Traveling with kids can be overwhelming, especially since there is so much to bring and keep track of, and so many opportunities for things to go differently than planned. While you do not NEED a travel car seat, having one makes traveling with your baby or toddler a little easier and is often worth the investment. It is something you can control, and when traveling, that can make all the difference.
As a mom of three and a car seat passenger safety tech (CPST), I have flown over 30 times times with my kids at different stages, including a few times by myself, and let me tell you, I am always thankful I have a lightweight option like the WAYB Pico instead of hauling our heavy Nuna Rava or rotating car seat with us at the airport. In this post, I am sharing all my research findings on the best travel car seats for my kids and a few things I have learned along the way.
Oh, and I’ll also tell you my horror story of renting a car seat instead of bringing my own. NEVER AGAIN!
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. You don’t get charged any extra, but my family receives a small commission when you shop through one of my affiliate links, and we are grateful for your support! <3
Table of Contents
Can I Use My Current Car Seat on a Plane?
You can use your car seat on an airplane if it meets the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) standards. You’ll know it’s approved if there’s a sticker on the seat stating it’s certified for use on aircraft. You can see an example of this on the bottom of my Nuna RAVA (pictured below).
I’ve traveled with infant and convertible car seats, and almost every time, a flight attendant has asked if our seat is FAA-approved during boarding. If they need proof, you can show them the sticker on your car seat.
You cannot use booster seats or any backless car seat on a plane, and several rotating car seats are also not FAA certified, so be sure to check your manual before flying.
I have also learned over the years that the FAA prohibits the use of baby carriers during takeoff and landing, which is another reason I like to bring a car seat, if possible, with my lap infants. I have had to take a sleeping baby out of my carrier, and it can be very frustrating.
What to look for in a Travel Car Seat?
- Lightweight
- FAA approved
- Compact
- Easy to transport
What about renting a Car Seat with your Rental Car Company?
I know what you are thinking. This sounds like the perfect solution, right? My spouse can drop me off, and then I will just get a car seat at my destination…
Well, I thought this as well, and a few years ago I was traveling with my first, who was 2 years old. We had a hard travel day with weather cancellations and had to take three different planes. The airline wouldn’t even let me put my stroller in the overhead bin, and then they gate checked it to my destination.
I had to carry my overtired toddler and all our stuff to baggage claim before getting to the rental car company at 11:54 PM… Only for us to find out that they only had booster seats. My baby was TWO!
The rental car associate looked at me like I was crazy. I had even called ahead, and they confirmed, but on-site, I was out of luck. On top of that, I had one of the travel car seats featured in this post sitting at home that I easily could have brought. Long story short (not really…), we waited there while someone went to Walmart to buy us a workable car seat. We did not leave until 1 AM with an extremely overtired 2-year-old.
Some other reasons you might not want to trust a rental car company’s car seat:
- The car seat may have been in a crash or have damage from use
- The car seat might not have been cleaned or stored properly
- They may not have a car seat when you arrive, or, like my situation, have the wrong type of car seat for your baby/toddler.
Unless it is a family member you trust, it is always better to bring your own car seat than to rely on a rental service for car seats.
Tip for Traveling with a Lap Infant (under 2)
A question I am often asked is: Do I really need to buy a seat for my baby?
It depends. If there is an extra seat on the plane and your car seat is FAA-approved (most infant car seats are), you can bring your car seat aboard for no additional charge. However, this is a gamble, and the only way to guarantee being able to bring your car seat on board is to buy a seat.
I personally have loved having a car seat on the plane and have found it has made our travel days better.
Best Travel Car Seat for Infants
The best news about traveling with a baby in the infant stage is that most infant car seats are already very portable and FAA-certified, so it’s not necessary to buy a special one for travel. I have traveled over 10 flights with my 3 kids with our Nuna PIPA RX car seat, and it has worked perfectly for us. It is FAA-approved, you can install it with a seatbelt, and it was the car seat we had.
