Cosco Kids - Scenera NEXT Convertible Car Seat (CC123CVC)

Highly recommend a car seat. I didn’t bring my everyday heavy car seat when I flew with my son to New Zealand from the US. Instead, I went to Walmart and got this one. It’s super light and very inexpensive -as far as car seats go). https://www.walmart.com/ip/Cosco-Kids-Scenera-NEXT-Convertible-Car-Seat-Cobblestone-Infant-Toddler-Unisex/534841958?classType=VARIANT&athbdg=L1103&from=/search

We loved our Scenera Next until my kid grew out of it. Cheap, extremely easy to install both in cars and on planes, very very lightweight, and the most important details, it fully passed all inspections and regulations. Yes, fancier seats have add on features that might make them more safe, but cheap seats pass all the same regulations and are very safe. A seat that you can install quickly and easily following all the guidelines is MUCH safer than one you struggle to get installed and give up on.

If you have a tall male child Cosco Scenera Next will last you a year. So you could buy Evenflo Maestro Sport and skip the Next if you want to save money. I see a lot of recs for the ride safer vest. You still want a regular carseat for trip outside the city. In a high-speed freeway collision, Scenera Next has a very high safety rating for it's weight and size. This thread is very informative. Just because the vest meets safety standards doesn't mean it's as safe as other carseats.  https://www.reddit.com/r/ScienceBasedParenting/comments/18hz632/ridesafer_travel_vest_equivalently_safe_to_a_ff/

Cosco Scenera Next and once they grow out of it, Evenflo Maestro.

All carseats have to meet minimum side impact standards in the US. You can read independently tested carseat ratings on Consumer Reports.  I did a fair amount of research. The story that all the consumer ratings don't tell is how well they perform real world for a city dweller using a cab or rideshare. Installing the carseat quickly and correctly is different in a city setting. The best rated carseats are designed to be installed slowly in a vehicle that you own, the opposite of what would happen in a cab. The Graco definitely has a great safety rating but it will not matter in a cab if it's not installed perfectly. That's why the Scenera Next is a favorite amongst city dwellers, it's easy to install correctly and has a good (but not the best) safety rating.  The Maestro is for later when your child is 3 (or in my child's case 2.5) and they are too big for the Scenera Next. Unfortunately there is no perfect carseat for the city when your kid is too big for the Scenera Next but not old enough for a booster seat. The Maestro is the lightest I found with an average safety rating.

Buy Cosco Scenera Next it weighs 7 lbs is easy to install in any car. You can carry it in a carseat backpack. Most of the time the train or bus is fine for getting around the city. But, there is the airport commute and if the train is delays or modified schedule and you have tickets or a something, you want the carseat. Yes you need a carseat. Is it legal to ride without one in a cab or rideshare? Yes. Is it worth the risk. In my opinion, no.  The other thing you need is a ultralight easy to fold stroller for the train and bus. If you can get a Yoyo used, that's the best option. Second best, Kolcraft Cloud Plus. I see working class families use the Cloud Plus all over the subway. 

We fly a lot with our son (4.5) (25+ flights) and we haven't bothered with anything other then the plane lap belt in awhile (after 2 or so) and we've felt very safe with him even through takeoff, landing and turbulence. We tried one of the harness one time and didn't bother... it was kind of a pain to setup and it can block the tray table/screen in the seat behind you. One thing to consider is the buckles are really easy to take off, so if he's not use to it he might try fiddling with it. (If you think it might be an issue, covering it with a sock or something might help) Edit: Oh and just to add, we're very cautious with car seat stuff... he just changed to forward-facing a few weeks ago!

It really depends on the situation... * If it's minimal driving we might just use the [RideSafer vest](https://shop.saferide4kids.com/products/ridesafer-travel-vest); We'll also pack that sometimes as a backup * Sometimes we'll just pay the extra and rent the carseat with our rental car (we had a rental car in Orlando before a cruise and didn't want to have to carry the car seat on the ship) * If using a car service, sometimes they don't charge extra for a carseats. * if using lots of ride sharing services, most places you won't be able to get a carseat; The Ridesafer vest might be the way to go * In larger cities (we went to Chicago) we just used public transportation and many times he could just stay in his stroller on the Bus or on our lap on the trains * Sometimes we'll check the carseat and bring it with us. It should be free to check it. We like the [Cosco Kids](https://coscokids.com/collections/car-seats) brand car seats, they are very reasonably priced and most important very light. We had the [Scenera](https://www.walmart.com/ip/Cosco-Kids-Scenera-NEXT-Convertible-Car-Seat-Cobblestone/534841958) model first and then we just got the [Finale](https://www.walmart.com/ip/Cosco-Kids-Finale-2-in-1-Booster-Car-Seat-Fiberwave-Toddler/260704037) a few weeks ago. We use this [car seat travel bag](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M2A4IK1) which has been working well. Some of our key take-aways... * Make sure you are familiar with the car seat beforehand. Practice installing it at home and get the shoulder straps adjusted before you leave. Same for the RiderSafer vest, if you get it all adjusted beforehand, it's much quicker to get setup. * Take your time, we had a tendency to rush getting into a rental car... slow down, take your time! * Use the LATCH system if you can. Most newer car in the US will have that and it's much easier. (Note: there is a weight limit) * With some compact cars you might not be able to get rear facing to fit! * For pre-installed car seats I always double-check to make sure they are installed properly.

