SlimFit 3-in-1 Car Seat (Model 2215460)

This is the [travel system](https://a.co/d/bll0ILD) I got. I can fit the infant seat in any spot in the back of the car. This the [convertible car seat](https://a.co/d/dwEgkDa) we got for my toddler and it again fits in any spot in my Nissan and any spot in my husband’s Chevy Cruze (which is TINY)

Absolutely NOT about the car seats. Price doesn’t mean safety, but some models are god awful and some cheap brands make exclusively awful seats (evenflo, safety1st) as well as some surprisingly expensive/high end ones (Clek). They all meet the same basic regulations, [but third party crash testing shows huge differences](https://www.babygearlab.com/topics/vehicle-safety/best-convertible-car-seat). Note they focus on publishing the high performers. The happy surprise is that Graco, which is on the bargain end, makes some of the safest seats. Go with one of: - SlimFit 3in1 - 4Ever DLX - Graco Extend2Fit 3 in 1 (Careful with similar model names) These go on sale for as low as ~$150 regularly. My go to is the [SlimFit](https://a.co/d/0gf4KtHM) and it goes for $165 on Amazon every couple months. Looks like it was at that price a few days ago.

Here’s my two cents on traveling light and easy with a kid. Always buy your child their own plane seat. I do this every time and skip the lap infant option. It is absolutely worth it and saves your sanity. I check in our full-size, comfortable stroller and make sure it’s protected in a high-quality travel bag. I do not gate check anything. Instead, I use a car seat setup that works as a mobile stroller through the airport. I bought a car seat specifically for air travel, the Graco SlimFit 3-in-1, and attach it to a Britax car seat travel cart. This becomes your faux stroller while navigating the airport. The car seat is FAA-certified and gets installed directly into the airplane seat once onboard. The Britax cart folds up and fits in the overhead bin. Just note that car seats must be installed in a window seat so they don’t obstruct others. The biggest benefits are huge. Your child has their own seat, can relax or sleep comfortably, and is much safer. You also get to relax. Gate-checking a car seat risks damage and it gets dirty fast, so avoiding that is a win. Once you land, you already have your car seat with you and can easily install it in the rental car. It’s simple, efficient, and honestly a game changer for traveling with kids. I literally just did this today with my 3 year old and 10 month old.

Graco slim fit is the move! Fits perfectly been using it since he was a little!

Hey, we always travel with a car seat (on the plane, in the seat) for our kid and will until he's 40 lbs. We've flown with 4 different seats: - His infant bucket seat - The Cosco Scenera Next toddler seat - Graco Slim Fit 3-in-1 - WAYB Pico We specifically haven't flown with our normal car seat (a Britax One4Life) because it's just way too heavy and bulky to bring on the plane. I can go over the process and the pros and cons of all these seats. *Process*: 1. Just carry your seat with you through TSA and to the gate. The seat may be too big to fit through the scanner. If so, they'll just have you set it in a specific location next to the scanner and they'll swab it (same process as for strollers). 2. For boarding, listen for family boarding to be called. Most airlines have it somewhere in the middle of the process. When in doubt, just ask a gate agent. 3. They may try to have you put a pink gate check tag on your seat. If that happens make sure you tell them you're planning on using the seat on the plane. 4. Walking down the aisle with seat sucks. I like to hold it above my head because I'm short. 😄 5. When at the seat dump the car seat in the window seat (most airlines require the seat to be in the window). Dump the kid in the seat next to it and store all carry on baggage. It's going to take you a minute to install this thing, so get everything else out of the aisle and out of the way. 6. Installing varies by seat. You'll use the forward facing belt bath for a non-infant seat, so I would familiarize yourself with that install at home. The one important thing to remember is that there's a big ass buckle that makes it unwieldy. I've never had issues installing a seat but sometimes the buckle ends up in an uncomfortable place. I try to crank the belt tight and bring a light blanket or my jacket to stick some padding over it. Kid has never complained. *Now, to the seats:* Skipping the bucket since you don't have an infant. *Cosco Scenera* (if your Graco is too big and your kid's shoulder height is low enough, i highly recommend this as a cheap travel seat): - *Weight*: super light (7 lbs if you don't use the latch straps I think?). Very easy to carry around the airport. I can push a stroller and hold this with one hand. - *Install*: Easy install in plane, harder to get a good install in the car, but that's partially because we disconnected the latch straps and chose a seatbelt install to avoid the extra weight. - *Fit/Comfort*: Annoyingly, the straps are low so kids tend to outgrow this seat well before they've hit the height limit. Mine outgrew it at about 2.5 and he is only 55 percentile for height. Buckle on plane is definitely noticeable. - *Cost*: cheapest seat I've ever bought *Graco Slim Fit* (borrowed this one): - *Weight*: Heaviest seat we've traveled with. It's doable, but best to have a stroller or wheelie suitcase to push it through the airport on, or a bag with back straps. I wouldn't go heavier than this, it's a pain. - *Install*: Same on plane as Cosco, easier in car (we did latch for this one). - *Fit/Comfort*: Comfier than the Cosco, can still feel buckle, but no complaints. Won't outgrow for a long time  - *Cost*: middle of the road, and it's a good daily driver seat (my dad uses this one in his car for our kid) *WAYB Pico*: - *Weight*: as light as the Cosco, basically, but it also folds into carryon size, so it fits through the TSA scanners and drops over the handle of a wheelie carry on. - *Install*: harder on plane because the belt path is high, but totally doable. Easy in car (latch) - *Fit/Comfort*: we have some time in this seat, but the crotch buckle is definitely in an awkward spot. It's the only seat that completely prevents the uncomfortable airplane seat buckle problem, though. - *Cost*: hilariously expensive. We only bought it because it was on sale, my husband is a huge whiner about carrying car seats, and we use it for Ubers and the like at our destinations. I do love this seat, though.

You should rear face as long as possible. At least until 2.  Graco is pretty budget friendly and has a rear facing seat until 50 lbs (extend to fit). Slim fit is also rear facing until 40 lbs if you have space issues. 30% off on Graco website, there may also be better deals elsewhere 

I have the graco slim fit 3-in-1. It goes from a rear facing to booster, so I dont have to buy another carseat again. She'll 'age out' around 8 or when she's taller than 4'9". Whatever you model you choose, put a tracker/reminder to see if the price falls. Some stores have trade in events and graco does have sales every so often.