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• Baby and kid

The Best Travel Car Seats

By Christina Szalinski and Rebecca Gale

Let’s face it: Traveling with little kids can be a slog. But a lightweight, compact, easy-to-install travel car seat is one tool that can make trips a bit easier.

We’ve tested 17 travel car seats for infants and up, and we examined how they performed in various circumstances, including during air travel and in rental cars. The Chicco KeyFit 35 , one of our picks for the best infant car seats , is an excellent choice for both travel and everyday use. For an affordable and easy-to-use convertible car seat for toddlers and preschoolers, we recommend traveling with the Cosco Scenera Next , which fits kids up to 40 inches tall for rear-facing or 43 inches for forward-facing. For kids bigger than that who still need a seat with a five-point harness, we recommend the Cosco Finale 2-in-1 , which also converts to a high-back booster. The backless, lightweight Cosco Rise is great for booster-age kids.

If you’ll be hopping in and out of taxis or ride shares with a baby, the Doona is a unique but expensive infant car seat that converts to a stroller. And instead of purchasing a dedicated convertible car seat for travel, another option is to bring yours along with the Britax Travel Cart .

Everything we recommend

Chicco KeyFit 35 ClearTex

The best infant car seat for travel.

If you’re a frequent traveler, the Chicco KeyFit 35 is easier than most infant car seats to install securely without its base.

Buying Options

An infant car seat and stroller in one

This unusual car seat has integrated wheels that pop out to turn it into a stroller. It’s best for parents who frequently need to move their car seat in and out of different vehicles.

Cosco Scenera Next

The best convertible car seat for travel.

This affordable and easy-to-use car seat weighs 6.8 pounds and can be used rear- and forward-facing. But kids can outgrow it quickly.

Cosco Finale 2-in-1 Booster Car Seat

The best harness booster car seat for travel.

This no-frills seat converts from a forward-facing five-point harness to a high-back booster. It weighs just 12 pounds.

Britax Travel Cart

A travel cart for lugging your own seat through the airport.

This sturdy, smooth-rolling travel cart helps you transport your own convertible car seat—and avoid buying a standalone travel seat. You can even strap your child into their seat and use it like a stroller.

The best backless booster seat for travel

This basic booster seat weighs only 2.2 pounds and can work for children as small as 40 pounds. But it has a rather large footprint and will be too big to fit in most carry-ons.

How we picked

A seat that’s lightweight is more manageable to carry between multiple locations. A more compact seat is also easier to pack.

We considered the seat’s comfort and ability to adjust straps and buckles.

Ease of installation is paramount, as the easier it is to do, the more likely it will be done properly.

We looked at crash-testing scores and ease-of-use ratings. Our infant, convertible, and harness booster picks are FAA-approved for use on a plane.

The Chicco KeyFit 35 is a great all-around infant car seat—and one of the ones we recommend for everyday use. But for travel it stands out: It has a European belt path that makes it easier to get a secure install without the base than for many car seats, and it’s cheaper than other seats that have this belt routing option.

Weight of seat: 10 pounds Orientation: rear-facing only Weight range: 4 to 35 pounds Height limit: 32 inches

Parents who can’t leave their infant seat base installed in a specific car but instead need to travel by taxi or rideshare frequently may find the innovative Doona to be a convenient option. This sleek infant car seat has integrated wheels and converts to a stroller that maneuvers easily, plus the seat is FAA-approved for use on an airplane. But the versatile Doona is much heavier and more expensive than a regular infant car seat.

Weight of seat: 14.3 pounds Orientation: rear-facing only Weight range: 4 to 35 pounds Height limit: 32 inches

The Cosco Scenera Next is a notably lightweight, affordable convertible car seat that is simple to install and carry on an airplane. It receives strong safety ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and is FAA-approved for use on a plane. But many kids will outgrow it before they reach the height or weight limit because of the low position of the shoulder straps.

Weight of seat: 6.8 pounds Orientation: rear- or forward-facing Weight range: 5 to 40 pounds rear-facing; 22-40 pounds forward-facing Height range: 19-40 inches rear-facing; 29-43 inches forward-facing

For children using a forward-facing five-point harness, the Cosco Finale 2-in-1 is a lightweight and affordable travel option that is FAA-approved for use on a plane (in harness mode only). It also converts to a high-back booster. However, it has lower height limits than some boosters, so kids may not get as many years of use from it, in comparison with pricier options.

Weight of seat: 12 pounds Orientation: forward-facing only Weight range: 30 to 65 pounds for harness mode; 40 to 100 pounds for high-back mode Height range: 32 to 49 inches for harness mode; 43 to 52 inches for high-back mode

Bringing your own car seat to the airport has one big advantage—you don’t have to learn how to install yet another seat. But your own convertible car seat is likely to be heavy (our picks in our guide to convertible car seats range from 19 to 33 pounds). The Britax Travel Cart is compatible with most convertible seats, and when your car seat is secured to it with LATCH, you can use it like a stroller to push your toddler through the airport. The cart can then be stored in an overhead bin during your flight.

Weight of cart: 7.6 pounds

If you need a cheap, no-frills booster seat, we recommend the Cosco Rise . It’s a bit too large to fit into a carry-on suitcase or backpack, but it’s easy to attach with a bungee cord to a carry-on for plane travel. It’s also a great option if you just need a spare booster for carpools or to order ahead for use at the grandparents' house.

Weight of seat: 2.2 pounds Weight range: 40 to 100 pounds Height range: 43 to 57 inches

The research

Why you should trust us, who should get this, the best infant car seat for travel: chicco keyfit 35, an infant seat and stroller in one: doona, the best convertible car seat for travel: cosco scenera next, the best harness booster seat for travel: cosco finale 2-in-1, a great car seat caddy: britax travel cart, the best booster seat for travel: cosco rise, other good travel car seats, should a kid sit in a car seat on the airplane, what about checking a car seat, the competition, care, use, and maintenance.

The authors of this guide have collectively interviewed 40 industry experts, safety authorities, and physicians. Among them were certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians (CPSTs) such as Lani Harrison, who installs more than 300 car seats each year; Dr. Aditya Belwadi, a biomechanics research scientist who previously led the child passenger safety research team at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and now works at Tesla in Crash, Safety, and Occupant Protection/Biomechanics; and Bill Horn, head sled testing engineer at Calspan , one of the country’s top crash-testing facilities. The authors also talked with dozens of parents and representatives from leading car seat manufacturers.

The original version of this guide was written by Rebecca Gale, whose reporting on policy and parenting has appeared in outlets including The New York Times, Slate, and The Washington Post. Rebecca has also been certified as a CPST, completing a 40-hour training program through the Safe Kids Worldwide organization.

In 2022 and 2023, this guide was updated by Christina Szalinski, a science writer whose reporting on health and parenting has appeared in The Atlantic and Kaiser Health News . In addition to writing the most recent versions of Wirecutter’s infant and convertible car seat guides, Christina is responsible for Wirecutter’s guides to the Best Baby Formula and kids face masks .

Few people strictly need a separate car seat for travel as you can gate- or baggage-check any car seat for free with most airlines. But lugging your regular (likely heavy and bulky) seat in and out of the car and through the airport can be a major hassle. Investing in a smaller, lighter-weight option may be worthwhile, especially if you fly or use ridesharing services or taxis frequently.

Infant car seats for travel

If you’re traveling with an infant or baby, bringing along your usual infant car seat without its base (to cut down on weight and heft) is typically the best option. Our top infant car seat pick, the Graco SnugRide SnugFit 35 DLX , is relatively lightweight and, like other infant car seats, can be safely strapped in with a seatbelt only and no base.

There are two possible ways to install an infant car seat without a base: either with the belt directly across the top, called “American routing,” or with the shoulder belt placed around the back of the seat in addition to the top, called “European routing.” It’s easier to get a secure fit with European routing, and two seats we recommend in our guide to infant car seats, the Chicco KeyFit 35 and the Clek Liing , are designed to allow for that type of install. If you know you’ll be traveling with your infant often, it may be worthwhile to choose one of these as your baby’s first car seat.

Many infant car seats are compatible with easy-to-fold stroller frames, such as the Chicco KeyFit Caddy , which turns an infant car seat into a stroller and can be convenient for travel. Most infant seats are FAA-approved for airplane use, should you decide to purchase an airplane seat for your infant.

Convertible car seats for travel

When your child has outgrown their infant car seat, deciding on a car seat for travel can be trickier. Alisa Baer, a pediatrician, CPST, and co-founder of the website The Car Seat Lady , recommends bringing your own convertible car seat and using a travel cart . That way you have a seat that you’re already comfortable installing. But some people will prefer a dedicated travel car seat, as they can be significantly lighter than regular seats—as little as 7 pounds versus 20 to 30 pounds.

If you do buy a dedicated travel seat, it’s a good idea to practice installing it before your trip—you don’t want to be figuring it out for the first time when you, and your kid, are potentially jet lagged and feeling extra cranky. Installation can be the most time-consuming and frustrating part of using a car seat—and particularly a convertible car seat—and is often the point of failure for using a car seat correctly.

Booster seats for travel

If your everyday booster seat has a removable back (as with our top pick and runner-up pick, the Chicco KidFit ClearTex Plus and the Graco TurboBooster LX ), you may prefer to simply bring that seat for travel, leaving the bulky back at home. But like with convertible seats, it’s also an option to get a dedicated travel booster that may be significantly lighter and smaller than the one you rely on every day.

Jessica Jermakian, vice president for vehicle research at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, offered several tips for bringing along a backless booster, especially if it’s not one that’s compact: “I bungee cord them to my luggage while traversing the airport. On most flights, my kids could shove them under the seat in front of them and still have room to throw their backpack on top. On some flights, I’ve put them in a tote in the overhead compartment.”

Travel car seat alternatives

If you’re headed to a familiar destination, you could look into borrowing a seat from friends or relatives. Or, you may be able to rent one through a baby equipment rental service.

Many car rental companies also offer car seats for a daily fee, but it can cost up to $15 a day—adding up to much more than the cost of a travel car seat, which can be less than $50. And though you can reserve one in advance, rental car seats are subject to availability, so there’s no guarantee that one will be available when you arrive. The car seat provided may also be difficult to install properly, especially in an unfamiliar car. That said, you may be able to find discounts or other benefits through programs such as AAA, which offers one free car seat rental for members when they book a car through Hertz, Dollar, or Thrifty. Ridesharing and airport and town car services may also provide a car seat with advance reservations.

There are hundreds of travel car seat options for infants, toddlers, and older kids. We began the whittling down process by examining online customer reviews and existing media coverage, which included going to Car Seats for the Littles , Lucie’s List , and the Car Seat Lady . We found the travel car seat category to be sorely lacking in an abundance of great options, so we also considered some “regular” car seats and alternatives.

We knew from our expert interviews that proper installation is generally a far bigger problem than the level of protection that a seat inherently provides, so we searched the NHTSA ease-of-use installation database to help determine which seats offer easy installation and come with clear instructions. We also relied on the personal experience of Wirecutter staffers, volunteer testers, and car seat techs who had used the car seats in the past.

Our research led us to conclude that the ideal travel car seat should be:

Lightweight and compact: A travel car seat will likely need to be carried between multiple locations, sometimes with a baby inside (if we’re talking about an infant). The less the seat weighs, the easier it is to deal with when combined with children and carry-on items. A more compact seat can also fit more readily in a wide variety of vehicles.

FAA approved: For parents who want to use their infant seat, convertible car seat, or harness booster on a plane, FAA certification is crucial.

Easy to install: As with all of our car seat recommendations, ease of installation is paramount, as the easier it is to do, the more likely it is to be done properly.

Easy to use: Straps should be simple to adjust to get a snug but comfortable fit in a five-point harness. The buckles should be easy for parents to clip and unclip but difficult to impossible for children to mess with. We considered the experience of both parents and kids in using the seats, as well as how easy each seat was to clean.

Safe: When it comes to travel, convenience can trump a minor safety advantage; a seat that you can bring along with you is vastly superior to no seat at all. Still, we did take the relevant government safety data from NHTSA into consideration.

Over the past five years we’ve tested 17 car seats with travel specifically in mind.

If you’re shopping for an infant car seat with travel in mind, we recommend the FAA-approved Chicco KeyFit 35 , one of our picks in our guide to infant car seats . It is lightweight and easy to use, and it can be installed securely without its base using the European belt path, a method that generally provides a superior install. (Any infant seat can be installed without its base, so if you already have an infant seat, using what you already own is likely the easiest choice.)

You can save on weight and bulk by leaving a car seat base at home when traveling. There are two ways to install an infant seat without its base. The most common is American belt routing, in which the seat belt goes over the top of the infant seat and the baby’s knees. We’ve found that it can be very difficult to secure an infant seat in the car securely using this method.

A few seats also offer the option to rely on the European belt path, the method we prefer, in which the lap belt goes over the top of the infant seat and the shoulder belt goes around the back. It’s easier to get a secure install with the European belt path, but it’s only found on a few car seat models. Of the four infant car seats we recommend, only the Chicco KeyFit 35 and Clek Liing offer the option of using the European belt path.

Beyond the advantage of the European belt bath, the Chicco KeyFit 35 has everything we love about the more popular Chicco KeyFit 30 with a few bonus features, such as an anti-rebound base as an added safety option. The KeyFit 35 can also accommodate a slightly larger baby (up to 35 pounds) than the KeyFit 30.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The KeyFit 35 is about $50 more than our top infant car seat choice, the Graco SnugRide SnugFit 35 DLX . It probably doesn’t make sense to buy this seat just for travel if you already own a similar infant car seat. But if you plan to be jet-setting with your baby, it may be worth the additional $50 or so to get a better on-the-go install from the start.

The Doona is an FAA-approved infant car seat (rear-facing only) with built-in wheels that allow it to convert to a stroller. For travel, this is about as convenient as it gets, allowing caregivers to rely on a single piece of equipment to accomplish two goals: avoid gate-checking a stroller—assuming an airline seat is purchased for the infant—and hop in and out of cabs without having to stow anything in the trunk.

Compared with a regular infant car seat, the Doona has some drawbacks. For one thing, it did not perform particularly well in Baby Gear Lab’s crash testing (there are no government crash tests available yet for this seat). For this reason, and because it’s tricky to install without its base (as most infant seats are), one of our car seat experts does not recommend this seat. At 14.3 pounds, it’s heavy and bulky to carry and maneuver when in car seat mode. The Doona also has the steepest price of any of the car seats (including infant, convertible, and boosters) that we’ve reviewed. It does come with a traditional infant car seat base that allows for an easy click in and out of a car, but the extra width means it could be impossible to fit three across in a backseat. And it would defeat the point to use that base for travel.

Switching the Doona from car seat mode to stroller mode and back requires “both hands and concentration,” said one tester, as well as “quite a bit of practice for me. It takes a rather specific, subtle motion to collapse it back and tuck the wheels.” It’s harder than taking a regular infant car seat off of a stroller with an infant seat attachment. Plus, once your child outgrows this seat, you’ll have to buy another stroller.

As a stroller, the Doona maneuvers easily, and the brake is intuitive and easy to use. But though it comes with an attached storage bag, the Doona lacks a storage basket.

The inexpensive Cosco Scenera Next weighs just 6.8 pounds, is relatively easy to carry and install, and can be used rear-facing from 5 to 40 pounds and forward-facing from 22 to 40 pounds. It’s FAA-certified and easy to install on an airplane (using the plane’s seatbelt).

The Cosco sells for $60, which is a bargain compared with many convertible car seats (the Graco Extend2Fit , our favorite convertible seat for everyday use, is a little over $200). The seat gets strong safety ratings from NHTSA, and given its low weight and heft and easy-enough install, we think it’s the best option available for an on-the-go or backup car seat. We strongly prefer the (heftier) Graco Extend2Fit for everyday use. That’s because it’s easier to get a safe, secure install with that seat and to adjust it to fit the child. Plus, it can be used forward-facing until a kid is 65 pounds and 49 inches tall—a much longer usable life than the Scenera Next.

Several Wirecutter staffers use or have used the Cosco Scenera Next, appreciating its low cost, low weight, and small size. They’ve found that the seat’s slim profile makes it a great option for smaller cars (specifically, a Prius or Renault Scenic). Senior editor Courtney Schley found that the Cosco allowed her to get three seats (two Coscos and one infant car seat) across in her family’s car.

The Scenera Next’s low shoulder straps mean that a child may outgrow this seat well before they are ready for a booster. ( Shoulder straps should hit at or below the shoulders when a child is rear-facing; when forward-facing the straps should hit at or above the shoulders.) The low straps mean that many 3-year-olds with longer torsos may outgrow the seat in forward-facing mode, even though the seat’s height and weight limits indicate that it should fit an average-size kid up to age 4. With a long torso, the straps end up hitting below the shoulders, a situation that can compromise safety.

Though the Scenera Next is simple to install compared with other lightweight convertible car seats we tested, some of our testers still found it difficult to get a tight, secure install. It has hook LATCH straps that aren’t particularly easy to use—you really have to tug on the LATCH straps to get a tight fit, and getting them off can be an even bigger challenge. We preferred installing the seat with a seat belt in unfamiliar cars, which was an easier way to get a tight install (try the inside/outside trick with the shoulder belt), and made it much easier to uninstall.

Our testers also found that the chest clip on the harness wasn’t as responsive or easy to use as those on more expensive seats. The Scenera Next also has less padding than many seats, though Baer points out that the padding on most seats is highly compressible, meaning that just because a seat looks fluffier doesn’t mean it provides much more cushion.

This seat also has a few downsides if you bring it on a plane. Like most convertible car seats, it’s wider than the aisle, so you have to carry it awkwardly down the plane to get to your seat, which can be quite a challenge if you’re on your own and have other carry-on items (plus your child). Additionally, the plane’s seat belt buckle is going to be pushing into your child’s back if the seat is oriented forward-facing. Alisa Baer, co-founder of The Car Seat Lady, recommends installing any seat with this issue rear-facing, even if a kid is used to forward-facing. Or you can put a diaper or other soft item over the buckle to make it a bit more comfortable.

The Cosco Finale 2-in-1 is a solid option for kids who are no longer rear-facing but still benefit from a five-point harness. It’s affordable, weighs just 12 pounds, and is relatively easy to install using the car’s seat belt while in harness mode (it also comes with LATCH straps, though we didn’t find these as easy to use). Like other boosters, when in booster mode, this seat relies on the car’s seat belt to secure the child, so there’s no need to install it.

This bigger-kid seat can see a growing child through years of travel: It can be used as a forward-facing five-point harness booster seat from 30 to 65 pounds and then as a regular (harness-free) booster from 40 to 100 pounds (up until a child is 52 inches tall).

As a five-point harness, it’s FAA-certified and easy to install on an airplane using the plane’s seatbelt. However, when it’s in booster mode, like all boosters, it cannot be used on an airplane.

In harness mode, the Cosco Finale 2-in-1 performed well in an NHTSA crash test. And several Wirecutter staffers use or have used the Cosco Finale 2-in-1 while traveling after their child outgrew the Cosco Scenera Next—they liked the price and straightforward install. Converting the seat to a booster is fairly straightforward , and the seat has storage for the harness, crotch buckle, and chest clip. Once the seat is in booster mode, your child can’t use it on an airplane, but many airlines will allow you to check a booster seat for free (you may wish to check with your airline in advance).

A more expensive version of the Cosco Finale 2-in-1, the Cosco Finale DX 2-in-1 , is also available. The only difference between the two is the fabric—the DX has a tiny bit more cushion and a slightly less slippery texture. We asked several children to try each seat and then report their favorite (they wore blindfolds, to remove color preference as a factor). There was no clear winner between the two seats, and our adult testers could hardly distinguish a difference in the cushioning. For this reason, we don’t think it’s worth the extra $20 for the DX.

When using the Finale 2-in-1 in harness mode, you first have to install it in the car, which you can do either with the seat’s LATCH straps or with the car’s seat belt. We found the Finale 2-in-1’s hook LATCH straps difficult to use—it’s hard to get a tight fit in the car, and getting them off can be a big challenge. As we did with the Cosco Scenera Next, we preferred installing the harnessed seat with a seat belt; this was an easier way to get a tight install (try the inside/outside trick with the shoulder belt) and also made it much easier to uninstall. (When the harness is removed and the seat is in booster mode, you do not need to install it in the car, since the car’s seat belt holds it in place and secures the child.)

Our testers also found that the chest clip on the harness was a bit more difficult to open compared to those on more expensive seats like the Graco Tranzitions 3-in-1 . The straps have to be manually threaded through the car seat, which isn’t particularly difficult or time consuming, but you have to remember to do it before you install the seat. It also has less padding than many seats, though our child testers didn’t complain (however, we didn’t take it on any long road trips).

This seat won’t have as many years of use as other travel options, like the Graco Tranzitions 3-in-1, because the Cosco has a maximum height of 52 inches (most boosters go to 57 inches) and does not convert to a backless booster.

If you need to travel with a convertible car seat, you can bring the one you already have to the airport and onto the airplane with the Britax Travel Cart . The main benefit of bringing your own is that you’ll have a seat that you (and your child) are comfortable with, and that you know how to install confidently.

There are a number of similar travel carts out there, but we think this one offers the most for the price. We like that when the car seat is strapped onto the cart using the car seat’s LATCH clips, you can use the whole thing like a stroller and push (or pull) your child through the airport. The frame is also studier than other models—it can hold a total of 100 pounds of car seat and child. Plus, when it’s time to get on the plane you can fold the cart to stow it in an overhead bin.

At about $100 for the cart, it is cheaper to purchase a budget convertible car seat like the Cosco Scenera Next. However, depending on your circumstances, the Britax Travel Cart may outlive the expiration of many car seats (which are between six and 10 years), and could be used for future car seats, or passed along without as much consideration as a used car seat.

For a cheap, no-frills booster seat, the Cosco Rise is a reliable option that weighs only 2.2 pounds. It’s simple to use: Like other backless booster seats, it does not need to be physically attached to the vehicle; a child simply sits in it and fastens the car’s lap belt over their knees (under the seat’s sides).

The Chicco GoFit Plus is our overall top pick for the best backless booster seat because it’s cushy, made with easy-to-clean materials, and includes two cup holders and a LATCH system to anchor the seat to the car. But it’s bulky, heavy, and not great for travel. The Cosco Rise has fewer bells and whistles, but it offers a key safety feature: Unlike many other boosters, this seat has a strap that attaches to a car’s shoulder belt to adjust the belt’s position for smaller riders (the shoulder belt should always rest on a child’s collarbone, and not against their neck).

The Cosco Rise can accommodate children as small as 40 pounds, as long as they are also 43 inches tall, meaning it will work for most kids 5 and up but may not accommodate some 4-year-olds.

This seat is a bit too large to fit easily into a carry-on suitcase or backpack (it takes up almost all the room top-to-bottom in a standard-sized carry-on, with only a little room left on the side). There is also almost no padding on this seat, merely a polyester cover, but for short rides, our testers didn’t complain.

If you want an upgraded infant seat that’s great for travel : We recommend the Clek Liing , one of our favorite infant seats . Like the Chicco KeyFit 35, the Clek Liing can be installed without its base using a European belt path, which is much easier to get secure than the standard American belt routing found on most infant car seats. And when you’re at home, we love how easy it is to install the Liing’s base, which includes an added safety feature: a load leg .

If you want a high-end infant seat and don’t own a car: The lightweight, easy-to-clean Clek Liingo is similar to the Clek Liing but without the base. In general, we think installing a seat with the base is an easier and more secure option with infant car seats. But if you don’t own a car, the Liingo can be installed without a base in several ways. It has the same European belt path that the Liing has, which routes the lap belt over the top and the shoulder belt around the back for more security than an install that just goes over the top of the seat. The Liingo also comes with a LATCH strap that routes in the same spot as the lap belt—though we found this was not nearly as secure as the European belt path routing.

If you want a longer-lasting five-point harness seat for older kids: The Graco Tranzitions 3-in-1 is a good choice. This forward-facing-only seat has a five-point harness that holds kids from 22 to 65 pounds and up to 49 inches tall, and it can be adjusted without rethreading it, so it is easier to modify as your child grows. When your child is ready for a regular booster, you can remove the harness and crotch buckle, converting the seat to a high-back booster that can hold a child from 40 to 100 pounds and up to 57 inches tall. Finally, you can remove the back and convert the seat to a lightweight backless booster that can also be used from 40 to 100 pounds and up to 57 inches tall.

First off, a car seat must be FAA-approved—as all of our recommended infant and convertible seats are—for a kid to ride in one on an airplane. (Booster seats are reserved for older children and not intended for use on airplane seats.)

Both the Federal Aviation Administration and CPSTs believe it is safer for kids under 2 to ride in a car seat aboard a plane rather than in their parents’ arms. In the event of turbulence or rough air, a child is much safer if strapped in. Being injured in turbulence , though very unlikely, does affect a handful of American flyers each year, and recent research indicates that turbulence is on the rise due to climate change.

Many parents find that air travel is easier when their child has their own seat (though of course you have to pay for that additional seat). Children are allowed to sit on caregivers’ laps on planes until age 2, but few toddlers can sit still for a long period of time, and that extra harness and recline (as well as familiarity) provided by the car seat may keep a child seated comfortably longer, especially once they are mobile but still too young to fully understand how to sit still in a lap belt.

There are a number of challenges to bringing a car seat, especially a convertible seat designed for a toddler, onto a plane. Some smaller planes may have seats that aren’t wide enough for many convertible car seats. And even if the car seat is narrow enough for the plane, not many seats are narrow enough to easily fit down the aisle. The Clek Foonf , one of our convertible car seat picks, is one of them, but it is pricey and heavy. (The Clek Fllo , Graco SlimFit3 LX , and Graco True3Fit also fit on an airplane seat, but we did not test them.) You’ll generally have to lift a car seat above the seats to carry it to the rear of a plane.

Finally, unlike a car seat buckle, which sits on your hip, a plane’s seat buckle sits right in the middle of your lap. That means for many car seats, once you install them on the plane, there’s going to be a large metal buckle below your child’s legs or behind their back (the Clek seats are among the few without this issue). Alisa Baer, co-founder of The Car Seat Lady, recommends using convertible seats with buckle-in-the-back issues rear-facing, even with a larger child—they’ll likely be more comfortable if their feet have a place to rest, plus they won’t be trying to rest their feet on the passenger’s seat in front of them. You can also put a diaper or spare T-shirt over the buckle to make it a bit more comfortable.

Some parents may find it simpler to use a CARES harness (Child Aviation Restraint System) to help keep kids in their seats on a plane (and their kids may prefer sitting in an airplane seat over a car seat); you install this four-point harness around the child’s seatback and under the tray behind it.

Most airlines allow at least one car seat to be checked for free but doing so has several potential problems . The luggage can be handled roughly and tossed, damaging the car seat in the process. Seats, like any piece of luggage, can also be lost or misplaced in transit. Ultimately, the main reason you may want to have your child use a car seat on the plane is so that you are absolutely confident you’ll have the car seat when you arrive at your destination.

For people who do check in their car seats, Harrison recommends—ideally—using the original box and styrofoam that the seat came with if they are available or using Bubble Wrap and a garbage bag if not. Examine the seat for visible damage when it comes out at baggage claim, and be prepared to replace the seat if it’s broken or bent.

Infant travel seats

The Chicco Fit2 can accommodate infants as small as 4 pounds and toddlers as large as 35 pounds or 35 inches. Like the Chicco KeyFit 35 we recommend as the best infant car seat for travel, it can be installed with a European belt path. But because of this seat’s large size, some seat belts are too short to route over the car seat securely.

Convertible travel seats

We previously recommended the lightweight, foldable, forward-facing WAYB Pico (rhymes with “baby”) as a good travel car seat for kids who are too big for the Cosco Scenera Next but still need a five-point harness. Its adjustable seat back allows it to accommodate taller kids, and its slim design means it takes up less room in the backseat than other car seats. The 8-pound seat is exceptionally convenient to install, uninstall, and carry around, including through airports and onto a plane. In September 2019, however, WAYB announced it was recalling 4,558 Pico car seats manufactured between March 1 and May 12, 2019, due to reports of breakage in the aluminum tube connecting the headrest to the seat. You can read NHSTA’s report (PDF)  for details about the recall, how to identify your car seat’s date of manufacture, and how to inspect your car seat for damage. Since the recall, there have not been further reports of problems. Like all car seats sold in the US, the Pico was self-certified by WAYB to pass NHTSA standards (PDF) for safety testing.

The EvenFlo Tribute is a lightweight seat (9 pounds) similar to the Cosco Scenera Next and also has a weight limit of 40 pounds, but as our convertible car seat guide testing showed us, it’s not as easy to get a good install with this seat. CPSTs like Harrison recommend using a towel or pool noodle when using the Tribute to address this. It’s also more expensive than the Cosco Scenera Next.

Booster travel seats

We previously recommended the BubbleBum , an inflatable, portable backless booster seat for older kids. However, in February 2022, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety raised concerns about the safety of inflatable boosters. A study using a computerized model determined that an inflatable booster may not have the stiffness required to keep a child from sliding out from under the lap belt upon impact in a car crash.

The backless Cosco Topside is too large to fit into a carry-on or a backpack. Unlike the Cosco Rise , our favorite backless booster for travel, this booster seat also doesn’t have a belt-positioning clip, which can help the shoulder belt fit better on a smaller rider.

