Traveling with young children brings unique joys and challenges, and ensuring their safety on the road or in the air is paramount. While you can often check your everyday car seat for free when flying, the sheer bulk and weight can make navigating airports and destinations a struggle. For families who frequently travel, whether by plane, taxi, or rideshare, investing in a dedicated travel car seat can significantly ease your journey. This guide breaks down the best travel car seat options for every stage, from infants to older children, ensuring your little ones are safe and secure wherever you go.
Infant Car Seats for Travel: Lightweight and Convenient
For parents traveling with babies, your existing infant car seat is often the most practical travel solution. The key is to use it without the base to minimize weight and bulk. Leading infant car seats like the Graco SnugRide SnugFit 35 DLX are designed to be relatively lightweight and can be securely installed using just the vehicle seatbelt.
There are two primary methods for base-less infant car seat installation: American and European routing. European routing, which involves wrapping the shoulder belt around the back of the car seat in addition to the standard belt path, generally provides a tighter and more secure fit. Several highly-rated infant car seats, including the Chicco KeyFit 35, Uppababy Aria, and Clek Liing, are specifically designed for easy European-style installation. If you anticipate frequent travel with your infant, choosing one of these models as your primary car seat can simplify your trips.
To further enhance travel convenience, many infant car seats are compatible with lightweight stroller frames like the Chicco KeyFit Caddy. This transforms your infant car seat into a stroller, making airport transits and sightseeing much easier. Crucially, most infant car seats are FAA-approved for use on airplanes, allowing you to secure your baby safely in their own seat during flights if you choose to purchase a separate ticket for them.
Convertible Car Seats: Transitioning to Travel-Friendly Options
As your child grows out of their infant car seat, selecting a travel car seat becomes more nuanced. Child Passenger Safety Technicians (CPSTs) like Alisa Baer from The Car Seat Lady, often recommend using your familiar convertible car seat for travel, paired with a car seat travel cart. This ensures you’re comfortable with the installation process and confident in your child’s safety.
However, dedicated travel convertible car seats offer a significant advantage in weight. Regular convertible car seats can weigh between 20 to 30 pounds, while travel-specific models can be as light as 7 pounds. This weight difference can be a game-changer when navigating airports and public transportation.
If you opt for a dedicated travel car seat, practice installation before your trip is essential. Familiarizing yourself with the process at home minimizes stress and frustration when you’re tired or in a rush. Correct car seat installation is critical for safety, and practice ensures you can do it accurately every time. Like infant seats, most convertible car seats are FAA-approved for airplane use.
Booster Seats for Travel: Compact and Portable for Older Kids
For older children in booster seats, travel can be simplified even further. If your everyday booster seat, like the Chicco KidFit ClearTex Plus or Graco TurboBooster LX, has a removable back, consider detaching the back for travel to reduce bulk. The backless booster portion is significantly lighter and easier to manage.
Alternatively, dedicated travel booster seats are available and are designed to be exceptionally lightweight and compact. Jessica Jermakian, VP of Vehicle Research at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), suggests practical tips for managing backless boosters during travel: “I bungee cord them to my luggage while traversing the airport.” Their slim profile often allows them to fit under airplane seats or in overhead bins, further easing transportation.
Exploring Travel Car Seat Alternatives: Rentals and Borrowing
Before purchasing a dedicated travel car seat, consider alternative solutions, especially for less frequent trips. If you’re visiting family or friends at your destination, borrowing a car seat can be a convenient and cost-effective option. Baby equipment rental services are another viable option, offering car seat rentals in many locations.
Car rental companies also provide car seats for a daily fee, but this can quickly become expensive, often exceeding the cost of buying a travel car seat, especially for longer trips. Rental car seats can cost upwards of $15 per day. Furthermore, availability isn’t guaranteed even with advance reservations, and the quality and cleanliness of rental seats can be inconsistent. Installation instructions might also be lacking or unclear, increasing the risk of improper use. However, programs like AAA can offer benefits such as free car seat rentals when booking through certain rental companies like Hertz, Dollar, or Thrifty. Ridesharing services and town car companies in some areas may also provide car seats if you arrange it in advance.
Choosing the right travel car seat depends on your family’s needs, travel frequency, and the age of your child. By considering these factors and exploring the various options, you can ensure safe and stress-free travels with your little ones.