Baseless Infant Car Seats
If you don’t have an infant car seat and are looking for one that is the best for travel, I recommend looking at baseless car seats. I discovered baseless car seats with my third baby, and am obsessed. While they don’t make flying on an airplane any easier, they make life at your destination easier, like taking taxis and installing your car seat in a rental. Instead of hassling with a seat belt, there are latches in the seat that make an easy one-handed install.
| Feature | Joie Mint Latch | Nuna Pipa URBN | Graco Go Max | Peg Perego Primo Viaggio Urban Mobility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $300 | Sold only with Nuna strollers | $250 | $400 |
| Weight of seat | 8.3 lbs | 9 lbs | 9 lbs | 10 lbs |
| Weight range | 4–30 lbs | 4–22 lbs | 4–30 lbs | 4–30 lbs |
| Height limit | Up to 30 in | Up to 29 in | Up to 32 in | Up to 32 in |
| Where to Buy | Buy Joie | Buy URBN | Buy Graco | Buy Peg Perego |
Joie Mint Latch
Price: $300
Weight of seat: 8.3 lbs
Weight range: 4 lbs to 30 lbs
Height limit: Up to 30 in
Nuna Pipa URBN
Price: Only sold with Nuna strollers
Weight of seat: 9 lbs
Weight range: 4 to 22 lbs
Height limit: Up to 29 in
Graco Go Max
Price: $250
Weight of seat: 9 lbs
Weight range: 4 to 30 lbs
Height limit: Up to 32 in
Peg Perego Primo Viaggio Urban Mobility
Price: $400
Weight of seat: 10 lbs
Weight range: 4 to 30 lbs
Height limit: Up to 32 in
2-in-1 Infant Car Seat and Stroller Travel System
I really debated including the Doona and Evenflo Shyft DualRide in this post. While these unique car seat-on-wheel combos are super convenient—especially on travel days—they’re not always the best option once you reach your destination.
Older babies benefit from a stroller with an upright seat, and younger ones do better in a near-flat recline. The “C” shape of a car seat just isn’t ideal for extended use (learn more about this here!). Plus, neither of these options offers great storage. That said, there’s no denying how helpful they are for navigating airports—they make travel day easier.
Check out my comparison of Doona to the Evenflo Shyft Dualride here:
Best Travel Car Seat for Younger Toddlers
This is the hardest age to travel with. Younger toddlers are busy with very short attention spans, which means shows and most quiet-time activities don’t really work. A car seat on a plane can make all the difference, and you might even get a coveted nap. Keep in mind, even if you do not purchase a seat for your 1-year-old, if there is an extra seat on the plane, the airlines will generally give it to you so you can install your car seat.
I love my big, heavy car seats, with easy installation and all the features, when I’m at home, but when it comes to travel, the smaller and lighter the seat, the better.
That’s why I bought a travel car seat for my first child when I was traveling by myself with her at 18 months old. Below are two options I recommend once your baby outgrows the infant seat until they outgrow them (around 3 years old), the first is a budget option, and the one I used until very recently with my first two girls. The second is a very similar car seat, but with added padding and no chemical flame retardants, and that is what I now use with my third baby when we travel.
Cosco Senera Next
Price: $59
Weight of seat: 8.8 lbs
Weight range: Rear-facing 5–40 lbs, forward-facing 30–50 lbs
Height limit: Rear-facing 19-40 in, forward-facing 24.4-43 in
I have flown with the Cosco Scenera Next several times, and it has been great. It weighs only 8.8 lbs, and you can use the tether strap to carry it through the airport, something I have done several times. This car seat has a learning curve when it comes to installation, so be sure to read your manual and practice before traveling. I have only ever used it rear-facing because my girls are tall and have outgrown the seat before we could move them forward-facing. We also have used this as our second car seat in the grandparents’ and dad’s car when we were not traveling.
