Light Weight Car Seat for Air Travel

[stephen11]

Can anyone recommend a good car seat for a two-year old to be used for air travel - We have Britax in our cars, but they are really big. Anything smaller safe for air travel??

 

[staci]

cosco scenera is pretty light, and about $40 bucks at Walmart. Rated very good for safely. 20-40 lbs ffing, 5-35lbs rfing.

We just took two last week. They were still cumbersome (since we had 4 carryons and two gate checked strollers) but they were MUCH better than hauling the Britax.

 

[laughinplace199]

We have a Britax Marathon in our car, but we bought a Cosco Scenera for travel. Just used it a couple of weeks ago for the first time. The seat itself is fine, just not very cushiony. It is a seat that is often recommended by people on this board who are very knowledgeable about carseats. The only sort-of negative thing about this seat is that we found it tricky to install rear-facing.

 

[tanyaandallie]

Is your child ff or rf? If rf and not super tall, the Scenera would be a good choice. If ff, I might suggest the Evenflo Chase. Taller than the scenera so you will get more use out of it. 40 lb harness, taller top harness slots (16 or 17 inches). ONly $60

 

[all4fun]

I would agree that the Scenera with 5pt harness is a good travel seat. We used it's precursor, the Cosco Touriva, and it was very easy to travel with. I would agree it is a little tricky to install rear facing (I also installed a Scenera for my nephew in MIL's car so I am familiar with it). If you're using it r/fing, then bring a towel to roll up and use in the bight (crease) of the vehicle seat to help get the proper recline.

If your dc is already f/fing and you want a f/fing seat that will last a little longer height wise, then you might get the Evenflo Chase or Bolero/Generations. Both have 17" ~ish top slots. They both convert to booster seats as well, but the Chase doesn't make a great one. The Generations/Bolero makes a better one. We bought a Bolero for ds when he outgrew the Touriva by height and traveled with it numerous times. My only complaint about that seat is that it's fairly wide and the adjustable headrest made it awkward to carry. A car seat bag solved that problem . The Chase is a bit narrower and doesn't have a moveable headrest. It's also less expensive. Just thought I'd mention these as a couple of other options to consider!

hth

 

[Minniemouse07]

We just took our Britax Boulevard w/ us on the plane and it was fine...we even used it rear facing for our 2yo and didn't have any issues traveling through the airport or installing it on the plane.

That said, the Scenera is a decent option if you feel that the Britax would be too difficult to handle. If you have a taller, forward facing, child a great second seat option would be the Graco Nautilus. It is still a big seat and $150...but it has high harness slots, harnesses to 65lbs and then becomes a high back and a low back booster to 100lbs. You will have that seat until your child outgrows car seats!

Just a couple of options.

 

[stephen11]

Thank you so much for your suggestions. We have the Britax Marathon in our car (front facing). It is pretty big.
I will check out some of the suggestions for smaller seats that might be easier to handle in the airport and on the plane. Thanks again!!