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SITS Fav SEAT

Cosco Scenera Next

The Cosco Scenera Next convertible car seat is inexpensive and easy to install. It can rear-face most children to at least two years old and is both narrow and super lightweight. For families looking for a travel-friendly car seat, a backup for the babysitter, or simply the most cost-effective option, this amazing little car seat might be the one!

Seat is good for you if:
  • You need the most bang for your buck.
  • You need to fit 3 across.
  • You often travel via Uber/Lyft/taxi.
Use caution if you:
  • Your baby is above the 90th percentile in height or weight.
  • You plan to use this seat forward-facing too
Stand-out features:
  • It’s fairly compact rear-facing.
  • It’s lightweight.
Buy Now: 
SITS checks manufacturers and retailers daily to ensure these are the lowest prices available for these models.
Cosco
Scenera Next
Lowest Price at Walmart - $59
See Prices from All Retailers
Cosco
Scenera Next
DLX
Lowest Price at Walmart - $59
See Prices from All Retailers

Our Review of the 

Cosco Scenera Next

The Cosco Scenera Next convertible car seat is inexpensive and easy to install. It can rear-face most children to at least two years old and is both narrow and super lightweight. For families looking for a travel-friendly car seat, a backup for the babysitter, or simply the most cost-effective option, this amazing little car seat might be the one!

Age

Our recommendation: From birth until the seat is outgrown (average 2.5-3 years)

Type

A convertible car seat that can be used rear-facing and forward-facing

When

From birth or after you’ve used an infant seat for a few months

Buy Now: 
SITS checks manufacturers and retailers daily to ensure these are the lowest prices available for these models.
Cosco
Scenera Next
Lowest Price at Walmart - $59
See Prices from All Retailers
Cosco
Scenera Next
DLX
Lowest Price at Walmart - $59
See Prices from All Retailers
Michelle sitting in a chair reading a book.Michelle sitting in a chair reading a book.

Stand Out Features of this Car Seat

It’s fairly compact rear-facing.

While not the most compact seat on the market, its shorter shell means it does not take up much more space than many infant seats.

It’s lightweight.

The Cosco Scenera Next weighs only 7lbs. Yes, that’s lighter than many infant car seats! Its small size makes moving this seat from place to place easy.

Seat is good for you if 

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You need the most bang for your buck.

There are plenty of inexpensive car seat options out there. Unfortunately, many of those seats can feel like more trouble than they are worth: lots of them are difficult to install, hard to adjust, bulky…or all of the above! But the Cosco Scenera Next is an easy to install car seat and straightforward and lasts most kids from birth to preschool — all for $60! We can’t overstate how impressive and important this car seat is: as a user-friendly and financially accessible option, the Cosco Scenera Next is a groundbreaking car seat.

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You need to fit 3 across.

The Cosco Scenera Next is 17″ wide. If you need to fit 3 across in your vehicle, this is a good option to try since it’s one of the narrowest car seats out there!

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You often travel via Uber/Lyft/taxi.

The Cosco Scenera Next weighs just 7 pounds, so once your child outgrows an infant seat, this is one of the best options to tote around with you. You can easily attach it to a stroller handle with a bungee cord. We have also found that it works well with the Mountain Buggy Nano Stroller in the seat itself.

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You frequently fly with your child.

After your child has outgrown the infant seat, this may be a great next step for you if you fly frequently. It’s lightweight at just under 7 pounds, and it’s narrow as well, so it works on any plane. It’s a fan favorite of our Wheels Up private Facebook group members!

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Use caution if

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Your baby is above the 90th percentile in height or weight.

The Cosco Scenera Next will allow the majority of babies to rear face until they turn two years old — which is the minimum age to turn forward facing. However, it may not last much longer than that second birthday for bigger kids. Due to the weight limit (40 pounds), height limit (40 inches), and head height limit of 1 inch below the shell of the seat, parents of bigger littles will likely need to replace this car seat sooner rather than later.

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You plan to use this seat forward-facing too

We recommend maxing out the limits of your rear-facing car seat before switching to forward-facing. After all, rear-facing is the safest way to ride, and you can learn more about why here! Due to this car seat’s height, weight, and harness height limits, when you max it out rear-facing, you have nearly maxed out the forward-facing limits as well. When your child reaches the rear-facing limits, and they are at minimum two years old, and you plan to switch them forward-facing, purchase a forward-facing only combination (harness and high back booster) seat. 

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Quirks to be aware of

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Use the inside-out trick to install.

The Cosco Scenera Next doesn’t have any fancy features to make installation easier, but that’s okay if you know this installation technique! Whether you’re installing with lower anchors or the vehicle seatbelt, pull the car seat cover up off one of the sides and tighten from inside the belt path. With the inside-out trick, this car seat can be securely installed in no time!

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It’s usually outgrown forward-facing before it’s outgrown rear-facing.

The top harness height is only 13.5.” Many kids are able to use it longer rear-facing than forward-facing. This is because the harness should be at or below the shoulders when rear-facing but must be at or above when forward-facing.

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It only has one allowed recline.

There is a line on the side of the seat that must be level with the ground. This means that it is very reclined, even for older children.

Child Fit Information

Installation Information

airplane

Airplane Use

The Cosco Scenera Next is an FAA-approved car seat. It’s a very lightweight car seat, which makes it very popular travel car seat option. Because it is so lightweight, you can bungee it to your stroller, use a car seat strap and attach it to your carry-on suitcase, or use a travel cart to maneuver through the airport! It is narrow, so you may not even need to put the airplane armrests up in order for it to fit. For help with all things airplane travel and car seats, check out our Wheels Up Course and private Facebook group.

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SITS Bottom Line

The Cosco Scenera Next proves that car seat safety doesn’t have to be expensive! This seat is lightweight, narrow, and can be used from birth. It’s a great option for many people as an everyday car seat and one for frequent travelers who want an easier to travel with option.

Buy Now: 
SITS checks manufacturers and retailers daily to ensure these are the lowest prices available for these models.
Cosco
Scenera Next
Lowest Price at Walmart - $59
See Prices from All Retailers
Cosco
Scenera Next
DLX
Lowest Price at Walmart - $59
See Prices from All Retailers

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Specifications

Cosco

Scenera Next

Product Information

Weight: 7lbs

Width: 17"

Highest Harness Height: 13.5"

Rear Facing Limits

Height: 19-40"

Weight: 5-40lbs

Head Height Rules: at least 1″ below the top of the car seat

Lower Anchor Connectors Weight Limit: 40 lbs

Forward-Facing Limits

Height: 29-43"

Weight: 22-40lbs

Head Height Rules: ears must be below the top of the headrest

Lower Anchor Connectors Weight Limit: 40lbs

No Back Booster Limits

Highest Belt Guide Settings

High Back Booster Limits

Other Important Details

Newborn Fit

good

Expiration Limit

8 years

Crash Replacement Policy

replace after a a moderate or severe crash

Harness

rethread

Lock-off

no

Vehicle Seat Protector

This brand allows a thin towel between the child car seat and the vehicle seat.