It’s a horror story, but it’s just me thinking that traveling solo, without kids, was stressful. There is nothing more humbling than thinking about where your old perspective on difficult used to be. I was so overwhelmed the first time I traveled with kids. Bring a car seat on the plane? Bring a stroller? Just use a carrier? How many snacks should I bring? How many outfits should I bring…in case someone spits up, poops, or pukes on themselves? Wait…how many outfits should I bring myself!?!
The last thing you want to worry about when you are gearing up to travel with kids is deciding what car seat will work best for travel. Whether it’s a vacation in the sunshine, traveling to see family, or just going on a road trip across your state, a safe, lightweight, FAA-approved travel car seat is a game-changer. I promise that you don’t have to sacrifice safety (or send a fortune), for travel convenience. So, what is the best car seat to travel with? Fear not. I’ve reviewed five popular travel car seats to help you find the BEST affordable travel car seat for your family’s needs.
Best Affordable Travel Car Seats
Cosco Scenera
If you haven’t heard of the Cosco Scenera, it’s truly the undisputed champion of budget travel. This seat is an amazing option for families who need a secondary travel car seat for flights, grandparent’s cars, or rideshares.
Pros:
- Price: The Cosco is very affordable, which we love to see.
- Weight: The ultra-lightweight car seat, around 7-8 lbs, makes navigation a lot easier. We all love a multi-tasking queen (traveling and lifting at the same time), but honestly, let’s leave the heavy lifting for the gym.
- Narrow Profile: The Cosco Scenera easily fits in most airplane seats! It also fits in those three-across bench seats you’ll find in SUVs or vans.
- The Cosco Scenera Next Travel Car Seat is also FAA Approved for aircraft use.
Cons:
- Short Lifespan: Unfortunately, the Cosco travel car seat is often outgrown by height/weight before others.
- Minimal Padding: Due to the lightweight nature of this car seat, it provides very thin padding, which can be less comfortable for long flights or road trips.
- Installation: To be honest, the installation of this car seat is tricky. If my husband wasn’t there to install, I would have a world class crash out in the parking lot.
Maxi Cosi
The Maxi Cosi travel car seat is a fantastic lightweight convertible car seat option. It offers an upgrade in comfort and features compared to the Cosco, BUT still stays on the affordable end of travel gear.
Pros:
- Weight: Although a little heavier than the Cosco, the Maxi Cosi only weighs 8-9 lbs.
- Fabric: The Maxi Cosi includes PureCosi Fabric and no flame-retardant chemicals. For some families, this quality is a must.
- Premium Feel: For those longer road trips and airport travel days, the Maxi Cosi provides more padding and comfort.
- The Masic Cosi Car Seat is FAA Approved and easy to carry with a car seat strap.
Cons:
- Short Lifespan: Due to its lightweight nature, the Maxi Cosi may be outgrown more quickly than a full-size convertible car seat.
- Recline: The recline on this car seat is very deep, which can limit legroom for front-seat passengers. If you are tall or need leg room, this may not be a good option for you and your family.
- Installation: Although a little easier than the Cosco, the installation on this car seat is a little tricky because it requires the “inside out” trick for the tightest install.
WAYB Pico
Best for Toddlers/Preschoolers
If you are a frequent flyer with an older toddler (2+ years), the WAYB Pico is worth the hype. The WAYB Pico offers a compact folding car seat making portability a breeze.
Pros:
- Folding: The WAYB Pico holds down small and can fit into its own carry bag. That carry bag often fits in overhead bins, which is an amazing feature.
- Ultra-Portable: The WAYB Pico travel car seat converts into a backpack for hands-free travel! Don’t worry. You won’t break your back. This car seat weighs in around 8 lbs.
- Easy Installation: The WAYB Pico is an amazing option for Ubers or Taxis. When traveling to another country or to a city (with no rental car), this travel car seat removes the stress of installation.
- The WAYB Pico is FAA Approved for use on aircrafts.
Cons:
- Forward-Facing Only: Unfortunately, this car seat is NOT suitable for babies or young toddlers who still need to rear-face.
- Price: The WAYB Pico is the most expensive option on our list…but for good reason. The pros FAR outweigh the cons, in my opinion.
