Graco - Contender Slim

Graco contender. Has a closed belt path so you can comfortably use it FF on the plane, and then RF at your destination.

graco contender. Decent height limits. Good on a plane either rear or forward facing (has a closed belt path). Not wildly heavy. Solid comfort/feels like a real car seat. For something more basic, cosco scenera/maxi cosi romi. Because sometimes you just want a really lightweight, basic car seat. No comfort complaints for my kids!

Are you planning on using the seat on an airplane? If you are, I would skip the finale--the buckle of the airplane lap belt will be a lump behind kid's back. I would get the graco tranzitions (happens to have a hollow right where the buckle ends up), or maybe the contender (which is a convertible seat with a closed belt path), esp if you're thinking about having more kids and could use the rear facing capability sometime in the future). The contender will put your kid's legs in the most tempting seat-kicking position, though. If your kid will not sit in the car seat on the plane, I would consider the pico (because you can put it in the overhead bin and avoid checking it), but if your kid is tall I would probably not, since it's not going to last as long as other seats. My first kid peacefully sat in a car seat on the airplane, we used the tranzitions for him at this age.

Yup! My advice is to get a lightweight travel seat for at least one of the cars so you have it should you ever decide to take a flight. The primary kid car has an Extend2Fit 3-in-1 and the other has a Contender Go 2-in-1.

I would 100% not take that car seat with you. I would get either a Cosco Scenera Next for about $70 or a Graco Contender for about $100 and take that with you and use as your travel/backup seat. The Contender will last much longer and I find it easier to use, but the Cosco is still a popular travel seat. It's safest to use the car seat on the plane, but if you stick with checking I'd get the Graco because it comes in a box that will protect it from damage and you can check it on the box. Putting it in a bag is a big gamble that it won't get broken or wet or dirty, even if you gate check it. I'd also have a backup plan for when you arrive if they lose the car seat so someone can go buy a new one.

Twins will be 17m when we fly in August. I have a seat for each of them and will bring their car seats for the plane. Mine are walking and running now and we can’t even make it through a meal at a restaurant without them wanting out of their chairs to run around so hopefully car seats reclined with as many snacks and such will keep them occupied for the 2hr flight. I’m actually probably going to just get the Graco Contender so it lasts longer than the Cosco and has a better harness, easier install.