Maxi Cosi Romi
Price: $130
Weight of seat: 7.8 lbs
Weight range: Rear-facing 5–40 lbs, forward-facing 30–40 lbs
Height limit: Rear-facing 19-40 in, forward-facing 24.4-43 in
The Maxi-Cosi Romi is very similar and even made by the same parent company as the Cosco, but it has more padding and upgrades, as well as no chemical flame retardants in the materials. I love how lightweight it is at only 7.8 lbs, and it is very easy to carry through the airport. If you are someone who tries to stay away from chemical flame retardants or want a comfy seat for your little one, this is going to be the best option for your travels.
Best Travel Car Seat for Older Toddlers & Pre-Booster Kids
Once your little one outgrows the car seats above, you have a few different options that work on a plane. These car seats are great options for use on planes and can only be used in a forward-facing position.
WAYB Pico
Price: $449
Weight of seat: 8 lbs
Weight range: 22-50 lbs
Height limit: 30-45 inches
This is one of the most innovative car seats for travel because it is so lightweight at only 8 lbs and folds small enough to fit in a backpack (WAYB sells one, or it does fit in this one on Amazon, though it lacks the comfort features of the WAYB one). It is ideal for kids over the age of 2 (we started using it at age 3) and is very easy to adjust. It has breathable mesh and can be installed easily with a latch and a rear tether in a car. My girls love using this car seat, and I recommend reading your manual and using it at home a few times before your trip so you can get the hang of the installation.
Cosco Finale DX 2-in-1 Booster
Price: $80
Weight of seat: 8.36 lbs
Weight range: Harness mode 30-65 lbs and belt-positioning booster 40-100 lbs
Height limit: Harness mode 34.4-49 inches and belt-positioning booster 43.4-52 inches
Looking for a more budget-friendly option? You might want to look at the Cosco Finale DX, this lightweight car seat is affordable and easy to travel with. It is recommended for use after the age of 3 and can only be used on an airplane in its 5-point harness mode.
One more thing…
Since this post focuses on car seats for air travel and at your destination, I did not include boosters and the RiderSafe Vest, as they cannot be used on an airplane due to airline seats only having a lap belt.
Tips for traveling with your Car Seat!
Whether you purchase one of the travel car seats in this post or take your current car seat, you still need a strategy for getting to and from the plane. While you can technically check your car seat under the plane for no cost on most airlines, keep in mind that this is not the safest option for your car seat. The safest option for your baby and your car seat is on the plane, but that is not always feasible. Here are a few different things you can do.
- Buy a padded travel bag for your car seat (Here are some of my favorites for Infant and Convertible Car Seats
- Use a car seat travel cart or luggage strap
- Use a stroller (best for the infant car seat stage)
Can I Check My Car Seat Under the Plane?
While you can technically check your car seat under the plane for no cost on most airlines, this is not the safest option for your child or your car seat. On top of that, depending on the company, this may void your car seat warranty. My Instagram DM’s are full of parents whose car seats and strollers have been torn, dented, or ruined from being thrown around during the baggage process. Just today, a mom asked me what to do because they checked their Doona in a padded travel bag, and the airline tore the bag and her Doona canopy.
UGHH… Honestly, there needs to be some accountability for airlines when it comes to transporting car seats and strollers; sometimes they will replace them, but often they won’t. It is a JOKE.
But it is not only safest for your car seat to be brought on the plane, it is also safest for your child. The FAA recommends that children use an approved car seat or child restraint on a plane.
While the safest option for your child and your car seat is on the plane, it is not always feasible to buy a seat for your lap infant (baby under the age of two), so if you are not able to bring your car seat on board try to gate check it and purchase a padded travel bag (here are some of the ones I have flown with).
Final thoughts
Traveling with young kids can be a lot, but I believe it is worth it. The more you travel, you will find your rhythm, and I hope the information in this post is helpful and makes your travels just a little easier. If it helped, please consider shopping through the links above or sharing with a friend. Thank you! <3
