Traveling with young children can be an exciting adventure, but it also comes with its own set of challenges. One of the biggest hurdles for parents is managing bulky baby gear, especially car seats. While most airlines allow you to check your regular car seat for free, lugging it through airports and in and out of vehicles can be incredibly inconvenient. Investing in a dedicated travel car seat can significantly simplify your journey, particularly if you are a frequent flyer, use ride-sharing services, or rely on taxis during your travels. This guide will explore the best travel car seat options to ensure your little ones are safe and comfortable, without adding unnecessary stress to your travel days.
Infant Car Seats for Travel
For families traveling with infants, the good news is that your existing infant car seat can often double as a travel seat. The key is to utilize it without the base, which reduces both weight and bulk. Even without the base, infant car seats are designed to be safely installed using just the vehicle’s seatbelt. Our top pick for everyday use, the Graco SnugRide SnugFit 35 DLX, is also a great option for travel due to its relatively lightweight design and compatibility with base-free installation.
There are two recognized methods for installing an infant car seat without its base: American and European belt routing. American routing involves threading the lap belt across the top of the car seat. European routing, considered to provide a more secure fit, adds an extra step by wrapping the shoulder belt around the back of the seat. Several highly-rated infant car seats, including the Chicco KeyFit 35, Uppababy Aria, and Clek Liing, are specifically designed to facilitate European routing. If you anticipate frequent travel with your infant, choosing one of these models as your primary car seat could be a smart move, offering seamless transitions between home and travel.
To further streamline travel with an infant car seat, consider models that are compatible with lightweight stroller frames. The Chicco KeyFit Caddy, for example, transforms your infant car seat into a convenient stroller, making airport navigation much easier. Importantly, most infant car seats are FAA-approved, meaning they are certified for use on airplanes should you choose to purchase a separate seat for your infant during flights.
Convertible Car Seats for Travel
Once your child outgrows their infant car seat, selecting a travel car seat becomes a bit more complex. Alisa Baer, a renowned pediatrician, Certified Passenger Safety Technician (CPST), and co-founder of The Car Seat Lady website, suggests that the most reliable approach is to bring your familiar convertible car seat and utilize a travel cart. This ensures you are using a car seat you are already comfortable installing and confident in its safety. The Britax Travel Cart is a popular option for easily maneuvering heavier car seats through airports.
However, for parents seeking maximum portability, dedicated travel car seats are available. These are engineered to be significantly lighter than everyday convertible seats, sometimes weighing as little as 7 pounds compared to the typical 20 to 30 pounds. If you opt for a dedicated travel seat, practice installation before your trip. The last thing you want is to struggle with unfamiliar car seat straps while dealing with jet lag and a potentially fussy child. Correct installation is crucial for car seat safety, and practicing beforehand reduces stress and ensures proper use. The majority of convertible car seats are also FAA-approved for airplane use, providing flexibility for air travel.
Booster Seats for Travel
For older children in booster seats, travel can be simplified even further. If your regular booster seat has a detachable back, like our top picks the Chicco KidFit ClearTex Plus and the Graco TurboBooster LX, you can opt to bring it along for travel without the backrest. This instantly makes it more compact and travel-friendly.
Alternatively, dedicated travel booster seats are designed to be exceptionally lightweight and compact, offering a significant advantage over bulkier everyday models. Jessica Jermakian, Vice President for Vehicle Research at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, provides practical tips for managing backless boosters at the airport: “I bungee cord them to my luggage while moving through the airport. On many flights, they fit under the seat in front of my kids, with room to spare for a backpack on top. On some smaller planes, I’ve placed them in a tote bag in the overhead compartment.” These strategies can make navigating airports with booster seats much less cumbersome.
Travel Car Seat Alternatives
Beyond dedicated travel car seats, several alternative options exist, particularly if you are traveling to a familiar destination. Borrowing a car seat from friends or family at your destination is a convenient and cost-effective solution if available. Baby equipment rental services are another excellent resource, allowing you to rent car seats and other baby gear at your destination, eliminating the need to travel with them.
Renting a car seat directly from car rental companies is also an option, but it comes with potential drawbacks. Daily rental fees can be as high as $15, quickly exceeding the cost of purchasing a travel car seat, especially for longer trips. While you can reserve a car seat in advance, availability isn’t always guaranteed. Furthermore, rental car seats may be older models or unfamiliar, potentially making proper installation more challenging, especially in an unfamiliar rental car. However, programs like AAA offer benefits such as free car seat rentals through Hertz, Dollar, or Thrifty when booking a car, which can be a valuable perk for members. Finally, consider inquiring about car seat availability when booking ridesharing services or airport and town car services, as some may provide car seats with advance notice.
Choosing the best travel car seat depends on your child’s age, travel frequency, and personal preferences. By considering these various options, you can select the ideal solution to ensure safe and stress-free travels for your family.
