wayb pico travel car seat used

Wayb Pico review: an expert and traveling parents weigh in (2024)

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This review of the WAYB Pico car seat is written by certified Child Passenger Safety Technician Melissa Conn and may contain affiliate links.

There are some amazing folding car seat options for older kids that make long-term travel and taxi-hopping a breeze. But until recently, parents of young kids who were too big for an infant car seat and still too small for a Ride Safer travel vest were mostly left out in the cold.

Enter: the Wayb Pico car seat . A team of parents with backgrounds in designing highly technical outdoor gear put their talents to work to design an innovative solution to this pain in the ass problem. You can see the fruits of their labor here :

You can see my quick video review of the WAYB Pico here:

Thanks to the marketing team’s prolific use of social media ads for the crowdfunding campaign, basically every traveling family in the US has seen a picture of this contraption. But with a steep price tag and some very real limitations, lots of parents have asked: is the Wayb Pico worth it? This is the most comprehensive Wayb Pico review you’ll find, so hopefully by the end you’ll be able to answer that question for yourself.

Pro tip: This is the cheapest place to buy the WAYB Pico. If you’re thinking about buying elsewhere, be sure to check the price first. Also read over my legit tips for getting a WAYB Pico discount .

Big thanks to Child Passenger Safety Technician – Instructor Courtney Levesque for providing some of her insights in this review! She’s mom to two lovely girls, who were kind enough to model for a way b car seat photo shoot. You’ll find some of Courtney’s feedback and photos as well as my own in the in-depth review of the Pico portable car seat below, followed by some  amazing real-world feedback  and Wayb Pico reviews from some of our parents who have been traveling with the  Wayb Pico  and covering a wide range of situations.

Is the Wayb Pico safe? The  Wayb Pico passes all federal safety testing , just like traditional car seats. But there are always subjective elements to car seats that may be in the eye of the beholder (whether kid or grown up): fit, ease of installation, price tag. Since every family has different kids and different needs, I also asked a few of our readers to weigh in with their thoughts after traveling with the Wayb Pico – you can find their reviews at the end of the article.

Check out our detailed expert Wayb Pico car seat review below:

What is the Wayb Pico car seat? 

The Wayb Pico car seat is a forward-facing foldable 5-point harness carseat. It’s currently certified for use in the USA and conforms to FMVSS213 – despite its small form factor, the Wayb Pico car seat safety standards are the same as traditional car seats sold in this country. It can be installed and used in both cars and airplanes. It retails for $380 USD and there’s a new-and-improved for 2023 carry bag available that costs an extra $95. Reader Annie uses this bag for her Pico and says it works great!

It’s about as light as other lightweight car seats for 3 year olds and 4 year olds , but its super power is that it folds in half for easy transportation.

Just how compact is the WAYB Pico? This lovely girl from our Facebook group is 40″ tall and you can see how tiny the Pico is next to her.

It’s also so compact that it fit perfectly under the bed in a cruise ship stateroom! It’s the best harnessed car seat for a cruise if your child is 2+ years old for that reason alone.

The photo below should give you a sense for what it’s like to travel with the WAYB Pico. You can see my brother-in-law casually slinging it from one shoulder while carrying a bunch of other stuff and paying attention to a kid! It’s basically the size of a large daypack.

Who is the Wayb Pico meant for?

The Wayb Pico can be used by children who are 22-50 pounds and 30-45 inches tall. The child must be at least 1 year old, but Wayb recommends the child be at least 2 years old to use the Pico. The seat is 14.5 inches wide and only weighs 8 pounds ! Because it’s so narrow, this is also a good car seat for three-across situations.

Above you can see my petite 2 year old niece riding in the WAYB Pico. She fits perfectly and will use it for several years to come. As you can see, it’s an ideal car seat for 3 across in the back of my 2022 Toyota Sienna and even allowed the older kids to use full-sized booster seats with room to spare.

In general, she’s not a fan of riding in a car seat (nor modeling them for me). But as you can see above, the Pico was comfortable enough that she had a nice long nap during a shore excursion on our family cruise!

Courtney tried out the Pico with her 4.5 year old daughter who is small for her age at 39 inches and 30 pounds. She has outgrown the Cosco Scenera Next that she used to use for travel, but is not old enough to use a booster seat. Since the FAA recommends children under 40 pounds use a 5-point harness car seat on a plane , she wanted something light and compact like the Pico instead of using a bulkier traditional car seat. The Pico seat is mesh stretched around a metal frame. It reminds me of a fancy office chair. 

Here’s my favorite model testing out the WAYB Pico just after age 5. He’s average height and weight for his age but with a slightly long torso and you can see that he’s basically and the harness height limit. The crotch buckle position was also a little snug for him.

The harness height is non-adjustable and is approximately 16 inches from the seat bottom. For the high Wayb Pico price tag, it has a fairly low harness height and will be outgrown for most kids by height before weight.  For reference, the harness height is the same as the Cosco Onlook and 1″ shorter than the Cosco Mighty Fit 65 and the Cosco Finale DX .

It’s important to know that the WAYB Pico harness adjusts differently than most other car seats. Instead of a center adjuster strap between the feet, you tighten and loosen each side at your child’s hip. It’s really important that you raise the headrest to at least position 2 and tighten the harness properly.

The short crotch buckle is one of the disadvantages of the WAYB Pico. The crotch buckle sits approximately 4.5 inches from the back of the seat (this is the equivalent distance of the middle slot on the Cosco Scenera Next ). Courtney’s daughter found it uncomfortable to have the buckle that close to her. The edges of the buckle tongues would poke her legs if she sat with them straight. Crossing her legs made the fit a bit comfier, but she complained about it the entire time they were trying it out.

