I'll stick with my REAL Car seat...

Author's Rating:

Pros: Toddler can use as a pretend parachute!

Cons: Unable to get a secure fit.

The Bottom Line: 
I would not recommend it to anyone. I believe that it is an unsafe product and should be off the market.

Author's Review
What exactly is the Cosco Tote 'n Go?

Essentially, it's a car seat minus the base, armrests, and headrest. It was designed to be a portable, lightweight, and convenient car seat for families on the go. The company claims that the Tote 'n Go is safe for children weighing between 25 and 40 pounds but does not list any type of height minimum or maximum. The shoulder straps are the only adjustable part of this seat and they don't adjust well.


What’s it look like?

It’s very attractive looking with a tan and navy blue plaid pattern. It looks so comfortable that you can become convinced that your child is going to love it. The cover is machine washable and easy to remove for cleaning by just stretching the elastic edges and slipping it off the plastic unit. The straps are made of seatbelt material and have small matching fabric belt covers that cannot be removed to wash. The front of the seat has a large identification tag sewn on for your address. Under the fabric cover is the plastic seat unit. In the middle, it has slots on either side to place the seatbelt through during installation. At the top, it has two bolts connecting a strap that keeps the shoulder straps from sliding off during travel. The instruction book tucks right under the padding but, if you lose the book, it’s still o.k. because the directions are also printed directly onto the plastic seat unit.


How do you install it?

The company states that it can be used on a lap belt with or without a shoulder strap. It cannot be used with a seatbelt that comes out from the door or out of the side of the car but, the company doesn't state why. The seatbelt is placed through the two slots on the back of the car seat unit and then buckled. It really needs to be adjusted on your child prior to installing because it’s really difficult to adjust after it’s placed in the car.


And now…the reality…

I bought this because we travel by air frequently and the thought of not lugging around a full-size car seat sounded great. I thought that by being light weight (under 4 lbs.) it would be easier to cart around during travel. It had appeal when the woman pictured on the box was putting it into her diaper bag. I have an XL diaper bag and have yet to get it to fit into mine!

I took it out of the box and read the directions which seemed pretty clear. What a mistake that thinking was. It was very difficult to adjust the straps and took so long that my daughter became frustrated. When we finally got it adjusted…it was on to putting it in the car.

I followed all the directions and was never able to get it to really stay snug on the seat. I tried it in a van, truck, taxi, and sedan and was never able to get it snug. I assumed that I was doing something wrong so, I took it to my local hospital and police department for a professional fitting and they were unable to get it to fit properly! The directions don’t tell you that the seat will not remain secure and will, in fact, slide around when you child moves around. I don’t know about your toddler but mine can’t stay still even in her sleep! I tried installing the seat with and without the shoulder strap with the same results. Our last stop with this car seat was our local car dealership and the results were the same. Another thing I should add is that the slots the seatbelt goes through are, in my opinion, too large. Many times, while trying to put this car seat in the car, the seatbelt would slip out of one slot just as I got it into the other one. It was very nerve-wracking and definately didn't feel safe.


Did my toddler like this car seat?

Yes and no! When she saw the car seat (after the initial adjustment episode), she began crying. After realizing that it was going in the car and not on her for more adjustments, she calmed down. Everything was going great for her until about ten minutes into our car ride. She began crying because she couldn’t see out the window. Then, she started complaining that she wasn’t comfortable. I should note that my daughter isn’t a whiner so when she complains…I know it’s a real issue. There was one thing my daughter did like about this car seat, though. She loved putting it on and running around the house pretending that it was a parachute. Well, at least she got some use out of it!


Did I like this car seat?

I’m guessing that, if you’re still reading this, you know my answer is, “No”. There were so many things I liked about this car seat until I saw my toddler sitting in it. I realized that she was uncomfortable with no headrest. Then I wondered how safe she would be in an accident if her head was snapped back. Of course, the company states that the seat meets safety standards unlike most regular car seats that exceed safety standards. I also noticed that the part of the restraint that comes up between my daughter’s legs was causing her to chafe from rubbing against her skin not to mention the wedgie she was getting from it, too! Have you ever seen a toddler’s life vest with the strap that comes up between the legs attaching to their waist? This is the same concept used in this car seat. Imagine riding around in a vehicle with that same strap giving you a wedgie every time the brakes are applied.


Imagine what your toddler is experiencing

You are strapped into an uncomfortable seat. You can’t move because, when you do, your whole seat moves with you. You can’t see out the window because you’re not high enough. When the boredom overtakes you, you can’t lean back and rest because there is no headrest. Just when you think you’ve had enough, you have an accident and the seat isn’t leather. Is this a miserable day or what?!


More things to consider

• This probably isn’t a bad choice for a city dweller or as an emergency back-up car seat but, should never be used on a routine basis.
• If you plan on your child experiencing the vacation sights, this seat will not work because they sit too low for them to see out the window.
• This car seat is still (as of this writing) not FAA approved so don’t expect the airlines to bend the rules and let you use it on their planes.


NOTE ABOUT AIRLINES

Most airlines do not count car seats toward baggage allowances. Instead of packing this portable seat into your luggage and taking up valuable space, it is much easier to put your regular car seat in it's own travel bag and check it at the curb with your luggage.


Bottom Line

I really wouldn’t recommend this car seat to anyone. Car safety is extremely important to me and it’s just not worth it to me to put my child in a substandard car seat because it’s convenient. Is it really worth taking chances? The children advertised on the box sure looked happy but, I’m betting that’s more because they are getting paid and not because they are comfortable in this seat.