We liked the Graco RightGuide booster seat because it was small enough to fit inside a carry-on or backpack. But it was recently discontinued.

The Immi Go is a booster car seat with a five-point harness that folds conveniently into its own carrying bag. Due to low sales, it is no longer for sale in the US, but you may see this seat if you travel abroad.

The MiFold backless booster seat (currently unavailable) is small enough to fit into the back pocket of some pants and weighs less than 2 pounds. It works by moving the seat belt down to fit the kid (as opposed to raising the kid to fit the belt, as other boosters do). However, our testers found its hard plastic shell uncomfortable to sit on for long periods of time and said that the seat was complicated and unintuitive to set up. Also, a car seat safety expert we consulted noted that the design of the seat may encourage a child to use bad posture while they’re sitting in it—in an effort to find a more comfortable position, the child may tend to scoot forward, moving the slick-bottomed seat along with them, which could pose a safety concern.

Travel carts

The Torevsior Car Seat Travel Cart is about $25 less than the Britax Travel Cart we recommend, but it’s also less robust—the frame just doesn’t feel as sturdy. The weight limit is also lower than the Britax’s, at 70 pounds versus Britax’s 100 pounds. Like the Britax travel cart, the Torevsior cart has hooks for LATCH straps, to secure a car seat onto the cart so that your child can ride in it as you’re moving through the airport. It’s 6.4 pounds (Britax is 7.6 pounds), and extends up to 46 inches (Britax to 42 inches).

All of the guidelines for car seat care, use, and maintenance in our other car seat guides apply to travel car seats as well.

This guide was edited by Ellen Lee, Amy Miller Kravetz and Kalee Thompson.

Jessica Jermakian, vice president for vehicle research at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety , email exchange , August 1, 2022

Alisa Baer, pediatrician, nationally certified child passenger safety instructor, and co-founder of The Car Seat Lady , phone interview, July 15, 2022 and January 9, 2023

Lani Harrison, CPST, Car Seats for the Littles , email interview , January 28, 2019

Meet your guides

Christina Szalinski

Christina Szalinski is a freelance science writer with a PhD in cell biology.

Rebecca Gale

Further reading

The Best Travel Strollers

by Elise Czajkowski

After testing seven travel strollers on various trips and excursions, we’re confident that the Uppababy Minu V2 is the one to get.

The Best Booster Car Seats

by Rebecca Gale

After researching over 50 booster car seats and testing 13, we’ve concluded that the convenient Chicco KidFit ClearTex Plus is the best overall choice.

Traveling With Little Kids Can Be Tough. The Right Gear Can Help.

by Kerry Davis McGuinness

From compact car seats and cribs to portable blackout shades and white noise machines, the right tools for travel can lead to less fuss—and more fun.

The Best Infant Car Seats

by Christina Szalinski

After extensive research and field testing, we found that the Graco SnugRide SnugFit 35 DLX is the best infant car seat for most families.

The Best Portable Travel Car Seat for 2 Year Old Toddlers

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Home » The Best Portable Travel Car Seat for 2 Year Old Toddlers

Finding the best toddler car seat for travel can be tricky – especially if you plan on flying with it too!

It does however remain to be one of the most important toddler travel gear items that you could ever invest in.

Obviously, the car seat needs to be a lightweight portable car seat for 2-year-old use. And one that you can preferably use in both cars as well as on planes.

Below we share a quick guide on what to look for in the ideal travel car seat for toddlers.

But if you are in a hurry and just want a quick answer, here is our top recommendation.

Click here to see our pick for the best travel car seat for 2-year-old toddlers

What to Look for in a Travel Car Seat for 2-Year-Old Kids

Find below some helpful information on what you need to look for and be aware of when you are trying to find a great car seat for travel.

1. Using a Car Seat Overseas in Cars

Firstly, if you plan on using the car seat in a car overseas, we highly recommend that you do some research to see how they secure their car seats in your destination.

We have found that some countries such as Australia use anchor points in the boot of the car, while other countries such as Italy, use a click-on system combined with an anchor point.

That means that car seats from Australia won’t be ideal for Italian rental cars and it would make more sense to rent one with the car itself.

Car seat rentals can add up super quickly though, especially if you have a longer vacation, so definitely see if your car seat can fit in the cars before hiring one.

2. Using a Car Seat in Planes

For those who wish to use the car seat on a plane, it is important to note that you can only use a portable car seat for airplane travel if it has been FAA certified , making the process even more tricky.

However, there are some great options out there if you know what you are looking for and we will share our top recommendation below.

3. Preferred Criteria to Lookout For

Here are some important criteria to look out for in your travel car seat.

Slim Design

Of course, when flying with a 2-year-old car seat, you will need to meet special criteria.

The seat needs to be slim enough to fit on airplane seats and down the aisle if you wish to use it on a plane.

Plane seats can be anywhere from around 16″ to 22″.

Most are around the 17 or 18″ mark. You can check to see if your plane is listed on the SeatGuru seat chart table  to see what size your seat will be ahead of time.

Lightweight

The best toddler car seat needs to be lightweight (around 15 lb) and easy to carry around, while still providing complete safety and comfort for your child.

Convertible

And lastly, it is recommended that babies up to 2 years old of age stay in a car seat that is rear-facing, but at some point during the next year, you will want to swap the car seat around to be forward-facing, so a convertible car seat is essential.

Suitable for Toddler Weight and Height 

Find a car seat that is suitable for both your toddler’s weight and height, so get off your computer right this second and go and measure and weigh them.

Here are some average weight and height info, but we all know each child is different, so best to get the correct measurements from your own child.

• The average weight for a 2-year-old is around 26 lb and by 3 years of age, they could be around 31 lb.
• The average height for a 2-year-old is around 33.7″ and by 3 years of age, they could be around 37.5″.

With all of the criteria in mind, we have decided on our best car seat for 2-year-old toddlers!

Out of all our toddler car seat reviews, we have found the best travel car seat for 2-year-old travelers.

This product ticks all the right boxes for both flying as well as car-travel with your little one!

The Best Travel Car Seat for 2-Year-Old Travelers

Find below our top recommendation for a small car seat for 2 year old kids that are lightweight, slim, and definitely portable.

We will also share two other car seats below that we can recommend, as well as an alternative to the car seat, so make sure to keep reading.

Safety 1st Guide 65 Convertible Car Seat Review

This is one of the absolute best toddler car seats for travel, and it is our top pick for flying with a 2-year-old.

The Safety 1st Guide 65 convertible car seat is convertible, and it can be used in both rear-facing and forward-facing positions.

It can accommodate children from 5 to 40 lbs in rear-facing mode and from 22 to 65 lbs in forward-facing mode, which makes it perfect for a growing toddler.

Not only are there lots of nifty features in this product, but the price is also very appealing!

This is great because if the car seat is cheap you won’t care as much if it gets banged about during the trip!

When looking at car seats for toddlers to travel with, you need to make sure they are lightweight – this seat definitely is!

The car seat only weighs 14 lbs, which is lovely and light.

Due to its compact size of 27.25 x 18.5 x 20.25″ , this is the ideal seat for smaller cars, as well as airplane travel.

Even though the Guide 65 has such a compact design, it still manages to offer plenty of padding and space for your child.

It also has 5 harness heights, 3 buckle locations, and an adjustable headrest for proper fit.

This is the ideal car seat for 2-year-old children if safety is a concern.

It has side-impact protection built into this infant car seat keeping your little one extra secure.

The headrest is adjustable with multi positions to ensure a snug fit.

The padding is thick and comfortable (and hand-washable too!), completed with anti-rebound boosters. Of course, the buckle is tight and offers great coverage.

In terms of airplane travel, this seat is perfect.

FAA-certified, and slim enough (18″) to fit easily onto airplane seats, traveling with this is a breeze.

The cup holder is removable to provide more space while carrying down the airplane aisle.

This seat is also light enough to easily carry around the airport and is compatible with most travel car seat carts and bags.

You can also read through our review of this car seat here , and compare this car seat with other popular best convertible car seat for travel options.

Click here to purchase the popular Safety 1st Guide 65 Convertible Car Seat

Other Recommended Portable Car Seats for 2 Year Olds

Not sure that the travel toddler car seat above is the one for you? Here are two other travel car seats that we can recommend for toddlers.

1.  Evenflo Sonus Convertible Car Seat

Another great option as a portable travel car seat for 2 year old kids is the Evenflo Sonus seat.

The car seat is convertible, lightweight (11 lb), slim (18″ in width), cheap, and will last you beyond through to age 4 with a max of 40 lb weight limit.

It is another popular seat and sells really well on Amazon. Read our full review of this car seat here .

>>> Click here to grab this toddler travel car seat .

2.  Cosco Apt 50 Convertible Car Seat

And our last recommendation for a car seat for 2 year old on airplane and car use is the Cosco Apt 50 seat.

This seat is convertible, cheap, super lightweight (8lb), and suitable for kids weighing up to 50 lbs.

This seat is wider than the other, measuring at 22″, you need to be aware that you will need to have the armrest up in order to make this seat fit.

Also important to point out that this seat is lighter because it doesn’t have as much cushioning, at 2 years of age with only one nap a day this might not be a big deal, but worth mentioning nonetheless.

>>> Click here to grab this cheap toddler travel car seat .

Alternatives to Using a Car Seat on Airplane for 2-Year-Old Kids

Wondering what alternatives you have to use a car seat on planes for 2-year-old toddlers? We have personally used a harness as well.

The Airplane Safety harness restraint is for children weighing between 22 and 44 lbs (kids 1-year and older).

Our daughter was only 2 years old when we used it for the first time and here are my thoughts.

It was fabulous to not have to drag a heavy car seat through the airport.

The harness is small and super lightweight. It fits into a 6″ stuff sack and only weighs 1 lb. The harness is super easy to install, and it doesn’t interfere with other passengers’ ability to recline.

As a negative, the harness is not really that comfortable for our little one to sleep in. Your toddler will have to sit up straight and only have the slight recline of the seat plane to try and be comfy.

The harness also doesn’t have a strap for between the legs and we found that at 2 our toddler kept slipping down the seat and then we freaked out that the harness might strangle her as it moved up her neck.

We do LOVE the harness now that she is older (almost 3), but I do prefer a car seat for 2 year olds.

>>> C heck prices for the Airplane Safety harness here .

Final Thoughts

Traveling with young kids can be a challenge, and when you add a car seat into the mix you have even more to handle!

However, a car seat is essential for the safety of your little one.

If you plan on flying with a 2-year-old, we would recommend equipping yourself with the best car seats for toddlers: the Safety 1st Guide 65 convertible car seat . We find that this seat just provides the perfect balance between safety, size, and ease of use.

• If you are interested, check out the best car seat for 3-year-old here.
• You can also find loads more helpful information about traveling with a toddler here.

Jolene Ejmont

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Safe and Sound: The 7 Best FAA-Approved Car Seats for Air Travel

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Bassinets on Planes

Car seats on international flights, car seats at the airport, 1. safety 1st jive 2-in-1 convertible car seat, 2. graco snugride 35 lite lx infant car seat, 3. cosco mightyfit 65 dx convertible car seat, 4. nuna pipa lite rx infant car seat, 5. doona infant car seat, 6. wayb pico travel car seat, 7. cares harness, car seat travel accessories, final thoughts.

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Earlier in 2023, the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA called on the FAA to ban lap infants for safety reasons. ¹ The union’s call-to-action shocked many, especially parents of infants and children young enough to fly as a lap child. But with more and more reports of sudden turbulence on planes, flight attendants have first-hand experience with the dangers lap children could face.

Though not a requirement, the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) ² and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) ³ strongly recommend that children fly in an FAA-approved car seat or harness. There are many car seats options for air travel, but finding an FAA-approved car seat isn’t as simple as it seems. Beyond FAA approval, there are other factors to consider, such as price, width, and convenience for your family. There are a few rules when it comes to infant car seat bases and booster seats.

Here’s a complete guide to help you find an FAA-approved car seat for air travel.

FAA-Approved Car Seats and Harnesses

Child restraint systems (CRS) are strongly recommended for children traveling by plane. You can elect to fly with an FAA-approved car seat or what’s called a Child Aviation Restraint System (CARES) device. Both devices are approved for use during taxi, takeoff, landing, and turbulence .

You must purchase your child a seat, no matter their age, if you plan to have them sit in a car seat or CARES device during your flight. An airline will not hold a complimentary seat for your child to sit in their car seat.

The U.S. government makes it easy to determine if a car seat is FAA-approved for air travel. To find out if the car seat you already have is approved, simply look for the label on the back, bottom, or side of your seat that reads, “ This restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft .”

The rules are the same on an airplane and in a car for whether or not your car seat should be rear- or forward-facing depending on your child’s weight.

A CARES device is the only FAA-approved car seat alternative and can be used for children up to 40 inches tall and between 22 and 44 pounds. Children this size can still travel in an FAA-approved car seat. Children that can sit upright and be forward facing can use a CARES device that utilizes the aircraft’s existing seatbelt.

Note that while there are FAA-approved booster seats, they, along with backless child restraint systems, are not allowed during taxi, takeoff, and landing .

If you’re still unsure of if you want to purchase a seat and bring a car seat for your infant when traveling, some airlines may provide an extension for your seat belt. This allows you to secure your lap infant to your body through an extension of your own seatbelt. This is more common on international airlines.

Airlines do not provide car seats for use on their aircraft, but some airlines do provide bassinets for their youngest passengers. Requirements vary, but children must generally be 6 months or younger and weigh less than 22 pounds to travel in a bassinet. Bassinets are free of charge by the airlines that provide them, though you’ll need to be seated in the bulkhead to request a bassinet.

Bassinets are not allowed during taxi, takeoff, landing, and turbulence and are not as safe as when your child is in their own seat in a car seat or CARES system.

Car seats are allowed on international flights, but your car seat may not meet the standards for a car seat at your destination (which could be a problem if you plan to rent a car). In places such as the EU, a parent must be able to remove the harness in a single movement . For this reason, there is no chest clip on EU- or UN-approved car seats. Chest clips aren’t required in the U.S., but they’re still prevalent.

Most airlines do not require you to pay an additional fee for checking a car seat or for bringing a car seat to use in the seat you’ve purchased for your child. Car seats and strollers do not count toward your luggage or carry-on allotment .

If you choose to travel with your car seat but decide to check it at the airport, you may want to consider a car seat bag to protect it from dirt and damage. There are also car seat backpacks that hold the car seat and then allow you to — you guessed it — wear your car seat on your back. This frees up your hands to carry other luggage or push a stroller. We’ll dive in to accessories more later in this article.

Top 7 FAA-Approved Car Seats and Harnesses

There are dozens of car seat options out there, so for the sake of brevity, the FAA-approved car seats on this list are considered best based on a few criteria. Note that backless booster seats are not allowed for use on airplanes during taxi, takeoff, and landing and are therefore not included on this list.

Weight, size, price, overall reviews , and popularity are what make these car seats the best for air travel. When you’re juggling carry-on luggage, a child (or several children), passports, tickets, and more, the last thing you want to worry about is a heavy piece of equipment.

The width of your car seat of choice is also important. It might seem like air travel is getting more and more cramped, but thankfully and factually, the width of airline seats is not shrinking.

Even still, you’ll want to keep in mind that you won’t have as much room in an airplane seat as you do in your car , so size matters. To give you an idea of what to expect, here are the average seat widths for U.S.-based airlines on domestic routes less than 6 hours:

Before purchasing your ticket, check online for the seat pitch of the airline and aircraft that is scheduled to fly your itinerary ( SeatGuru is a great resource). You’ll be able to get an idea of whether or not your car seat will fit properly in the seat before you buy.

And lastly, you should consider the price and overall reviews when making your decision. Each of the car seats on this list is FAA-approved. More expensive won’t necessarily mean safer . And reviews of happy parents and kids should also help make the decision easier.

The Safety 1st June 2-in-1 Convertible Car Seat is our top choice for an FAA-approved car seat . This seat measures just over 18 inches wide and 14.25 pounds in weight. And with an affordable price on Amazon, it’s not a huge investment if you decided to exclusively use this car seat for air travel while having another that stays in your car.

This car seat is convertible, meaning it can grow with your baby . Babies can safely sit in this seat when rear-facing from 5 to 40 pounds, then turn it forward-facing starting at 22 pounds and up to 65 pounds.

Next on the list is an infant car seat that can only be used rear-facing and for babies from 4 to 35 pounds. Just like in your car, an infant car seat must be rear-facing when installed on a plane. The Graco SnugRide is around 15.5 inches wide when installed without the base (which is not FAA-approved) and weighs 7.2 pounds.

Infant car seats come with a base to use in your car, but the base will not fit on an airline seat (nor is it FAA-approved for use). Bases do, however, fit just fine in the overhead compartment, so you won’t have to check this important part of your child’s car seat for use at your destination.

The Cosco MightFit is a convertible car seat that can safely accommodate children from 5 to 40 pounds in rear-facing mode. At 21.5 inches wide, it’s great for airplane seats and can even fit 3 across a row in most cars — music to the ears of parents with 3 or more small children.

This convertible car seat will work for your child until they are 65 pounds, weighs just over 10 pounds, and generally costs less than $100.

For stylish parents ready to shell out a few hundred dollars on an infant car seat , the Nuna PIPA lite rx might be just what you’re looking for. This FAA-approved car seat come in a variety of colors and patterns and has grown in popularity over the last few years.

This infant car seat weighs just under 7 pounds and is for babies weighing between 4 and 32 pounds in a rear-facing position. The seat is 17.5 inches wide.

Infant car seats are great for traveling with an baby because they can go from your car to the plane without much effort or having to switch equipment. Just be sure that whichever infant car seat you choose is FAA-approved.

The Doona Infant Car Seat is the most expensive on this list, but it’s easily the most convenient and offers some of the greatest value . That’s because you can go from car to stroller in 1 move thanks to the car seat’s built-in wheels and handlebar, making it a fantastic option for families on the go. The thousands of 5-star Amazon reviews from happy parents confirm it’s a great buy.

The car seat weighs 17 pounds and is just over 17 inches wide . Keep in mind that an infant car seat must be rear-facing and can only hold children up to 35 pounds before needing a larger option. The Doona Infant Car Seat comes with a base for use in the car that should fit in the airplane’s overhead compartment.

Doona also makes accessories designed to fit its car seat and stroller, such as a rain cover and detachable storage bag.

Though another pricey option at ~$500, including a carrying bag, the WAYB Pico Travel Car Seat is a great investment for families who do a lot of travel and are in the market for convenience.

The WAYB Pico is a forward-facing car seat for kids that weigh 22 to 50 pounds and are between 30 and 45 inches tall. The seat itself folds up neatly and the option above even comes with a carrying bag for the 8-pound car seat to travel in when not in use. And at only 14.5 inches wide , it’s easily the most airline seat-friendly option on this list.

This is a really great option whether you rent cars or use rideshare apps on vacation. While it’s true that some countries don’t require car seats at all, or your taxi driver won’t require a car seat to transport your family, you can have peace of mind knowing that your child can comfortably ride in this compact car seat anywhere you go.

The Child Aviation Restraint System (CARES) Harness is for children who are at least 1 year old and weigh between 22 and 44 pounds . The harness works together with the aircraft’s seatbelt to provide added security to young children.

The harness is extremely lightweight and at just 1 pound, it can even fit into your pocket. In addition to being FAA-approved, the CARES Harness is also approved by air authorities in Canada, the U.K., France, and more . Contact your preferred airline to confirm that this car seat alternative is approved for travel outside of the U.S.

Note that CARES Harnesses are not approved for use in motor vehicles .

When traveling with a sometimes bulky item like a car seat, you might want to consider a few items to make it easier to carry everything.

If you’re checking your car seat, great — you can get a car seat cover that will protect your seat from the elements. The JL Childress Ultimate Backpack comes with straps to allow you to wear your car seat on your back. And if you’re taking your seat with you on the plane, you could tie your car seat to your carry-on suitcase with a car seat travel belt .

When considering a car seat for air travel, you’ll want to look for car seats that fit the width of seats on the aircraft you’ll be flying as well as the type of seat you need. Infant car seats must be rear-facing and are generally only for babies no heavier than about 35 pounds. Convertible car seats grow with your child and can be used rear-facing or forward-facing. However, these seats can be heavier to carry and too large for some airline seats. This guide will come in handy when choosing your child’s car seat for air travel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are all car seats faa-approved.

Most car seats are FAA-approved, but to be sure, look for a sticker that specifically states that your car seat is approved for motor vehicles and aircraft. Backless booster seats, for example, are not FAA-approved to use on airplanes.

How do I know if car seat is FAA-approved?

FAA-approved car seats are clearly labeled on the car seat. To find out if your car seat is FAA-approved, look for a sticker either on the back, bottom, or side of your seat that reads, “This restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft.”

Are Doona car seats FAA-approved?

Yes, the Doona car seat is FAA-approved. The base that the car seat fits into in a car cannot be used on an airplane but can be stowed in the overhead compartment for later use in a car.

Does a 2-year-old need a car seat on a plane?

No, a 2-year-old does not need a car seat on a plane. While it is recommended that all children have their own seats and sit in a car seat while on a plane, this is not a requirement.

What age does a child need a car seat on a plane?

Children are not required to be in a car seat on a plane. However, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) both highly recommend that babies and young children fly in their own seat in a car seat or other child safety harness.

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About Ashley Onadele

Ashley discovered a love for travel in college that’s continued as her family has grown. She loves showing parents how they can take their families on trips using points and has contributed to numerous publications and podcasts.

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The 7 Best Travel Car Seats of 2024

These top picks combine convenience and peace of mind

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Traveling with small children is a great way to make memories. You expose little ones to new experiences and see the world through their eyes. But there are still everyday tasks to worry about on the road, from meal times to naps. Safety is the top priority, of course, and this means ensuring your kids have a good car seat.

If you're flying with small children or frequently switching cars, the thought of lugging around the car seat you have perfectly installed in your vehicle can seem daunting. Luckily, many companies make travel car seats lighter and easier to install on the go. These models also emphasize portability and legroom for your child to grow into.

To find the best choice for you, we looked closely at the installation process, weight ratings, and certification status of some of the most popular options on the market today.

Final Verdict

• What to Look For

Why Trust TripSavvy

Best overall, cosco scenera next convertible car seat.

 Amazon

Easy to carry

Budget friendly

Sizing issues for older childen

The Cosco Scenera Next Convertible Car Seat receives excellent marks for lightness and simplicity. This affordable car seat is a great choice for those who already have a regular car seat but need a second option for traveling. Safety features include side-impact protection built into the headrest and a five-point harness that adjusts to accommodate your growing child. The car seat can be used rear-facing for kiddos 5 to 40 pounds and 19 to 40 inches tall or front-facing for those 22 to 40 pounds or 29 to 43 inches tall. The car seat will last from infancy through toddlerhood.

Use the LATCH connectors or a seat belt to secure the car seat in any rental car or taxi. It's also designed with air travel in mind: It's FAA-approved and lightweight at just 7 pounds. Additionally, its 17.5-inch width makes it a good fit for most airline seats. Other highlights include a removable, machine-washable, and dryer-safe car seat pad and a dishwasher-safe cup holder. Colors range from Moon Mist Grey to Ocean Breeze.

Dimensions: 17.6 x 15.8 x 30.3 inches | Weight Rating: Up to 40 pounds | Installation Type: LATCH

Best Lightweight

Wayb pico travel car seat.

Very compact

Includes a travel bag

Only for toddlers and older

Car seats are a hassle to travel with because they're bulky, heavy, and unwieldy. Luckily, this travel car seat by Wayb won't add much extra weight to your suitcase. Weighing under 8 pounds, the FAA-approved Pico Travel Car Seat is easy to transport everywhere you go. It's front-facing and can hold kids between 22 to 55 pounds or measuring 30 to 45 inches tall. It has an AeroWing aluminum frame that is durable yet lightweight, and the AstroKnit performance mesh lining will keep your kids comfortable throughout their journey. Best of all, this car seat folds into a small enough package to store in overhead bins and comes with a carrying bag that can slip onto your suitcase.

Dimensions: 15 x 11 x 20 inches | Weight Rating: Up to 50 pounds | Installation Type: LATCH or car/airplane seat belt

Most Compact

Safety 1st guide 65 convertible car seat.

Supports a variety of sizes and ages

Sleek design

Machine-washable cover

Complaints about installation

Safety 1st's Guide 65 Convertible Car Seat weighs 14 pounds; it's sturdy enough for everyday use yet light enough for travel. This car seat's frame is so compact that you could place three in the back of your car, making it an excellent option for larger families or smaller European rental cars. Plus, it can accommodate a wide range of weights, making it a budget-friendly pick that can last for years. It's for children who weigh between 5 and 40 pounds to use in a rear-facing position and children 22 to 65 pounds to use in a front-facing position.

Side-impact protection and five harnesses that adjust in the center ensure your child stays secure throughout their ride and help deflect impact away from their head, neck, and spine in the event of an accident. Other safety features include three buckle locations and an adjustable headrest. This car seat also has a LATCH connector system, making it easy to take the seat in and out of the car quickly. Both the cushion and cup holder are removable for easy cleanup. It's available in multiple colors.

Dimensions: 27.3 x 18.5 x 20.3 inches | Weight Rating: Up to 65 pounds | Installation Type: LATCH

Best for Bigger Kids

Graco extend2fit convertible car seat.

Harness storage makes loading and unloading easy

Rigorously crash tested

Several customizable features

Most of the car seats on this list are appropriate for children up to 40 pounds, but the Graco Extend2Fit is rated for up to 65 pounds. It also allows children up to 50 pounds to ride rear-facing and provides an extra 5 inches of legroom. This, plus a headrest that can also be adjusted to 10 different positions, ensures the child is comfortable and secure as they grow.

Two integrated cup holders keep juice bottles within easy reach and help to prevent spills. While there are multiple ways to install this model, it is easy to remember after the first time. Although this seat is designed with car travel in mind , it is FAA-approved. If you're flying economy class, consider calling ahead to check that the restraint is compatible with the airline seat.

Dimensions: 21.5 x 19.5 x 23.5 inches | Weight Rating: Up to 65 pounds | Installation Type: InRight LATCH

Best Booster Combo

Cosco finale dx 2-in-1 booster car seat.

Can fit three across

Easy to clean

Accommodates older children

Durability complaints

If you're shopping for a child aged 12 months or older, the Cosco Finale DX 2-in-1 Booster Car Seat will last from toddlerhood until after they start school. It has a 10-year lifespan and can be used as a forward-facing car seat or as a high-back booster seat. As a car seat, it's appropriate for kids between 30 to 65 pounds and 32 to 49 inches in height. The five-point harness has three different height settings, and the LATCH connectors can be used until your child reaches 50 pounds. In addition, the FAA approves the Cosco Finale for aircraft use in its car seat capacity.

It suits kids between 40 to 100 pounds and 43 to 52 inches in height as a booster seat. Its 17-inch width and 9-pound weight make it ideal for quick transfers between rental cars, taxis, and family cars back home. Other useful features include a removable cup holder and a machine-washable cover in colors that range from gray to pale pink. Lastly, thrifty families will appreciate this seat's affordable price tag.

Dimensions: 18.3 x 19 x 29.8 inches | Weight Rating: Up to 100 pounds | Installation Type: LATCH or seat belt

Most Innovative

Maxi-cosi pria max 3-in-1 convertible car seat.

Easy to buckle

Not the lightest pick

If you don't want to invest in multiple car seats, the Pria Max 3-in-1 Convertible Car Seat is your best bet. It can handle children from birth to 10 years old, making it one of the most versatile options on the market. Plus, the high-end brand makes each stage supremely comfortable for your child and easy for adults to use. It has a spring-assist harness system, so the straps don't get tangled; a one-hand magnetic chest clip; a simple integrated headrest and harness system, so you don't have to rethread as your tot grows; and machine-washable fabric. Keep in mind it comes with a hefty price tag and heavier weight.

Dimensions: 25.3 x 24 x 19.9 inches | Weight Rating: Up to 100 pounds | Installation Type: LATCH or seat belt

Best For Road Trips

Chicco keyfit 35 cleartex infant car seat.

FAA-approved

Eco-friendly textiles

UPF 50+ canopy

Rear-facing only

This car seat is a great option for road trips —or as your primary car seat that occasionally travels—as the stay-in-car base is a breeze to install correctly and the carrier itself clicks into place in one motion. When it's time to stretch your legs and explore simply detach the seat and click it into any Chicco stroller base for a lightning-fast travel combo. The base has an anti-rebound bar for added stability and extra legroom for a rider up to 32 inches tall, and the headrest has five different positions to accommodate an infant's growth.

If your plans include air travel, this is still a solid pick. The best thing about this carrier is that it can be installed in an aircraft or rental vehicle without the base, using the European or American routing method. The base and carrier together weigh 18 pounds but you'll only have to manage 10 pounds if you go baseless. It comes with removable newborn positioners so little ones from 4 pounds are ready to roll.

Dimensions: 28 x 16.5 x 24 inches | Weight Rating: 4 to 35 pounds | Installation Type: LATCH or seat belt

The Cosco Scenera Next Convertible Car Seat is light, FAA-approved, and supports young travelers up to 40 pounds. We love the accessible price point and easy-to-clean cover. If you're shopping for a toddler or older but still want to prioritize portability, go for the Wayb Pico Travel Car Seat .

What to Look For in Travel Car Seats

Installation.