Wayb Pico  install details

The Pico is shipped fully assembled and folded into its compact state. To use the seat, you need to unfold it, lock the seat bottom in place with the red metal hook, and raise the headrest. It’s a very quick process and pretty simple.

The  Wayb Pico  forward facing car seat can be installed using LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children), or using the seatbelt and top tether. Since the Pico is a forward facing only car seat, there is only one belt path, marked by two red guides on the frame.

Wayb recommends  using LATCH whenever possible , since it tends to be an easier installation method. The lower anchor strap is permanently threaded through the frame and has a single adjuster on one side of the belt. The push-on lower anchors have handy storage spots right on the frame and are easy to disconnect and connect. Courtney didn’t have too much trouble installing the Pico in several different locations in my 2016 Honda Odyssey using LATCH. It even fit on the 2nd row center seat, which is only 14 inches wide. I have installed it easily with LATCH in my 2022 Toyota Sienna and even in a random tour van on St. Thomas!

Installation with the seatbelt can be a bit difficult depending on the seatbelt configuration. When installing with seat belt, only the lap portion of the belt goes into the guides, and the shoulder portion sits in front of them. The red belt guides are quite narrow. The seat belt tended to bunch and get caught in the guides when trying to tighten. Pulling the belt tight and then sliding it into one belt guide, then, while continuing to hold tension, sliding the belt into the second guide did help. It even took Courtney a few tries to get an acceptably tight install.

Watch this video to see a demonstration of how to install the Wayb Pico with a seatbelt:

In the Honda Odyssey, the captains chair seatbelts have an extra flap of webbing (to prevent the latch plate from falling all the way down), and that presented some challenges when Courtney attempted to install the Pico. The flap of webbing wanted to sit right where the belt guide was, and the opening in the belt guide was not big enough for it to fit through. She was able to slide the entire vehicle seat forward, which fixed the problem.

I pushed the WAYB Pico seatbelt installation to its limits when I installed it in the 3rd row center of my Toyota Sienna. The buckles back there are quite close to the vehicle seat and the one for the adjacent seat (not shown, but to the left in the photo below) rotates up and down for use/storage and has no flexibility at all – that really limits the position of the Pico. You can see below that I just managed to fit the seat in between the two buckles. There was some swearing involved for sure. Removing the LATCH connectors from their storage position gave me a few extra millimeters to work with but isn’t recommended. This installation may be ugly, but it worked for a near-impossible 3-across car seat situation and was safe.

Installing the WAYB Pico with the seatbelt in my captain’s chairs was a cake walk by comparison. Just watch for extra slack in the seatbelt.

Always remember to lock the seatbelt when installing a car seat with a seatbelt. For most North American vehicles, the belt will lock at the retractor or at the latch plate. For vehicles with non-locking belts, a locking clip will be needed – read all about locking clips (including when you do and don’t need them). The Pico manual does have tips on how to lock the belt.

Whether installing with the lower anchors or the seat belt, always use the top tether (if available). It’s always a good idea to test out a car seat and practice installing it at home before you travel!

Can the Wayb Pico be used on planes?  The Wayb Pico is  FAA approved , and can be used for all portions of flight on airlines that follow FAA regulations. Non-US airlines set their own rules, so you’ll need to check with your specific carrier to see if they allow forward-facing car seats.

My niece recently rode in the WAYB Pico on a plane and it was smooth sailing. Since planes have a lap belt, you simply put the airplane seatbelt into both guides and pull the tail of the seatbelt to tighten. A nice feature of the Pico car seat is the mesh seat fabric that sits in front of the frame. The buckle of the seatbelt would not poke the child in the back.  Woohoo!

See how easy it is to install the Wayb Pico on an airplane:

The  Wayb Pico  cannot be installed using an inflatable seat belt (in a vehicle or plane). In theory you’re allowed to disable the air bag using a seatbelt extender, but the bulk of the air bag in the seatbelt will be too much to get the belt through the guides. If you’re assigned to a seat with an inflatable seatbelt, you can always ask to be moved; however, most main cabin/economy seats should be fine since they usually have regular belts. It’s always a good idea to talk to the airline if you have any questions or concerns about the plane’s seating.

How does the Pico compare to two other popular travel seats?  

Here you can see the Cosco Finale on the left, Wayb Pico in the center, and Cosco Scenera Next on the right. (Please note that the harness covers on the Next are approved for use and were purchased directly from Cosco). All three seats are approximately the same weight. 

The Scenera is the only one of these three options that rear faces, which is the safest option for a 2 or 3 year old. But the Scenera is typically outgrown around 37-38″ in both directions . By contrast, the Pico and Finale are forward facing only seats that will last average kids to 5 and 6 years old respectfully.

Other thoughts and improvements

To improve longevity, it would be really helpful to position the crotch buckle even 0.5″ further forward on the seat.

I’d like to see a grab handle on the side of the frame. It would make it easier to carry. There isn’t a great place to grab the frame where you can put your fingers around it. Adding a grab handle would make it really easy to quickly grab the seat and carry it off of a plane.

It would be nice if there was an extra strap or fabric piece on the back of the seat to act as a luggage handle pass through. Thinking about the process of de-planing, it would be nice to just quickly slip it on top of a rolling carry on, and not have to fold it to its most compact form and put it in a bag or something. 

This is totally a personal preference, but I’d rather see the square IMMI buckle and square chest clip on the seat, instead of the circle button one. I find the square one easier to use.

Seatbelt installation would be easier in tight spaces if the lower anchors stored mid-way up the seat frame instead of at the bottom.

