"Lightweight" carseat for travel?

C.squared

We have 2 Recaro Como's and LOVE them, but they are HUGE and heavy.  I was looking to buy a Cosco Scenera for an upcoming flight we're taking.  DD has a seat and I would like her to be in a carseat, I just don't want to lug the heavy Recaro through the airport.  Any other options you'd recommend or is the Scenera a good choice?  TIA!

brideonjuly8

We bought the same Costco (different color) for our flight to Disney and it was great!  It fit perfectly in the seat, was super lightweight and easy to install on the plane.  I highly recommend it for flights.  If you click on the link to my blog in my sig it has pictures of him in it. 

I WOULD NOT recommend it for everyday use.  We tried in 3 different cars to fit it rearfacing and we could not get it tight at all.  It's okay forward facing, but sucks rear facing.  We just use it for emergencies. 

C.squared

brideonjuly8:

We bought the same Costco (different color) for our flight to Disney and it was great!  It fit perfectly in the seat, was super lightweight and easy to install on the plane.  I highly recommend it for flights.  If you click on the link to my blog in my sig it has pictures of him in it. 

I WOULD NOT recommend it for everyday use.  We tried in 3 different cars to fit it rearfacing and we could not get it tight at all.  It's okay forward facing, but sucks rear facing.  We just use it for emergencies. 

Thanks!  I think I'm going to get it - we only really need it for flights and travel if we don't have our own car.  I'll definitely keep her in the Recaro for everyday.  Did you have to FF your son once you got there?  We'll have a rental car and I'd like to keep her RF if possible, but I guess a few days of FF isn't the end of the world if the seat ends up being tighter that way. 

brideonjuly8

C.squared:

brideonjuly8:

We bought the same Costco (different color) for our flight to Disney and it was great!  It fit perfectly in the seat, was super lightweight and easy to install on the plane.  I highly recommend it for flights.  If you click on the link to my blog in my sig it has pictures of him in it. 

I WOULD NOT recommend it for everyday use.  We tried in 3 different cars to fit it rearfacing and we could not get it tight at all.  It's okay forward facing, but sucks rear facing.  We just use it for emergencies. 

Thanks!  I think I'm going to get it - we only really need it for flights and travel if we don't have our own car.  I'll definitely keep her in the Recaro for everyday.  Did you have to FF your son once you got there?  We'll have a rental car and I'd like to keep her RF if possible, but I guess a few days of FF isn't the end of the world if the seat ends up being tighter that way. 

We never used it once we got there, just for the flight.  We stayed on the monorail, and they don't allow carseats on the buses.  I would definitely try to fit it in RF first, but go with the expectation that you might have to FF.  The LATCH on this car seat is not at all easy to install, but I can get it in pretty tight with the seat belt if I get in the seat myself and pull it pretty tight.

emiliemadison

Get the Scenera, it's perfect for travel. We just got back last night from a trip and I'm so glad we had it with us.

The trick to getting it tight while RF is that instead of kneeling in the seat while tightening it, you have to stand behind it and lean into it with your stomach (not terribly comfortable, I admit) while you tighten. You need to push the front seat all the way forward while you install it so you can get behind the seat (you will face the rear of the car) but then just move the front seat back when you're done.

It also helps if you thread the part of the strap that you pull on to tighten under the cover and up through into the seat part because it gives you a much better angle. It took me a while to figure out this trick (leaning into it and threading the end of the strap) but once I did, it only takes about 1 minute TOPS to install, whereas previously it was damn near impossible. And I consider myself to be very well versed and practiced at installing car seats!

So yeah- get it, and practice installing it first.

randa603

After a lot of research online, I just bought the scenara for my upcoming trip next week.  It gets excellent safety ratings and it's only $39 at walmart.  My everyday seat is a Britax, but it's a pain to travel with because it's so big.

C.squared

Thank you all for your tips!  I just ordered the Scenera and will definitely try it RF on our trip!!!  I actually had to do the same thing to get the Recaro RF'ing in my Jeep Commander, so I have no problem crawling on top of the seat and trying to get it as tight as possible.  Can I RF it on the plane too or is that wishful thinking???