All models on our list use LATCH systems and some can also be installed using the vehicle's seat belt, but you should never use both anchoring methods together. LATCH, also known as Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children, is an alternative way of securing the car seat to the vehicle without using the seat belt. Both the vehicle and the car seat must have LATCH parts to install the seat properly, but most car seats (and vehicles manufactured after 2002) will do so. The car seat has straps that come from the bottom and a tether at the top. These attach to the lower anchors in the car, found in the space between the rear back seat and seat cushion, and to the top anchor, which could be near the rear window or on the car ceiling. When in doubt, check the vehicle manual and seat instructions.

Weight Rating

Like their everyday counterparts, travel car seats include maximum weight ratings that must be adhered to. Additionally, your decision to install the car seat front- or rear-facing is based on the weight and height of your child. Most models can transition from rear- to front-facing as your tot grows, or even from front-facing to a booster seat like the Cosco Finale DX . Consider the kid's age, weight, height, and the manufacturer's notes to choose a travel seat that will give you the longest practical use.

Certification Status

Most importantly, the car seat you buy should meet all safety standards. If you're flying, look for an FAA-approved or similarly aircraft-approved seat.

"All legal car seats must meet the same crash test criteria, or safety standards, and be properly labeled," said Amie Durocher, a CPS Tech at SafeRide4Kids.com. "If you are worried about counterfeit car seats, check the label. Certified seats in the U.S. are required to have very specific language on the labels. Beware if it doesn't mention federal motor vehicle safety standards or FMVSS213 or if it lacks a model name or number or manufacture date."

Yes, you can travel with a car seat on the plane —and it's actually recommended. "We recommend that parents purchase a seat even for children under 2 who could be 'lap babies' and use the FAA-approved child restraint on the airplane," said Durocher. "This makes it safer for the child—and the parent—in case of an incident during takeoff or landing and in case of turbulence during the flight."

The hardest part of traveling with a car seat is figuring out the logistics through the airport. “Infant car seats that click onto a compatible stroller are easy, but travelers might need a car seat cart, luggage strap, or bungee cords to lug a convertible car seat through the airport,” said Michelle Pratt, founder and owner of Safe in the Seat. “Some people prefer to check their stroller with their luggage and use a car seat cart to get their child and seat through the airport easily. Others babywear or let their toddler walk and load up their stroller with all their gear, then gate check the stroller planeside.”

“Rear-facing is the safest way for kids to ride in the car, but it’s not always possible on planes due to the tighter space,” added Pratt. “If the car seat fits rear-facing on the plane, that’s best. But kids who rear-face in the car can forward-face on the plane if they are at least 1 year old and meet their car seat’s forward-facing requirements. Then they seamlessly go back to rear-facing in the car at the destination.”

Author Jordi Lippe-McGraw has researched and written about travel and lifestyle products for nearly a decade. She is also the mom of a 3-year-old. When making this list, she researched dozens of products, looking at key specs like dimensions and weight rating and the number of positive and negative reviews. While researching the best travel car seats, we spoke with Amie Durocher , a CPS Tech at SafeRide4Kids.com, and Michelle Pratt , founder and owner of Safe in the Seat.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. " Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) Restraint System ." Accessed Feb 6th, 2023.

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Best Travel Car Seats of 2024

Traveling with kids? Whether an extended road trip or airplane ride is on the agenda, your little one needs a travel car seat to stay safe on the journey. Travel car seats are a bit different from everyday ones, as they’re typically lighter in weight, easier to move and set up from car to car, and approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to take in the air.

A travel car seat also comes in handy if you find yourself in ride-shares or taxis regularly. Many models don’t require a base, so it’s simple to strap the unit in without spending half the afternoon figuring out which piece goes where. The best travel car seats are so convenient, in fact, that you might stick to them altogether.

Table of Contents

• Best Travel Car Seats
• Things To Consider When Buying
• How We Chose

Chicco KeyFit 35 ClearTex Infant Car Seat  »

Various features for correct installation

Can be installed without a base via European belt routing

Five height positions and six recline positions

Includes base and newborn positioner

Extendable canopy with UPF 50+ sun protection

JPMA certified and GreenGuard Gold Certified

Not super light

Travel bag sold separately

There’s no need to worry about properly installing the Chicco KeyFit 35 ClearTex Infant Car Seat. It comes with multiple features to ensure you do it correctly, including LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) connectors, a SuperCinch force-multiplying tightener, and RideRight bubble level indicators to make sure it’s at the right angle.

This best travel car seat comes with ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) 50+ sun protection. It also comes with a base, but doesn’t require one in order to use. That means you can keep the base in your car for regular use and still be able to install it in other vehicles, thanks to its European belt routing system. It only weighs 10 pounds and is FAA approved, so it’s ready to bring on an aircraft. The Chicco Car Seat Travel Bag , however, is sold separately. But with the five height positions and six recline positions, your baby is bound to be comfortable no matter how you choose to travel. And once you reach your destination, keep the car seat looking fresh by tossing the fabrics in the washing machine.

They KeyFit 35 is certified by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA), meaning it meets minimum government requirements based on safety and use, and GreenGuard Gold Certified, meaning it’s built to contribute to safer, healthier air and has been screened for more than 15,000 volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Cosco Kids Scenera Next Convertible Car Seat  »

Affordable price point

Aircraft certified and TSA-friendly designed

No additional base needed

Side Impact Protection

Machine-washable and dryer-safe seat pad

Installation may be tricky with some seat belts

May fit snugly on older babies

If you’re looking for a secondary car seat, chances are that you’re hoping to keep the cost low. With the Cosco Kids Scenera Next Convertible Car Seat, you’ll save money without losing the factors that make a travel car seat desirable. At just 6.8 pounds, this is one unit you won’t struggle to carry through the airport. Plus, you’ll have peace of mind knowing it has built-in Side Impact Protection.

This model can carry a child up to 40 pounds and 43 inches tall. It has five harness heights and three buckle locations, so it’ll grow with your baby from infancy to toddlerhood. This affordable car seat comes in seven designs with black details. And Cosco Kids makes it easy to clean with its machine-washable and dryer-safe seat pad and dishwasher-safe removable cup holder.

While this may not be the ideal pick for everyday use, the no-base, lightweight design makes it a smart pick for upcoming vacations or times when you need to move it between cars often. Just use the LATCH connectors to safely secure it in place.

Diono Radian 3RXT SafePlus  »

Only 17 inches wide

Seats folds up

FAA approved

Supports kids up to 120 pounds

12 headrest positions

Available in five colors

Heavy at 30.6 pounds

Booster mode can’t be used on a plane

LATCH connectors not available for all weights

At just 17 inches wide, the Diono Radian 3RXT SafePlus comfortably fits in even the most compact cars. If you have a full backseat, three of these models can fit across the backseat. Don’t let its compact size fool you, though. This travel car seat was designed to grow with your child from 4 to 120 pounds, in rear-facing position, forward-facing position, and booster mode.

This unit comes with a detachable rear-facing base, which Diono recommends using, but it can be used without it. The base shouldn’t be used in the forward-facing position or in booster mode. To make sure your little one is happy, the Radian boasts a 12-position headrest that you can adjust with just one hand. The covers are machine washable, and the shell and components on the rest of the car seat can be spot cleaned.

This convertible car seat folds to make travel easier, and its FAA-approved status means it’ll be your airplane companion. Just keep in mind that it can only be taken on a plane in rear-facing and forward-facing positions, not booster mode.

Doona + Car Seat & Stroller  »

Converts from car seat to stroller in seconds

Comes fully assembled

FAA approved and can be pushed down airplane aisle

Available in seven colors

UPF 50+ sun protection and water-repellant canopy

Includes LATCH base, infant insert, head support, and vehicle seat protector

Can only be used up to 35 pounds

The Doona + Car Seat & Stroller can be used with or without the included base, but the real magic comes in when you’re using it in between car and airplane rides. Within a matter of seconds, this innovative model goes from car seat to stroller with the push of a button. Plus, it comes fully assembled, so you can use it the moment it arrives.

The water-repellent canopy provides UPF 50+ sun protection, and comes in seven bold colors, including Racing Green, Flame Red, and Blush Pink. The adjustable handle is a nice touch, too, for a more comfortable gliding experience for adults.

Not only is the Doona approved by the FAA, but at just 17.4 inches wide, it can easily be pushed down an airplane aisle so you can get in your seat easily. Although it’s pricey, the fact that it acts as both a travel car seat and stroller means that it’s a great value. Consider this the all-in-one travel system that makes navigating the world with a baby so much simpler. Megan Wood, Senior Editor at U.S. News 360 Reviews, uses the Doona as her family’s main car seat and loves how easy it makes running errands and travel without having to pack a separate stroller.

Wayb Pico Portable Car Seat  »

Fits in most airplane overheads bins

Only weighs 8 pounds

Installs via LATCH or car or plane seat belt

Folds down to 11.6 inches long by 14.5 inches wide by 18.9 inches tall

Made with space-grade aluminum alloy and Responsible Wool Standard (RWS)-certified wool

On the pricier side

Can’t be used until child is 22 pounds

Make your next flight with your child as easy as possible with the Wayb Pico Portable Car Seat. With a compact design that folds up—so much so that it fits in most airplane overhead bins—this FAA-approved model goes wherever you do. Weighing just 8 pounds, this travel car seat is installed via LATCH connectors or using the car or airplane seat belt.

Unlike the other best travel car seats on our list, the Pico is a forward-facing option that’s designed for children 22 to 50 pounds and 30 to 45 inches tall. Wayb recommends it for ages 2 years old and up. While you can’t use it for a newborn, it’ll be your little one’s travel companion once they grow a bit.

The Pico is available in five colors, and an optional carry bag, vehicle seat protector, and cup holder are sold separately. If you have multiple children, you can snag a few of these and three can fit in a row in the backseat of most vehicles.

Nuna Pipa RX x Pipa Relx Base  »

Five-second installation

Can be used with or without the included base

Removable UPF 50+ canopy

GreenGuard Gold Certified and fire retardant-free materials

Connects with all Nuna strollers

Doesn’t fold

If installing a car seat isn’t something you’re looking forward to, make it easy on yourself with the Nuna Pipa RX. It comes with Pipa Relx Base, but you don’t need it in order to put it to use in a car or on an airplane. If you do decide to use it, however, the base features a stability leg that absorbs impact to prevent motion from transferring to your baby. Plus, installation takes just five seconds.

At 7.6 pounds (not including the canopy or infant insert), it’s one of the lightest options on our list. This travel car seat has a four-position recline, and you don’t have to reinstall it to change the position. It features an infant insert that can be removed when your little one grows. But no matter what age they are, you’ll want to take advantage of the removable, full-coverage UPF 50+ canopy.

This unit has the green light to be part of air travel, and you can feel good knowing that it’s GreenGuard Gold Certified and made with fire retardant-free materials.

Britax Emblem 3-Stage Convertible Car Seat  »

High-strength steel frame and SafeCell technology to absorb crash energy

Accommodates children up to 65 pounds

Aircraft approved

10-position harness and headrest adjust together

Machine-washable and dryer-friendly fabrics

On the heavier side

Any piece of baby gear you put your child in needs to be sturdy and durable. The Britax Emblem 3-Stage Convertible Car Seat was built to last. Its frame is made of high-strength steel, and it features SafeCell technology to absorb crash energy, so you can feel confident that your little one is protected. Its fabric is tough and can be tossed in the washing machine and dryer to refresh it after a spill or accident.

This best travel model is designed to grow with your child, as it accommodates them from 5 pounds all the way up to 65 pounds. As they get bigger, you can adjust the harness and headrest, which move together in 10 different positions.

The Emblem is on the heavier side at just under 20 pounds, but it’s still reasonable enough to bring with you in a ride-share or carry it on for aircraft use. Just utilize its installation features, including LATCH connectors and level indicators, to ensure that it’s correctly set up.

Graco Century Carry On 35 Lightweight Infant Car Seat  »

Only weighs 6.8 pounds

Four-position carry handle

Machine-washable seat pad and canopy

Doesn’t convert to front facing

Graco refers to its Century Carry On 35 Lightweight Infant Car Seat as “The Weightless Wonder,” and it’s clear why. This lightweight car seat only weighs 6.8 pounds. If you count the base, it only goes up to 10.4 pounds. It’s the lightest carrier on our list, so it’ll truly become a travel must-have when vacation is calling.

Approved to take on an airplane, the Graco Century has a carry handle with four adjustable positions, so both you and your baby will be comfortable. It comes with a base that can be installed via LATCH connectors. However, it can be used without one for even quicker installation with a vehicle or airplane seat belt. And if an in-flight spill dirties the seat pad or canopy, both are machine washable.

The Century is designed for babies up to 35 pounds. Even though it won’t go the long haul, it’s a budget-friendly option that does its job well while it can. Plus, it’s compatible with all Century strollers and car seat bases from Graco that can be purchased separately.

The Bottom Line

The market is far from short on car seat options, and that rings true for travel car seats, too. To choose the best one for your child, consider how often you plan to use it. If it’s a secondary car seat that you’re planning to only break out a couple times of year for vacation, then you may want to keep your budget low. But if you’re looking forward to road trips and airplane rides on the regular, better quality and durability may be more important. Once you see how much use you’ll get out of it, you can focus on what features are necessities in your book. Does it need to fold? Does its weight need to stay super low? But if you’re not totally sure what you need in a travel car seat, the Chicco KeyFit 35 ClearTex Infant Car Seat, our Best Overall pick, is FAA approved, weighs just 10 pounds, comes with a UPF 50+ canopy, and comes with a base but doesn’t need it in order to install.

Things To Consider When Buying Travel Car Seats

Safety Certification and Compliance

The good news is that if you’re buying a new travel car seat from a reputable retailer in the United States, you’re probably in good shape.

“All car seats sold in the U.S. must meet stringent safety regulations, following the requirements set by the NHTSA,” says Joe Colella, JPMA director of Child Passenger Safety and 2020 Child Passenger Safety Hall of Fame Inductee. “A car seat that meets these standards is required to be labeled with, ‘This child restraint system conforms to all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards.’”

Don’t forget that car seats also have expiration dates, and when they hit it, toss them, reminds Samora Coles, founder and executive director of The Alex House Project , an organization that supports low-income families and young mothers with their transition to parenthood. While this is one piece of baby gear you’re likely to want to buy new, if you’re using a secondhand model, it’s even more imperative that you check its expiration date and look up if any recalls or malfunctions have been reported.

Size and Weight Suitability

Most—but not all—travel car seats can be used right from birth, so keep in mind when you plan on using it and if your little one is big enough to be safely strapped in. Some options have one mode while others convert to various positions, including rear facing, forward facing, and booster to grow with your child. Each mode has its own weight and height limits, and those numbers vary depending on the brand and model. It’s important to read through and follow those instructions for safety.

“Car seats, when not used according to the manufacturer’s instructions, could be less likely to protect a child from injury,” says Colella. “Car seats are safety devices that are designed and tested to protect children when used as directed by the manufacturer.”

Many travel car seats have an adjustable headrest that you can raise as your child grows. If longevity is important to your buying decision, check to make sure it has this capability so you’re not stuck getting a new one in a year’s time.

Ease of Installation and Compatibility

The first time you put a typical car seat in your vehicle may have taken a while. That kind of time isn’t provided when you’re on the tarmac, so the best travel car seats need to be easy to install. It’s a smart idea to do a test run in a car so you can feel confident in its setup.

Even though many travel car seats come with a base, they’re typically not a must-use on the road. Some models just need a vehicle’s or airplane’s seat belt to safely strap in. Others also offer LATCH connectors that provide a super-secure installation.

“Most travel car seats are compatible with any vehicle, but parents want to research car seat company manuals and reviews from other parents,” says Coles. To assure parents that they did it correctly, some units have colored indicators that give the thumbs up when it’s ready to use or level indicators that confirm it’s not tilted. If you’re concerned about always setting it up and taking it out, look for a model that eases your worries.

Portability for Frequent Travel

Whether you’re hurrying to your gate or rushing to the taxi stand, the last thing you want is a bulky, heavy travel car seat weighing you down. Even if you don’t plan to carry it around while your baby is in it most of the time, you want the unit to be built for portability. That starts with looking at the car seat’s weight. The lowest on this list is 6.8 pounds, and it goes up quite a bit from there. It’s also helpful if the travel car seat folds down — not only so that it fits in the overhead bin on an airplane, but so it’s convenient to carry along with your weekender bag.

“When considering portability factors, parents should consider dual abilities in a travel car seat,” explains Coles. “Seats that can act as strollers can help parents limit necessary items they must carry while traveling.”

Don’t forget to check out the handle, too. Even if it’s lightweight, if the handle doesn’t boast an ergonomic design, parents can feel quite uncomfortable.

Convertibility as the Child Grows

Some travel car seats grow with your child, so they’ll go from rear facing to forward facing to even booster. Each of these stages have their own weight and height limits. However, things can get tricky depending on where you’re traveling to.

“Every U.S. state and territory has a law that defines how a child must be restrained in a vehicle and also requires car seat compliance with the aforementioned safety regulations. State laws vary significantly, and travelers must follow the law for the state in which they are traveling,” says Colella. “For example, 19 states and the District of Columbia require that children ride in rear-facing car seats until at least age 2, while other states use age 1 or do not specify a rear-facing age requirement. Most states also require the use of car booster seats, though the maximum age for those requirements varies from 5 to 10 years old.

How We Chose the Best Travel Car Seats

Nothing is more important than safety when we’re talking about baby gear. U.S. News 360 Reviews kept it at the top of mind when hunting down the best travel car seats, but we also considered price, weight of the carrier, weight and height limits, and installation. To ensure we had the must-know information, we consulted the director of Child Passenger Safety at JPMA and the founder and executive director of an organization that helps young mothers with their transition to parenthood. They provided insight on which key components to understand before landing on the travel car seat for your personal lifestyle. Before adding to cart, think about when and where you’ll use it and what features truly matter to you.

WHY SHOULD YOU TRUST US?

Caitlyn Fitzpatrick , the author of this piece, has been researching, testing, and reviewing products since 2017. This means she has years of experience honing in on what’s important when shopping for a product, including baby gear. Fitzpatrick is a mom herself and has done her own personal deep dive on what makes one car seat better than another. That’s why she concentrated on safety as the top priority when choosing the best travel car seats. Megan Wood , Senior Editor at U.S. News 360 Reviews, focuses on baby gear and recommends the Doona Car Seat + Stroller for traveling families.

“While the FAA does not require the use of car seats on airplanes for children, and those under the age of 2 are allowed to ride on their parents’ lap, this is not considered best practice,” says Colella. “Turbulence can happen with little or no warning, and appropriate car seats provide the safest way for children to travel on airplanes.”

Most travel car seats are certified to use on aircrafts, but be sure to check that it’s the case with your specific model. It can also make a difference which airline you fly and if you’re traveling domestically or internationally. Booster car seats and child restraint harnesses are generally not supposed to be used on an airplane. All of the recommendations on this list are approved for airplane use.

As far as adjustability, many models feature adjustable straps, height/headrest positions, and recline positions.

The best travel car seats are typically easy to install. After all, they’re expected to be moved between vehicles or on and off airplanes regularly. Some of these models come with a base, but don’t necessarily require it for the unit to be secured. Many travel car seats come with LATCH connectors. “This system is compatible with vehicles with anchors located at the lower and upper tether of their seats where the car seat can be secured,” explains Coles. “Since all vehicles must have seat belts, all car seats have a space to secure car seats using the seat belt.”

Two of the most important factors when shopping for the best travel car seat are installation and portability. You want it to be easy to secure on an airplane and in a ride-share, and simple to carry it with you wherever your adventures lead.

“Additionally, factors such as the age, weight, height, and overall condition of the seat should be considered as they can help determine the overall value of the car seat, especially for those with limited resources and busy lifestyles,” says Coles.

About Our Team

Caitlyn Fitzpatrick

Contributor

Senior Editor

U.S. News 360 Reviews takes an unbiased approach to our recommendations. When you use our links to buy products, we may earn a commission but that in no way affects our editorial independence.

Posted on Last updated: March 29, 2024 Categories Kids Travel Gear , Travel Car Seat

By: Author Kate

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When it comes to traveling with toddlers, safety is the number one priority. In this review, we’ll breakdown the best toddler travel car seats popular for 2 year olds. We will review the most lightweight portable car seats for travel with your active toddlers. These are the best travel car seats for 2 year olds.

Travel Car Seats for Two Year Olds

According to the CDC, the average 2 year old girl is 27 lbs and the average 2 year old boy is 28 lbs. We’ve compiled a list of carseats which can be used appropriately at this average weight. Many of the seats selected can also be used for extended rear-facing!

There are quite a few lightweight travel car seats on the market that are perfect for 2 year olds. We’ve included a selection of seats from every price range in this review. The good news is that most of the lightweight car seats out there are also quite inexpensive!

Here is our list of the best car seats for 2 year olds:

Cosco Scenera Next Car Seat

• An extra-comfortable ride that lasts for years: Rear-facing 5-40 pounds and Forward-facing 22-65 pounds
• Fits 3 across in the back seat of most vehicles
• Gives parent in the front seat more leg room
• Side Impact Protection

The Cosco Scenera Next is our top choice of car seat for a 2 year old toddler. We love that this car seat is very affordable, extremely lightweight and super portable. We take this car seat on all of our vacations and have not been disappointed. The Cosco Scenera next is FAA approved for use on aircraft and we LOVE to bring this car seat ON the plane.

Evenflo Tribute LX

• MEET THE HIGHLY REVIEWED CAR SEAT WITH UNBEATABLE VALUE: This fan- favorite offers a budget-friendly choice without sacrificing safety, comfort or ease
• TRAVEL SLEEK AND LIGHT: Compact design offers an ideal fit for smaller vehicles, while lightweight design makes this a popular car seat for family travel
• GROW WITH IT: With use from 5 to 40 lb (19 to 40 in. tall), offers rear-facing and forward- facing modes, 5-point harness, plus 4-position shoulder harness
• SECURE YOUR CHILD WITH EASE: Upfront harness adjust makes it easy to get an accurate, snug fit for your child as they grow
• KEEP DRINKS AND SNACKS WITHIN REACH: Removable cup holder is dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning

The Evenflo Tribute LX is another great option for portable car seats for toddlers. This car seat is also at an amazing price! I love that at this price you could buy this car seat exclusively for travel. This means you don’t have to worry about uninstalling your seats at home, which in my opinion, is a huge plus! I find the design of the Evenflo Tribute a bit bulkier than the Cosco Scenera Next, which is why it is our second choice car seat for toddlers.

Evenflo Sonus Convertible Car Seat

• Extended Use: 65 lb. weight rating offers extended harness use for your little one
• Up-Front Harness Adjust: Central, front access to harness adjuster provides an easy way to adjust child’s harness for an accurate, snug fit
• 6 Shoulder Harness Positions: provide a proper fit for your growing child
• Dual Cup Holders: Two built-in cup holders keep drinks and snacks within reach – allows driver to stay focused on the road
• Machine-Washable: Durable fabrics – remove for easy cleaning

The Evenflo Sonus Convertible Car Seat is another great option. This lightweight toddler car seat is rated for up to 50lbs forward facing making it stand out from the options above. For a larger toddler, this or the Cosco Apt 50 are likely your best bet. The Evenflo Sonus convertible car seat is also FAA approved for airline travel. The biggest complaint about this car seat is that it is much bulkier and heavier than the Cosco Scenera Next above.

Cosco Apt 50 Convertible Car Seat

• With two modes of use, this LATCH-equipped Cosco Kids car seat accommodates infants from 5 pounds up to toddlers weighing 40 pounds in rear-facing mode and kids up to 40 pounds in forward-facing mode.
• The five-point harness adjusts easily from the front of the seat and features six heights and three buckle locations.
• In both the rear-facing and forward-facing modes, built-in side-impact protection keeps your little one extra secure.
• Easily remove the machine-washable and dryer-safe car seat pad to clean.

The Cosco Apt 50 Convertible Car Seat is Cosco’s car seat which is rated for kids up to 50lbs (forward-facing). Having the rating to 50lbs is definitely a plus for larger toddlers that don’t have the height or stature to safely use a booster seat. This lightweight seat is also rated for airline use. Weighing in at 11 lbs, this seat is similar in size to the Evenflo Sonus above.

Diono Radian 3R

• 10 Years One Car Seat – from Birth to Booster (5 – 120 lb) it’s all you will need. Grows with your child, ultimate protection on every road trip. 4 modes in 1 seat!
• Rear Facing for Longer – lovingly engineered to keep your child rear-facing up to 50 lb.
• Fits 3-Across – our famous slim-fit design with zero compromises to safety, space, or comfort.
• Mechanically engineered from reinforced automotive grade high-strength steel, our unique core shell shields and protects your child.
• High-quality ComfortPlus Memory Foam, always included.

The Diono Radian 3R is the heaviest car seat on our list. Weighing in at 28lbs, I don’t consider this to be a lightweight seat. The reason I added this car seat in is because this is an excellent car seat if you want to use the same car seat for travel and every day use. One of the really nice features of the Diono is the slim profile. You can easily fit 3 across in most cars. This car seat is also super practical for long term use. It converts to a booster and is rated up to 100lbs in booster mode. The Diono Radian is rated up to 65lbs making it the carseat with the highest harnessed weight rating on our list. I own this car seat as my every day seat and LOVE its versatility. Personally I don’t travel with it though because of the weight.

What is the best car seat for a 2 year old ?

Here are 10 reasons why we love the Cosco Scenera Next for travel with 2 year olds.

• It is super lightweight. Carrying it through the airport and security is a breeze!
• Certified for airplane use. We use this seat ON the plane and it has been a game changer for us! Our little toddler stays content to play in his seat when he is strapped in.
• Cheap enough to replace. One of the biggest hesitations in traveling with our expensive car seats was that I didn’t want to risk damage while traveling. This car seat is so affordable, I feel better about replacing it in the worst-case scenario (has not happened to us yet!)
• Meets or exceeds safety standards. This car seat has been tested to meet US car seat safety standards.
• Extended rear-facing. You can use this car seat in the rear-facing position until 40 lbs or 40 inches.
• Narrow profile. When traveling we often rent a car and are short on space. We traveled with 4 adults and 2 kids in a 7 seater SUV and this car seat didn’t get in the way. Two adults could still sit comfortably on either side in the 2nd row of seats.
• Fits in my stroller basket. I travel with my Uppababy Vista stroller and love that this car seat fits in the bottom of the stroller. I barely notice that I’m traveling with a big car seat at the airport because its loaded nicely in the basket.
• Easy to install. We always recommend that you practice installing the car seat once or twice before travel. Comfort installing the car seat is one of the most important factors in picking a travel car seat. I find the Cosco Scenera super easy to install, even quickly in a Taxi.
• Easy to clean. The Cosco Scenera Next has removable machine-washable seat pad for easy cleaning.
• Lots of cute designs . Of course, safety and functionality are number one, but this car seat also has a bunch of awesome designs available!

Car Seat Tips with 2 Year Olds

Use the car seat on the plane.

Our kids travel really well in cars, and they are used to the idea of being in a car seat. When we started strapping our son into a car seat on a plane, he never thought twice about it. All of the sudden we went from a toddler who wanted to say hello to every single person on the plane, escape the aisles and be anywhere BUT his seat to a child who happily played and slept in his car seat for 5 HOURS STRAIGHT! I highly recommend that if your child is over the age of 2, you bring the car seat ON the plane! If under 2, you’ll have to weigh the cost of the extra seat. It is safer to have kids in their own seat, and personally if I could do it again I would have just paid for the extra seat.

Bring your own car seat instead of renting

Renting a car seat typically costs $10/day. For a 7 day trip, this adds up to more than the price of the majority of the car seats we listed above. Not only will bringing a car seat along be cheaper, you will also be assured of your child’s safety. I have heard horror stories of car rental companies having seats which don’t work correctly or are incorrectly rated for the child’s size. We haven’t had such experience in the times that we have rented, but generally if we are going to be renting a car, or using a car frequently, we will bring our own seats.

Bring your favorite car seat accessories

We always bring along some car seat accessories when we travel. I really like the head supports to prevent kids from slouching when they fall asleep in the car seat. We use ours for long road trips and our kids find them really comfy. We also bring a travel tray , especially for road trips with the kids, so the kids can be entertained by activity books on the go.

• 【Soft Material】：made of cotton，it’s breathable so your child doesn’t sweat，comfortable filling properties and increase comfort.
• 【Safety Support】：Make people feel comfortable and reliable，Appropriate to the child’s head support, relieves neck strain for sleepy toddlers riding along for nap time car rides and lengthy road trips，When your child wake up, please click the buckle to release.
• 【Wide Use】：Suitable for any baby seats, car seats, Pram strollers, etc, even adult can use it. The best car seat neck relief and head support band.
• 【Adjustable Strap】：The strap made of elastic rubber belt, has enough support and stretchy，keep your child’s heads from rides and lengthy road trips，adjustable plastic buckle.
• 【Choice and Guarantee】： They are sweet gifts for babies and Moms. We also offer a great customer service, three year warranty， If you are not 100% completely satisfied, simply let us know and you will be offered a FULL refund.