Wayb Pico reviews from traveling families

Since every family’s needs are different when it comes to travel car seats, I asked some members of our amazing Facebook community to tell us about their real-world experiences traveling with the Wayb Pico. Is it really as good as advertised? Or is the short crotch buckle a deal-breaker? Let’s see what real-world traveling families think in these Wayb reviews:

Wayb Pico car seat review from Leemor K., used WAYB car seat on a family gap year with three young kids:

I love the Wayb Pico but I also think my situation is unique. If I was taking the standard once-a-year vacation, I would not have bought it because it’s really pricey and it’s not the kind of car seat that I would use for every day (hard for a kid to nap in it). But for a round the world trip , it is a godsend.

It is so light, and incredibly easy to use, carry, and install , and my average size 2yo seems to be very comfortable in it. I also have an average size 4yo girl and she’s comfortable in it, too.

I commented in some social media groups that I chose the Wayb over the Immi Go car seat because a top tether is not required for installation, and a car seat lady gave me a whole shpiel about why a top tether is important. I get it, it’s important. The Wayb has it. But as you know, when you travel in countries where car seats are optional, you don’t get the benefit of top tethers in taxis/cars/shuttles. So at least I am able to put my 2 year old in a device that keeps him far safer than the alternative (my lap). I could not do that with the Immi Go. If you’re debating Immi Go vs Wayb Pico for your family, think hard about what types of destinations you’ll be visiting with your kids.

The bag that it comes with is very roomy and I can fit a lot in it in addition to the car seat.

Wayb review rom Candace H.-S., semi-full-time traveler at The World School :

My son is almost 4 (he had just turned 3 when I bought the seat) and is right about 50% in both height and weight (about 39 inches and 32 pounds). After watching how my checked car-seat was treated (and seeing the damage to the padded backpack it was traveling in), and a few scares of arriving at my destination and thinking that my car seat had been among the lost luggage, I am now really hesitant to check a car seat when I fly, and that was one of the deciding factors in purchasing this seat.

We do slow travel, and last year we traveled for more than 6 months of the year. I had used the Cosco Scenera Next and also the Cosco Apt 50 seats previously on travels, along with the JL Childress padded car seat backpack . While it’s great for single-destination trips, I did NOT want to travel on trains with that thing.

This year I had planned a pretty involved 3-month trip through Italy , France , and Spain , and so I ordered the WayB Pico during their crowdfunding campaign back in November of 2018. After anxiously getting every update on delayed shipping, contacting the company and begging to be among the first seats sent, and waiting and tracking it’s progress across the ocean on the slowest freight ship ever to see if it would arrive here in Dominican Republic in time for our trip, it arrived literally as we were getting on the bus to go the the airport. I was pretty stoked to be getting it but I had NO time to prepare, read instructions, etc.

We unpacked it, stuck it in the backpack it came with, and were off! I was relieved, because we had already gifted our Cosco car seat to another family member, and our backup plan was the Ride Safer vest .

The Wayb travel car seat is really lightweight and it fits in a nice backpack . It is easy to transport. The backpack has a strap that allows it to attach to the handle of your rolling luggage. It is really handy. I had no problems taking it as carry-on on multiple flights, it is easy to store in the overhead bin on even budget carriers.

I did get some questions about our Pico carseat at checkin at the airports. My child did not sit in it on any flight. We used it in rental cars in Italy, France , and Spain using the built-in lower anchors with no problem. I think maybe in older vehicles it may be harder to install, but we had only new vehicles and had no problems. I did not use the seatbelt installation. It was a little challenging to get it tight but still easier than other seats. I do feel like the tightening process could be improved upon.

The seat seems well-designed. We don’t usually travel by car at home and so my child is not accustomed to riding in car seats for long durations, always previously with other seats (Cosco and others) after a while he would complain and I’ve never seen him sleep well in another seat. This seat seems less like a ‘contraption’ and more like an extension of the regular seat (maybe because of the fabric, the low profile, the black color, same as the car seats) and so he readily climbed in.

It was easy enough to tighten the straps. Some others have said that the WAYB carseat crotch strap is kind of short, and it is, but it didn’t seem to bother my child but I found it a bit of a challenge to buckle/unbuckle without ‘smashing him’ unless I loosened the straps first (and in reverse, loosened the straps before I put him in, buckle the buckle, then tighten them).

My son found it comfortable, the shoulder straps appeared kind of high up on the seat, but he was secure in them with no wiggle room. I thought he might be uncomfortable from the straps but he fell asleep several times and the higher straps seemed to hold him/his head in place better than any other seat. He fell asleep in this seat much more than in any other seat we’ve used. We used it on short and long drives, up to about 3 hours at a time.

I’d say that this is my favorite seat to travel with by far of any that we’ve used. It takes a bit of ‘figuring out’ to get it back together and back in the bag. I think a novice traveler might find it overwhelming if they didn’t practice ahead of time.

Wayb Pico travel car seat review from Becca C., casual vacationer:

My daughter is 3.5 and small for her age at about 29 lbs. We’ve used the Way b Pico on short drives (2 hours or less). When she first used it, she had trouble sleeping in it but then figured out to tip her head back and now sleeps in it fine.

I like it because my daughter is a bit small for the Ride Safer vest and I prefer a more rigid device than the vest. I’d prefer if it could rear face as well, but for limited travel use, I will deal with forward facing. My husband greatly prefers its size and portability to our previous travel seat . We have not yet used it as a child restraint on a plane, but intend to do so on our next trip. We have also tried the CARES harness ( full review here ), but she slides out of that one and basically ends up waking up when it rides up so far it chokes her a bit.

Wayb car seat review from Natalie H., business travel family:

I really like the Way B Pico car seat . My daughter is 2 years old I think around 35″ tall and weighs 26 lbs.

Pros: it’s super lightweight and the backpack makes it easy to bring with us on trips. Super quick to set up in taxis/Uber’s on the go which is nice. The video and directions are easy to follow.

We went to Germany and needed the locking clip , the company will send them to you if you request them and the turnaround time is super fast. Their customer service is texted based which I actually like since it’s a quick reply from them.

