with Christine Curry. I haven’t had any trouble removing the cupholders after they were already attached.
So they allow this again? First they did. Then they didn’t. Now they do again. This is getting as confusing as whether or not they charge for a tether extender, lol…
It is incorrect to state that the cupholders are permanent once attached. They come off quite easily once you know how to do it.