• 💕 SPILL-PROOF | FOOD, DRINK, DROOL … Clean up the mess in one swipe of the waterproof, BPA free surface (instead of all over the floor). Your carpets & lower back will thank you.
• 💕 ANTI-SAG WALLS THICK ZIPPER … Many kids travel trays tend to sag & dump items onto the floor. The 3” tall reinforced walls are sturdy still flexible enough for safety in case of accidents.
• 💕 CONTAINED PORTABLE ENTERTAINMENT … Engage toddlers with all their favorite toy without creating a massive clean up job. They get all of the access without you needing to constantly pick things up.
• 💕 UNFOLD & GO | CAR, HIGHCHAIR, ANYWHERE … The patented easy-fold design fits toddler car seats, airplane seats, high chairs, & keeps babies busy in any travel situation, and less “ARE WE THERE YET”.
• 💕 STRONG BUT SAFE CONSTRUCTION … Children’s Safety is the # 1 priority & close behind is the sturdiness of the lap tray. Sturdy enough to support a tablet & toys but soft enough for safety.

Have a car seat specifically for travel

As I mentioned above, we have a car seat that we use specifically for travel. Our travel seat was inexpensive compared to our day to day seats so I’m not going to be as upset or worried if there is damage to it when we fly, it will be easy to replace. I also like that I don’t have to uninstall and re-install the seats, potentially risking installing them incorrectly on return.

Gate check your car seat

If you aren’t planning to bring your car seat onto the plane, I would highly recommend gate checking it, rather than checking it with the oversized luggage. Although it’s more convenient to check it in oversized, I always worry about the handling of the seats and potential damage this way.

In terms of a travel car seat bag, I haven’t used one yet. I have seen some car seat bags which I do like. One time I used a stroller travel bag at the airport and then I watched the flight personnel drag the bag across the asphalt all the way to the plane. When we arrived there was damage to my stroller and a large hole in the bag. Since this time I figure that the bags might give the carriers a false sense that the thing inside is protected.

Final Thoughts

Hopefully this guide was helpful for choosing the perfect travel car seat for your two year old. If you have another favorite portable car seat, drop me a line in the comments below with your suggestion!

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The 8 Best Travel Car Seats of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

We rounded up the best travel-friendly car seats to keep your kids safe wherever you go.

In This Article

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• Our top picks
• Others We Liked

Our Testing Process

• Tips for Buying

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• Why Trust T+L

We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more .

Travel + Leisure / Cassie Aulie

Traveling with children can be a gratifying and enriching experience, but family vacations are also challenging because of the extra items you need to pack (and carry), including a car seat, which adds quite a lot of bulk to your luggage. That's why we set out to find the most compact, travel-friendly, lightweight, and easy-to-install car seats on the market right now.

We combed through results and feedback from three different real-world car seat tests in which we tested a total of 57 car seats, looking specifically for portable, travel-friendly options. During testing, we looked at several factors like design, features, ease of cleaning, value, and — most importantly — safety. Below, we rounded up eight of the best travel car seats to consider for your next family getaway.

Best Overall

Graco contender slim convertible car seat.

It is an excellent fit for compact cars.

The chest buckle is large and bulky.

Lugging around a heavy car seat in addition to your luggage is not pleasant, but this car seat will make your life so much easier. Not only is it the lightest car seat on our list, but it is also the slimmest, making it an excellent choice for both compact and larger vehicles (or for larger families who need to fit more than one car seat in the backseat). Installation took us about 15 minutes, and then it was pretty intuitive to use. It has several inserts that help you customize it for your child, including an infant insert with extra padding, eight headrest heights, and two reclining positions.

It also has a removable cup for snacks and drinks that you can place on either side of the seat. And while we only had to spot-clean it, if you need to wash the entire cover, you can take it off and throw it in the washing machine. The fabric is breathable and has held up exceptionally well after over a month of use.

The Details: Weighs 16 pounds; holds 65 pounds | 24.75 x 18.9 x 21.5 inches | Rear and forward modes | Belt- and latch-compatible

Travel + Leisure

Best Rotating

Evenflo gold revolve360 convertible car seat.

It’s easy to install and rotates 360 degrees.

It would be nice if it had a built-in sunshade.

Four minutes: that's exactly how much time it took us to install this Evenflo car seat after watching the instructional video. It was an incredibly easy-to-follow process, and we found the audible click and level indicator super helpful. But the most impressive feature of this convertible car seat is its ability to rotate 360 degrees, which is a complete game changer for parents (seriously, our team member who tested this car seat said it spoiled them into "never using a car seat that doesn't have this feature"). This means that the seat can transform into rear- or forward-facing in seconds without the need to uninstall the entire seat and base. Just pull one of the two levers on either side and start rotating it. This feature also makes it super convenient to place your child in the seat and buckle them because you no longer have to bend at an awkward angle. 

Comfort is also a standout feature, and the upholstery fabric of this car seat felt soft, breathable, and very high-quality (cleaning it is also a breeze). The overall padding of the car seat and the generous recline positions also contribute to a more comfortable trip. And finally, while this is not the lightest car seat at 40.6 pounds, its design is quite compact, and even if you install it in a smaller vehicle, you will be left with a good amount of legroom and recline space for the seat in front. 

Shoppers should also note that the Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance (OVSC) is currently evaluating this car seat .

The Details: Weighs 40.6 pounds; holds up to 120 pounds | 25.9 x 19.8 x 21 inches | Rear, forward, and booster modes | Belt- and latch-compatible

Best for Compact Cars

Diono radian 3rxt convertible car seat.

 Amazon

The seat folds, making it easy to carry.

The initial installation takes more time than some of the other options on this list.

When renting a large car is not always possible, this Diono car seat is the way to go. First, it's much easier to carry (and store) because of its slim, foldable design. And while the installation took us a while compared to others on this list (about 45 minutes to an hour), we found it to be a perfect match for a smaller vehicle similar to a Fiat 500. 

Second, buckling and unbuckling is super intuitive, and the straps never get tangled up. And even after a year of constant use, the fabric is in excellent condition with few signs of wear and tear other than some light fading. You can also remove the cover and machine wash it, another very convenient feature. 

Third, we love that even though the seat is about 17 inches wide, it features additional padding and side protection without compromising comfort. Lastly, this car seat is also FAA-approved, so feel free to fly with it.

The Details: Weights 30.6 pounds; holds up to 120 pounds | 17 x 28.5 x 16 inches | Rear, forward, and booster modes | Latch

Best With Stroller

Doona car seat and stroller.

The wheels fold up and attach to the seat.

There is no storage space, and you need to purchase the base separately. 

There is a reason the Doona car seat is a best-seller and an all-time parent favorite. It's all in the smart design that combines a car seat and a stroller in one compact product. Unlike other models, the wheels of this car seat collapse under it so you can latch it into its base (sold separately). Basically, you can bid adieu to lugging a stroller and a car seat. This is the ultimate travel-friendly stroller/car seat combo for infants and toddlers up to 35 pounds. We recommend you take your time to read the folding and unfolding instructions before you use it. It took us some time to figure out what each button was for and how to attach it to the base correctly, but it was smooth sailing once we got the hang of it.

The Doona is upholstered in a cooling bamboo fabric for added comfort, and it has a canopy for shade. The car seat also performed exceptionally well in our maneuverability category during testing — it was a breeze pushing it even with one hand. The brake was easy to engage and disengage, so this is the perfect option for a city vacation or a road trip that requires you to quickly transport your baby in and out of the car.

The Details: Weights 16.5 pounds; holds up to 35 pounds | 26 x 17.4 x 22.4 inches (folded) | Rear-facing | Latch and belt

Most Durable

Graco extend2fit 3-in-1 car seat.

This option proved to be most durable after we used it for more than two years.

The shoulder straps are difficult to adjust.

We tested this car seat for over two years, and it has held up exceptionally well against wear and tear, spills, and everything a toddler can (literally) throw at it. Graco makes some of the sturdiest, most durable car seats by focusing on quality and safety, and this is exactly why we included the Extend2Fit model in this list.

The car seat is easy to install (it took us about 20 minutes), and even if you're setting it up in a smaller vehicle, it leaves plenty of legroom and recline space. We appreciated the two deep cup holders that are perfect for holding sippy cups and snacks (and bonus points for how easy they are to clean). This car seat has a unique feature that accommodates growing kids — a retractable panel provides five extra inches of legroom, making it safer for taller infants and toddlers to ride in a rear-facing position.

The Details: Weighs 19 pounds; holds up to 65 pounds | 24.5 x 20.75 x 19 inches | Rear and forward modes | Latch

Most Comfortable

Safety 1st grow and go lx convertible car seat.

You can use the footrest in both rear- and forward-facing positions, making it comfortable no matter which way kids sit.

 It is a bit tricky to install.

Looking for a car seat to keep your little one comfortable during long road trips? This one performed well in almost all categories thanks to its easy use, design, durability, and overall value. Its size is generous (so it may not be a great fit for compact vehicles) and provides ample space for kids to grow into without compromising on padding and safety.

Safety 1st updated this model with a footrest that really impressed us because you can use it in rear-facing, forward-facing, and booster positions so your child's feet will not dangle for hours. We also love that the removable cups are dishwasher-safe and come with convenient lids to prevent messes (but in any case, the cover is removable and machine-washable). The car seat we tested still looks new, and the fabric seems spill-resistant.

The Details: Weighs 20 pounds; holds up to 100 pounds | 23.5 x 19 x 25 inches | Rear, forward, and booster modes | Latch and belt

Best for Multiple Age Groups

Graco 3-in-1 rotating car seat.

It is super easy to install and accommodates various age groups.

This rotating car seat works better in larger cars and may be a tight squeeze in smaller vehicles.

Your child should be all set for years to come with Graco's convertible car seat, which accommodates children up to 100 pounds. It rotates in a rear-facing position so you can get your baby in and out of it more easily. As for securing your child, the buckles are extremely easy to use, and the straps stay in sync — meaning that if you loosen one, the other will loosen automatically, too. And with four reclining positions, your child will be comfortable whether they are taking a nap, eating a snack, or playing.

We tested this car seat in a mid-size SUV, and it left plenty of reclining space for the seat in front. However, if you install it in a smaller vehicle, it might be a much tighter situation. And speaking of the installation, it only took us 17 minutes to read the instructions, watch the YouTube video, and install it. Finally, this seat grows with your child as it can accommodate kids weighing from four to 100 pounds. 

The Details: Weighs 30 pounds; holds up to 100 pounds | 19.1 x 24.4 x 20.8 inches | Rear, forward, and booster modes | Latch

Easiest Installation

Britax emblem 3-stage convertible car seat.

This no-fuss car seat is quick to install, and it only weighs 19 pounds.

There are no extra features such as cup holders or sensors.

If you're in the market for a no-fuss, easy-to-use car seat, this is it. Installation is standard (although you will still have to read the instructions to do it), and once you've practiced a couple of times, you will be able to install it pretty fast in any vehicle. We tested it in a sedan and an SUV, and it fits well in both (although the SUV was a slightly better fit). Thanks to the excellent design, using it is a breeze. Buckling your child, adjusting the harness, and reclining is intuitive and stress-free, which is exactly what you need when you're on the road. And while it may not have many bells and whistles, it provides excellent padding, and the fabric is soft and pillowy without feeling scratchy. 

The Details: Weighs 19.5 pounds; holds up to 65 pounds | 21 x 18.3 x 26 inches | Rear and forward modes | Latch

Other Car Seats We Liked

We tested so many car seats that we think there are a few more worth mentioning, although we didn't love them quite as much as the others on our main list.

Baby Jogger City Sights Travel System: This stroller and car seat combo is a good option for parents looking for a two-in-one. The stroller is easy to maneuver and collapses into a pretty compact and travel-friendly size. The car seat has a weight capacity of 35 pounds, so it can only be used in a rear-facing position.

Nuna Rava Convertible Car Seat : This rear-facing car seat can accommodate children up to 50 pounds, which is impressive (however, keep in mind that the seat itself is almost 28 pounds). The straps and the buckles are very easy to use and don't get in the way when you place your child in and out of the seat.

We used results from three real-world tests in which we reviewed convertible car seats, rotating convertible car seats, and car seat stroller combos to find our favorite travel-friendly options. We sorted through feedback from 57 car seats we tested, looking at weight, size, and performance in multiple categories, including ease of installation, ease of use, design, features, safety, value, and more.

We also consulted Ben Hoffman, MD, a pediatrician and nationally recognized expert in child injury prevention and education, to ensure the safety of the products we chose for real-life tests. In addition, every car seat meets the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) standards.

Tips for Buying a Travel Car Seat

Look for portability.

Portability is one of the major factors differentiating a standard car seat from one you'll mostly use while traveling. Consider its weight and size: opt for lighter and more compact car seats that you can carry without compromising safety features. Some car seats fold or feature collapsible stroller wheels — all features that come in handy when you're on the road or in transit. 

Consider ease of installation

When you're just getting off a long-haul flight and need to get in the car and drive for hours, the last thing you want is to waste time installing a car seat. That's why your travel car seat should be simple to install and use. Check if the vehicle you are setting it up in accommodates a latch or belt car seat, and make sure that yours can comfortably fit in the back seat of whatever size car you may be renting. Then, read through the installation instructions or watch the video, and make sure you don't need another adult to help you safely install it. 

Pay attention to your child's weight and height

Every car seat has strict weight and height limits to ensure your child's safety. Some might also have age restrictions, but they are not as important as children are different and grow at their own pace.Make sure you weigh and measure your child before purchasing a travel car seat. The good thing about convertible car seats is that you can use them in both rear- and forward-facing positions as your child grows so you don't have to invest in a new car seat every few years.

Yes, but you must first ensure the car seat is FAA-approved (it will say so on the car seat). In fact, while using a car seat on a plane is not required, the FAA recommends it to ensure your little one's safety in case of turbulence, for example. If traveling on an international airline outside the U.S., check with that airline's policies, size limitations, and guidelines before your trip, as some international airlines do not allow car seats on board. Usually, using a booster seat during a flight is not an issue with airlines, and it doesn't count toward your carry-on luggage allowance.

The short answer is yes. Airlines will usually check in a car seat, stroller, or a child restraint system for free (one per child). However, the tricky part is that if you're not traveling with a child, you might have to pay to check in the car seat, so in this case, it's always best to contact the airline before your trip.

If your car seat is oversized, you will be asked to check it in at the airport, so it's essential to place it in a protective bag that will offer some sort of protection while in the cargo hold of the plane. Even if you plan on using your car seat during the flight, a travel bag can help make carrying it through the airport easier. Some car seats come with travel bags that have handles. If your car seat doesn't come with one, you can likely purchase it from the maker's website or find one that accommodates the size of your car seat on Amazon. Certain bags even feature wheels so you can roll the car seat through the airport.

Most car rental companies offer car seats as an add-on for a fee, so if you don't want to invest in one or carry it with you, you can always rent one. U.S. car rental companies must offer car seats that comply with state and federal laws. However, if you're traveling internationally, the risk is that you don't know if the car seat has been stored and cleaned properly or if it’s ever been in an accident. It also means you have to install it yourself, which can be challenging and time-consuming if you're unfamiliar with that particular brand or car seat model. 

If you're traveling with children, here are some other useful products that can help make your trip run smoothly.

Maxi-cosi Swift Lightweight Portable Play Yard : This was our absolute favorite travel crib out of 19 that we tested , with a detachable mattress and bassinet feature that you can use to adjust the crib as your newborn grows. The crib is easy set up and take down for maximum portability, and it proved to be sturdy and durable in the long run.

Cybex Coya Compact Lightweight Travel Stroller : After testing strollers in our lab , this was our favorite travel stroller for flying. We found that it folds up quickly and fits easily into airplane overhead bins. It also has removable seat padding for cleaning and a canopy that comes down for sun and rain protection.

Jetkids by Stokke BedBox Kid's Ride-on Suitcase : We are expert luggage testers here at Travel + Leisure , and this ride-on suitcase was one of our favorites for kids . The ride-on design means that a kid can sit on top of the suitcase as their parents pull them using the adjustable strap. Parents can also use the strap to carry the lightweight suitcase like a shoulder bag.

Why Trust Travel + Leisure

For this article, Dobrina Zhekova worked with T+L editors to round up the safest and most comfortable travel car seats for kids of all ages from real-world tests. As a mother, she has also tested several car seats in the past five years and has extensive knowledge of airline policies and regulations about traveling with car seats. She also referenced customer reviews and expert recommendations in this article.

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9 Best Car Seats and Boosters for Air Travel

By: Author Leslie Harvey

Posted on Published: December 22, 2022

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I’ve been on over 200 flights with my kids, and there is one question I still always have trouble answering before a flight: what car seat or booster should I bring? My travel priority the last decade plus has always been to transport my kids safely, but I know doing do can sometimes be a major pain! Car seats and boosters are awkward, bulky, and add a lot of logistics to air travel.

I’ve written a pretty comprehensive guide to common questions about car seats and air travel . But sometimes you can solve some of those problems simply by investing in the right travel gear in the first place. Quite a few new car seat and booster products have come onto the market the last few years. Products are more compact and designs are more innovative. Taking a car seat on a plane and being able to use it at your destination grows ever easier. It’s about time!

So, what are all these must-have innovative products that are revolutionizing family air travel? If you are planning to fly with a baby, toddler, preschooler or older child, this guide has car seat and booster recommendations for every age and stage. Note that not all of the products in this guide can actually be used on planes. Instead, they are child restraint devices for use in getting to and from the airport in cars that are also small enough to bring with you successfully during air travel. So check the specs carefully to make sure you buy the product that makes sense for your travel needs.

(Trips With Tykes uses affiliate links which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase through links in this post. See our full disclosure policy linked in the menu at the bottom of this site.)

Best Car Seats for Air Travel for Infants

Chicco keyfit 30.

For infants, the classic bucket-style car seat is ideal for airplanes. The Chicco Keyfit 30 is a reasonably priced option that also works for everyday use, so there’s no need to buy a special additional product for travel. It can be used on the plane if you’ve purchased a seat for your baby. It’s also lightweight enough to carry down an airplane aisle, even with a baby in it. Then it can be used in a car at your destination without the base, by installing it with a regular seat belt.

We used a Chicco Keyfit 30 on planes with both of our kids when they were babies very successfully. We combined it with a lightweight stroller frame that we gate checked so we could easily push the baby in the car seat through the airport.

Important Specs for the Chicco Keyfit 30

• Recommended Age: newborn, infant (use weight/height limits as guide)
• Weight Limits: 4-30 pounds
• Height Limits: Up to 30 inches tall
• Dimensions of Seat: 27.5″ x 17″ x 24″
• Weight to Carry: 9.6 pounds
• FAA approved for use on a plane?: Yes
• Fits in an overhead bin of a plane?: No

The Doona came onto the market just a bit too late for me to use it with my younger child, but it has been pretty game-changing for parents of babies on the go. The Doona is the first product of its kind that is both infant car seat and stroller in one. The stroller wheels pop back and fold up under the seat, turning the product into a bucket style infant car seat. This product works so well for travelers who are going to be in and out of cars and then who need a stroller when they arrive at their destination. It can also be used on the plane, so it has a lot of versatility.

With a list price of $550, the Doona is an expensive product. As a result, it probably only makes sense for frequent travelers or for city-dwellers who would use it a lot for taking ridesharing services or taxis.

Important Specs for the Doona

• Recommended Age: 0-18 months
• Weight Limits: 4-35 pounds
• Height Limits: Up to 32 inches tall
• Dimensions of Seat: 28.5 x 18.3 x 16 folded (40 x 17.3 x 32.3 inches unfolded in stroller mode)
• Weight to Carry: 16.5 pounds

Best Car Seats for Air Travel for Toddlers & Preschoolers

Cosco scenera next.

Taking a convertible car seat on a plane is one of my least favorite things about flying with kids. They are big and bulky but oh-so-necessary. So going compact and light is essential. One of the most lightweight convertible car seats on the market is the Cosco Scenera NEXT . Luckily, it’s also one of the cheapest on the market too (it’s sold only at Walmart and costs about $49-59 depending on color).

The Cosco Scenera NEXT was my go to airplane car seat during the toddler and preschooler travel years (see my full Cosco Scenera NEXT review ). We flew with this car seat with our son after he graduated from the infant bucket seat until he was ready to graduate to a booster. It’s lightweight enough to balance on top of a roller bag or carry down an airplane aisle. We also loved that if and when we did choose to check it (instead of using it on board), it was cheap enough that we could afford to replace it if an airline damaged it. And when we weren’t traveling, the seat worked well as an extra for grandma’s car or anywhere else we needed one!

The Cosco Scenera NEXT is approved for infant use as well, so you can definitely start using it earlier. We found though that using the bucket-style seat with a stroller frame was easier than dragging a convertible car seat and a separate stroller through airports for a baby.

Important Specs for the Cosco Scenera NEXT

• Recommended Age: 0- 4 or 5 years old (use height & weight limits)
• Weight Limits: 5-40 pounds
• Height Limits:  Up to 19-40 inches tall rear-facing, 29-43 inches forward-facing
• Dimensions of Seat: 17.63 x 15.75 x 30.25 in
• Weight to Carry: 10.4 pounds

WAYB Pico Car Seat

For anyone who hates the convertible car seat balancing act, there is a new option on the market for 2-5 year olds as of just a few years ago. The WAYB Pico is a car seat with a 5 point harness that folds up small enough to put in a backpack and fit in an airplane overhead bin. It also can be used on the airplane! I have a complete review of the WAYB Pico in all its MacGyver awesomeness. We tested it out with our son on a trip to Hawaii and were totally sold.

To be sure, the Pico is expensive, retailing at $380. Like the Doona, it’s probably a seat that works only for a speciality audience. But if you can justify the price, the product solves a lot of usual the air travel car seat dilemmas with toddler and preschoolers.

Important Specs for the WAYB Pico

• Recommended Age: 2-5 years old
• Weight Limits: 22-50 pounds
• Height Limits: 30-45 inches tall
• Dimensions of Seat: 11.6″ x 14.5″ x 18.9″ in
• Weight to Carry: 8 pounds
• Fits in an overhead bin of a plane?: Yes

Ride Safer Travel Vest

One child restraint option that a lot of travelers don’t know about isn’t a car seat or a booster at all – it’s a vest! The Ride Safer Travel Vest is approved for kids ages 3 and up and retails for $169. The vest helps position a regular shoulder and lap belt in a proper spot that is safe for smaller passengers. In addition to being good for travel, this compact option also helps squeeze three kids across in back seats that would not accommodate multiple car seats.

This vest comes in three sizes. But since most families probably won’t purchase multiple items just for travel given price tag, I’d probably recommend the small which is good until about 60 pounds and 47 inches tall (around age 6). This would cover most younger kids until they get to be of an age where a less expensive travel booster (see below) would be a viable and safe alternative.

One word of warning – please, please be careful in purchasing vest-like child restraint devices on sites like Amazon. There are a number of fakes sold from overseas that are definitely not approved and not safe. If the price looks too good to be true, it’s probably is. Be sure to only purchase products from the companies “Safe Ride 4 Kids” or “Safe Traffic System Inc.”

Important Specs for the Ride Safer Travel Vest

• Recommended Age: 3-6 years old (small), 5-11 years old (large), 9-14 years old (XL)
• Weight Limits: 30-60 pounds (small), 50-80 pounds (large), 80-110 pounds (XL)
• Height Limits: 35-47 inches tall (small), 45-57 inches tall (large), 55-64 inches tall (XL)
• Weight to Carry: 1.5 pounds
• FAA approved for use on a plane?: No
• Fits in an overhead bin of a plane?:  Yes

Best Boosters for Air Travel for Older Kids

The BubbleBum is an inflatable booster that is just ideal for air travel. Small enough to fit in a backpack or purse when deflated, parents can just throw this in a carry on bag and have a safe child restraint upon landing at their destination. Retailing at $34.99, it’s also a very affordable.

The BubbleBum is the travel product our family has used most, hands down (see my complete BubbleBum review ). We’ve had one since my daughter reached booster age and height. She used until her 10th birthday on all of our travels (when she finally hit 4’9” and could now go without!). My son has used the newer design of this very same product regularly when we rent cars or take Uber/Lyft at our air travel destinations.

Important Specs for the BubbleBum

• Recommended Age: 4-11 years old
• Weight Limits: 40-100 pounds
• Height Limits: 40-57 inches tall
• Dimensions of Seat: 12 x 4 x 12.25 in
• Weight to Carry: 1.2 pounds

UberBoost Inflatable Booster Car Seat from Hiccapop

Very similar to the BubbleBum is the UberBoost Inflatable Booster from Hiccapop . It’s a tad more expensive than the BubbleBum (usually about $2 more) and serves exactly the same function so most families won’t need both.

So what are the key differences to keep in mind when selecting between these similar products? The UberBoost has two features that some families may prefer: a wider seat that may be comfier for older or larger kids and a non-skid bottom that can help prevent slipping. But it also relies on a pretty bulky shoulder clip to position the shoulder belt that a lot of kids find uncomfortable.

Important Specs for the Hiccapop UberBoost

• Weight Limits: 40-110 pounds
• Height Limits: not listed
• Dimensions of Seat: 14.5 x 4.5 x 14.5 in
• Weight to Carry: 1.3 pounds

The biggest competitor to the inflatable boosters like BubbleBum and Hiccapop UberBoost for a super-compact booster option is the mifold . Basically the size and depth of a clutch purse, this child restraint is as small as it gets for squeezing into a bag or backpack. Instead of lifting a child up (like a traditional booster), it positions the seat belt down into the proper place.

My kids found the mifold a bit uncomfortable for sitting for long periods of time because it doesn’t have much padding. We also struggled to get the right belt fit a bit more than compared to the BubbleBum. But I know many families prefer it because it’s even more compact. The mifold can be a smart choice for shorter rides when space is really at a premium.

Important Specs for the mifold

• Recommended Age: 4-12 years old
• Dimensions of Seat: 1 x 13 x 7 in
• Weight to Carry: 1.7 pounds

hifold Highback Booster

Many parents prefer the safety and security of a highback booster seat, even for older kids. But highback boosters are mostly just as big and bulky as convertible car seats. No longer! The makers of mifold came out with a folding highback booster seat a couple of years ago that is ideal for taking on a plane – the hifold .

A lot of traveling kids technically big enough for a lowback booster aren’t really ready for one, especially those in the 4-6 year old age ranges. The hifold bridges this gap, offering a highback option small enough to fit in backpack or also in an airplane overhead bin.

We tested out the hifold recently with my sister’s 4 year old and it worked really well. When folded, it’s really not that much larger than a typical hard shell low back booster. It does have a bit of a learning curve with all the moving pieces so take time to learn its quirks before a trip by using at home first.

Important Specs for the hifold

• Recommended Age: 4 years old & up (subject to weight/height max)
• Weight Limits: 33-100 pounds
• Height Limits: 36-59 inches tall
• Dimensions of Seat: 9.8 x 13.5 x. 13.5 in folded, 29.7 x 15.6 x 18.9 in unfolded
• Weight to Carry:  10 pounds, 2 ounces

Have you used any of these car seats or boosters in travels with your kids? Share your favorites in the comments!

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Wednesday 10th of May 2023

Hi! How old is your child in the picture with the Cosco Scenera NEXT? I'm trying to decide whether to use my Chicco Keyfit 30 or grab a cheap upgrade for my upcoming flight. My daughter will be about 1 year old.

Leslie Harvey

Friday 12th of May 2023

He was a few months shy of turning 2 in that Costco Scenera NEXT photo. About 1 you could probably go either way between the bucket style seat or the convertible.

The Best FAA-Approved Car Seats for Travel

What Are the Best FAA-Approved Car Seats for Travel?

We can all agree that the safest place for a baby on a plane is in their own seat, in their own FAA-approved car seat.

We can also all agree that lugging a bulky, heavy car seat through an airport is about the last thing anyone wants to do.

Are you purchasing a car seat with the knowledge that you’ll be doing a fair amount of travel? Or maybe you’re deciding to make the investment in a second car seat specifically for travel?

Here are your best travel car seat choices based on weight, “lug-a-bility,” and affordability…

The Best FAA-Approved Car Seats for Travel:

Cosco Mighty Fit 65

The Cosco Scenera was our travel car seat of choice, due to its light weight (just over 10lbs), low price (around $50 in the US–more in Canada, natch), and ease of installation. Let us mourn the Scenera but updated equivalent is the Mighty Fit 65 . It is a bit more expensive and two pounds heavier. You can rear face to 40lbs and it’s good for forward-facing kids up to 65lbs. Although, depending on how big your kids are, they may grow out of it height-wise a little sooner.

The Costo Mighty Fit 65 ‘s  limit for height rear-facing is 40″, and 49″ for forward-facing children. My son outgrew the Scenera when he was three, but he lives at the top of the percentile charts. The Mighty Fit 65 ‘s limits are considerably higher.

Safety 1st Jive 2-in-1

This car seat is a little heavier at 14 pounds, and a little more expensive at around $100. But, its height and weight limits are much higher than the Scenera ’s (and most other car seats, for that matter). So, you just might get a bit more use out of it. The Safety 1st Jive 2-in1 ‘s rear-facing limits are 36″ for height and 40lbs for weight, and forward facing your child can remain harnessed until 52″ and 65lbs. Plus it comes in some super cute Disney styles 🙂

Graco Admiral 65/Contender 65

The Graco Admiral 65 and Graco Contender 65 are not exactly the same convertible car seats. But they are very similar. The Admiral is few pounds heavier and a little bit more expensive than the Contender , but both are lightweight and affordable choices for an FAA-approved car seat for travel. Both have a built-in cup holder that’s super handy, and both have harnesses and headrests that adjust with a handle without needing to re-thread the straps.

