Graco - Tranzitions 3-in-1 Harness Booster

We have the Graco transitions and are using it on the plane. Lightweight and that way we have a car seat when we get to our destination

Maybe something like the graco transition would be good. It’s shaped like a booster but has a 5 point harness. Then can grow with them into a booster seat when they get bigger. The ride safer vest could also be a good option travel and portability wise.

I am a CPST here in the US, so I have an extensive collection of car seats. I do a baseless install with a Nuna pipa, but I just installed the revolve slim today for my 1 year old (he is small) my 4 year old uses a Graco tranzitions and my 6 year old uses a bubble bum inflatable booster. My 4 year old has also used a ride safer travel vest. I’ve seen people manage 3 across with the graco slimfit. I’m not sure what seats you have access to. It’s doable though. My kids haven’t complained about being cramped when we do 3 across. We don’t drive more than 2 hours usually in one direction. If we are doing a longer trip, we drive my large suv.

For the diaper bag I just got a cooler back pack haha. It’s big enough that it fits everything I need especially for 2+ kids. It’s been very durable. Stroller it depends on your needs. I just got a travel system on sale. Car seat I got a Graco that grows with the kid. The one that I picked didn’t weigh much so that was a plus. For car we got a mini van and I love it! It’s so spacious and it’s so easy to put the kids on there without much struggle. Especially when space is limited (cars are parked next us). I think it’s good if you’re planning on having more than 1 kid. But even with one I still would’ve bought it.

Just flew with my son. No he fits the seatbelt great. I check the Graco transitions as our travel seat that way I have it in a car.

They should absolutely use car seats on the plane. Car seats are regularly damaged to the point where they are not safe to use when they’re checked. Also, the 1.5 year old is almost certainly not large enough to be able to use the airplane seat belt, which only starts fitting properly around 40 lbs or so. Get a wagon that folds and put the seats in that. Install the seats when you get on the plane, fold up the wagon, put it in the overhead compartment. Or use two of the trolley things. Turbulence is the number one cause of in flight injuries for children. I would recommend getting lightweight seats for travel - if your 4 year old is forward facing the Graco Tranzitions is a good option, and is FAA approved in harness mode (NOT booster mode). For the 1.5 year old it would be either the Cosco Scenera or Finale, based on their size. If your four year old is on the larger side, more than 40 lbs, you could get the RideSafer Travel Vest for them to use when you arrive at your destination, because the airplane seat belt SHOULD fit, but it’s a gamble.

4 year old can possibly use a cares harness on the plane so you can check that car seat. Cosco scenera is a really lightweight car seat. We bought a cheaper Graco tranzitions harnessed booster for our 3.5 year old for our last trip. It was super light so we put it in a backpack case and gate checked it, he used cares on the plane. Our 1 year old had a Graco slimfit3 and we put it on a folding cart and used it as a stroller in the airport then installed it on the plane. We just happened to already have that car seat so it was convenient for us.

I fly with my almost 6 year old in a car seat every time. I got ripped apart in another sub (or maybe it was this one?) for suggesting that it is safer that way. Mine is still under 40lbs. The general consensus seems to be that the airplane seatbelt doesn’t safely restrain someone until over 40lbs. For me, even once she is over 40lbs, since we need a car seat at our destination anyways, it is way easier to just have her fly in her car seat. 1. We have to bring it and 2. It’s not recommended to check or gate check a car seat unless in its original packaging or equivalent so it just makes sense for us. Another plus of flying in a car seat is that there are cupholders. I’ve flown with a century drive on, Cosco scenera, graco slimfit, and graco transitions and have never had problems with any of them. I attach her seat to a wheeled cart that folds up to fit in my backpack and just roll her in her car seat through the airport.

If it was me, I would rent for the 4 year old and bring for the 1.5 year old. The 4 year old is big enough to use a CARES harness and a cushion thing and will still be comfortable, AND I feel comfortable getting a four year old tight in a rental car seat. We use a Travel Snug brand for our kids, but there is also Seat to Sleep brand. As for car seats, people rave by the lightness of the Cosco brand and the Pico Wayb. I instead upgraded one of ours to an all in one (car seat to high-back booster) and literally chose the lightest one. It is half the weight of the one it replaced, so there is a ton of difference in weight out there! That then goes in a backpack style bag, which is my husbands preference over another cart to push.

These are the three things I have for travel (note we take two 12-18 hour flight trips/ year, including a redeye, so this may not be the right routine for everyone): An older version this this car seat: [https://www.target.com/p/graco-tranzitions-3-in-1-harness-booster-car-seat/-/A-53567836?preselect=75557343#lnk=sametab](https://www.target.com/p/graco-tranzitions-3-in-1-harness-booster-car-seat/-/A-53567836?preselect=75557343#lnk=sametab) A Travel Snug with harness slots): [https://www.travelsnug.co.uk/](https://www.travelsnug.co.uk/) A CARES harness: [https://www.amazon.com/Child-Airplane-Travel-Harness-Restraint/dp/B0012E4FV8](https://www.amazon.com/Child-Airplane-Travel-Harness-Restraint/dp/B0012E4FV8)

We put a Grayco 3 in 1 in the third row forward facing and use the seatbelt. We fold down the other two 3rd row seats and that’s where our dog sits in his car kennel when we go on trips. We have a rear facing infant and rear facing toddler in the middle captains seats. The 3rd row kid buckles herself and I just reach back to tighten. Works for us.