We have a big family. Really big to be more specific. My husband and I have 7 children between us. Our youngest just turned 1, the next up just turned 2, the next up just turned 3, and the others are older (9-24). With such a big family it’s really important for us to find great products that meet our needs without having to spend a lot of money. In the last few years we have spent A LOT of money on car seats and if I had it to do over again I can honestly say I would change the way I bought seats for the boys. Recently I was asked to review the Cosco Scenera NEXT Convertible Car Seat.
Cosco Scenera NEXT Convertible Car Seat
When the kids were newborn we had a newborn carrier style seat for them. It was nice to have the convenience of carrying the baby to and from the car snug in the seat. I liked a lot of things about the carrier style seat but what I didn’t like was the fact that those seats just don’t have a long life. All the kids stayed in the carrier style until they were at least one year of age but then what? Then we still had to purchase a convertible style seat that would allow them to stay rear facing for at least another year. And while the kids could stay in that convertible seat until they were 40 pounds and face either rear or forward I somehow thought I needed to put them into a booster style seat when we reached the forward facing stage. That’s a lot of different car seats, a lot of dollars spent on car seats, and a lot of headaches along the way.
My littlest was ready to move from the carrier seat when the Cosco Scenera arrived. We installed it in our big SUV and moved brother #2 to a booster style with 5 point harness (setting aside the really oversized convertible he had been in). Brother #3 was already in a booster style with 5 point harness. None of these three guys weighs over 30 pounds.
What I noticed right away was that my littlest seemed so much more comfortable in his new Cosco Scenera. He didn’t seem to mind being in his seat anymore where long car rides in the carrier style had become almost unbearable. I also noticed right away that the Cosco Scenera was a lot more compact than the convertible we had previously used yet it was still more than roomy enough for our little guy. In fact during a quick trip to the store I put one of the other boys in his seat because it was easier to get to. He was within size and weight requirements and the seat was more than big enough for him!
Fast forward a week or two. Our family found ourselves in need of updating our vehicle. While we feel we upgraded from our big SUV it was actually to a vehicle with less seating capacity. That didn’t seem to be a big deal until we started putting seats and children in like puzzle pieces. That’s when we quickly realized our existing car seats were not going to fit across the bench seat in our van and the search was on. What I didn’t realize was the answer was already latched into the van!
The Cosco Scenera NEXT Convertible Car Seat is compact enough to fit three across in most vehicles yet roomy and comfortable enough for children up to 40 pounds! It is most definitely the most affordable option for fitting three seats across. The Scenera NEXT retails for only $46 at Walmart! The seat which is forward and rear facing and suitable for children 5-40 pounds. This seat has side impact protection and machine washable fabric. Speaking of fabric, this seat comes in 9 different stylish patterns for boys and girls.
Cosco Car Seats are even made in America! They are even launching a personalized letter writing campaign. A number of the first Scenera NEXT’s will feature handwritten notes from a child of one of Cosco’s Columbus, Indiana, employees. How cool is that?
So, after receiving the Scenera NEXT to review, I actually went to my local Walmart and purchased two more of these great seats for my other boys. They are loving their new seats. As you can see in the photo above we have 2 facing forward and one rear facing. All the boys are comfortable and have plenty of room. I’m beyond thrilled with this and the fact that they are all riding safely, in comfort for less than the cost of one seat from other companies is a huge bonus!
To celebrate the launch and our excitement, Cosco is providing one lucky reader a $25 gift card to Walmart, along with one of the first samples of the Scenera NEXT!