Both seats are good for rear-facing from 5-40lbs and forward-facing from 22-65lbs.

Britax Emblem Convertible Car Seat

At just under 20lbs, this is the heaviest car seat recommended here. But, for a Britax, that’s pretty light. It retails for around $250 USD. The Britax Emblem fits most traditional airline seats, though rear-facing might be a bit of a struggle. You could very likely use this seat until it expires (seven years)… It’s good for rear-facing for 5-40 lbs, or until there is only 1″ of shell above child’s head, and forward-facing 20-65 lbs, and a height of 49″ or less. And Britax has their own line of travel accessories, including a padded car seat travel bag , and a car seat travel cart .

CARES Harness

I’m not trying to trick you. This is not technically a car seat. But the CARES Harness is the only FAA-approved car seat alternative that’s available on the market and is a great option if you won’t need a car seat at your destination. This is really for older toddlers and preschoolers, since it’s designed for children one year and older weighing 22 – 44 pounds and up to 40″ tall.

Please note that other baby travel vests and seat belt extenders are NOT approved by the FAA. They must be removed from baby during take-off and landing (but ideally not used at all).

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51 Responses to The Best FAA-Approved Car Seats for Travel

Pinning! My family is out of the car seat phase, but I’m sure not all my followers are, so I want to share these tips.

Great information! I love the CARES!

Had no idea. Really useful information. Thank you! Slightly surprised something from Costco made the list, but if it’s easy to install as you say, it sounds like a winner.

Cosco not Costco. I have made that mistake before. It’s a different company.

I have been researching cares it does not say it’s FAA approved. Where did you get that information ? I really want one but don’t want to invest in it to be told I can’t use it on an airplane.

Hi Jill! You can see that the FAA approves the CARES harness here on the FAA’s page: http://www.faa.gov/passengers/fly_children/

FAA does approve the CARES but the passenger in the seat behind you might not! The upper strap goes around the back of the seat and the passenger behind you will have issues with their tray table. They can tell the flight crew to have it removed and it will be removed. Personal experience and also know of others that have had same experience after I did. Wish I knew before I spent the money for something I didn’t even get to use.

That is the first I’ve heard of that happening, Kathy. I’m so sorry to hear it.

Thoughts on the Diono Radian RXT for flying?

It’s really heavy!

Is there a car seat that is FAA approved that has a stroller snap in function? Or are the FAA approved seats only a car seat?

The infant bucket seats are mostly all FAA-approved and they generally snap into a stroller frame. But I have yet to learn of a convertible car seat that does that.

I just flew with a coccoro and a radian. They both hooked nicely into my Joovy Caboose. The coccoro on the front with the car seat adapter and the radian faced forward on the platform seat and I strapped it on to the handle. Baby rode in the coccoro and toddler on my back. Luggage sat on the radian. Both seats installed wonderfully on frontier. Only trouble was getting an attendant to help carry the radian onboard…. They quickly helped getting off because they wanted to leave….

Awesome–thank you, Kristin! So glad it worked out!

Would you please be able to help me? My family and I are traveling with our 2 year old toddler on an international 13 hour flight and have purchased a ticket for her. Upon asking the airline if there were any restrictions in regards to a toddler convertible car seat, they stated that the measurements for the car seat must be 40cm by 40 cm in order to fit the airline seat. After extensive researching I have not been able to find an FAA approved convertible car seat with those dimensions. I am really afraid of traveling on such a long flight of over 6000 miles without my tiny 2 year old being strapped in a car seat. can you please help recommending one per the airlines guidelines? Airline is Turkish Airlines if that’s of any help. Thanks in advance

Hi Rosal! The Combi Coccoro is the narrowest FAA-approved convertible car seat available. It’s pretty expensive and the lower height/weight limits means kids will outgrow it pretty fast, but if your two-year-old is pretty teeny you may be ok. Failing that, have you considered a CARES harness ? If you’ll have a car seat where you’re going, or if you’re cool gate-checking your car seat, you won’t have to worry about installing the seat and your toddler will be safer than just with the seat belt. Good luck!

DIONO RXT is narrower, only 15” 🙂 Yes it is heavy but due to its steel frame, which makes it probably the safest one… Also it folds flat (none of other seats do that) and you can carry it like a backpack.

I can highly recommend the Britax Marathon Convertible G4.1 – perhaps not initially obvious to most due to its weight and carrying it through the airport for example isnt easy along with everything else but the seat is confortable and secure. If you dont mind checking your seat, this is the best in my opinion 🙂

Hi I’m a mom of two girls. And this will be our first time flying with kids. I’ve heard that strollers are free. What about two car seats that I personally own? Would I need to gate check them? Or since my oldest is 2.5 years would she need to ride in the car seat? I’m so confused and nervous.

Thanks, Rebecca

Hi Rebecca! Your 2.5yr old can certainly ride in her car seat on the plane, and she may prefer it. Your baby might as well, but you would have to purchase him or her a seat. Depending on the airline, they will likely allow you to gate check the strollers and the car seats. I recommend using a padded carry-on bag to protect the car seats. Try not to stress! You will do great.

Do you have to pay for a car seat as a carry on?

Usually not — when you’re flying with a baby they typically allow you to bring your seat on board to install so long as you’ve purchased a seat for baby. If not, if it fits in normal carry on that can work or else gate check it.

Hello Corinne, thank you for this information, it is very useful. I usually fly from Canada to Argentina overnight…. yes, it is a very long flight and first class is way out of my league. The longest flight is about 10 hours. I am looking for a car seat that is also comfortable to sleep in for so many hours… Also, do you know if at some point I can take my 2 year old daughter off the carseat and lay her down on the airplane seat to give her some comfort? Will the airline take the car seat away for me??? Any tips for such long flight are very welcome! Thank you

Hi Maria! That is quite the flight! I’m not certain if one car seat is more comfortable than another for sleeping. But if you bring it on-board, you will have to use it for her because there is nowhere to store them on-board. With that said, a 2-year-old is not required to be in a car seat in an airplane seat, so another option may be the CARES Harness that will keep her safely buckled minus the car seat. Installing a seat rear-facing usually offers the best recline for sleep, so if she’s still within the rear-facing limit of the seat, that could be a way to keep her the most comfortable. Good luck!

Hi Corinne, I was wondering if there’s a list of approved car seat companies somewhere on the internet? I have the Graco Forever car seat and would like to know if that is airline approved. Understanding the restraints are very much similar to the buckle on his car seat, the restrains will still be new to my son therefore I am almost certain my 2 year old son would be terrified by it.

Hi Shirley! If your car seat is FAA approved, it will have a round sticker on it that says so. The Graco 4Ever is approved for airline use in harness mode by the FAA. Keep in mind this is a larger, heavier seat that will be a bit awkward to travel with!

I just wonder these are convertible car seats? Your tips and guides are cool. Thanks for your reviews about these great car seats for babies.

If purchasing a seat in Canada is there any way to ensure it has the right FAA approvals without actually seeing the seat. Web sites that ship in Canada or are .ca sites only list the CMVSS 213 standard and nothing else from what I have been able to find. Is there any store or site that you know routinely sells seats that have the FAA stickers on them?

Hi Randy! The sticker should say “Approved for Airplane Use.” It’s usually round and is on all seats purchased in Canada and the US. If you discover that your seat does not have the sticker, you can contact the manufacturer and they should be able to mail it to you. Good luck!

Yes our seat does have the round sticker for CMVSS 213 which is the Canadian standard. But airlines outside of Canada do not recognize this standard and seem to default to FAA rules as they are the dominant agency in flying. Your idea of phoning the manufacturer was great. But I just got off the phone with Graco and they will not send out stickers.

It appears to me that the only way to get an FAA approved seat is to go to the US and buy one. It is a real catch 22.

With so many people flying internationally we cannot be the only ones concerned with this problem. I airlines are also not flexible as I have also talked with them.

Having your seat rejected is a big gamble when you are looking at 14 hours of flying time.

Wow–thanks for following up. Short of buying a car seat in the U.S. perhaps traveling with your seat’s user manual might help. But you’re right, it would be awful to board and have your seat refused.

Hiya.. I’m planned my air trip with my 8 months old girl..booked seat for her ..what kind of car seat should I buy.. Plz any suggestion ..really in need

Hi Kalai! Will this be your 2nd car seat used mostly for travel?

Nice and informative article. This article helps me. Keep doing this.

You really provided great information to us. This is really helpful. Thanks for sharing.

Are any of the Recaro seats approved? I’m pretty sure I have the Performance Sport version, but I’m not sure. I am dreading my 12-hr 1-layover flight back home, especially with a car seat. Seeing my mom after 2 years and trying to surprise her.

Can you check to see if it has a sticker and/or if you still have the manual?

Very informative post. It helped me a lot for choosing a car seat for my baby. Thanks for sharing.

Hi! We recently ordered and received a Combi Coccoro, which you mention is FAA approved for use on aircraft. However, I do not see the “FAA Approved” sticker anywhere on it. This is particularly important. On a recent trip with our daughter, we brought along our UppaBaby Mesa car seat and were not allowed to bring it aboard, until we could show the flight attendant this sticker on the bottom of it. Can you let me know where to find this important sticker? Thanks!!!

Hi Doug! The sticker should be located underneath, on the inside leg of the seat. It should be a square white label with black and red writing that reads “Approved for vehicle and aircraft use.” Please get in touch with Combi asap if it isn’t there.

Hello, this is such a nice and informative blog. It will help me with choosing a car seat for my baby. Thanks for sharing.

Hi, I was just wondering why no one has mentioned using a Peg Perego 4/35 Primo Viaggio infant car seat on board an airplane, as it has a visible approved aircraft sticker on the back of it and meets European standards. As well as being the safest car seat in Canada. Cheers

Hi Anna! We loved the Primo Viaggio but the reason I didn’t include it is because it is pretty heavy and expensive compared to other seats. I may do another post specifically on infant carrier seats, so thanks for the idea!

Hello! I will be traveling wit my 2 children for the first time this March and have a few questions. My 2 year old is 30 lbs and about 30 or so inches and I was leaning towards the CARES infant harness restraint. My 5 years old is 42lbs and about 46″, do you think he still needs something or would I be okay with having him just sit in the airline seat? Thank you so much!

Hi Amber, Your 5yo will be just fine in the airline seat. Depending on your trip, you may want to consider a booster for getting around once you’re there.

Hello. Traveling with my 3 yr old. He’s 43” y’all and 42lbs. I currently have him in a click tight britax but want to purchase a harness booster for air travel and then transition him in my car. Which harness booster do you recommend? Also, am I allowed to insist he’s in a booster on flight? I’m not comfortable flying without. I purchased a seat for him and even upgraded to larger seats with more leg room in hopes he can travel in the booster. Other than the evenflo chase which I read horrible reviews for, are there any other seats you’d recommend? Thanks!

Hi Michelle, You can’t use booster seats on flights. They must be harnessed car seats. You can try the CARES harness but you will still need a car seat/booster at your destination and then the RideSafer travel vest at your destination. Or you can purchase a lighter weight car seat. There are decent reviews for the Evenflo Maestro or Graco Tranzitions. Good luck!

Just got off the phone with British Airways. They informed me regardless of the seat used, infants and toddlers must be in the parents lap during take-off and landing. In between they can be in whatever seat you like, FAA approved or not doesn’t matter as its parents’ responsibility. Is this what other people have experienced? We have a maxi cosi pebble plus for our 5month old, and were wondering about lightweight options for our 17th month old. We are renting a car so will need a seat rather than a plain harness

Hi Rudi! That must be an airline-specific policy for British Airways. I don’t think that has been the experience of anyone I’ve spoken with when using a car seat on a plane but I guess you have to take their word for it. We loved the Cosco Scenera NEXT for travel with older babies. Very lightweight and very affordable.

So I will be traveling in March with a 6 month old a two year old and 9 year old. The flight is only 4 hours but I want to know what would be a good car seat for my 6 month old I am not too stressed about the other two kids because they are both tall for their age and will have a seat to their self. I will be flying Frontier and I know that most of their planes are small. What would be a good option for me.

Hi Amber! Your six-month-old will likely still be in their infant carrier car seat. Most of those can be installed without the base . The baby will be too small to face forward in a convertible seat and anything in that range installed rear-facing will be just as big, if not bigger, than an infant seat. If you purchase the seat for your baby on the flight, the airline must accommodate your car seat in the way in which it should be installed. Print out these FAA guidelines for back up. “ A CRS must be installed in a forward-facing aircraft seat, in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions. This includes placing the CRS in the appropriate forward- or aft-facing direction as indicated on the label for the size of the child. ” Good luck!

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7 best car seats to take on the plane for babies and toddlers

Looking for a lightweight car seat to take on the plane? After in-depth research and parent-led testing, these top cabin-approved car seats have all met airline safety regulations and dimensions for in-flight use, ensuring peace of mind and a safe, comfortable journey for your baby.

By Tammy Jacks | Last updated Feb 15, 2024

Considering whether to take your child’s car seat on the plane to your next holiday destination ? According to Mumsnetters on our forums , a travel-friendly car seat not only helps to keep your child safe and comfy during a flight – allowing them to sleep for longer if they’ve outgrown the option of having a bassinet - but it also comes in handy for taxi and car rides on the other side of your journey.

Although there are plenty of good-quality baby and toddler car seats on the market (which we've rigorously tried and tested with real parents), not every car seat is approved for use on the plane and would need to be checked in as hold baggage along with your buggy and other heavier travel items if not. 

While airlines may differ slightly in their policies, the general principle is that cabin-approved car seats must align with the airline's criteria for size, weight and safety. For in-flight use, a car seat needs approval from either the TÜV , a widely recognised safety certification in Europe, or the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the US. Look for the 'Certified for use in aircraft' sticker on car seats with TÜV or FAA approval.

How we tested the best car seats for the plane

We began our research by gathering insights from Mumsnet parents on our forums, which has around 8 million monthly users. We then cross-checked our favourite car seat selections against TÜV and FAA lists to ensure they met their rigorous airline standards and were suitable for plane use amongst the most popular airlines (although it’s always a good idea to discuss your chosen car seat with your airline before you fly).

We spent hours analysing numerou s consumer reviews from retail sites and consulted industry experts, including The UK Civil Aviation Regulations (CAA), and Which? to narrow down our list.

Our recommended car seats have undergone independent safety testing and received top safety scores from the German automobile club ADAC . Where possible, we also tested the car seats out themselves with our trusted team of parent testers.

Here are the best car seats to take on a plane.

Best car seats to take on the plane at a glance

Best overall car seat for plane: Maxi Cosi Pebble Pro

Best budget car seat for plane: Joie Tilt

Best convertible car seat for plane: Doona + Infant Car Seat

Best lie-flat car seat for plane: Britax Römer Baby-Safe iSense

Best easy carry car seat for plane: Cybex Aton M i-Size

Best lightweight car seat for plane: Bugaboo Turtle Air

Best car seat for long-haul flights: Maxi-Cosi Rock

Maxi-Cosi Pebble Pro

TÜV-certified for all airlines

Good value for money

Plenty of padding for a comfortable ride

Easily adjustable harness and headrest

Reaches the maximum width limit for an aircraft  

Small integrated sun canopy

Price: £118 | Age range: Birth to 75cm or approx. 12kg | i-Size: Yes | Rear-facing: Yes | Weight: 4.5kg | Dimensions: 67 x 44 x 56cm | Installation: ISOFIX and three-point harness | Travel system-compatible? Yes | ADAC test: 1.7 Good | Warranty: 2 years | Certification: TÜV-approved

Tested by Mumsnet: Read our Maxi-Cosi Pebble review

With safety, reliability and comfort as its top priorities, you can’t go wrong with the Maxi-Cosi Pebble Pro when travelling with a baby. This rear-facing, Group 0+ car seat is specifically designed for newborns, which means it can be used from birth to 12kg or until your child is 75cm in length. Approved for use on aircraft with TÜV certification, the car seat may be a little wide for some airline seats at 44cm, but its 4.5kg weight makes it simple enough to carry around at the airport and in and out of the plane.

Compliant with the latest i-Size regulations , this car seat offers superior head and neck protection for your child, which is good news in the event of turbulence, and the impact-absorbing side wings on this seat make it supremely comfortable for babies. You’ll find soft padding all around this seat and in comparison to the Maxi-Cosi Pebble Plus , the one-piece baby-hugg inlay has been upgraded to a two-piece inlay to allow for adjustments and a better overall fit. We found this inlay to be really soft and snug, ideal for keeping your little one warm when the air ventilation is on.  

The Maxi-Cosi Pebble Pro can be secured to the aeroplane seat using the aircraft’s safety belt which gets threaded through the seat’s belt path on the front of the car seat. The three-point harness has a simple stay-open feature to make it easy to get your child in and out of the car seat, and we like the one-touch buckle system which opens and closes with ease. 

Adjusting the harness straps for height or length is also straightforward as you can make them as snug as you like by simply pressing two buttons at the back of the seat which will allow you to move the straps up and down or forwards to lengthen without having to rethread them.

Once you reach your destination, it’s a breeze to fit this car seat in a car or taxi, with or without the ISOFIX base (which is sold separately, unfortunately doubling the price of this car seat). We love the display panel which gives installation feedback both audibly and visibly thanks to a clear green light system. The extra-large sun canopy easily tucks away behind the seat when not in use (on the plane for instance) thus giving you more space.

The Pebble Plus is compatible with Maxi-Cosi and Quinny buggies and can also be used with other brands such as Bugaboo and iCandy, provided you have the appropriate car seat adapters for those pushchairs . When your child reaches the height and weight limit for the Pebble Plus, the Maxi-Cosi Pearl 360 i-Size should be used for children up to the age of four .

Read next: The best travel systems to buy right now

Has comfortable, machine-washable padding

Grows with your child

Quite heavy

No ISOFIX base

Price: £105 | Age range: Birth to four years or around 18kg | i-Size: Yes | Rear-facing: Yes | Weight: 6.1kg | Dimensions: 49.2 x 42 x 61.6cm | Installation: Three-point seatbelt | Travel system-compatible? Yes | ADAC test: Not tested | Warranty: 2 years | Certification: Meets the ECE R44/04 regulation

While the Joie Tilt doesn’t have an official TÜV certification like the Joie i-Gemm 3 , for instance, it does comply with most airline’s width and weight regulations and meets the European Safety Regulation for car seats (ECE R44/04). However, it’s a good idea to check with your airline before you take this car seat on board.

The Joie Tilt, which falls within the Group 0+/1 car seat category, is made to last, covering your child from birth to four years old (or 105cm) without the need for an upgrade at the one-year mark. 

It’s a good choice for the plane too thanks to the plush and cosy seat cushion inserts (which are also machine-washable - a must for messy eaters), the i-Size side impact cushioning, the height adjustable shoulder harness and the secure five-point harness system which has cushion covers over the harness and buckle to avoid any friction.  

It can be used both rear-facing and forward-facing in a car, although airlines stipulate that car seats must be used in a forward-facing position when secured on the plane. It has four recline positions - one rear facing and three forward facing - although the tilting movement might be a little restricted on the plane as the car seat should be secured tightly to the aeroplane seat. 

One downside is that this car seat is not ISOFIX compatible, so it can only be secured with a seatbelt in the car.

Read next: The best baby carriers, wraps and slings

Doona + Infant Car Seat Nitro

Both TÜV- and FFA-approved

Dual use - converts to a stroller

Wheels fold compactly

Convenient for travel

Heavy for a car seat

Low to the ground as a stroller due to short handlebar

Price: £339 | Age range: Birth to three years or around 13kg | i-Size: Yes | Rear-facing: Yes, rear-facing only | Weight: 7.5kg | Dimensions: 60 x 44 x 66cm | Installation: ISOFIX or three-point seatbelt | Travel system-compatible? Yes - it converts into a stroller | ADAC test: 2.4 Good | Warranty: 2 years | Certification: TÜV- and FAA-approved

Designed by medical and engineering experts, the Doona + Infant Car Seat and Stroller stands out as one of the safest travel systems on the market. The car seat holds both TÜV and FAA certification, making it a safe and versatile two-in-one travel solution. However, at 44cm wide, it does reach the maximum width limit for the plane, so may not be suitable for all airlines - see our guide below for car seat rules and criteria per airline.

Featuring both an ISOFIX base for the car (sold separately) and a secure belt path, it ensures a safe and comfortable ride for your child. With a simple, adjustable headrest, Velcro shoulder pads, breathable fabric, loads of comfy padding, a secure five-point harness, a near lie-flat position and unique rocking function, the Doona+ prioritises your baby's comfort. 

Another bonus is the three different handlebar positions (forwards, upright and backwards) so it’s out of the way on the plane but ensures manoeuvrability in tight spaces when it converts to a lightweight stroller .

Once you’re ready to leave the aircraft, the quick-release wheels and one-motion operation effortlessly transition it from car seat to stroller in seconds, saving you time in the busy airport and on your journey. On the flip side, the wheels fold and tuck into the back of the seat instantly when you’re ready to install it. Simply push in the red safety lock button while pulling up the grey stroller wheel release.

While pricey, the Doona Padded Travel Bag , sold as a separate accessory, makes it even easier to transport the car seat as the bag doubles up as a backpack and takes minutes to assemble. This car seat is also available in seven bright colours, although you may need to shop around as the Nitro Black is the most popular colour.

Read next: The best 360 spin car seats

Britax Römer Baby-Safe iSense

Lightweight – under 5kg

Reclines to a near lie-flat position

Wider carry handle

Comes with automatic safety lights

Buckle can be fiddly

ISOFIX base is sold separately for use in the car

Price: £199 | Age range: Birth to 15 months | i-Size: Yes | Rear-facing: Yes | Weight: 4.8kg | Dimensions: 58 x 44 x 67cm | Installation: ISOFIX or three-point seatbelt | Travel system-compatible? Yes | ADAC test: 2.1 Good | Warranty: 2 years | Certification: TÜV-approved

Tested by Mumsnet: Read our full Britax Römer Baby-Safe iSense review

Having won the  Red Dot Design Award in 2021, the Britax Römer Baby-Safe iSense is not only packed with plenty of i-Size-compliant safety features such as enhanced side impact protection, an adjustable headrest and five-point harness, it’s also lightweight and durable with a tall seat back, accommodating little ones up to 83cm.  

This car seat is TÜV-approved and offers a distinctive feature – the ability to recline to a near lie-flat position, allowing your baby to lie flatter than in other car seats, promoting the safest, most ergonomic sleeping position, although it may not recline to a full flat position on the plane. The seat's position adjusts automatically as you change the headrest, controlled by a lever at the back of the seat. It also comes with a plush newborn insert that makes the seat safe and comfy with a nifty crotch pad to minimise the risk of buckle friction.

Another unique feature of the Britax Romer Baby-Safe iSense is its automatic safety lights that activate in low-light conditions - a handy feature on the plane, especially on long-haul flights. The two interior ambient lights have three different light settings that can be manually adjusted, allowing you to always see your little one. Additionally, the exterior installation lights help you to install the car seat in the car either day or night without hassle.  

Other features we like are the handy swivel function when used on the ISOFIX base (sold separately or as part of a bundle ), the machine-washable seat cover that can be taken off without removing the harness, and the extra-large UP50+ sun canopy that folds down and tucks away easily when not in use.

Although the Baby-Safe i-Size car seat is travel system-compatible and works with any Britax Römer pushchair, it's only compatible with a few other brands including Joolz, Babyzen, Bugaboo and Silver Cross, to name a few.

Read next: The best lie-flat car seats for newborns

Cybex Aton M-i-Size

Has an easy-carry handle

Lightweight (just over 4kg)

Suitable for taller babies up to 87cm

Has extra wide Y-harness straps

Base and travel system adaptors not included

Headrest is small for upper age limit

Price: £170 | Age range: Birth to 2 years | i-Size: Yes | Rear-facing: Yes | Weight: 4.2kg | Dimensions: 66 x 44 x 39-56.5cm | Installation: ISOFIX or three-point seatbelt | Travel system-compatible? Yes | ADAC test: 1.6 Good | Warranty: 2 years | Certification: TÜV-approved

Weighing in at just over 4kg and built with a wide, sturdy handle, the Cybex Aton M-i-Size is easier to carry than the other heavier car seats on our list. Approved for use on aircraft with TÜV certification, and with one of the best ADAC ratings out of all the cabin-approved car seats on our list, you can rest assured that this one will keep your baby safe and secure both on and off the plane. 

Like most of the other rear-facing car seats we feature here, this car seat can be easily secured on a plane seat by using the lap belt across the front of the seat, threaded through the belt guides. As far as infant car seats go, this one lasts longer than you might expect from a Group 0+ car seat. According to Cybex, you can use it until your child is two years old or weighs 13kg thanks to the 11 adjustable height positions which will accommodate your child's growth.

Additional safety features such as shoulder and head protectors, along with an energy-absorbing shell, offer extra protection in side-impact collisions or turbulence on the plane. It’s also softly padded with extra-wide harness straps to keep your little one secure on a flight or in the car. Plus, it has a great cushioned newborn inlay which can be easily removed, leaving plenty of space in the seat for older babies. 

However, the headrest is a little small and may not be as comfortable for babies closer to the upper height limit. On a positive note, this car seat has one of the largest, UP50+ sun canopies (XXL) we’ve seen, protecting your child from rain, wind or sun when attached to a buggy. 

Additionally, it’s designed to seamlessly integrate with pushchairs from both Cybex and GB brands and it's available in seven bright colours. 

Read next: Can you take a pram on a plane?

Bugaboo Turtle Air

Super lightweight (only 3kg)

Great quality

Soft Merino wool insert

Good safety rating

TÜV-certified

Pricier than other infant car seats

Compatible ISOFIX base  is bulky

Price: £209 | Age range: Birth to 15 months or 13kg | i-Size: Yes | Rear-facing: Yes until 83cm | Weight: 3kg | Dimensions: 69 x 44 x 59.8cm | Installation: ISOFIX or three-point seatbelt | Travel system-compatible? Yes | ADAC test: 1.6 Good | Warranty: 2 years | Certification: TÜV approved

TÜV-certified, the Bugaboo Turtle Air by Nuna is designed to fit most airline seats, but it's advisable to check with the airline you’re travelling with, especially if seats are narrower than 44cm. 

As the lightest car seat on our list at only 3kg, you might assume that the Bugaboo Turtle Air isn’t as safe or robust as the other car seats we’ve featured, but don’t let its light weight fool you. There’s a reason why this rear-facing infant car seat has impressive ADAC safety scores. It’s made with a durable, protective outer shell and Tailor tech™ memory foam in the headrest for shock absorption, plus it’s built with EPP energy-absorbing foam for enhanced side impact protection. 

The ultra-luxe Merino wool inlay is soft and breathable, making it a great choice for sensitive skin. Keep in mind that this car seat only has a three-point rather than a five-point harness, but it’s still cleverly designed to keep your baby secure whilst in the plane or the car.

With easy portability and large UPF50+ sun canopy with an exclusive peek-a-boo window and secured with magnetic clips, this car seat ensures your baby stays comfortably protected in a snug cocoon.

For daily use and to turn the Turtle Air into a spin car seat, you can purchase the Bugaboo 360 ISOFIX base by Nuna . Although it’s as expensive as the car seat itself, the base has a convenient 220-degree swivel rotation, allowing easy strapping of your baby into the seat before adjusting it to the proper travel position. Plus, the one-click true lock installation, safety indicators, shock-absorbing materials and a crumple zone in the stability leg work together to enhance safety by redirecting impact away from your baby.

Read next: The best cabin-approved strollers

Maxi-Cosi Rock

Lightweight

The baby-hugg inlay offers extra comfort  

Ergonomically-designed handle

ISOFIX base sold separately

Larger babies might outgrow the seat faster (weight limit is on the low side)

Sun canopy is small

Price: £89 (was £169) | Age range: Birth to 12 months | i-Size: Yes | Rear-facing: Yes until 75cm | Weight: 3.9kg | Dimensions: ‎67 x 44 x 56cm | Installation: ISOFIX or three-point seatbelt | Travel system-compatible? Yes | ADAC test: 1.7 Good | Warranty: Lifetime guarantee | Certification: TÜV-approved

Tested by Mumsnet: Read our full Maxi-Cosi Rock review

Hailed as Maxi-Cosi’s first i-Size-compliant car seat, the Maxi-Cosi Rock is another great rear-facing car seat to take on the plane. Designed for infants from 45 to 75cm tall (approximately birth to 12 months), it’s TÜV-approved for aeroplane use and weighs only 3.9kg. This makes the Maxi-Cosi Rock the second lightest car seat on our list next to the Bugaboo Turtle Air By Nuna, ensuring it’s a portable and convenient travel option that’s easily manoeuvrable with extra luggage in the airport as well as in and out of the car.

In addition to its lighter weight, this car seat stands out for being the most comfortable option for babies on long-haul flights thanks to the new and improved baby-hugg inlay which does exactly as the name suggests and simulates a warm, comforting hug, fitting snugly around your little one’s body. The inlay is made with thicker and heavier, yet breathable, fabrics, and the padded support around the head, neck and shoulders is more substantial than some other newborn inlays we’ve seen on the market. It also offers more padding around the leg area for a better overall fit. We like that the car seat can recline for naps on the go and has an ergonomically-designed carry handle with the ability to fold down at the rear for stabilising the seat when not in use.

