If you’re a family on the go, having a lightweight travel car seat that you can easily switch between planes, trains and automobiles is an essential piece of travel gear for any vacation.
Instead of bringing your main car seat with you on this adventure — one that is most likely big and bulky and a pain to install — many travel car seats are compact and won’t break your back lugging them through an airport.
Best car seats for travel
There’s a travel car seat here that will fit every stage of life. Most importantly, these car seats are still comfortable, safe for your little ones and many are approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which means you can take them on an aircraft with you.
According to baby expert Sarah Ludwig, a child safety specialist and doula, the best car seat is “one that you have experience with and are comfortable using.” She suggests that if you purchase a new car seat for the sole purpose of travel, always practice and read the manual ahead of time.
Ludwig also reminds us that if you are traveling internationally, you want to be aware of the vehicle features. She states that “your car at your destination may not have locking seat belts or LATCH connections so be aware of how to safely use your [car] seat without them.”
Before you jet off on your next trip, here’s a list of car seats that will make your packing and travel experience significantly lighter and easier.
Infant car seats for travel
If you’re traveling with an infant, the bucket car seat that you may use for your car that also snaps into your stroller will probably work for your next trip. But you’ll still want to ensure the car seat is FAA-approved to use on the plane.
Ludwig told us that using a car seat on a plane is the safest way for a baby to travel. “In the case of turbulence or crashes on the runway, often the forces are stronger than your arms can hold your child in your lap,” she says.
So to ensure your little one is always as safe as possible, here are some options.
This 2-in-1 car seat and stroller is the easiest way to get around with an infant. It can be used as an infant car seat — which is perfect for getting in and out of taxis — or it can be converted into a stroller with the click of a button. No need to worry about two separate pieces of travel gear. Selina Aquino, a certified car seat technician and store manager of baby store Albee Baby, highly recommends this stroller for the convenience factor.
Unfortunately, the car seat is expensive and the lifespan is quite short. Since this baby item doesn’t turn into a convertible car seat, it’s more geared toward 1-year-olds or younger, maxing out when your child hits 32 inches tall or 35 pounds.
But with the car seat and stroller combo only weighing 16 pounds in total, this is as easy as it gets when it comes to traveling with your baby.
At just 8.7 pounds, the Evenflo LiteMax is light enough to allow you to carry your baby onto an airplane without needing to take them out of the car seat. Just keep them in the car seat the entire time and use the airplane straps to buckle the car seat right onto the airplane seat.
Convertible car seats for travel
As your child moves on from the infant bucket car seat, a convertible car seat is necessary to keep your child safe in a car. Some convertible car seats are forward-facing only, while others can be used in both directions. You’ll want to follow the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidelines as to whether or not your child can sit forward-facing yet, as that might play into which car seat works best for your child while traveling. But keeping your child rear-facing for as long as possible is the AAP’s recommendation; most children max out the height and weight requirements around 4 years old.
Even though your child can sit upright in an airplane seat on their own, you might find that bringing a convertible car seat onto the airplane will keep your child from moving all over the plane and allow them to nap more easily. A car seat is also the safer option since Ludwig tells us that “airplane seat belts are designed for adults and generally do not tighten enough to fit a child under 40 pounds properly.” Because of this, a child can slide underneath a seat belt easily in the case of air turbulence or a crash.
But before you bring your car seat on the airplane, you’ll want to make sure the seat is FAA approved. For our list, we’ve only included FAA-approved convertible car seats.
As one of the most popular travel car seats because of its cost and weight (just 6.8 pounds), this car seat grows with your child, as it can be used rear- or forward-facing and offers five different height positions and three buckle locations. The cover is also removable, which allows you to throw it in the washing machine.
The one downside is that the car seat can only hold a child up to 40 pounds, which is slightly lower than some other convertible car seats on this list.
If you’re looking to purchase a car seat for your toddler, the Cosco Finale can be used as both a forward-facing car seat with a five-point harness or as a high-back booster. At just 17 inches wide and 9 pounds, transporting this car seat is incredibly easy and, in most cars, you can fit three in a row.