The biggest con, besides the WAYB Pico recall, is my daughter doesn’t sleep comfortably in it since it is a low profile it doesn’t have cozy head rest for her but we also only used it for small trip so I can prop her head with a small blanket if she falls asleep with no problem (she gets motion sick so we give her meds sometimes that make her drowsy) .

WAYB review from Inza M. of SinCityMama :

We love our Pico travel car seat by WAYB. We use it during flights and in rideshares / rental cars. Super easy to transport. My 4yo daughter doesn’t complain about it being uncomfortable or anything and naps in it just fine.

Conclusion: is the Wayb Pico worth buying?

The Wayb Pico is revolutionary, but it might not be right for every family. If your typical family vacation pattern involves traveling for a week or two per year within the US to places where you’ll rent a car, you might be better served by sticking with one of these awesome lightweight convertible car seats for a younger child or a Ride Safer travel vest for an older one.

But if one of these describes your family, the Pico WAYB car seat could be an amazing option for you: -You live in (or frequently visit) an urban area and need to take Ubers/taxis often -You’re planning on extended travel like a family gap year, especially with time in the developing world -You don’t mind the price for the sake of convenience (or have more kids/cousins to pass it down to)

If the Wayb Pico had been available when our kids were 3 years old, I would absolutely have purchased it for our family’s trip around the world!

Where to get your own Wayb Pico

There aren’t many WAYB Pico car seat stores out there, and it’s been popular enough that sometimes stock runs low. Check these places to find one for your family:

• Albeebaby (generous rewards program)
• Pish Posh Baby
• Nordstrom (best return policy)
• Amazon (this is usually the most expensive)

WAYB accessories

WAYB has broadened their line of innovative family travel accessories. Some of them are specifically for the Pico, while others are awesome for families even if they’re using a different car seat solution.

WAYB Pico accessories:

• WAYB Pico Carry Bag (this is the latest, updated version)
• Deluxe Pico Travel Bag (slightly more basic than the one above)
• Vehicle Seat Protector (approved for use with the Pico + attaches to the Pico and folds with it)
• Cup holder (helpful if you’re flying with the Pico and then taking a long road trip)

WAYB Read to Roam series:

• Ready to Roam tote
• Ready to Roam catchall (attached to the discontinued backpack above, but I also sometimes use it as a belt bag on its own)
• Ready to Roam mini cooler

Key stats: -Weight 8lbs -Max harness height 16.5″ -Forward-facing size limits: 22-50lbs, 30-45″, recommended 2+ years old minimum

Pros: ✔ Compact ✔ Easy to install ✔ Keeps kids harnessed ✔ FAA-approved to use on flights ✔ Can install without top tether ✔ Narrowest car seat on the market

Cons: ✘ High price ✘ Low height limit ✘ Crotch strap too short for some kids ✘ Top tether strap too short for some cars (can request an extension)

WAYB Pico FAQs

Yes. The WAYB Pico passes all required FMVSS 213 testing for use in the United States. Individual car seat crash test results are not public information in the US.

Folding the WAYB Pico only takes about thirty seconds! You’ll lower the headrest back to the storage position and then pull the little latch at the back of the seating area to fold the seat behind the back. If you’re a visual learner, check out this helpful video of folding the WAYB Pico .

Since the WAYB Pico fabric is integrated with the frame of the car seat, you’ll spot clean and let it air dry. You can towel off any excess water from the metal frame.

In fall 2019, WAYB voluntarily recalled some of the earliest production WAYB Pico carseat model numbers. The WAYB recall was focused on headrest support tubes that broke in a small number of cases. There have been no subsequent issues with the Pico facing forward car seat.

At this time the WAYB Pico is only approved in the USA.

Yes, the WAYB Pico is FAA approved and makes an ideal airplane car seat.

Unfortunately the IMMI Go has been discontinued. But for the sake of posterity since some people still ask me… The IMMI Go and WAYB Pico weight about the same amount and fold down to similar sizes. The IMMI Go has the advantages that it fits somewhat larger kids and eventually converts to a backless booster seat (though that’s not a crucial feature since travel booster seats are light and portable). However, the IMMI Go requires a top tether ; it won’t function without one, which makes it useless in developing countries where top tethers are hard to come by and it’s also not FAA-approved.

What do you think of the Wayb Pico? Feel free to share your experiences in the comments!

21 thoughts on “Wayb Pico review: an expert and traveling parents weigh in (2024)”

There is a recall for some of the WayB Pico seats right now. Their customer service team is slow to respond, which is unfortunate.

Hi Laura, Thanks for stopping by! The recall occurred in fall of 2019, but fortunately the newly redesigned product has been available since mid-December 🙂 If you’re having trouble getting in touch with the company, try their Facebook page. I’ve found them very responsive on that channel.

Best, Melissa

This looks like such a great product. Unfortunately for me, my son is too big for it. We need the 5 point but are looking for the low profile design like this. Any recommendations for a next-size up item?

Thanks for stopping by! How old is your son and what are his height and weight? I’m happy to help you pick 🙂

Does it recline?

Hi Jennifer,

The WAYB Pico does not recline. Unfortunately (off the top of my head) all of the seats that are under 10-12lbs just have a single position for forward facing.

Safe travels, Melissa

Hi – your discount code does not work on their website, I’m receiving an error, has it expired? Loved the detail of the review.

Hi Jacqueline,

Thanks for stopping by! The updated coupon code is ‘VOYAGE10’ and it’s good for a 10% discount site-wide. Sorry for any confusion, I just swapped them yesterday and it looks like I had missed a few spots.

What travel seat would you recommend for a 39 pound 43” 6yo? She’s very petite! 🙂

Sorry, I’m just seeing your question! Here are some great travel car seats for 6 year olds to consider. I would stick with the first few, as she’s under the weight minimum for safe booster riding. In particular, you may want to check out the Ride Safer Travel Vest – full review here .