Even though it’s affordable, this featherlight car seat doesn’t compromise on safety, and has the same impressive impact-absorbing materials and side impact protection features that you'd come to expect from an i-Size-compliant car seat. Whilst it can be secured to a seat using a safety belt only, the Maxi Cosi Rock can be installed in the car with the FamilyFix3 i-Size base .

Read next: The best pram toys for newborns

Can I take a car seat on a plane?

Yes, you can take a car seat on a plane in the UK. Most airlines allow passengers to use an approved car seat for infants and young children during the flight. However, there are a few points to consider:

Different airlines may have specific rules and requirements regarding the use of car seats on planes. It's advisable to check with your airline in advance to understand their policies. See our list of airlines with their respective regulations below.

Ensure that your car seat has either TÜV approval or FAA approval (if you’re flying to or within the United States).

Be familiar with the installation instructions for your specific car seat. Some airlines may require you to follow certain guidelines for securing the seat in the aircraft.

Generally, car seats in the Group 0+ category (for infants from birth to approximately 15 months old) are accepted on planes due to their compact size and lightweight design.

Read next: Maxi-Cosi Nomad Plus foldable travel car seat review

Can you take an ISOFIX base on a plane?

If you have a car seat with an ISOFIX base, you can bring the base on the plane, but it’ll have to be checked in and put in the hold. ISOFIX bases aren't compatible with planes since they're designed to anchor securely to a vehicle's chassis, and planes lack ISOFIX anchor points. When flying, you’ll need to secure the car seat using the seatbelt on the aircraft.

How do I install a car seat on a plane?

Installing a car seat on a plane in the UK typically involves using the aircraft seatbelt to secure the car seat. Here are general steps to install a car seat on a plane:

If possible, choose a window seat for installing the car seat. This helps you avoid blocking the path for other passengers in the event of an emergency.

Lift both armrests if possible.

Place the car seat in the aircraft seat and secure the car seat using the aircraft seat belt. Thread the seatbelt through the designated belt path on the car seat and buckle it securely. Ensure the seatbelt is snug. Press down and back on the car seat as you tighten the seat belt.

Then, adjust the harness straps on the car seat to fit your child securely. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for proper adjustment.

Once installed, check the car seat for stability. It should be securely fastened and not wobble.

Be sure to pay attention to any specific instructions given by the airline crew regarding the use of car seats during the flight.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) also maintains that car seats must be forward-facing on the plane, even if it’s a rear-facing car seat. This generally isn’t an issue because the plane’s belt buckle can always be routed through the seat belt guide on the car seat. Bear in mind that, in infant seats, the buckle will go over your child’s legs, which is normal.   

Can I take a car seat that isn't approved for use on a plane?

While you can take any car seat on holiday and have it checked in the hold, if you’re keen to use the car seat on the plane, it’s best to avoid using one that doesn't have the necessary approval, i.e. isn’t TÜV- or FAA-approved, as it might not meet the required safety standards for air travel, or be the correct weight and size for the aircraft seat.

Do I have to use a car seat on a plane?

No, using a car seat on the plane is a personal choice. However, little ones do need to be secured on the flight. The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) states that “Infants under the age of two need to be secured whenever the seat belt sign is on. This can be achieved through the use of a seat belt loop provided by the airline to secure the infant on an adult’s lap, or by using a child restraint device i.e. car type seat, or an alternative provided by the airline.”

What are the benefits of taking a car seat on a plane?

Taking a car seat on a plane can offer several benefits:

Safety: Using a car seat on a plane provides an additional layer of protection for your little one during the flight, especially in the event of turbulence.

Familiarity and comfort: If you’re taking a trusted car seat on board, your child will already be familiar with it, making it a comfortable and secure space during the journey. This familiarity can contribute to a smoother travel experience.

Consistent rest position: Car seats are designed to provide proper support and a comfortable rest position for infants and young children, which can be especially important during long flights.

However, according to the Lullaby Trust , healthcare professionals specialising in infant care, safety experts, and the majority of car manufacturers advise against keeping babies in a car seat for more than two hours continuously, emphasising the importance of taking breaks.

Ease of transport: Cabin-approved car seats are lightweight, easy to use and portable, plus they’re designed for easy installation, making it convenient for you to transport your child safely both in the car and on the plane.

Use in transit: While it’s possible to hire a car seat, many parents prefer using their own trusted car seat during taxi rides or transfers at the destination, as this ensures their child's safety during various modes of transportation. By taking your own car seat, you’ll also be sure of its history. 

Potential cost savings: Renting a car seat at your destination can be expensive. Bringing your own car seat can be a cost-effective option, especially if you plan to use it during your trip.

These Mumsnetters took their car seats on the plane and this is what they had to say: 

Mumsnetter dramalamma says, “I've done both car seat and none with an under two in own seat. It was a lot easier with a car seat because it's not just about the take-off and landing - if there is any turbulence or any other reason the seatbelt sign is on (including them forgetting to turn it off!) you have to pick your child up and have them on your lap which can be an absolute nightmare when it's a long haul flight and they've just gone to sleep!”

Mumsnetter, Genegenieee agrees and adds, “When we flew long haul with children under two, but they were too big for a bassinet, we booked them a seat and took a car seat in the cabin. Far easier to have them in a harness seat belt than a lap belt during the flight. Mine just used to sleep.”

What are the car seat criteria for the main airlines?

According to Maxi-Cosi manufacturers, any approved child seat should have a maximum width of 44cm, ensuring that it will fit in most aeroplane seats. Here are the specific airline requirements in terms of seat width and restrictions:

EasyJet : Car seat should not exceed 44cm and must be used in a forward-facing position.

Ryanair : Car seat should not exceed 43cm, must be airline approved and have a five-point harness.

TUI : Car seat should not exceed 40.64cm, must have a secure harness and adhere to British Safety standards. It should also be used in a forward-facing position.

British Airways : Car seat should not exceed 43cm and must be used in forward-facing position.

Air France : Car seat should not exceed 44cm or 42cm if your seat is in the first row of the Economy cabin. It must be secured with the seat belt.  

Air Canada : Car seat should not exceed 44cm and should be airline approved. It must have a suitable harness system.

Aer Lingus : Car seat should not exceed 43cm and must be secured on the aircraft seat by the normal aircraft lap strap. It must be used in a forward-facing position.

Virgin Atlantic : Car seat should not exceed 43cm and must always be secured to the host seat.

Emirates : Car seat should not exceed 44cm and must be TÜV- or FAA-approved. It must only be used in a forward-facing position.  

Jet2 : Car seat should not exceed 42cm and must comply with European Safety Standard requirements of United Nations ECE R 44 (UN/ECE 44).

Qantas – car seat should not exceed 43.7cm and must be used in a forward-facing position. It must comply with European Safety Standard requirements of United Nations ECE R 44 (UN/ECE 44). Qantas also states that car seats can't be located in an aisle seat or in an exit row.

For children under the age of two, Jet2 also states that the car seat must:

Be securable with a lap strap, not over your child

Include manufacturer's instructions stating suitability for air travel with lap strap

Have a single release-type harness securing your child’s lap, chest, and shoulders

Preferably placed in a window seat

Be the sole car seat on the row segment

Be forward or rear-facing

How to choose the best car seat for the plane

When choosing a car seat for use on a plane in the UK, there are several factors to consider:

Approval for air travel: Firstly, the car seat you pick for the plane needs to be TÜV- or FAA- approved. It’s also important to check your specific airline’s criteria (use our guide above as a start), as their rules and regulations differ slightly. The good news is that all the car seats on this list are approved for use on most popular airlines.

Size and weight: Check the dimensions and weight of the car seat to ensure it meets the airline’s requirements. Note that preferences for seat width can vary among airlines. For example, TUI may prefer a narrower seat compared to British Airways. Also consider the weight of the car seat since you'll need to carry it through the airport and onto and off the flight. It's important to choose one that's manageable for you.

Comfort for your child: Ensure that the car seat is comfortable for your child, especially if it's a long-haul flight. Look for features such as adequate padding, an adjustable harness and headrest, and the ability to recline as this is the safest and most comfortable position for babies from 0-6 months.

Cleaning and maintenance: Choose a car seat with a removable and machine-washable cover for easy cleaning, as travel can be messy!

How much should I spend on a car seat for the plane?

When considering which car seat to get for the plane, keep in mind that prices can range from £80 to over £300. The amount you spend will depend on various factors such as the brand of car seat, the overall quality of the padding and materials, the safety features and duration of use. Most car seats on our list cater to babies from birth to around age four.

Given that car seats are a significant investment, it's essential to choose one that can serve dual purposes – for use on the plane and in your car at home. You’ll also want to ensure that your chosen car seat is compatible with a variety of travel systems and pushchairs to extend its use.

About the author

Tammy Jacks has 15+ years' experience in the publishing industry, enjoying a long and fruitful career as Managing Editor and Health & Beauty Editor for Woman & Home magazine in South Africa. She later went on to become Assistant Editor of the popular South African parenting title Living and Loving, and has written for numerous lifestyle publications including Oprah Mag SA, Health Intelligence, Your Family Magazine, Longevity, and pharmaceutical company Clicks Clubcard Magazine, as well as edited books for popular fitness influencers and health professionals.

Tammy is a distinguished researcher and writer in the field of child safety, with a notable focus on the critical domain of car seats. Her extensive expertise and commitment to child safety, particularly in the context of air travel, have made her a trusted authority in providing comprehensive insights and guidance to parents and caregivers looking for the right car seat for their children. 

As a mum to an eight-year-old, Tammy has personally tried and tested numerous car seats over the years, across all age categories. Her specialised attention to car seats for the plane involves scrutinising what's essential for safe air travel with children.

Best FAA-approved Car Seats For Airplanes

Updated on: September 19, 2023

Written by: Fatima O. Millers, CPST

This post contains affiliate links. We might be compensated if you buy using our links .

When traveling with children, parents’ first priority should be the safety and well-being of the children. That’s why here at the Car Seat Parent community, we highly recommend using a car seat when fl y ing with your baby. 

It’s certainly an additional expense and effort, but the peace of mind that the child is much safer in a properly secured seat is incomparable to her sitting on our laps. 

But if you do choose to secure your tiny creature in a car seat, you will have to do a lot of research on the airlines, and their car seat rules, and then find a suitable car seat before you book your tickets. 

In this round-up, we will reduce your efforts and list our favorite car seats for airplane travel. Most of these car seats are narrow enough to slide into those cramped economy seats, light enough to lug around the airport, and most importantly FAA-approved . 

Let’s begin!

Comparison Chart: Best car seats for airplanes

Top car seats for airplane travel.

Below are our individual car seat reviews, including infant, and convertible car seats (Booster seats are not allowed on the airplane).

Read our reviews if you are looking for:

• A car seat to use on the plane for your 1 year old , 
• A car seat to use on the plane for your 2 year old ,
• A car seat to use on the plane for your 3 year old ,
• A car seat to use on the plane for your 4 year old

Doona (Best car seat-stroller combo for airplane travel)

Reasons to consider for airplane travel: A great car seat stroller combo that will make transporting your child through the airport easier. 

There is nothing better than having a car seat and a stroller in one and the Doona offers you just that. 

The Doona is an infant car seat that converts into a stroller in seconds . You just pop the legs out and you are ready to roll. 

The best part is that you won’t have to worry about carrying a heavy car seat through the airport. 

The Doona is a rear-facing car seat that’s FAA-approved. Meaning, you are allowed to use it on the plane as a safety seat.  

It is also sufficiently narrow (17 inches only) to fit on airplane seats and in 3 across installations in your car. 

Key Specs: 

• Dimensions: 23″ H x 17″ W x 22″ D
• Fits: Rear-facing only (4 to 35 lbs; up to 32″ in height)
• Weight: 16.5 lbs

Read our full review of Doona here

Chicco KeyFit 30 (Best Infant Car Seat for Airplanes)

Reasons to consider for airplane travel: A budget-friendly infant car seat that’s easy to use and install on the airplane. It’s also very lightweight.  

Best compact infant car seat for small cars

The all-time popular Chicco Keyfit30 is also suitable for aircraft use. This infant seat measures only 16.5 inches wide and it is one of the lightest infant seats on the market (9.5 lbs without base).   

The Chicco Keyfit 30 can be used from 4 to 30 pounds rear-facing and it provides a secure and comfortable fit even for premature babies.

We love the Keyfit 30 because it’s easy to use and install.  

This seat is an affordable infant car seat for air travel ( Around $190 on Amazon ). So, you won’t have to worry about getting your fancy $500 car seat banged up at the airport. 

And trust me, traveling with a car seat can get things really messy!

• Dimensions: 27.5” x 17” x 24”
• Fits: Rear-facing (4 to 30 lbs; up to 30″ in height)
• Weight: 9.6 lbs

Cosco Mighty Fit 65 DX (Best budget car seat for Airplanes)

Reasons to consider for airplane travel: Budget-friendly convertible car seat that can be purchased as a second seat just for traveling purposes. Easy to carry, compact and it costs less than $100. 

If you are looking for a dedicated travel car seat that can last you a bit longer, we recommend the Cosco Mighty Fit. 

This FAA-approved convertible seat is both compact and lightweight and it comes at a great price point (Less than $100). 

You can use the Mightly Fit for both rear-facing and forward-facing from 5 up to 65 pounds , this gives you a few years of use which is not a bad investment for the price.

It is however not the best car seat to install. It took us a lot of effort and time to get the hang of it. But this is not a superrise. Most affordable car seats are a bit tricky to install and use.  

But if you are looking for a more user-friendly convertible car seat, check out our next seat on the list.    

• Dimensions: D14″ x W18.50″ x H30.50″
• Fits: Rear Facing (5-40 lbs, and 19-36″); Forward Facing (22-65 lbs and 29-52″)
• Weight: 12.76 lbs

Graco Contender Slim (Best comfortable car seat for Airplanes)

Reasons to consider for airplane travel : A go to travel car seat that’s easy to install, and comfortable for long trips. It’s lightweight which makes it our favorite convertible car seat for airport travel.  

Frequent traveler families love the Graco Contender slim . It’s a popular travel car seat for so many reasons. It can be used in both rear-facing and forward-facing, cozy, compact, easy to use, and affordable. 

It’s equipped with a No-rethread harness so it’s easy to adjust the harness height as your child grows. 

Plus, when installed on the plane seat, the airplane seat belt buckle goes behind the Contender’s frame and won’t rest against your child’s back. This provides a more comfortable flying experience for you and your child. 

Similar to the Graco Contender Go, the Contender Slim has ditched the fixed cup holder that the original Contender 65 had and replaced it with a clip-on cup holder. 

Both the Contender Slim and Contender Go have the exact same features of the original model but they are slightly slimmer thanks to the removable cup holder feature. 

• Dimensions: L21.5 x W18.9 x H24.75 inches
• Fits: Rea-facing 5-40 lb and your forward facing 22-65 lb
• Weight: 16 lbs

Safety 1st Jive 2-in-1 (Best user-friendly car seat for Airplanes)

Reasons to consider for airplane travel: It’s super light weight allows you to easily transport the Safty 1st Jive through the airport. It’s also well priced for the long use period it offers. 

Safety 1st Jive is another great car seat option for travel. It’s not too heavy to carry in a car seat backpack or strap it to your carry-on-suitcase, and it installs super easily on both planes and cars. 

For around $100, the Safety 1st can be used from 6 months up until your child is 6 or 5 years old which is a worthwhile investment to be honest. 

We also like how compact it is when installed rear-facing in the car, so if you have a small car, it’s definitely a win. 

• Dimensions: 18.13 D x16 W x 29.75 H 
• Fits: Rea-facing (5-40 lb); Forward facing (22-65 lb)
• Weight: 10 lbs

WAYB Pico (Best portable car seat for air travel)

Reasons to consider for airplane travel: Wayb Pico is a foldable car seat that’s easy to handle when traveling through the airport, taking Taxis and Ubers. Plus, it comes with its own premium travel bag. 

WAYB Pico is a forward-facing only car seat that fits kids 22-50 lbs. The special thing about this car seat is that it can actually fold and be carried in a bag that comes with it.

The best part is that it weighs just 8 pounds. With the WAYB Pico , no more backbreaking heavy lifting! 

It has a 5-point harness to keep your child safely strapped in the car or plane (It’s FAA & NHTSA approved)

You can easily install it using either the LATCH system or seatbelt.

• Dimensions : 15.2“L x 14.5”W x 27.8”H
• Fits: Forward-facing only (22-50 lbs, 30” up to 45” tall)
• Weight: 8 lbs

CARES (Best Airplane harness for kids)

Reasons to consider for airplane travel: If your child is 1 year old or more and for some reason you cannot use a car seat on the plane, consider the CARES safety harness as your plan B. Cares insures that your child is safely strapped in aiplane seat.  

While CARES is not a car seat, it’s an aviation restraint system for kids. It’s designed specifically for children weighing between 22 and 44 pounds to use on the airplane. 

It’s basically an FAA-approved safety belt that attaches to the plane seat to support the regular seatbelt. 

We love this brilliant solution because it’s easier to install than a car seat. It literally takes a minute to install it on the airplane seat. 

And this is what CARES set up looks like when installed on the airplane. 

Good to know: CARES is an Aviation only harness system and cannot be used for cars.

Key specs: 

• Dimensions: Can be folder to fit in a 6” pouch
• Fits: 1 year old or more (22 up to 44 pounds)
• Weight: 1 lbs

Buyer’s Guide: How to choose a car seat for Airplane travel?

Car seat must be faa/caa -approved.

Depending on the airlines you are using, the car seat must adhere to the rules imposed by the international airlines association (FAA-Federal Airline Association in the USA) or (CAA-Civil Airline Association in the UK).

Once you know which regulation your car seat must follow, check for the label. The car seat must clearly state that’s allowed to use on aiplanes. Generally there is a sticker/label on the frame of the car seat that says: THIS RESTRAINT IS CERTIFIED TO USE ON MOTOR VEHICLES AND AIRCARFTS.  

If you are not usre where to start, check our car seat recommendations listed above. These are all FAA-approved and accepted on American airlines and several other airlines as well. 

But, make sure to read through the airlines guidelines bout car seats before you go a head and purchase. Car seat regulations very from one airlines to another and they may have other requirements/rules to consider.

Check these airlines rules about flying with a car seat: 

• American airlines car seat rules
• Southwest Airlines car seat rules
• Frontier Airlines car seat rules
• British Airways car seat rules
• Cathay Pacific car seat rules
• Delta airlines car seat rules
• JetStar car seat rules  
• Emirates airlines car seat rules  
• Qatar airlines car seat rules
• Ryan Air car seat rules
• Singapore airlines car seat rules
• Virgin Australia car seat rules
• Virgin Atlantic car seat rules  

Car seat must be compact  

Airplane seats are tight, and you need a car seat that’s narrow enough to fit in most seats on the plane. Ideally a car seat that’s 16 inches wide.  

Not too many seats are 16 inches in width but check the airlines seat dimensions and find a car seat that’s suitable for their requirements. 

Car seat must be lightweight

Lighweight car seats are easy to transport throught the airport. You can use a car seat strap to attach your car seat to the suitcase, a car seat backpack or even a car seat trolley.  

There are so many ways to go about carrying a car seat in the airport but when the car seat is heavy trust me it’s not gonna be fun. 

That’s why we love the Doona car seat-stroller combo. You can easily switch your car seat to a stroller when you need to. 

If you are going for a regular car seat make sure it weighs 10 lbs or less. 

Can you bring your car seat on the plane?

Yes, you can bring an approved car seat on the airplane if you choose to do so. Using a car seat for your child on the plane is not a requirement but the FAA advises that a child weighing up to 40 lbs (18 kg) use a certified, harnessed child seat while traveling on an airplane. 

What is an FAA-approved car seat?

An FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) approved car seat is a child safety seat that has been certified to meet the specific safety standards set by the FAA for use on airplanes.

Do car seats count as checked bags?

No, a car seat is not counted as a checked bag if you are flying with an infant. Most airlines allow you to bring a car seat and stroller in additional to your normal baggage at no extra charge.

Do you pay to have a car seat on the plane?

Yes, you do have to pay the regular price of seat to have your child in a car seat.

Can I use a Booster Seat on an Airplane?

No, all airlines do not allow booster seats to be used as a restraining system in an aircraft. Only infant and convertible car seats can be FAA approved. 

Do crew members install the car seat for you? 

While this depends on the airlines, crew members are generally not responsible for installing your car seat on the aircraft. If they do help install it, don’t expect them to be an expert in car seat safety.

Will the car seat fit on any seat on the Airplane?

Airplane seats vary not only from premium class to economy class, but the seats within the economy class also vary from each other. Generally, if an airline accepts FAA-approved car seats (and yours is), they have to provide a seat that fits your car seat. 

About Fatima O. Millers, CPST

Founder and Editor-in-Chief, Fatima delivers insightful car seat reviews and recommendations. Combining her CPST expertise with an engineering background, her advice is both safe and practical.

Should You Bring Your Child’s Car Seat on an Airplane?

Medical review policy, latest update:, can you bring your child’s car seat on an airplane, flying with a car seat vs. holding your infant on your lap, read this next, what to consider when flying with a car seat, your child’s height and weight, the airline’s policies, the type of car seat you have, whether you’re traveling by car at your destination, can you check a car seat.

Ultimately, your baby or toddler doesn’t have to ride in a car seat when you fly. But it’s safer, and despite the perceived hassle of lugging a car seat through the airport, it might actually make your journey a little easier. Just be sure to check the airline’s policies before making your decision and buying your ticket so you know what to expect when it's time to board. 

What to Expect the First Year , 3rd edition, Heidi Murkoff.  American Academy of Pediatrics, Flying With a Baby: Parent FAQs , November 2019.  American Academy of Pediatrics, Family Friendly Flying , November 2015.  American Airlines, Traveling With Children .  Delta Air Lines, Infant Air Travel , 2021.  Federal Aviation Administration, Flying With Children , March 2021.  United Airlines, Traveling With Children , 2021.

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Flying with Children

The safest place for your child under the age of two on a U.S. airplane is in approved child restraint system (CRS) or device, not in your lap. Your arms aren't capable of holding your in-lap child securely, especially during unexpected turbulence, which is the number one cause of pediatric injuries on an airplane.

The FAA strongly urges you to secure your child in an approved CRS or other approved device for the entirety of your flight. Buying a ticket for your child is the only way to guarantee that you will be able to use a CRS. It's the smart and right thing to do so that everyone in your family arrives safely at your destination.

• About Child Restraint Systems (CRS)
• How to install a Forward-Facing Child Seat in an Airplane
• How to install a Rear-Facing Child Seat in an Airplane
• FAA-Approved Child Harness Device (CARES)
• How to install the CARES Device in an Airplane

Tips for Parents

Children with special needs, where can i find more information, about child restraint systems.

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A child restraint system (CRS) is a forward- or rear-facing hard-backed child safety seat. For motor vehicles, car seats are self-certified by the car seat manufacturer to meet federal safety standards, including strict crash performance standards. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration rates car seats based on ease-of-use so you can make an informed decision about the right seat for your child.

A CRS must be certified for use in aircraft. Confirm your child’s seat has “This restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft” printed on it or it is approved by a foreign government and bears the required label or marking.

Required label for CRS Manufactured to U.S. Standards

Read the user’s manual to confirm that your CRS can be secured properly in an airplane seat. Otherwise, you may be asked to check the CRS as baggage.

How to install a forward-facing child seat in an airplane

How to install a rear-facing child seat in an airplane.

A CRS must be installed in a aircraft seat, according to manufacturer's instructions. This includes placing the CRS in the appropriate forward- or aft-facing direction as indicated on the device label for the size of the child.

The FAA prohibits passengers from using booster seats or backless CRS during ground movement, take-off and landing.

FAA-Approved CARES Device

AmSafe’s Child Aviation Restraint System (CARES) device is FAA-certified for children who are up to 40 inches tall and who weigh between 22 and 44 pounds. The device provides for those who are capable of sitting upright alone in a forward-facing position and who occupy their own seat. This supplemental restraint is used with the existing aircraft seatbelt for improved child safety. CARES is lightweight and adjusts to fit virtually all economy-, business-, and first-class airline seats. This type of device provides an alternative to using a hard-backed CRS. CARES is approved for use during all phases of flight—movement on the surface (taxi), take-off, landing, and turbulence, and is approved only for use on aircraft, but not for use in motor vehicles. If you're using a CARES device, make sure it has "FAA Approved in Accordance with 14 CFR 21.8(d), Approved for Aircraft Use Only" or "FAA Approved in Accordance with 14 CFR 21.305(d), Amd 21.50 6-9-1980, Approved for Aircraft Use Only" on it.

Beware of CARES counterfeits sold online. Buy direct from the manufacturer to be sure the CARES device you use is authentic and manufactured with the same industrial-strength webbing as aircraft seat belts. The FAA is aware of disreputable third-party retailers who offer reproduction devices that resemble CARES for sale but that have not been engineered to the highest aviation-safety standards by AmSafe®. Learn more about CARES .

How to install the CARES device in an airplane

• Make sure your CRS or device is approved for use on airplanes.
• Measure the width of your CRS. It should fit in most airplane seats if it is no wider than 16 inches.
• Buying a ticket for your child is the only way to guarantee that you will be able to use a CRS.
• Reserve adjoining seats. A CRS must not block the escape path in an emergency. Many airlines have policies that require a CRS to be placed in a window seat. Do not place a CRS in an exit row.
• Arrange for your airline to help you if you need help making a connecting flight. Carrying a CRS, a child, and luggage through a busy airport can be challenging.
• Pack a bag of toys and snacks to keep your child occupied during the flight.
• Always buckle up your child in the right seat for their age and size when you drive to and from the airport.
• Wear your seat belt at all times.
• A CRS must be installed in a forward-facing aircraft seat, in accordance with manufacturer's instructions. This includes placing the CRS in the appropriate forward- or aft-facing direction as indicated on the label for the size of the child.
• Flying with kids older than 2? Help your children know what to expect at the airport and in the airplane by watching videos like Kid’s First Flight .

If your approved CRS, for which a ticket has been purchased, does not fit in a particular seat on the aircraft, the airline is responsible for accommodating the CRS in another seat in the same class of service. The airline may have policies that dictate the specific safe seat locations for specific aircraft.

Listen to the "Flying With Kids: Tips From A Expert" episode of The Air Up There Podcast

How to Install a Forward-Facing Child Seat in an Airplane

How to Install a Rear-Facing Child Seat in an Airplane

Lap Children 

Although children who have not reached their second birthday are permitted to travel as lap children, the FAA strongly discourages this practice and recommends that you secure your child in an approved CRS in their own seat for the entire flight. While there is no regulatory prohibition from using a booster seat or harness vest (or other non-approved devices) for a lap child during the cruise portion of the flight only, airlines have policies which may or may not allow the use of those devices. Check with your airline.

Children Under 18 with Special Needs

Most young children who use a CRS weigh 40 lbs. or less. However, there are some children with physical challenges who weigh more than 40 lbs. and need the support and security of a CRS or device so they can travel safely on an airplane.

Airlines must allow a child who is under the age of 18 to use an approved CRS that is properly labeled, appropriate for the child's weight, and as long as the child is properly secured in the CRS. Many companies manufacture CRSs approved for use on aircraft that are specifically designed for larger children who are physically challenged.

Adults with Special Needs

Adults (18 years or older) who have physical challenges that require the support and security of a CRS or device in order to travel safely on an airplane may request an exemption to the FAA's regulations that require each passenger to be properly secured by a safety belt. This request may also be made by an airline on the passenger's behalf. Several companies manufacture restraint systems for adults with physical challenges.

How to submit a petition for exemption

• Go to  regulations.gov: Instructions on Filing a Submission to the FAA
• Select the "Comment Now!" button
• Enter your comment
• Provide contact information
• Select category (i.e., to submit a comment on a Docket, choose "Public Comments(s)")
• To attach files/documentation (as part of your submission), select the "Choose file(s)" button. Once desired file(s) are uploaded, select the "Continue" button
• Select the "Continue" button
• Now you will see the "Your Preview" screen. This shows you how your comment will appear on Regulations.gov
• Read and agree to the disclaimer. To submit your petition/comment, check the disclaimer box for "I read and understand the statement above"
• Select the "Submit Comment" button

To review previously granted exemptions on special needs travel, go to the FAA Automated Exemption System and type "7831", "8264" or "9834" in the "Exemption Number" search field and hit "enter" or click on "Search" on the left side of the screen. Highlight the document you wish to view and click on "View Document" on the left side of the screen.

• Information about Family Travel
• Kids Fly Safe: CARES Child Safety Device
• FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions about Flying with Children
• Passengers with Disabilities
• Listen to the "Flying With Kids: Tips From A Expert" episode of The Air Up There podcast
• USDOT Airline Family Seating Dashboard

Flying With A Car Seat? Here's What You Need To Know

Y ou've probably already heard it but it bears repeating: Bringing a car seat for your baby on a flight is the safest way for your child to fly. And although it's not required by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the agency strongly encourages parents to bring a car seat or other FAA-approved child restraint system or device when flying with young children. This means the car seat has the required label noting it is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft.