As a five-point harness car seat, the Cosco Finale is suited for children between 30 and 65 pounds and 32 and 49 inches tall. You can also use the LATCH system up until your child is 50 pounds. For a high-back booster, the weight limit for the child is between 40 and 100 pounds and the height limit is for those between 43 and 52 inches tall, though the high-back booster is not FAA-approved without the internal harness.
At just under 15 pounds — slightly heavier than some of the others on this list — the Baby Trend Trooper 3-in-1 Convertible Car Seat offers a few extra bells and whistles. There are three modes — rear-facing infant mode, rear-facing toddler mode and forward-facing toddler mode — allowing you to purchase this one travel car seat and use it for many years. It can also be used for infants as small as 4 pounds and for older children as big as 65 pounds. It’s also easy to get the perfect install with the rear-facing re-clip flip foot and a bubble level indicator.
Even though the Evenflo Tribute is lightweight and slim, the car seat offers side impact protection, an integrated body cushion for babies and a removable head pillow for older children. There are also four different shoulder strap positions and two buckle positions to help you adjust the car seat to fit your child as they grow.
The Evenflo Sonus can fit children from 22 pounds and 19 inches tall all the way up to 50 pounds and 50 inches. (There are different limits for rear- and forward-facing, though, so be sure to research the seat's specifications thoroughly.) The car seat also has a two-position recline while in both the rear- and forward-facing modes, allowing your child to be positioned at the safest angle for their age.
The car seat also offers airflow vents, two cup holders, harness covers and a machine-washable seat pad.
The Cares Kids Fly Safe Airplane Harness is a compact car seat alternative for air travel. Approved for kids 12 months and older who are between 22 and 44 pounds, it acts as a five-point harness so your kids are nicely strapped into their airplane seats.
Although a great option for air travel, the harness can’t be used as a car seat alternative. If you will be using a vehicle at your final destination (even if just a taxi), you’ll still have to pack or rent a car seat.
Compact car seats for travel
If you’re no longer taking a car seat on the plane with you but you’re instead looking for the most compact car seat for packing purposes, there are many options, whether it’s a five-point harness or just a simple booster.
Many of these car seats can be folded up, meaning you can store them in your luggage or even throw some of them in your backpack. They are compact, lightweight and slim to fit in most rental cars. Keep in mind that the FAA prohibits booster seats during ground movement, takeoff and landing, and individual airlines may have their own policies that fully prohibit booster seats. For that reason, booster seats should generally be reserved for car usage when used in tandem with a three-point adult seat belt.
A similar concept to the BubbleBum, the booster car seat inflates within seconds with your own breath and, when not in use, can deflate into the provided travel bag. Also at just 1 pound, there’s a large area to sit on and a non-skid base on the bottom.
This booster seat is for children between 40 and 110 pounds — the highest weight limit of any travel car seat on the list. It’s not FAA-approved and must be used in tandem with a three-point adult seat belt in the car.
It doesn’t get more compact than the BubbleBum. At just about 1 pound, this backless booster seat inflates with a few of your own breaths in less than a minute. When not in use, the booster deflates into a small tote bag that can be thrown right into your purse.
The BubbleBum can be used for children between 40 and 100 pounds. It’s not FAA-approved but could make sense in a rental car when used with a three-point adult seat belt.
This innovative five-point harness car seat is made from a cool, breathable mesh. At just 8 pounds, the WAYB Pico folds up into a small travel bag, which can be worn as a backpack or packed in your luggage.
The seat can be installed via a seat belt or LATCH system but only offers a forward-facing design. This car seat is for children 2 years or older, weighing between 22 and 50 pounds, though it's always a good idea to revisit the AAP's recommendations for forward- versus rear-facing seats before making your decision.
Although one of the more expensive car seats on the list, it’s a highly recommended car seat by car seat safety expert Aquino. In addition to being FAA-approved, it has “many safety benefits and is excellent to travel with.”
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