Cosco scenera next. Technically a convertible car seat not a bucket seat so doesn't click into a stroller, but you can use it much longer. Super lightweight, affordable, and great for travel as well. Easy and quick to install, you just thread the seatbelt through. By the way, if you do go with a bucket seat, you don't have to pay a premium for one that clicks into anchors. Most bucket seats can be installed using the seat belt method without a base and it honestly isn't complicated or a big hassle to learn!

We use it as our day to day seat. Perhaps this makes it easier because our toddler doesn’t know there’s another option, but she’s never complained about it so far.

We also don’t have a car. We mostly use public transit because car seats are a pain in the butt. A couple tips: 1. We had the Cosco Scenera next. It is very lightweight and easy to install. Be aware though that it is outgrown fairly early and can basically only be used rear facing. The reason front facing is outgrown first is that the straps must be at or above the shoulders for front facing, whereas they must be at or below the shoulders for rear facing. Our petite child is freshly 3 and is too big for it. We upgraded to an evenflo titan 65. Despite the name, it’s the lightest weight seat we could find for a bigger kid. It should fit until the child is big enough for a booster seat. The smaller, lighter size of the Cosco seat was worth it for us and we’re now using it for our second child, but if money is tight you might consider getting the titan 65 right away even though it’s a few pounds heavier. 2. Not sure what uber is like in NYC, but in my city I prefer to use taxis for a couple of reasons. One is that they won’t turn you away with a car seats because they’re worried it’ll take a long time to install because they can just run the meter while you get everything set up. The other is because most taxi drivers are older and have kids of their own, so they’re much more tolerant of parents and kids.

We don’t have a car. For our first we borrowed a peg Perego seat and bought an uppababy adapter from marketplace for $10. We didn’t use it much so this time around we didn’t bother with the baby bucket seat and just got a convertible one instead. The Cosco Scenera Next is the smallest, lightest convertible. It was great but our first out grew it before age 3 (and she’s petite). For our second seat we got a evenflo titan. It’s bigger and heavier (11lbs vs 7lbs, I think) but it should fit until it’s time for a booster. Depending on your needs (lightest vs light and longest fitting) you might want to look into one of those seats

FYI the Scenera is outgrown at a fairly young age (around age 3 for our petite child and likely younger for bigger and especially taller kids). We switched to an evenflo titan, which is heavier and bigger but will fit for a long time and is still decently portable.

I have a lightweight car seat for travel. Often the Cosco Scenera is recommended for this purpose. Some people bring it on the plane because it is easier for the child to sit in a familiar seat. Others bring it on the plane so that it doesn't get tossed around under the plane and damaged.

This is the seat that typically gets recommended for travel. It is extremely lightweight and cost-effective. It is constantly on sale for around $99. https://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/cosco-kids-scenera-next-convertible-car-seat-blackout/6UK88KDNH5XJ

I'm due in August. I don't have a car (use communauto) and likely only taking the car for appointments as well. I personally went straight into a convertible and bought the Cosco Scenera Next Convertible and planned to leave with it from the hospital. Following as I'm curious about the opinions of experienced parents!

When my daughter would still sleep on the plane, I'd take the car seat on with me. I found that this helped her to stay calmer during the trip. I also bought a lightweight car seat for travelling as I didn't want to lug her massive convertible one onto the plane. The [Cosco Kids Scenera Next Convertible Car Seat](https://www.walmart.com/ip/Cosco-Kids-Scenera-Next-Convertible-Car-Seat-Renaissance-Toddler/45983816) is fairly inexpensive if you wanna check it out. My daughter's 3 now, so we don't take with her car seat on the plane. Instead, we bought the [CARES harness](https://www.target.com/p/child-airplane-travel-harness-cares-safety-restraint-system-the-only-faa-approved-child-flying-safety-device/-/A-1002555905) so she's more secure in the seat. Honestly, traveling during naptime is ideal as the plane noise acts as a white noise machine. I say that even though my daughter hasn't napped on a plane since she was 1 😅

Until now we've been flying with a Costco Scenera Next, which Google says is 17" wide and one of the narrowest convertible available. It's definitely not what you're looking for as kids outgrow it fairly early. For what it's worth, I'm pretty sure we've always installed it with the armrests up, just because it's easier, and no one has ever said anything. Our 3 year old has almost definitely outgrown her Scenera (haven't flown since last fall), so we'll probably pull the trigger on the Contender Slim for summer travel.

This is our travel seat, it's definitely a pain in the ass to tighten it!