Cosco Kids - Scenera Extend

Ive never used but seems like a good option! We purchased an inexpensive light weight car seat for travel (Cosco Scenera) since we would also need seat on other side of flight

We have the cosco scenera and can confirm that it is very easy for travel. Also big baby who outgrew their infant seat early. No complaints from the now-2.5yo who does occasional 2-3 hour drives in it. We don’t drive and only use it for travel, so as people who don’t do car seats very often, we’ve found it fine to install and buckle. I think my mil with mobility issues would not be able to install it, but as middle aged able-bodied adults who are often deliriously tired on travel days, it’s been fine lol

We’ve had the Cosco Scenera for 2 years and just use the seat belt straps as a handle or find a spot on the frame to carry it short distances. This type of seat is not meant to carry the child around in. You will need to keep your kid in a stroller, carrier, or leash until you’re ready to put them in the car seat if they’ll wander off otherwise. We have the Mountain Buggy Nano with the original intention of using it with car seats, and have only done it once. I can’t speak to how easy it is because we never really practiced. I vaguely remember it was ok. We just prefer to get around town with less stuff and limit lots of gear to travel days. So if we had to use the car seat, we used a carrier and backpack instead of a stroller.

We have a Cosco Scenera seat mainly for getting to and from airports, occasionally to get around the city. Our strollers are an Uppababy Vista, which can accommodate the car seat in the basket, and the Mountain Buggy Nano which has a universal infant car seat attachment system and a supposedly popular toddler carseat attachment hack. All that being said, we almost never go anywhere that requires that we lug the car seat with us at the destination. It’s too much equipment. These clever travel ideas don’t account for all the toddler stuff we have to carry around anyway, so getting either stroller perfectly packed so that they can go into a car trunk without raining out a bag’s worth of stale cracker crumbs only happens if we’re flying. What we actually do is 1) check if the destination has coat check or stroller parking to leave the car seat there, 2) figure out how to get there via public transportation with the travel stroller and/or a toddler carrier (apparently I’m often the only person that’s ever worn a 2yo because people were constantly surprised to see my giant monster of a child looming over them), or we put off going until kid is out of the car seat and ready for a booster/harness. Our wishlist of city destinations isn’t that long, just take the subway.

It’s fine, my kid has used it on long overnight road trips and slept in it without any issues.

Uh no way am I skipping the carseat. We have the lightweight Cosco one and even when traveling by myself with the I haul it, our luggage and my 3 year old. I usually just rent a car wherever we're going and deal with installing it.

This happens to my five-year-old as well. Luckily I had overnight diapers in my bag to cushion his back the first time we used it on a plane. That stupid buckle is in the worst spot, and I’m glad it’s not an issue in the car. Recently we have used my husband’s hoodie to soften it. I’m not as concerned about using the seat properly while we fly - we mainly bring it to avoid waiting when we get off the plane or at baggage claim since we prefer late night flights.

Yes the scenera is very lightweight and easy to install on a plane. It’s likely outgrown to very close to being outgrown by a typical 3 yr or so I’d get the Costco finale or similar for them.

Cosco scenera rear faces, is cheap, can be used with a seat belt. Likely cheaper than renting one. Fits rear facing on every plane I’ve taken it on. Also took to Europe with no problems.

He probably won’t fit in the doona. Infant seats can not rear face, even on a plane. I would bring a cosco seat and use it on the plane. That’s what we did when we took our 18mo to Europe. She did end up being held for sleep but she was in her seat otherwise. Good luck!

We used it rear facing. Easier to keep her from kicking the seat in front. Movies did not hold her attention at that age so we didn’t attempt it. We have since used it forward facing on planes as well.

Just here to say I HATE Cosco scenera! On the plane the buckle for the seat ends up right in their backs. In the car it’s impossible to secure the seat adequately. It just flops around while I cross my fingers we don’t all crash. I ended up getting the britax poplar, which is VERY heavy, but at least is safe and comfortable. You can always get a dolly for whatever FAA car seat you choose so it’s less of a pain to travel with. I just ended up asking the airport staff to help me, which is part of their job so if you need help don’t feel bad asking!

Cosco until big/mature enough for RideSafer.

We bought a Cosco Scenera for a trip years ago and it was an awesome light perfect travel seat.  We still keep it around to use for the second car or if a friend needs to borrow it and watch the kid. 

If the child is over two, you’re buying a seat for them regardless, correct? The only negative I ever encountered was flying with my toddler alone meant I was responsible for getting them and the seat onto the plane myself. Both can be heavy and unruly at times. I loved having their seats on the plane though. It was just like the car for them, no trying to get down, or wanting to be held. And they could easily sleep. If you have a helper, even better. Plus you’ll have a car seat where you’re going, and it won’t get broken or lost from checking it. If you can buy a cheap lightweight seat, it’ll help a bunch. We had a cosco seat from Walmart we only used for travel. I think it weighed less than 10 lbs.

We haven’t had to bring a car seat but we travel frequently with a Cosco Scenera. That seat should fit easily under the bed in the room.  Don’t mind the people saying to do a rental or schedule transport, it’s 100% valid to want to bring your own seat.