Graco - Contender Slim

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.

We use a graco contender go/slim for travel. Comfy, easy to carry and easy to install

The next size of car seats are meant to stay in the vehicle. They don’t have bases to click into strollers. You would need a car seat if you’re traveling somewhere where you need a car, there are many lightweight options that people get like the graco contender for example which is what we use for travel/plane rides

We use this one too! We used it on the plane until she was 3 and then started checking it. It weighs about 15lbs, so heavier than the Cosco but more plush like a traditional convertible seat. It’s also the one we use when family is transporting our daughter.

We bought a car seat for traveling, Graco contender and we rent a car. Life with a toddler!

Can he still fit in a bucket seat? That’ll be the easiest. Otherwise the graco contender is lightweight and easy to travel with.

Lol understand. We have the contender just for traveling. It’s lightweight and easy to transport.

Graco Contender was the choice for us. Was able to rear face on the plane both trips.

Yes. You are missing something. Car seats vary in price. You do not need to spend $350. Because these are long-term seats, I would opt for a seater with higher height/weight. But the cosco scenera is a light and popular option.. currently $59 at Walmart. Safety first trifit (reversible seat) is currently $60 at Walmart.. normally $120. Graco contendor is $199 and extend2fit is $249. If you want/need four seats, there are multiple options that would put you in the $300-$500 total range. No need to spend $1500 unless you want to.  IME, certain colors are cheaper randomly through Amazon, Target, and Walmart. Keep an eye out for these. You often need to click each color option to see the individual price. Also IME.. I know everyone loves the Target trade in but I think random low prices on Amazon/Target/Walmart easily beat out the trade in coupon.  I bought an extend to fit in July 2025 for $149 from Amazon.. saved some money because I looked through each color and the blue happened to be cheapest. I bought an extendtofit in December 2024 from Amazon also in a random light gray color. Keep your eye out!

I had to buy three car seats 💀 my husband and I shared one for a while and gave one to the grandparents for daycare pick ups, but it became a problem when either my husband or I didn’t have a seat and needed to do a daycare pick up last minute. We have graco extend to fits and I ended up buying a graco contender for the third, but I wish I spent a little more to get another extend to fit since our son outgrew the contender rear facing quite quickly. Actually moving the seats between cars wasn’t that bad, it was the logistics of only having a seat in 2/3 frequently used vehicles that became difficult to manage.

There are no car seats which attach to a stroller frame once you get out of the infant bucket seats (which most kids outgrown between 10-12 months). However this set up is very convenient for travel while they are small. Once they outgrow the infant seat, and you want to bring a car seat on the plane, we have had success with three methods: 1. A small/light seat such as the Cosco Scenara Next. This one is sufficiently low profile that you can strap it to a travel stroller and have the child sit in the car seat while it's strapped to the seat of the stroller. A hack but I see lots of people doing it. 2. A larger car seat (such as the Graco contender) which you strap to a rolling cart/dolly, allowing it to function like a stroller (albeit one that you pull, not push) for short distances in the airport. 3. A ride-one suitcase (like MiaMily or an Amazon dupe) with the car seat hooked onto the back of the seat. Kiddo can ride on top of the suitcase in the airport.

Nope not missing anything 😅good news is your next car seats will last you much, much longer! I’d get four extend2fits. We love extend2fit. Easy to install and lasts forever, rear faces up to 50lbs while most are 40. My oldest is 4 and no plans to move him from that seat anytime soon. Coscos are great for air travel with as they’re so light but I think they’re less comfortable and don’t grow with your children as much. Also a total pain to install. My husband has a graco slim in his that’s lighter and slimmer and very similar though it stops rear facing at 40

We had twins and then a surprise #3 and you honestly can’t go wrong with the Graco car seats. We have the “slim” version of this model and we like it, my twins have another model but still Graco branded.