- Comfort: The mesh fabric of this car seat is great for airflow, but not so great for comfort. It provides minimal padding for car seat sleeping.
- Age/Weight Minimums: Your child must be at least 22 lbs and 30 inches, as well as over the age of 2-years-old, to meet the minimum requirements for use.
Nuna PIPA (RX/Lite)
Best Premium, Ultra-Light Infant Pick
The Nuna travel car seats are known as the gold standard for premium infant car seats. It’s an investment, but it’s incredibly travel-friendly.
Pros:
- Weight: The Nuna PIPA carrier (without base) weighs around 5-7 lbs, making it one of the lightest models on the market.
- Safety: Features like a stability leg and anti-rebound bar provide a safer install in a car.
- Darkness: The Sky Drape feature of the Nuna PIPA provides an oversized canopy for maximum darkness and privacy. This car is perfect for on-the-go naps.
- The Nuna PIPA is FAA Approved for use on aircrafts. Please note that this travel car seat is approved by the FAA without the base.
Cons:
- Price: No sugar coating it, this car seat does have a high-end price point.
- Short Lifespan: Like all infant seats, the Nuna PIPA is quickly outgrown. You will have to transition to a new car seat once your infant is 32 lbs or 32 inches.
- Base: The base of the Nuna PIPA is bulky. The base is not meant for air travel. You will have to use the European belt path installation on a plane or in a taxi…not ideal.
Doona
Best Airport and Quick Errands Pick
The Doona is the ultimate travel car seat/stroller option. If you travel often, this is totally worth the investment. Everyone I know that has the Doona loves it. You’ve probably seen it on TikTok’s or Instagram posts. It offers an infant car seat that transforms into a stroller with the push of a button. While it is expensive, you are eliminating the need for a separate stroller or car seat caddy.
Pros:
- Ultimate Convenience: The Doona has a seamless transition from car seat to stroller. No more carrying a heavy car seat. Bless.
- Ideal for Airport/Ubers: If you are traveling often, the Doona is perfect for quick rideshares and airport options.
- Short Lifespan: The Doona only lasts until your child is around 1-year-old. It has a weight maximum of 35 lbs.
- The Doona is FAA Approved for use on aircrafts.
Cons:
- Price: The Doona is a major investment. If you travel often, I really think it is worth it. Since you don’t have to buy a separate stroller, girl math says it’s actually saying your money.
- Weight: The Doona weighs about 17 lbs, which is a heavy car seat to lift in or out of the car. Add in the weight of your baby, and it may be game over.
- Storage: The Doona has virtually zero storage space for a diaper bag or travel essentials.
- Maneuverability: The Doona does it’s best navigation on smooth roads or paths. The smaller wheels of the Doona struggle on uneven terrain, gravel, or cobblestones. If you find yourself traveling to Salem, Massachusetts, you might want to find another option.
Whether you are looking for a car seat for your caregiver, extended family, or planning for a long cross-country trip, you can feel confident traveling with one of our best travel car seats options. Traveling with children is hard, but we can do hard things. Just remind yourself that you just need to get there. Try to plan ahead, but ultimately, give yourself grace. No matter what happens, you did your best, and that is what counts.
Sleep Shore Sleep Consulting
Did you go on vacation and now sleep is completely off the rails? If your child is unable to fall asleep, stay asleep, or wake up at a normal time, it may be time to consider sleep training. Sleep Shore offers personalized solutions for each unique sleeping situation to get your little one on track- whether they’re a newborn, infant, or toddler. We also offer in home sleep training services in the Boston, Massachusetts, Central Michigan (Midland, Clare, Mt. Pleasant) and Traverse City, Michigan. Sleep training offers babies and children with the skills to fall asleep on their own so they can wake up feeling more well-rested- and in turn, you’ll feel more energized, too! See what this mama had to say about our sleep services below:
“Molly is absolutely wonderful. Our first baby was a horrible sleeper and within one week, I felt more confident about how to improve things. Within two weeks, he was sleeping through the night. I’m not comfortable with total crying it out methods and Molly was understanding and worked with me to find ways to help him learn to sleep that I was comfortable withIn the first year. I leveraged Molly’s help whenever we’d travel so I had a game plan to ensure our trips weren’t ruined. When we transition our toddler out of a crib, I’ll reach out to her again.”
On-the-Go Mom