Hi Melissa,

Thanks for this super useful post!

I understand that the seat doesn’t recline itself. But if the plane seat reclines, does Pico recline with it? I’m planning to take a car seat in a 10 hour night flight and really need something that my 2 year old can sleep on comfortably.

I’m sorry, I’m just seeing your question! No the Pico doesn’t recline unfortunately. I’d recommend a rear-facing seat for more comfortable sleeping in-flight. If you haven’t already, check out these travel car seats for 2 year olds . Unfortunately they don’t fold. Don’t worry, I’ve started pestering my friends at WAYB to create a rear-facing folding option. I think there’s a big market for it!

Safe travels,

I think this is the only reason why I am not purchasing this, I constantly travel cross country with my 20 month old and NEED something comfy for him to sleep in. It would be game changer if they can figure this out

Hi Carolina,

Thanks for stopping by! Ideally before 2 years old your son will still be rear facing – that’ll give him a comfy recline, and he can continue rear facing on the plane until he hits the manufacturer’s limit for his seat. A recline mechanism for the Pico would definitely add to the weight and bulk. I also found that by the time they were 3-4 my kids didn’t sleep nearly as much on planes (unfortunately).

Let me know if you need a different suggestion for your little globetrotter!

Thank you so much for this write up, I’ve been looking at the Pico for a while now and I’m finally going to give it a try because of your reviews. Does the 10% discount still work? I’m trying to enter “VOYAGE10” into their site (I got there by way of your link) and it’s not allowing me to use it.

Thanks for stopping by. Unfortunately we had to end that promotion a few days ago 🙁 We’ve been discussing a new promotion to start sometime in July, so if you aren’t in too much of a rush you can wait and take advantage of that. So sorry!

Hi Melissa, Did you ever get a new code for the wayb? I’m considering it for my 2.5 yr old son (37″, and 30lbs currently, will be 1 month shy of 3yrs at trip). Still trying to figure out what to get for my daughter for travel since we won’t uninstall her convertible seat – she will be 8 months for our trip (currently 4months, just turned 12lbs, 24″. Trip to Maui, Hawaii but another trip planned 6 months later to Mexico….so ideally seats that would work for travel for both.

Hi! I’m seriously considering this seat for an upcoming international flight with my 2 year old. This not her first flight but now that she is no longer a lap infant and more wiggly/energized, I have a couple minor hesitations that make me a little concerned with the price point. It would be AWESOME if there was another promotion that was going on to shave a little off and help me make the decision. Any such promotion going on now?

Thanks for your informative article! M

I wish I could help you out but WAYB has stopped running discounts due to heavy demand. They offer freebies with purchase now and then (like Black Friday ) but otherwise you’ll generally just get the best deal by shopping direct .

My family will be taking an Alaska Cruise Tour this year and we are trying to decide which seat to buy. Our daughter will be 3 1/2 years old and 39 inches tall and weigh 37 lbs. We plan on doing some excursions and will be in Denali on the bus tour. I have read your blog on Alaska’s requirements and am torn between the WAYB Pico and the Ride Safer Travel Vest. We would like to keep the seat small and these 2 seem to fit the bill the best. What would you recommend?

Thanks, Jeff

Thanks for stopping by! What is the transportation for the land portion of the cruise tour? If it’s bus or train, I’d consider the Ride Safer – in this review you can grab a discount and see some comparisons between XS and S. Since one of you will always be next to her on excursions, you can ensure fit and positioning plus it’ll be easier to carry around.

If you’ll be riding in cars or vans around Alaska, at that age I think the WAYB Pico is the better choice. It’s more supportive and you don’t have to worry constantly about your kiddo staying in position. It’s generally cheapest if you buy direct , and families love the newer deluxe backpack to carry it around.

Have an amazing trip!

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WAYB Pico Review: Why This Car Seat is Game-Changing for Family Travelers

By: Author Leslie Harvey

Posted on Published: September 12, 2022

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Since having my first child over 13 years ago, I began my love/hate relationship with car seats. While they do an important job in keeping my children safe, they are also a major hassle for frequent travelers like me. If you’ve ever lugged a heavy car seat down an airplane aisle or struggled with what to do when you needed to take an Uber or Lyft with a toddler , I’m sure you feel my pain.

I’ve been on a mission the last decade to find the most compact travel car seat products to make my family’s travel logistics easier. While there have been compact travel boosters like the BubbleBum and mifold, until a few years ago, there was no truly travel-friendly car seat on the market with a 5 point harness that worked for younger children.

So when I saw a Google ad in 2018 that a company named WAYB was working on a super-compact 5 point harness car seat for kids ages 2-5, I might have gotten irrationally excited. I immediately emailed the company to get all the details.

(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.)

The new seat – called the WAYB Pico – was released in spring 2019. Due my ridiculous enthusiasm at the time, I was able to get one of the first car seats off the manufacturing line (thanks WAYB for sending me a complimentary sample). I used it with my own then 5 year old to test it out at home in a variety of vehicles and circumstances. I also took it on some travels to Hawaii on Southwest , bringing it aboard for storage in the airplane overhead bin and use in our ground transportation between our hotel and the airport.

Since that time, I’ve heard from dozens of friends and readers who have used the WAYB Pico in the years that have followed. In fact, Trips With Tykes contributor Joe Cheung uses it regularly with his youngest child as well. So, I now have a lot of reports and experience with the WAYB Pico at this stage.

The verdict? The WAYB Pico  is game-changing for family travelers. I only wish it had been around earlier so I could have started using it sooner with my youngest because he outgrew it (but thankfully has graduated to an even more compact booster). The only real downside to the WAYB Pico is the high price, but since the product has many non-travel uses, it can make sense to invest in one even if you don’t travel as much as my family does.