And, no, it's not enough to hold them in your lap, especially during turbulence, which is the leading cause of pediatric injuries on a plane, according to the FAA. As Sara Nelson, the international president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, told The Washington Post , "We've seen airplanes go through turbulence recently and drop 4,000 feet in a split second. The G-forces are not something even the most loving mother or father can guard against and hold their child. It's just physically impossible." You'll also need your hands to put on your oxygen mask in cases of low cabin pressure.

So, yes, flying with a car seat is a good choice, especially if you're flying with a young child, i.e., under 2 years. But, if this is your first time flying with one, it's understandable that you have questions. We'll do our best to answer the most important queries you might have. So let's dive in.

Do You Have To Pay To Bring A Car Seat On The Plane?

Technically, no, but you'll have to hope and pray that there's an open seat and that the flight attendant will allow you to use it. Otherwise, you'll have to check your car seat and hold your child in your lap for the duration of the flight. In short, when you don't pay for a seat, there's no guarantee your child can sit securely in their car seat next to you during the flight.

Although paying for an extra seat can be hard on the budget, you should carefully consider it. Having peace of mind and assurance of your child's safety during the flight is priceless. Plus, if you have a toddler, a car seat can keep them behaved, and you  stress-free . As a user commented in the Toddlers Reddit forum's car seat discussion : " ... [I]t's so nice to have her contained! Someone behind me was trying to get their toddler to sit down the whole flight and it sounded exhausting."

Which Plane Seat Is The Best For A Car Seat?

When you bring a car seat on a plane, your options for seating are limited. Of course, you should book adjoining seats. The FAA says not to put car seats in exit rows, and you should avoid rows in front of or behind exit rows as well. Additionally, a lot of airlines ask that you put a car seat in the window seat. Putting children in aisle seats can be dangerous due to the possibility of falling items from overhead compartments and hot beverages spilling from carts. But, if you're flying on an aircraft with two aisles, a middle seat in the center is a good option too. Basically, book a seat for your baby's car seat that won't hinder another passenger from exiting or accessing the aisle.

And, when booking first class and business class, check that your car seat can fit in the seats you book. Sometimes, these cabin seats have angles that won't fit a car seat. In fact, double-check your car seat's weight limitations and dimensions against your plane's seat — it should be no more than 16 inches wide for most airlines. However, if you find that your car seat doesn't fit the seat, the FAA requires your airline to find another seat where it will fit.

If in doubt or you have questions, reach out to your airline for confirmation and answers. Also check with your airline if they allow car seats in the bulkhead, as many don't. If they do, book seats there for more leg room.

How Do You Install A Car Seat On The Plane?

Once on board the plane, your next agenda will be to install the car seat. While asking for the help of a flight attendant might sound like a good plan, don't rely on them. You are responsible for knowing how to install your car seat. The FAA has videos explaining the installation of forward-facing and rear-facing car seats, but it's always best to read the manual beforehand to be sure you're not going to break or damage anything.

If, after reading the manual, you have some questions, seek out the advice and expertise of a child passenger safety technician (CPST). You can search the National Child Passenger Safety Certification training program's website or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's online directory, or reach out to your local Safe Kids Coalition. Don't forget to have your child's weight and height info, your car seat's manual, and, if possible, your child, among other things during the checkup.

In general, you can install either a forward-facing or rear-facing car seat. First, locate the right belt path in your car seat, loosen the airplane seatbelt and get it through the belt path, and then buckle and tighten it. If you're using a rear-facing car seat, note that it will interfere with the recline function of the seat in front, so you might arrange for a companion to sit there, if you're traveling with one.

Should You Buy A Rear-Facing Or Front-Facing Car Seat?

There's no prohibition against any of these types of car seats. You can bring a front-facing or rear-facing car seat on a flight as long as it is installed in a forward-facing plane seat. According to BabyCenter , children below 20 pounds should be seated in a rear-facing car seat whereas children from 20 to 40 pounds should be seated in a forward-facing car seat.

With this in mind, infants and toddlers should generally use a rear-facing car seat, while children more than 3 years old and younger than 7 years old or who have reached the height and weight limits can be placed in a forward-facing car seat. Basically, your child's age, weight, and height will dictate what type of car seat they'll use.

As mentioned, the car seat you bring with you on a flight should be one that's FAA-approved, i.e., it should have the certification label required for air travel. You can find this in a sticker with red text. Make sure you know where it is before boarding the plane as flight attendants will look for this label upon boarding. If you don't know where it is and the flight attendant can't find it, you might be asked to check your car seat instead.

How Do You Check Your Car Seat?

If shelling out those extra bucks just isn't in the budget, then you can check your car seat for free with most airlines. And whether you check it at the ticket counter or at the gate, remember to get your luggage tag, fill it out, and attach it to the car seat immediately. This way, you don't have to worry about it upon boarding.

If you gate check your car seat, you can drop it at the ramp right before boarding or a flight attendant will take care of it for you. Upon arrival, your car seat should be waiting for you at the jetbridge. If not, go to the baggage claim or ask a flight attendant about it.

If you check it at the counter, you might want to invest in a car seat travel bag. While this doesn't guarantee that your car seat won't be damaged, at least it will not be dirty. After deplaning, head to the oversized luggage section at the baggage claim area. You can usually claim car seats and strollers there, but call your airline to double-check. If you have a connecting flight, ensure you have time to retrieve your luggage, get to your next flight, and install the car seat there. Also, have a plan B in case your car seat gets damaged or lost. This typically means buying a new one or renting, so research in advance to prepare for the worst-case scenario.

Read this next: Tips For Making Road Trips With Your Newborn Less Stressful

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A red flag warning in effect for Genesee and Livingston Regions

The major change delta air lines is making to how passengers board flights, delta eked out a narrow first-quarter profit.

DAVID KOENIG , Associated Press

The boarding process for Delta Air Lines flights has looked the same for a very long time, but that’s about to change.

Delta said Wednesday that instead of boarding by groups with names such as Diamond Medallions, Delta Premium Select and Sky Priority, passengers will board in groups numbered one through eight. The change is being made to try to avoid confusion.

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“When you have a number and you’re standing in line, we are all trained to know when it’s our turn,” said Delta CEO Ed Bastian.

The change won’t alter the pecking order of when each type of customer gets to board. Those with the cheapest tickets, Basic Economy, will still board last.

Delta eked out a narrow first-quarter profit and said Wednesday that demand for travel is strong heading into the summer vacation season, with travelers seemingly unfazed by recent incidents in the industry that ranged from a panel blowing off a jetliner in flight to a tire falling off another plane during takeoff.

Delta reported the highest revenue for any first quarter in its history and a $37 million profit. It expects record-breaking revenue in the current quarter as well. The airline said that second-quarter earnings will likely beat Wall Street expectations.

CEO Ed Bastian said Delta’s best 11 days ever for ticket sales occurred during the early weeks of 2024.

If travelers are worried about a spate of problem flights and increased scrutiny of plane maker Boeing , “I haven’t seen it,” Bastian said in an interview. “I only look at my numbers. Demand is the healthiest I’ve ever seen.”

A slight majority of Delta’s fleet of more than 950 planes are Boeing models, but in recent years it has bought primarily from Airbus , including a January order for 20 big Airbus A350s. As a result, Delta will avoid the dilemma facing rivals United Airlines and American Airlines, which can’t get all the Boeing planes they ordered. United is even asking pilots to take unpaid time off in May because of a plane shortage.

“Airbus has been consistent throughout these last five years (at) meeting their delivery targets,” Bastian said.

Delta does not operate any Boeing 737 Max jets, the plane that was grounded worldwide after two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019, and which suffered the panel blowout on an Alaska Airlines flight this year. However, the Atlanta-based airline has ordered a new, larger version of the Max that still hasn’t been approved by regulators. Bastian said Delta will be happy to use the Max 10 when they arrive.

While Delta has largely dodged headaches caused by Boeing, it faces other obstacles in handling this summer’s crowds.

Delta is lobbying the federal government to again allow it to operate fewer flights into the New York City area. Otherwise, Delta could lose valuable takeoff and landing slots.

The Federal Aviation Administration granted a similar request last summer and even extended it until late October . The FAA said the relief helped airlines reduce canceled flights at the region’s busy three main airports by 40%.

Peter Carter, an executive vice president who oversees government affairs, said Delta and other airlines need another waiver permitting fewer flights this summer because the FAA still doesn’t have enough air traffic controllers.

“Absent the waiver, I think we would have, as an industry, some real challenges in New York,” Carter said.

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Flying with a car seat on a plane: 10 things you NEED to know (2024)

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This article about taking a car seat on a plane is written by certified Child Passenger Safety Technician Melissa Conn and may contain affiliate links.

Are you considering flying with a car seat? Or maybe you’ve decided it’s your best option and wondering exactly how to fly with a car seat? Then you’ve come to the right place!

This guide covers everything you need to know about travel with a car seat on planes – from choosing an airplane car seat to airline rules to installation quirks and insider tricks you can only learn with lots of experience. We’re sharing it all to make traveling with a car seat on a plane a smooth experience for your family.

Flying with a car seat is the safest option

Let’s start with the most basic question: why should you fly with a car seat? The simple answer is that airplane seatbelts aren’t designed for tiny bodies. The general recommendation is for children under 40lbs to fly in an FAA-approved restraint – either a travel car seat or a CARES harness (minimum weight 22lbs, but fits better at 30lbs – full review here ). The best car seat for airplane travel depends on your child’s age, size and development level – start your search here to pick the right one . The FAA and the NTSB both recommend using your car seat on airplanes.

This video shows you exactly why:

Why aren’t parents required to use car seats on airplanes? First, because airlines have lobbied to prevent rules that might decrease the number of families who fly – and thus, their revenue. Second, air travel is much safer than car travel. Government statisticians have determined that society is better off overall with unrestrained or improperly restrained kids on flights than with many more families taking to the roads to travel. Learn more about the pros and cons of flying with a lap infant if you have a baby.

Even if you’re reading this after you’ve made your travel arrangements and you didn’t buy a seat for your baby, you can always ask at the ticket counter or check in with the gate agent. If the flight isn’t full, you can often use an empty seat for free to put your child (with their car seat) so that everyone on the flight is safer.

So do you need to bring a car seat when traveling? You need some way to keep your child safe in-flight and safe on the roads beyond, so in part it will depend on your child’s age and the type of trip.

Can you take a car seat on a plane? It depends on the airline

The US leads the way for using car seats on airplanes. Kind of shocking, eh? Not only do the FAA and NTSB encourage buying kids their own seat and using a car seat in flight, but your right to use an FAA-approved car seat through the entire flight is protected by law. Bookmark these FAA rules on car seats on your phone (or even save it) in case a flight attendant gives you a hard time. Across the border, Transport Canada maintains similar standards .

If you bring your car seat on board ( and you should ), you’ll have to use it for your child for take-off, landing and when the seatbelt sign is on during turbulent patches. All in the name of safety! Just make sure your car seat is certified for airplane use – nearly every car seat in the US is FAA-approved (just not this one ). You can’t use a booster seat on planes at all since they require a lap-shoulder seat belt, but a combination car seat like this one is completely fine if the harness is still installed. Get more details on bringing booster seats on an airplane here.

Read more: Important info for traveling with car seats

How do I know if I have an airline approved car seat? Near the base of the car seat there’s a white sticker with lots of small print. In red letters it should say that it’s approved for aircraft use.

Below is an example of the FAA approved car seat sticker from this seat . It’s located inconveniently on the bottom of the seat, but they’re in different places on different seats. Make sure you locate yours before you get to the airport; for some international flights, we’ve had to show it at the check-in counter to avoid sending it along with the baggage. In other cases, we’ve been asked to show it before installing on the plane.

Some parents (and flight crews!) get confused when they see this because it has two separate sentences about aircraft. That’s because the seat can either function as a forward-facing harnessed seat or as a booster seat. Just leave the harness in and you’ll be fine! An FAA-approved convertible car seat will generally just have the first red sentence, while an all-in-one car seat will have both. Booster seats can’t be used on board so they will only have the last red sentence.

It’s been an uneven few years for airlines, and plenty of crew members don’t know the ins and outs of flying with a car seat. Here are a few things to keep in mind to avoid unpleasant encounters:

• It’s YOUR responsibility to know how to correctly install your own travel car seat for airplane use. Be sure to read the manual in advance of your flight and consult a CPST if you have questions.
• Infant car seats generally fit better than rear facing convertible car seats .
• You are allowed to rear face within manufacturers’ limits on US carriers, even if it impedes recline. You may want to consider seating someone else from your family in front of a large rear facing car seat so that another passenger isn’t inconvenienced.
• Car seats must be installed on forward facing aircraft seats, but that doesn’t mean that car seats must be forward facing.

Read more: The lightest infant car seats of 2023

Note that on some airlines the seats are so narrow that you’ll have to choose your travel car seat wisely. If you plan to fly Spirit airlines, for example, be sure to read this article for all the particulars.

There’s one important (and recent) exception to note: some of the new premium classes of service like United Polaris and Air Canada Signature aren’t able to safely accommodate car seats. In those classes, the only option is to hold a child under 2 in your lap and to buckle older kids in the lap belt. Personally, I wouldn’t book those with a young child.

Can you bring a carseat on a plane in other countries? In my experience, outside of the US and Canada it’s more like the wild west. Every airline sets their own policies. They can range from airlines that are extremely supportive of car seat usage on board in the interest of safety to airlines that prohibit all car seats in the cabin. Some don’t allow any car seats, some only allow forward-facing car seats, some only allow car seats for certain ages. Thankfully a few give discounts if you’re purchasing a child their own seat.

The strangest rule we’ve encountered is that even if you bring a car seat on board, some foreign airlines require you to use a “belly belt” instead during take-off and landing. Belly belts have been banned in the US and Canada because they turn a baby into an air bag. What should you do if you find yourself in that situation? Graciously accept the belly belt and attach your child to you. As soon as the flight crew is securely seated in their harnesses, strap your baby into the car seat to keep them safe during the most dangerous part of the flight.

The worst situation reported by one of our Tiny Globetrotters families was when traveling on an Asian carrier with their 3 year old and car seat. They wouldn’t permit the kid to sit in the car seat for take-off, but he was clearly not of an age to use the belly belt. The airline forced the family to gate check the car seat. Which leads me to recommend…

If you’re flying a carrier that isn’t based in the US or Canada, be sure to check their “traveling with children” section before booking your tickets to make sure you’re comfortable with the airline’s policies. You’d hate to arrive at the airport and be told that you need to check your car seat unexpectedly!

What’s the best carseat for flying? The best airplane car seat depends on your child’s age and size – there’s a wide range to choose from but it’s important to consider your family’s specific needs in selecting the best car seat for plane travel. Check out these best car seats for airplanes, including the honest pros and cons of each one: – Best infant car seat for travel – Best travel car seat for a 1 year old – Best travel car seat for a 2 year old – Best travel car seat for a 3 year old – Best travel car seat for a 4 year old – Best travel car seat for a 5 year old – Best travel car seat for a 6 year old – Best travel booster seat

How do you travel with a car seat? The airport isn’t so bad

For lots of parents, the most daunting part of figuring out how to travel with a car seat is strategizing about the airport. How to travel with a car seat in the airport depends on your family’s specific needs, like how many kids, their ages and what gear you’ve chosen for flying with car seat and stroller.

Yes, a car seat is another thing to schlep with you on the endless trek through the airport. But it’s not the end of the world. Travel systems and other car seat-stroller combinations can help, and there are lots of creative ways you can transport your car seat through the airport all the way to the gate – read about them all here .

Just give yourself plenty of extra time to get through security. Some car seats fit through the x-ray machine, but others will require hand inspection. We’ve been delayed as much as 10 minutes at security waiting on an officer to poke at our car seats. Beyond that, it’s not much of an issue if you have a solid game plan for transporting your car seat around the airport.

Maneuvering through the plane with a car seat can be ugly

Ok, so getting through the airport is no big deal with the right tricks up your sleeve. Getting through the plane… that can be a little tricky depending on your car seat. Car seats have gotten wider, aisles have gotten narrower. So what can you do?

The first thing to do is show up at the gate with your small child, car seat, carry-ons and miniature circus tent and politely explain that you need some extra time to board the plane and get situated. Usually gate agents will let you on fairly early in the process even if there isn’t an official family pre-boarding policy. Trust me, the extra space in every direction can only help you!

There have been plenty of times when I’ve had to carry a car seat down the aisle of an airplane over my head. That’s why I personally prefer a lightweight travel car seat ! The other great option is to use a foldable car seat travel cart to wheel your narrow car seat through the aisle. Just make sure the folks in front of you keep their knees in! If you have a Doona , you don’t even have to fold the wheels in until you get to your seat.

Once you get to your row, if possible put your child in the same row on the opposite side of the aisle. It’s for their own good! Raise the arm rests in your row to make your life easier. There’s usually a hidden lever on the underside of the aisle arm rest (near the hinge) to lift it.

If you’ve used a cart up to this point you need to detach the car seat from the cart, lift the car seat into the row and shimmy it to the window seat if need be. Then fold your cart and stow it under the seat in front of your car seat. If your car seat is light enough that you carried it over the tops of the seats, hopefully you can gently place it in position to begin installing the car seat on the plane.

For me, maneuvering down the airplane aisle was always the worst part of flying with a car seat!

How do you install a carseat on a plane? It’s usually pretty easy

Do you remember your first time?

The first time you huffed, puffed, sweated, swore and possibly cried… through installing a car seat, that is.

Installing a car seat on a plane won’t be like that. It’s generally the easiest kind of installation you can do. There are just a few simple steps for how to install a car seat on a plane:

• Find the correct belt path on your car seat for rear-facing or forward-facing
• Loosen the adjustable side of the airplane seatbelt
• Feed that side through the belt path
• Pray that your hand is tiny enough to reach through
• Buckle the seatbelt
• Put your weight into the car seat (possibly with the airplane seat reclined) while pulling the seatbelt tail to tighten

Here are few tips to help you out… 

• An infant car seat is the easiest style to install since the “belt path” is just two little arms that are completely exposed.
• For a rear-facing car seat, the buckle is usually between your child’s feet or knees so it won’t bother them. As long as your child is on the older side of infancy, it’s ok to install your rear-facing convertible car seat a little more upright. Sometimes that’s necessary on airlines with tiny seat pitches.
• The biggest challenge with using a forward-facing car seat on an airplane is that the seat belt buckle may end up right in the middle of your child’s back. We usually shove a sweatshirt in there after installing the car seat to offer more padding and that’s worked well. Some parents also recommend looping the short side of the seatbelt around the armrest so that the latch plate connects outside of the car seat.
• If your car seat has a lock-off for seatbelt installation pretty please read the manual to understand your seat’s particulars. The last thing you want to do is break the lock-off on your super expensive car seat ! See the yellow box below.

That’s pretty much it when it comes to car seat airplane installation! The best place to look for details on your car seat is in your manual.

SPECIAL NOTE: Installing a car seat with a lock-off, ClickTight, SnugLock or other fancy tensioning mechanism Lots of car seats today are designed to make seatbelt installation in cars easier, and I love them. They may have a traditional lock-off (Clek Foonf/Fllo, Britax Allegiance etc), a locking panel (Britax ClickTight, Graco SnugLock) or a “tensioning” panel (Evenflo LockStrong, Nuna True Tension). The common feature of these seats is that you must consult the instructions to make sure you install the car seat on the plane without breaking it. Generally you’re instructed to bypass the tensioning/locking mechanism for aircraft installation. At least once per week now I’m asked how to install a Britax ClickTight on a plane, or someone tells me that they couldn’t get it to work and had to check the seat. Below you can see the Britax ClickTight airplane installation instructions taken from the Marathon manual, and you’ll not that they’re totally different than the instructions for installing in a car! Note that the directions for installing the car seat rear facing and forward facing are different as well.

Want to know all my best secrets? Click here to learn how to travel with your car seat like a pro!

You can only be seated in specific places on the plane

Nearly all airlines have rules on where on the plane you can install your child’s car seat. Generally speaking, it needs to be in a window seat if it’s a single aisle plane, and it can also be in a middle seat in the middle section on a plane with two aisles. We’ve gotten away with putting a rear-facing car set in the window and a forward-facing car seat in the adjacent middle seat.

A car seat (or a child without a car seat, for that matter) can’t be in an exit row. In the US, you usually can’t install a car seat in the row in front of or behind the exit row either. Many airlines don’t allow car seats in the bulkhead row.

Errrrrr…. So where can you install the car seat?

Rest easy. You can install your child’s car seat in the vast majority of seats on any given flight (assuming the airline permits them). We’ve only run into an issue once in all the flights we’ve taken, and that was because we were assigned seats immediately behind the exit row.

If you’re having trouble figuring out the right seats to request or if you’ve booked a Basic Economy fare, I suggest reaching out to the airline in a private message on Facebook or Twitter and let them know you’ll be taking a car seat on the plane. It’s by far the fastest way to reach a real customer service representative, you’ll have everything documented and they can make changes for you immediately if you provide a confirmation number.

You have to install your car seat on a forward facing aircraft seat. Into the early 2000s, Southwest offered “lounge seats” (aka “party seats”) in the exit row that faced each other. You’re unlikely to see those again, but you also can’t install a car seat on sharply angled seats.

Some well-meaning parents worry about inconveniencing other passengers by limiting their recline on long flights. That’s awfully nice of you! Remember that your child’s safety trumps another passenger’s comfort and convenience. That said, you can try to mitigate the issue by putting someone else from your family in front of the car seat – especially if it’s rear-facing. 

When we traveled with two kids in car seats, we’d book our family of four in the “AB-AB” (two rows of window seat and middle seat) configuration rather than “ABC-D”. The forward-facing car seat went in the window seat in front of the rear-facing car seat since there was no real need for recline. We missed having the aisle seat but survived lots of flights this way.

If you’re lucky enough to be flying in First Class or Business Class, you’ll definitely want to do your research in advance. There are many limitations on car seats in First Class and Business Class and they vary not just by airline, but even by aircraft type and configuration.

Rear-facing car seats are awesome for sleeping babies (and beyond)

Do you ever have trouble falling asleep on flights because you just can’t seem to get comfortable? Imagine if you got to sit in a perfectly-sized, cushioned recliner for the entire flight. That’s what I’m talking about.

But seriously, that’s what it’s like for your baby or young toddler when you put them in a rear-facing car seat on the plane. Their heads are properly supported so they don’t loll awkwardly forward. Our flights got much harder when our kids switched to forward-facing because they had a harder time getting comfortable!

The other advantage of rear-facing car seats on planes is that your kids can’t really drop stuff. We’d prop the tablet at our kids’ feet against the seat back when they were old enough to watch. If they dropped a toy or blankie, it rarely went further than their laps (or ours). These days I feel like half of our flights are spent retrieving their stuff from disgusting airplane floors.

If you’re traveling with another child in a car seat or adult, you may want to consider seating them in front of the rear facing car seat so that a passenger outside of your family doesn’t lose out on recline. It’s not required, but it is considerate.

Your kid may not be able to use the tray table (but that might be ok)

One downside of using a forward-facing car seat on a plane is that, with very few exceptions ( this one , this one and this one ), a standard tray table won’t come down all the way. Boooooo. That can make it hard to serve them meals or offer quiet hands-on activities on a long international flight. One option is to bring along a tray like this one that props on their laps.

Somehow, our kids managed to survive. By the time we let them face the front of the plane, they were much more interested in spending the whole flight watching movies on the in-flight entertainment system… at least as much as we’d let them. And our kids have almost always refused airline meals anyway – just a few nibbles even on 13 hour flights! So we don’t stress too much about it. I do recommend bringing a car seat with a cupholder so that your kid can have easy drink access to stay hydrated.

This, however, is the one bright spot of Spirit Airlines and their comically tiny tray tables. They are so ridiculously small that the car seat arm rests don’t interfere with them!

You can flip the airplane car seat around mid-flight if you need to

The FAA says you have to use your car seat per manufacturer instructions, but if your child is the right age and size to rear-face or forward-face then it’s totally up to what you want to do. Change your mind mid-flight? No problem.

Why might you want to flip your car seat back and forth during the flight? There are a few reasons. On a long flight, you might want to let your child face forward to eat and watch a movie but then flip her rear-facing (which offers more recline) for sleeping. Alternatively, if you have a child who’s old enough to face forward but won’t stop kicking the seat in front then switching him to rear-facing is the kindest thing you can do for the passenger in front.

When riding in a car, the car seat harness should come from below the shoulders for rear-facing and above the shoulder for forward-facing. I have changed them mid-flight when there was a big difference, but for the cruise portion of the flight I wouldn’t worry if they’re pretty close to the right spot. For take-off and landing I’d make sure the car seat is installed such that the harness height is correct.

There isn’t usually anywhere to store a car seat on board

Last but not least… once you decide to bring a car seat on a plane with you, you’re pretty much locked in to that decision unless you bring this . Your child will be required to use it for take-off, landing and turbulent patches. In between they don’t necessarily have to be strapped in (though that’s always the safest bet).

But don’t plan on taking your baby out and stowing the car seat elsewhere to let them play. There generally isn’t room. There are exceptions, of course – on a huge international flight, the overhead bins (if they aren’t full) are usually tall enough to accommodate an infant car seat.

Sometimes flight attendants will be nice and put a car seat in a closet in another cabin. But usually either you take it or leave it. A notable exception is this car seat (suitable for kids at least 2-3 up to 7-8): if you’re bringing it on board for a child over 40lbs and decide you don’t want to use it mid-flight, you can separate the base from the back for storage.

If your child is at least 30 lbs and you don’t need a car seat at your destination (or you have a Ride Safer travel vest for cars), you can use the CARES harness instead if you think you’ll want your child to have the whole seat available to relax and play rather than sitting in the car seat most of the time.

Get a quick visual summary of flying with a car seat !

Flying with car seat FAQs

While kids under 2 who have their own seat on a plane are often required to use a car seat, kids over 2 aren’t required to use one. However , it’s strongly recommended to use a car seat to keep your child safe through runway incidents or extreme turbulence.

As kids approach 40 pounds, they can get a better fit with the airplane seatbelt than when they are smaller. But an average 3 year old is still just over 30lbs and benefits from riding in a travel car seat for a 3 year old . Another option at this age is the CARES harness .

Average sized 4 year olds can often sit safely using the airplane seat belt, though not if they’re on the smaller side. However, bringing the travel car seat on a plane avoids the risks of loss or damage when checking a car seat .

If you buy your child their own seat and are flying a US-based carrier, it’s your legal right to bring an FAA-approved car seat on board and use it! If you don’t buy a seat for your child (under age 2), you may luck out and ask for an empty seat. If you’re flying a non-US airline, be sure to check their specific policies before booking your tickets.

While a car seat isn’t generally required on a plane, some airlines do require a car seat if you purchase a ticket for a child under age 2 (assuming he or she is under 40lbs). Not sure if you do need a car seat on a plane for your upcoming trip? Reach out to the airline to confirm, but remember that the recommendation/requirement is in place to keep your child and the other passengers safe in a runway crash or during serious turbulence.

Car seats must be installed so that they don’t block the safe exit of another passenger. In a single-aisle aircraft, that generally means a window seat (or window seat and middle seat if you’re installing two car seats). On a two-aisle aircraft, you may also install a car seat in any airplane seat in the center section.

If you’ve purchased a ticket for your child, you don’t have to pay extra to bring the car seat on board! When checking your car seat , there’s generally no charge but many airlines deem them “special items” and aren’t liable for loss or damage per the contract of carriage.

You might also like…

• Uber and car seats: what you NEED to know about riding Uber with a baby or child
• Best travel car seat options by age
• Want a folding car seat for travel? Here are your best choices by age

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66 thoughts on “Flying with a car seat on a plane: 10 things you NEED to know (2024)”

I just wanted to say, your site has so much good information. I had a mom email me for booster seat info and I sent her straight to your site. She was very appreciative!

Awwwwww thanks, that’s so sweet of you!

Thank you for the info! I have had so much trouble finding a convertible car seat that will rear face on standard airplane (Boeing 737) with the proper recline. I have tried 3 different ones including the Costco scenera and they are so upright! Any advice on specific car seats? Or specific rows in the airplane that might have more legroom?

Hi Kristin! Thanks for your comment. It’s all dependent on how the airline sets the seat pitch and configures for that specific route. Which ones have you tried? And how old/big is your child?

I’ve tried the scenera, clek Fllo, and Britax boulevard clicktight. My daughter just turned 2 but we have flown 30 times with her and have just given up and forward faced her on the plane shortly after a year. We do buy the upgraded seats on Alaska for when we fly to Hawaii so she can sleep reclined rear facing.

Since she’s over 2, I wouldn’t sweat facing her forward on a plane at this point. Even at 1 year old, the most important thing is just to keep her safely restraint in case of turbulence (which is a much more common issue than plane crashes). If you have more kids in the future, just note that some car seats require a minimum of 2 years old to forward face. In theory, US airlines have to try to seat you in a place where you can use the car seat safely in the correct direction, but that would be more of an issue when traveling with an infant.

We use the maxi cosi pria 85 it’s been perfect!

I’m glad it’s been working for you!

Safe travels, Melissa

Hi! I had a question if you choose to buy a ticket for your infant (8 months) but decide to keep her on your lap, and check in the car seat at baggage, is that allowed?