Here are all the details parents need to know about whether the WAYB Pico is the right car seat for traveling with your child.

Essential Facts about the WAYB Pico

Weight : 8 pounds

Dimensions (when folded): 11.6” deep x 14.5” wide x 18.9” tall

Age : Children ages 2-5, forward-facing only. (The seat can be used for 1 year olds as well, but WAYB recommends a minimum age of 2.)

Weight Limits : 22-50 pounds

Height Limits : 30-45 inches tall (or whenever the shoulder straps are above the level of your child’s shoulders)

Install Method : LATCH or seatbelt path

Colors : Earth, Jet, Golden Hour, Midnight Sky, Slate

Price : $380

Optional extras : Pico Travel bag – $50, Deluxe Travel Bag – $80, Vehicle seat protector – $45, Pico cup holder – $35 (NEW)

WAYB Pico Car Seat Set Up & Installation

What makes the WAYB Pico unique is that it folds up for significant space savings. The seat is constructed of aluminum and mesh to keep it lightweight too. The bottom part of the car seat (on which your child sits) flips around behind the back of the seat and locks into place for a more compact size.

To use the car seat, you flip the bottom around and lock it into place with a red clip. You can then adjust the headrest to the proper height for your child. Once the bottom is locked into place and headrest is set, the rest of the installation process will pretty familiar for parents used to installing other forward facing car seats. There is a top tether and LATCH straps on either side that you use to strap the car seat into the car. (Seat belt installation is also possible but a little more complex.)

Getting a snug fit took me a little longer than some of the premium car seats on the market that have special features to tighten them easily. But it certainly took me no longer on average than it might with a very basic lightweight travel car seat like the Cosco Scenera NEXT .

Strapping your child into the Pico is mostly the same as with any other car seat – but with one important difference. The chest clip is the same, but to tighten the straps, you don’t pull on a single strap between your child’s legs. Instead, there are cinch pulls on either side of your child’s hips. Pull each of those to take out the slack (check out my video below for a demo).

My son complained a bit that the padded strap covers irritated his neck – they aren’t as soft as the ones on many other car seat models.

We had only one real challenge when we used the WAYB in our travels – we found that the top tether strap wasn’t quite long enough to be able to install it in a minivan bucket seat. Newer models have a longer tether so this is no longer an issue (and if you have an older one, WAYB made a top tether extender available at product launch so hopefully you have that already).

Want to see the WAYB Pico in action? Check out the demonstration and installation in this video:

What Ages and Sizes are Right for the WAYB Pico

WAYB recommends the product for ages 2-5, so you should be able to at least use it during those years. When we first tested the WAYB Pico, my son was a 5.5 year old of average height, and he still could very comfortably fit in the Pico. The recommended height maximum is 45 inches and he’s was 42.5 inches at the time. The straps were just above the level of his shoulders. As he passed his 6th birthday, he began to outgrow the seat.

So unless your child is just way off the top of the growth charts, I think it’s safe to say the Pico will work for almost all 4 year olds and many 5 year olds. That should be enough time for your child to be more mature and bigger and ready to use a travel booster instead. I certainly felt much more comfortable with my son at 6 being trusted to sit property in a booster than I did when he was age 4!

How the WAYB Pico is Amazing on Planes

So now that the basics are out of the way, here’s why I’ve been singing the praises of this car seat to traveling families for over 3 years now — the air travel possibilities. So many parents are rightfully fearful of checking their car seat with the airlines. You simply never know how the airlines will treat your car seat and whether it will sustain any damage or get lost.

On some trips, my family brought aboard our car seat for use during the flight to avoid checking it for just these reasons. But that is not without its issues too. On one trip a few years back, my son wanted nothing to do with the car seat and simply wanted to sleep on my lap. I found myself with an unused car seat taking up a ton of seat space when we needed to stretch out.

On another trip, I found the car seat positioned my son just perfectly to kick the seat in front of him repeatedly. That made for an incredibly stressful flight. There are just some times when having the car seat on board causes more hassle than it solves.

The Pico gives you so much more flexibility in dealing with both these airplane dilemmas. When packaged up in its travel bag, the seat is small enough to take onto the plane as a carry on. I had no problem fitting ours into the overhead bin of a Southwest Airlines 737-800. It’s about the same size as my usual roll-aboard suitcase.

But then if you feel you want to use the car seat on board, you have that option too. The Pico is FAA-approved for use on aircraft (several ultra-compact travel car seats are not because they have LATCH only). So if you feel your child needs the extra seat to stay restrained, you can always pull it out of the overhead bin and use it. Due to its slim size, it takes up even less space within the airplane seat than many other car seats you might bring.

Using the WAYB Pico for Uber & Lyft

The other game-changing use for the Pico is when taking ridesharing services like Lyft and Uber with kids. Except in a few select cities that have Uber Car Seat/Uber Family service , its impossible to ride in a Lyft or Uber without bringing your own car seat. It’s quite tough to do that, however, when you don’t have anywhere to store your car seat at your destination, such as when you are doing city touring.

When carried in either of the two optional backpack accessories, it’s conceivable that you can just take the Pico with you. It’s lightweight enough that you can carry it around on your back (or even hanging from some larger stable strollers) – no storage necessary. While I probably wouldn’t recommend this for a family out-and-about for a full day (as it would get tiring for many hours of carrying), it’s a significant improvement to the options for families with a ridesharing quandary.

Uses for the WAYB Pico at Home

Before you invest in an expensive car seat only for travel, most families want to make sure it has uses at home. The Pico does. I used it for two weeks in my normal routine at home. I found it was no more time-consuming to use than with the car seat we normally have installed.