Airlines will pretty much always allow you to check your car seat as baggage, though your risk of loss/damage is greater than if you keep it with you on the plane or at least until the gate. You would be required to hold your baby on your lap for take off, landing and turbulence; it’s up to flight crew discretion whether or not they’ll let your child use the empty seat at all during calm cruise portions of the flight, as some airlines do require that young infants have a car seat if they’re going to occupy a seat.

Hope that helps!

If a child is one and two years old are they suppost to bring their own car seat?

The FAA strongly recommends that kids under 40lbs ride in a car seat or CARES harness on a plane. If you buy a seat for children under 2, some US airlines do require them to sit in a car seat or CARES. Let me know if you have any other questions!

Best, Melissa

For a rear-facing infant car seat, do you need the base on the plane, or will just the seat do?

Hi Mindy, great question! For an infant seat, you’d install without the base. There should be a seatbelt guide (like a little plastic arm) on either side near baby’s knee. Thread the seatbelt through there, buckle and pull tight. That’s it! As long as you do not have the Nuna Pipa Lite, it’s very easy.

Hi!! Thanks for this amazing guide! I’m getting ready to fly in a couple of weeks with my 10 month old but I’m pretty sure I have to use the base with my car seat, the Nuna. Is this going to work- “installing” the base with car seat in the airplane seat? Thanks so much for your help!

Hi Dan, Thanks for stopping by! Car seat bases are not approved for use on planes. If you have the regular Nuna Pipa, you can install with the seatbelt guides (little black or silver arms on each side of the car seat near baby’s knees). If you have the Nuna Pipa Lite, unfortunately you can’t install it without the base at all – either on the plane or in a car. In that case I’d suggest that you pick up a lightweight convertible car seat – probably either the Combi Coccoro (my favorite) or the Cosco Scenera Next DLX (more budget-friendly).

If you have more questions, just drop me a reply here!

I’m flying with my 4 and 6 year olds and they both have the across the shoulder seat belt type booster seat, would it just be easier to gate check those, since it sounds like they won’t work in the plane seat? I’m confused if I make the 6 year olds a backless booster if u could use it on the plane or just not worry about it?

Thanks for stopping by! Airplanes don’t have shoulder belts, so you can’t use any booster seat on them at all. A backless booster is very easy to carry on – check out the Bubblebum for one that will fit in a backpack (you can read my in-depth review here ).

For your 4 year old, I know that a booster is convenient but it’s not really an ideal solution from a safety perspective. Most 4 year olds don’t sit properly in position 100% of the time (especially when sleeping as they often do after a travel day), and smaller kids run a greater risk of “submarining” under the lap belt in an accident. My favorite option for a 4 year old is the Ride Safer Travel Vest. It’s kind of a cross between a harness and a booster when you use it with the top tether, but it packs up small enough to fit in a backpack. The size small will last for several years. You can read more about it here . It’s on sale for Black Friday and I highly recommend it!

Let me know if there’s anything else I can help you out with.

Dear Melissa, Thanks for the info. It is my first time flying with my first kid, only 5 month old! Your page is so great! But, a question I have?! Am flying with very small plane, one aisle and totally 4 seats! 2 on each side. My wife and I and no ticket for baby. In this Covid world, am not planning to find any empty seat to use. So, what is your suggestion? Still, taking the car seat into cabin? Or using the baby holder on chest like a kangaroo? Or what else to make this nightmare sweeter?!! 🙂

Regards, Kian

Hi Kian, Thanks for your comment. Whether or not there’s an empty seat will definitely depend on which airline and what route. My husband and I had to fly (separately) last month for an emergency and our smaller flights on Delta were at 50% capacity, with all aisle seats open (2-and-2 configuration). I recommend at least bringing the car seat to the gate with plenty of time to spare and asking if there’s an open seat you can use. Remember, it’s in the airline’s best interest for your baby to be safely strapped in a car seat as well so she doesn’t become a projectile in bad turbulence! US airlines do not permit the use of a carrier during takeoff and landing, as your baby becomes your own airbag in a runway accident. You can wear your baby during the cruise portion of the flight (though you may have to remove her in bad turbulence).

I hope this helps!

Hello Melissa Thank you for your informative post about flying with a car seat. I was reading some other posts but I do have a question for you. So I have the Nuna Pipe Lite car seat. So I am assuming that in order to travel with this specific car seat I’m going to need to bring along the base so it can lock into the airplane seat.

Hi Barbara,

Unfortunately the Nuna Pipa Lite is the only car seat you can’t use in-flight 🙁 Car seat bases are NOT approved by the FAA.

I recommend that you buy either the Combi Coccoro (my favorite!) or the Cosco Scenera Next (more budget-friendly, just make sure to get a solid color). They’re both lightweight convertible car seats that will fit your baby well now and last for several years to come.

Please let me know if you have any more questions!

Hi Melissa,

Thank you for your website and all this great information! My question is in regard to checking our carseats and double-stroller. We have an upcoming flight on American Airlines and their website specifically states: *Each ticketed customer is allowed 1 stroller and 1 car seat to be checked free of charge *Strollers over 20 lbs / 9 kgs must be checked at the ticket counter *All other strollers should be checked at the gate before boarding *If you have a stroller and a car seat only 1 can be checked at the gate

We are traveling with 2 kids under 2. We just wanted to see what your advice was if they are going to indeed make us check our double-stroller (Which is definitely over 20lbs). We may ask if they have extra seats, but if not, we are planning on just checking both car seats as well. What do you recommend as far as maybe bags to protect these items while they get thrown around during the process?

Thanks for stopping by! American does indeed have a stingy limit for gate checked strollers. Is there any chance you can get away with a single stroller and a baby carrier? We always had great success with that! Otherwise you won’t have your stroller in the airport at all – on either end.

Unfortunately protective bags can only do so much good for car seats. This is one of the more padded options. They can prevent the cover from getting dirty or torn, but if baggage handlers chuck them from the belly down to the ground hard enough then there can still be damage. You’d want to make sure to inspect a checked car seat for signs of damage (namely stress marks on the plastic shell) before using in the car. If you do wind up having to gate check your car seats, the good thing is that I’ve never encountered an airline enforcing a rule of only gate check either the stroller or the car seat. I can’t promise anything about American because they’re pretty stingy in that department, but it would be worth bringing everything to the gate. I would avoid checking car seats with baggage if at all possible – there’s that much more opportunity for loss or damage. You can read more about checking car seats (if you haven’t already).

If you haven’t already, make sure you’ve told AA that you will have two lap children, as a standard single aisle plane only has four oxygen masks for every three seats – your family would have to be split onto opposite sides of the aisle and seated next to strangers unless they happen not to assign a third adult to an ABC set of seats.

I hope this is helpful! Please let me know if you have any other questions.

Have you brought a Doona on Spirit? Can you confirm that it fits in the seat?

Thanks for stopping by! I have not tried that particular combination. Some of Spirit’s seats are 17″ wide (which the Doona could probably work with) but some of them are a paltry 15.5″. You may be able to find specific widths for your aircraft if you check SeatGuru, though it’s always subject to an equipment change. I will say that we managed to squeeze our Evenflo SecureKid in on Spirit and it’s a little wider than the Doona.

If you anticipate flying Spirit often, I suggest picking up the Combi Coccoro . It’s the narrowest convertible car seat and also extremely light. We traveled with ours for many years and loved it so much that it was our younger child’s main seat at home too 🙂 It’s not the tallest convertible car seat but will last a few years. Also – it’s currently on sale!

Thanks for this extremely informative article, Melissa! I have an upcoming trip, flying American, and would like to bring my 13 month old’s car seat to use on the plane, and then in the car at our destination. What do I do with the car seat base? Does this have to be put in our checked luggage then? Thanks!

Thanks for your comment! As long as the seat isn’t the Nuna Pipa Lite, I would consider leaving the base at home and installing baseless. If you’ve never done that, I’m happy to help you through it. If you do want to bring the base, the safest option is to put it in the overhead bin or under the seat in front of your baby. You could also consider checking it in a hard-sided suitcase, but you’ll need to keep your eye on the airline’s weight limit as some bases are close to 10 pounds on their own and suitcases that can fit bases could weigh nearly that much as well.

Hope this help!

Safe traves, Melissa

Can my 5 year old sit in a seat without a carseat?

If your child is 40 pounds, your child can safely fly without a car seat. We did continue bringing our harnessed booster on the plane even after 5 to avoid checking it. Another option would be to bring a Ride Safer Travel Vest to use in the car, which you can tuck in a carry on for the flight.

I used to be very pleased to seek out this web-site.I needed to thanks on your time for this wonderful read!! I definitely having fun with each little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to take a look at new stuff you blog post.

Hello, is it safe for baby to sleep in the carseat in a plane? I am planning to fly 6 hours ( lax to bos) with a 6 month old. I have the Doona which I will be taking her in.

Everyone should get up to stretch and move around every ~2 hours, including babies, whether you’re traveling by car or plane. It’s never ideal for baby to sleep in anything other than a safe, flat place like a crib or bassinet but when we’re trying to balance safe transportation and safe sleep it’s ok to let baby snooze in the car seat as long as it’s reclined at the proper angle.

Hello, I’m traveling with my 2 year old in august and debating on which car seat to use. We are flying through copa airline, Do you have any advice or recommendations? Thanks!

Hi Katahna,

Thanks for stopping by! The most popular option these days is the Cosco Scenera Next . It’s super affordable and super lightweight. It is generally outgrown once a child reaches 37-38″ tall, so if your kiddo is at the top of the growth charts a different option may be better.

You can read about the pros and cons of many different travel car seats for 2 year olds . If you need more guidance, please just reply with your child’s height and weight.

Safe travels,

I’ve been using the Cosco Scenera for air travel. It was recommended a lot when I searched for airplane car seats. It’s fine rear facing, except for the person’s recline in front of it. Forward facing, the belt path is beneath the cloth and the buckle doesn’t clear the path. My son has the buckle in his back and he cannot sit like that. This is on a Southwest plane. Do you have any suggestions on how we can fly in this seat comfortably?

Hi Melissa. Thank you for putting together this amazing article, it is so helpful! I am a first time Mama to twins. They will be a year old this summer and we have a flight booked from NJ to SC. I bought seats for them and wanted to bring my car seats on the plane (and gate check my double Zoe twin stroller that folds). I even bought the travel wheel thing I can attach their car seats too to wheel them through the airport thanks to you! We have the Britax One4Life. We are flying United. The Britax website says its FAA certified. The website says its 19.5 inches wide. We are flying regular economy. I’m so scared we will get on board the plane and the Britax seats won’t fit in the airplane seats! Any tips?

Thanks for stopping by! Somehow I didn’t get notified of your question in a timely manner, so I’m really sorry for the delay. Personally I’d only fly with the One4Life if I was relocating and had to take it with me. If the plane is narrow you may be unable to wheel them down the aisle. Even if you can, it’ll be a tight squeeze. And times two!

Since your twins are still so young, I’d pick up two of the Cosco Scenera Next (get the solid colors). They’re not nearly as fancy, but your travel day will be infinitely easier.

I’m traveling soon with my 4 and soon to be 7 year old. Both are still in harness car seat, but my daughter does have a booster seat convertible seat, with the harness option. Has anyone ever traveled with an older child still using the harness option?

Your child can legally use a harnessed car seat on a plane in the US as long as she’s within the manufacturer guidelines. That said, if it’s an “all in one” seat you may want to check the maximum height limit if she’s average height. I believe that the all-in-one seats cap out at 49″ in harness mode and you also need to be sure the straps are still coming from above her shoulders. If she’s mature enough to sit still for the whole car ride, a booster seat is a VERY safe option at her age. If she’s still a little wiggly, you can look into the Ride Safer Travel Vest and use it with the top tether.

Let me know if you need more ideas!

Hi Melissa, What if we couldn’t get a window seat for car seat? You said it generally needs to be a window but we had book same week as we’re flying and could only get middle and aisle seats.

They’ll need to do some shuffling! Reach out to the airline ASAP via Twitter dm or Facebook messenger. Include your last name and confirmation number and give them a heads up that you’ll be bringing a car seat. They should shuffle for you, and it’s easier before day-of. If they can’t, be sure to allow extra time at the airport and it should get sorted out.

Hi Melissa, In a couple of weeks we will traveling to Costa Rica from North Carolina , it is an international flight with one stop on Atlanta, , We have a Chicco Keyfit 30 car seat that fits in our Chicco Bravo Stroller; My plan is to bring both the carseat and the stroller to the gate and use the car seat for my daughter (7 months old) during the flight, and for the stroller let the crew members take care of it (the stroller is less than 9kg) so I can use it again when we landed (We have a 3h layover). I have read that it is permitted either the stroller or the car seat on the gate, but not both , but in this case we are using the car seat and the stroller as “one piece”, and I’ll just “de-attached” once we reach to the gate. Do you know if that is possible? PD: We are flying with American Airlines (we are paying our daughter’s seat)

Hi Kenneth,

Thanks for stopping by! It’s no problem to bring your car seat on board and gate check your stroller. We did it all the time 🙂 Please let me know if you have any questions, and be sure to read up on Costa Rica car seat laws before you go.

We are planning to travel to PHX from EWR soon and wanted to know if United Airlines allows us to gate check our stroller for 3month old and use car seat? Getting her separate seat on the flight as well.

thanks, Dinesh

Thanks for stopping by. Yes, you can gate check the stroller and use the car seat on the flight 🙂 We did it many times on United!

One thing I’m still not sure is whether you NEED to bring the car seat base, in addition to the actual car seat. We are traveling across country to see my family and would have a carseat available when we arrived. So, I’m thinking NOT having the base would make lugging around the seat (and baby, and dog, etc) a little easier. Can you please confirm whether having the base is necessary?

Thanks for stopping by! As long as you do not have the Nuna Pipa Lite (including Lite R and Lite LX) you can travel without the base. How you choose to do it is a matter of personal preference. We generally left the base at home for our Chicco KeyFit but did bring it once or twice when we were renting a car AND our kid was a very consistent car sleeper. The base fit well in the basket of our KeyFit Caddy and then in the overhead bin. Other than the Pipa Lite mentioned above, the base is not approved for installation on a plane.

As a more experienced parent now, I’d probably leave it at home for most trips. If you go that route, be sure to practice a baseless seatbelt installation (including locking the seatbelt) in advance. If you are traveling outside of the US or will be installing in a very old car (pre-1997 generally) be sure to have a locking clip and know how to use it. In contemporary cars in the US that’s not a concern.

Hi! Thank you so much for your article. We’re planning our first Family vacation for Orlando and we’ll be traveling (kids first time) through JetBlue. My question is, my daughter (4 at the time of travel) will be using her Diono Radian, but I’m not sure if my son (who will be exactly 6 years old at the time of travel since it’s on his b-day week) should and can have his Diono Radian? He’s a bit on the shorter side but “big-boned”. Or should I “check it” at the gate? I’m not sure what would be best.

Traveling with two Radians is downright heroism! I’d strongly consider something lighter for the birthday boy. He can legally use the Radian on board but basically anything else will make YOUR life easier! Since he’s the older one, you’d get a lot of mileage out of a Ride Safer Travel Vest tucked in his backpack. Here are additional travel car seats for 6 year olds that you can consider.

As a side note, the Radian is outgrown fairly early forward-facing – usually once the harness is no longer above the kiddo’s shoulders. It doesn’t make a great booster seat for a variety of reasons unfortunately. I’m a co-admin in this very helpful car seat group , which you’re welcome to join for a photo fit check and recommendations on the next step 🙂

What is the risk of a 5 yr old, 53lber, in an airline seat? Curious about if submarining is an issue. Unable to bring the harnessed booster for the flight, and am thinking of either the whiz rider or travel vest for the car portion of the trip once we leave the airport. Really wish the CARES system was an option but as we wouldn’t pass the extended usage of CARES exemption, am curious about the safety aspect of a lap belt only seat for the 5 yr old. Thank you!

Thanks for stopping by! At 53lbs, your kiddo is fine using the airplane seatbelt alone. You could bring the Ride Safer Travel Vest or, if mature enough for a booster seat, hifold . The vest is more compact but the hifold is easier to use properly when getting in and out of a rental car frequently.

Hi. What an excellent article, thank you so much. And I wish you didn’t have to repeat the “don’t bring a base” part in every other comment 😉

We are traveling to the Middle East with our 3 mth old, and it’s a long flight with a 5 hour stop at the Istanbul airport. We are flying Turkish airlines and do not have an extra seat for the baby, but for buy a bassinet seat up front.

Qs to you, we want to use our stroller and the car seat at the Turkish airport. We have a Cybex Cloud Q car seat with a Cybex Libelle stroller, which can fold and become the size of a small hand carry bag. Do you think we can give the car seat at the gate and get it at the Istanbul Airport, while we keep the stroller in the overhead compartment ?

Question: we didn’t purchase a seat for our 15 mo on an upcoming flight but hope to be able to bring his car seat on. If they don’t have room, we have a bag and we’ll gate check it. If they do have room and we can put him in it for the flight, what do we do with our big, bulky car seat gate check bag for the flight?

I’m so sorry I’m just seeing this! Most of the car seat bags can fold up and then go under the seat in front of your child.

I wish I had found your site that so helpfully synthesizes so much information before I went and did dozens of hours of research myself!

We’re flying with our 5 month old from the US to Spain next week where we will be renting a car. We would prefer to take our Chicco Keyfit 35 as he’s most comfortable in that, however half of our flights are with British Airways and Iberia which require all car seats to forward face. I know Chicco says to never forward face this seat. But is it possible to do so on a aircraft? We also have a Graco Contender Slim that we will take if we must but I would really love to find a way to take the Chicco. Thanks so much!

I just flew with my 20 month old and really had trouble fitting his convertible seat rear facing. It was very hard to fit the seat because of the pitch (distance between seats from front to back). The seat ended up tipped more than recommended by the manual. Kid was tipped forward, towards the seat back. I waved down the flight attendants but they had no suggestions. This was Alaska Airlines, so not a budget airline. I am using the Cosco Scenera, probably the most popular car seat to travel with. Nowadays the airlines are squeezing the seats as close as possible together. Has anyone successfully installed a rear facing convertible seat on an airline?

I’ll be flying with my 3 year old next month. At what weight is the lap belt acceptable? He’s currently about 38 pounds and a little over 40 inches tall. I’m thinking I’ll take the car seat but just wanted to know the options. Thank you 🙂

Airplane seatbelts generally begin fitting at 40lbs, but on some larger seats it they might not give a great fit until closer to 45lbs. Taking your seat on board also ensures that it arrives without damage, and at your destination!

Dear Melissa,

Thank you so much for this page. I’ve read it several times now! My one concern still is that we’re taking a long-haul flight (9 hours) and I know it’s only recommended for babies to stay in the car seat for 2 hours-ish. Is this ok? It’s an overnight flight so I’d really love it if our little one (1yo at the time of the flight) could sleep for the majority of the time.

Thank you so much for the advice!

Thanks for stopping by! I wouldn’t wake a sleeping 1yo mid-flight, but when they wake up naturally that’s a great time to get out of the seat and get everyone’s blood flowing. The real risk at that age is blood clots, which is the same risk as for adults on a long-haul flight.

The article offers some useful insights and helpful advice. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us.

Hi Margaretta,

Thank you for your kind words!

You provided a well balanced view of the topic, allowing viewers to create their own opinion.

Your interest forever is contagious! You are so recognizing as well as kind-hearted.

Why thank you!

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Bond set for substitute teacher allegedly caught undressed in car with teenage student

ELKHORN, Neb. ( WOWT /Gray News) - Bond conditions have been set for Erin Ward, the substitute teacher accused of being caught undressed with a teenage student.

Her bond was set at $25,000, according to WOWT.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Ward is still in jail; however, if she bonds out, she is forbidden to contact the teen or any other minor.

Ward was formally charged with sexual abuse by a school employee. If convicted, she faces up to 20 years in prison.

Douglas County Sheriff’s deputies responded early Saturday morning to a call regarding a suspicious vehicle parked on a dead-end road in a neighborhood, WOWT reported.

When deputies arrived, they found Ward and a 17-year-old boy in the backseat.

Authorities said the teen jumped in the driver’s seat and attempted to flee from deputies before crashing.

After crashing the car, deputies saw the teen running from the driver’s seat without any clothes on. However, he was found more than an hour later in a nearby neighborhood wearing only underwear and a T-shirt.

She allegedly told authorities that she was a substitute teacher at Burke High School and other schools.

Deputies determined that the vehicle belonged to Ward and her spouse.

As of now, the court has sealed the affidavit.

Ward’s preliminary hearing was scheduled for May 22.

Copyright 2024 WOWT via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

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35 Best Toys and Gifts for 4-Year-Olds

Think of these unique ideas when birthdays or other gift-giving occasions roll around.

We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.

"At 4 years old, kids can better distinguish between fantasy and reality, so dress up costumes, puppets and even things like play scarves allow them to pretend and imagine a variety of games," says Jacque Bogdanov, PsyD, child psychologist and founder of ChildBehaviorClinic.com . "Puzzles with greater complexity are appropriate for 4-year-olds as they develop better fine motor skills, coordination and greater problem-solving skills. Construction-type toys, like wooden or foam blocks, larger LEGO sets and magnetic tiles also further encourage problem-solving skills. Play-Doh is another great option as it builds kids’ creativity, as well as finger strength for writing, which they will soon be working on."

The good news is that means there's so much to choose from. The bad news is that means there's so much choice, it can be overwhelming. Luckily, the Good Housekeeping Institute can step in to help. In advance of its yearly Good Housekeeping Best Toy Awards , Lab experts evaluate hundreds of toys each year, checking everything from safety to durability to whether a parent might want each toy in their home.

Then the Good Housekeeping Institute passes the toys on to the real experts — actual 4-year-olds — to assess how fun they are to play with, paying particular attention to which toys kids go back to again and again. When the results came in, these were the best toys and gifts to give 4-year-olds in 2024.

Skillmatics Foil Fun

Kid testers couldn't get enough of this unique art project — testers reported that, at picnics and get-togethers, this brought all the little ones together. Kids rub the foil sheets onto the included puffy stickers and, — like magic — the shiny colors transfer over. The kids can use the stickers to make different animal scenes. Ages 4+

Melissa & Doug Scissor Skills Activity Book

Being able to use scissors is a sign of kindergarten readiness, and this activity book was designed to help kids learn to use scissors safely . Included in the kit are mazes, puzzles, animal art, sequencing activities and a pair of plastic safety scissors that help build motor and cognitive skills. The best part? It costs less than $10 , so it's great when you need just a little something. Ages 4+

Big Feelings Pineapple

This pineapple isn't just pretty — it's a great tool for social-emotional learning. When kids use the pieces to make a face, they can compare it to a chart of faces to try and identify and name the emotion. Then, they can look in the pineapple-shaped mirror to see how the expression looks on their real face. Parent testers loved how it gave them the chance to help kids learn the names for their feelings. Ages 3+

Learning Resources Coding Critters

This adorable set is the perfect way to introduce your 4-year-old to coding. Each critter has a set of arrows that help kids "code" its next moves . Kids can follow along with the storybook's directions at first, but they can eventually create their own coding rules for even more fun. There's even a play mode for kids to simply take care of the pets. If they don't like dogs, you can also get the Coding Critters in the shape of a cat , a rabbit or a dinosaur , and Learning Resources also has MagiCoders , which come as a unicorn and a dragon. Ages 4+

VTech Storytime with Sunny

Its amazing how expressive the face on this story-and-joke telling lamp is, and kids love switching out her disks to hear different stories, jokes and activities. Parents loved that it's actually a working night light and alarm clock, which made it easier to start morning and bedtime routines. Ages 3+

Orboot Earth Augmented Reality Globe

Not only is this interactive toy a Lab favorite, but it's also the best-selling globe on Amazon. At first glance, all kids see is the land masses, with no labels or borders. With the free Orboot App, kids can hover their tablet over different parts of the world and learning various tidbits about different countries (from animals and weather to monuments and more). It's a great introduction to social studies. Ages 4+

How to Count to ONE

This picture book had Good Housekeeping Institute testers laughing and laughing. “There were so many giggles while we were reading it!” one reviewer said. The silly counting book has different fanciful illustrations, but always prompts the reader to find a lone item. For example, on the second page, there's a drawing of two whales, one of which has a sausage riding on its spout. Of course, the book asks, "How many sausages do you see?" The answer? Simple, yet hilarious. Ages 3 – 6

RELATED: Good Housekeeping Best Kids' Book Awards

Playstix Construction Toy

If you're looking for a new building set that they might not have a million of already, this one has long, grooved pieces that lock in with each other. The pieces are color-coded by length, so it's easy to follow along with the instructions and see how different models are built. Or, they can use them for open-ended building and can go wherever their imaginations take them. Ages 4+

BumBumz Plush

The adorable shapes of these plushies won over Good Housekeeping testers. They come in sets of five in different themes — from breakfast foods to groovy symbols like lava lamps and peace signs — and they're perfect for any kid with a collection of cute stuffed animals. Ages 3+

This fun game helps your kids develop language and word recognition skills thanks to the yellow chips with words and images on them. The red Zinger dispenses the chips, and the players race to fill up their board first. It has two levels of play, so kids can continue to enjoy as they grow older. Ages 4+

Quadrilla 'Race to the Finish' Marble Run

Since this toy's layout can be moved around plenty of times, there are endless possibilities so your 4-year-old won't get bored. The different colored blocks have various actions, like spins, drops and spiral funnels. If they like it, they can move on to more complex Quadrilla sets . Note: Since this toy uses marbles, it should be kept out of reach of children under 3 years old. Ages 4+

Crayola Light Up Activity Board

Kids can experiment with mixing colors and combining shapes with this board, which illuminates artwork as they create it. By layering transparency sheets, they can come up with all sorts of designs. In addition to the board, it comes with three markers, 22 shape clings and three “Complete the Scene” transparency sheets. Ages 3+

GeoSafari Jr. Talking Space Explorer

Fans of the ever-popular, best-selling GeoSafari Jr. Talking Microscope can go from looking into inner space to gazing into outer space with this new toy telescope. Kids look with both eyes, so they don't have to try to keep one closed, and when they do, they'll be treated to actual night-sky images from NASA . Then, the voice of Emily Calandrelli from Netflix's Emily's Wonder Lab offers fascinating facts about the images. Ages 4+

Land of Dough 7 oz Cups

Each of these cups of dough comes with a whimsical picture and design on top — that kids get to smush together, giving them a satisfying sensory experience. The cup also comes with a lot of dough for their creations (seven ounces is more than you think), along with a wooden scooper to use. Parents liked that Land of Dough kept sustainability in mind when choosing ingredients and packaging materials, but kids loved the smell most of all. Ages 3+

Highlights Jumbo Book of My First Hidden Pictures

They'll be hard at work hunting — plus doing mazes, drawing pictures, connecting dots and working on other fun activities — with this hidden picture book geared towards younger readers. And it'll last: This one clocks in at more than 250 pages. Ages 3+

LEGO Disney 100 Celebration Train

Mickey fans young and old will delight in the favorite Disney characters on this LEGO train, including Peter Pan, Tinker Bell, Woody, Moana and, of course, Mickey and Minnie themselves. When 4-year-olds snap the 200 pieces together, they can make a parade and feel like they're right on Main Street in Disneyland. Ages 4+

Design & Drill Bolt Buddies Farm

This is an imaginative playset and a STEM construction toy in one! Kids can use a toy, battery-operated drill to put together the farm, including the crops and fences. After they play, they can use the drill to take it all apart again. The farmer is even a screwdriver if the kids want to use that instead of the drill (and get even more practice on their fine motor coordination). You can also get a take-apart tractor to go with it, complete with a farmer and chicken. Ages 3+

Good Housekeeping 123 Cook!

If the kids dream about competing on Top Chef or The Great British Baking Show , this is the gift for them. It offers 50 easy recipes they can use to get started. In addition to instructions for how to make things like Ooey-Gooey Glazed Cinnamon Rolls or Totally Twisted Pasta with Cherry Tomato Sauce, it also offers tips from Good Housekeeping experts on kitchen tools and techniques. Once they've mastered these, they can move on to Good Housekeeping Kids Cook! Ages 4+

Sink N’ Sand Game

Kid testers loved that this board game uses Kinetic Sand as part of the gameplay: At first, the colorful sticks hold up. But, as the game goes on, players remove the sticks and the pieces go tumbling to the bottom level. Parent testers were pretty amazed at how long the sand stays up too. Ages 4+

Micro Kickboard Mini Deluxe Eco Scooter

Good Housekeeping Institute experts appreciated the stability of Micro's three-wheeled scooters, along with the way the height can adjust as kids grow. Parents might also appreciate that the "Eco" version uses components created from recycled ocean plastic. The Mini Deluxe is for kids ages 2 – 5, but if you want to go bigger, the three-wheeled Maxi Deluxe Eco ($150) is for kids ages 5 – 12, so it'll last them into the tween years. Ages 2+

RELATED: The Best Scooters for Kids

Marisa (she/her) has covered all things parenting, from the postpartum period through the empty nest, for Good Housekeeping since 2018; she previously wrote about parents and families at Parents and Working Mother . She lives with her husband and daughter in Brooklyn, where she can be found dominating the audio round at her local bar trivia night or tweeting about movies.

Rachel Rothman was the chief technologist and executive technical director of the Good Housekeeping Institute for over 15 years , overseeing testing methodology, implementation and reporting for all GH Labs. She also managed GH's research division and the analysis of applicants for the GH Seal and all other testing emblems. 

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