The Pico revealed itself to be ideal for space-saving for anyone who has a tight fit in the back of their car. I have a small backseat in my car. Fitting two additional children in it when my son is in his normal mega-car seat is next to impossible. The middle seat is basically not usable, and certainly not usable when that another child in the back row needs to be in a booster too. When I have the Pico installed, it opens up the rest of the back seat for two children to sit because it is much more narrow.

The Pico is also a great car seat for grandma and grandpa or a babysitter who only transports your child occasionally. They can keep it in a trunk when not in use and it won’t take up a ton of space they otherwise would need.

Pros & Cons of the WAYB Pico

Ok, so that’s a lot of information. Here’s a brief overview of the pros and cons to help you make your choice.

• Incredibly lightweight.
• No other product like it for air travel – that can both fit in the overhead bin and be used on the plane.
• Kids ages 4-5 can ride more safely for longer in a 5 point harness instead of a booster on trips where bringing a standard car seat isn’t feasible.
• Narrow for tight back seats to enable three kids sitting across.
• Cost – at $380, the Pico is a premium product that may be out of the price range for many families, especially as a second or third car seat.
• A tad slow to install compared to premium car seats.

How Can You Get a WAYB Pico?

Last but certainly not least, where can you get a Pico? 

Now that the Pico has been out for a couple of years since this post was first published, it’s easier than ever to buy one. Look for the Pico available online the following places:

• Direct from WAYB (free shipping on all purchases over $100 + all color choices and accessories available)
• On PishPoshBaby (only in limited colors and not all accessories available)
• On Amazon (only available in a seat + backpack bundle)

Do you have questions about the WAYB Pico? Leave them here and I’ll answer them. And come back and comment if you buy the product and have insights to add .

Disclosure: WAYB sent me a complimentary Pico car seat and travel bag for review purposes. As always, all opinions are my own.

Editor’s Note : There was a voluntary recall on all Pico car seats manufactured between February 1-May 12, 2019. All seats that are sold November 2019 and later were re-engineered to fix the issue.

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Friday 21st of July 2023

Is this a Good option for every day car seat?

Leslie Harvey

Saturday 5th of August 2023

@Julia, I honestly don't think so. It's not as cushy and padded and I could see it being uncomfortable for something like a long road trip. It takes longer to tighten straps down accurately compared to the fancier mechanisms in bulkier car seat models. It's built for compactness - not comfort or speed.

Is this a Goodyear option for every day car seat?

Thursday 27th of January 2022

Would this work as a full time regular car seat? I’ve read some reviews that say it isn’t super comfortable.

Sunday 16th of August 2020

I'm really kind of upset that your review didn't highlight a major con many mom's like myself have with this car seat. That is the extremely short and unadjustable crotch buckle. The ingenuity of the design really failed with this misstep. My 3 year old is average sized and that crotch strap digs into him. I cannot believe they though of everything BUT this crotch strap. I'm very disappointed with this car seat. It just barely missed the mark for perfection, but this design flaw ruined it.

Thanks so much for highlighting your issue with the seat! I'm going to add this to the post. We didn't have any issues with the length and my son used it up until he was approaching 6 years old. But he is a tad on the slimmer side. So may just depend on how each kid is built!

Monday 9th of September 2019

Can you use it to strap on luggage and have the child seat on it while walking around the airport?

This Travel Car Seat Is Completely Worth the Splurge

Afar parents, tired of schlepping giant car seats on trips, say the compact wayb pico travel car seat is a game changer..

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The eight-pound WAYB Pico Portable Car Seat folds into a compact unit for easy carrying.

Courtesy of WAYB

Welcome to AFAR Approved: a deep dive into the travel items that we’re totally obsessed with, never leave behind, and can’t stop telling our friends about.

As challenging as traveling with babies and toddlers can be, the benefits and rewards of bringing our mini voyagers along with us on the road are undeniable. The tantrums, while brutal, are short lived, and the memories last forever. Like so many families, we have missed our flight-fueled adventures, and the people and places they brought us to, enormously throughout the pandemic.

But there is one thing we didn’t miss—the car seat dilemma. Ugh .

For families just starting to get back into the skies or who are planning future travels, two AFAR staffers who moonlight as moms reveal there’s a better way to go than strapping a behemoth car seat to your back. Meet the WAYB Pico travel car seat .

WAYB Pico Portable Car Seat Review

Buy Now: WAYB Pico Portable Car Seat, $380, wayb.com (and backpack carrier, $50, wayb.com )

Michelle Baran, AFAR’s senior travel news editor: Earlier this summer, we were overjoyed to finally get back into the air, flying from California to visit much-missed family in North Carolina. But with two kids under the age of six in tow, we had to find a better way to keep them safe than bringing their enormous day-to-day car seats with us. We have been down that road—with a 25-pound Chicco NextFit Zip Convertible Car Seat strapped to our backs and a 9.6-pound Chicco Bravo Travel System car seat (plus a 7-pound base) clicked into a stroller. Never again. Carrying those monsters (the car seats, not the kids) in addition to everything else we’re schlepping while traveling with small kids (who are no help with said schlepping) is the straw that breaks the parents’ backs.

Don’t let the smile fool you. AFAR’s Michelle Baran used to travel with a 25-pound car seat—never again, she says.

Photo by Jonathan Baran

The good news is that our tall-for-his-age son Niko (age five) was in the clear with only a booster seat—we just detached the backless booster from his Graco TurboBooster Highback booster car seat . (Even these can be kind of a pain to bring along, but when compared to an entire car seat it is hard to complain.) But for our two-year-old daughter, Catalina, we needed to find a solution. First, we looked into the option of renting one through the Enterprise car rental agency in Raleigh, North Carolina, or from an independent baby and toddler gear rental outfit such as Baby’s Away . Both were a bust. There just weren’t any available for our dates (we traveled over Fourth of July week). It’s hard enough to nab a rental car at all this summer , let alone find a rental car company with decent available car seats.

After a few late nights spent researching travel car seats until I was bleary eyed, I zeroed in on—and admittedly became obsessed with—the 8-pound WAYB Pico Portable Car Seat . Many car seats weigh double or triple that. It folds into a compact 11.6 x 14.5 x 18.9-inch unit, basically the size of a medium camping backpack, that’s easy enough to lift on its own, and better still when stowed in a backpack carrier you can buy for an additional $50. As someone who has traveled alone with the kids and had to mount a full-sized car seat on my back, this is life altering.

The WAYB Pico Portable Car Seat (far left) is a lightweight game changer for traveling families.

Photo by Michelle Baran

Laura Dannen Redman, AFAR’s digital content director: Michelle and I practically had to arm wrestle to decide who would write this WAYB Pico review. Ever since I interviewed the founders back in 2018 when their patent was pending, I’ve been marveling at how handy my WAYB—which stands for “Way Better”—has been. Living up to the hype, indeed. This front-facing car seat was created by Michael Crooke, Patagonia’s former CEO from 1999 to 2005; I.S. Jung, a South Korean manufacturer who helped Crooke revolutionize Patagonia’s backpacks; and CEO Tio Jung. They used aluminum and mesh fabric instead of the more common filler, polyurethane foam, so it’s somewhat more sustainable. It all feels a little space-agey, in a good way. It’s an actual U.S.-safety and FAA-approved innovation in car seats. And as Michelle says, it changes the way parents can travel with their kids.

MB: Here’s the thing, though: The WAYB is not cheap—it’s more than six times the cost of a more affordable simple car seat such as the Cosco Scenera Next Convertible Car Seat and more than three times the price of the slightly more sophisticated Evenflo Sonus 65 Convertible Car Seat , both popular options for traveling fams. I hate spending a lot on gear like this because these life phases are so fleeting, but after comparing and mulling (and comparing and mulling), I decided to conquer my analysis paralysis with a purchase.

Best. Decision. Ever.

WAYB stands for “Way Better” and it’s true.

Obviously, a car seat is about much more than your ability to carry it. So, how did the WAYB Pico fare on a trip?

Ease of installation

MB: Car seat installation is among the biggest headaches for overtired traveling parents. After arriving at a destination totally burnt out from the flight (with the kids either fully melting down or bouncing off the walls after being cooped up on the aircraft), then struggling for 20 minutes to install the dang car seats . . . well, there is no drink too strong. Full disclosure: When I travel with my husband, I hand this part entirely and shamelessly over to him—this is where he shines. Based on his observations, there were some pros and cons to installing the WAYB.

• It’s lightweight, so less cumbersome than its Graco/Chicco/insert your favorite car seat brand here counterpart.
• It folds and unfolds easily.
• It has click-in/click-out anchors on each side, as well as a hook that you attach to the anchor on the back of the seat (so you’ll need to do some seat climbing/body contorting).
• While tightening the straps is pretty easy, loosening them isn’t as seamless as with larger car seats that have convenient release buttons. There are release buttons but they’re a bit tougher to engage. All told, the WAYB is relatively simple to install once you get the hang of it (there are easy-to-follow pictographs on the actual car seat itself).

Comfort and fit

MB: What the WAYB gains in compact size and ease of transportation, it loses a bit in comfort. The seat base (where kids put their rump) is minimal and almost flat—a unique combination of a mesh fabric and aluminum frame makes it soft and springy without the bulk—so that means your kids will be very low. Our daughter was totally cool with her new low-riding position and actually thought it was kind of funny, but I could see how some kids might get frustrated when they lose their vantage point out the window. There are also no cup holders if that’s of importance to you.

Two-year-old Catalina Baran wakes up from a car nap in the WAYB Pico car seat.

Our daughter was able to nap in the WAYB just fine, though it was clearly not as cozy as her usual ride (a Chicco NextFit Zip Convertible Car Seat , which we highly recommend for around town and longer road trips), where she is in more of a cradle position. In the WAYB she did the neck-slumped-forward thing (versus fully leaning back or to the side) and could sleep that way rather well for up to an hour or two, but it wasn’t the fully knocked-out sleep she gets in the Chicco.

The bottom line

LDR: We went from using the WAYB Pico when we take big trips to now throwing it in the back of Ubers to get around New York City regularly. We now have two Picos, for our two-year-old and four-year-old.

MB: The WAYB changed how we pack and fly with the kids, especially when we’re going to a destination where we’ll need to drive once we land. (Honestly, when we’re with the kids, that’s basically everywhere.) For an extra $50, we bought the lightweight backpack carrier for the WAYB. While it’s still one more thing to carry, it’s at least a much lighter option than the vast majority of car seats. We will happily take the WAYB with us on all flights going forward for as long as our daughter needs to be in a car seat. The one caveat is that if you’re flying somewhere where you will then be road tripping—so driving for hours on end—the WAYB may not be the most comfortable option. For us, we’re usually either road tripping from home (and can head out with our comfy bulky car seats) or we’re flying somewhere where we’ll drive a bit but not for countless hours—for that kind of travel, the WAYB is ideal.

This collapsible car seat is a game-changer for family travel

The WayB Pico is so good, I wish I had bought it years ago

Updated August 27, 2021

Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed's editors. Purchases made through the links below may earn us and our publishing partners a commission.

For our twice-yearly trip from Lost Angeles to Boston, my family has tried everything in an effort to find the perfect solution for taking our kid from Uber ride, to cross continental flight, to cab ride, to rental car.

The Pico made our cross country flight far more comfortable for our kid.

We used it on a recent flight from Los Angeles to Boston and then in our car rentals and ride shares. Here is how it went.

What is the WayB Pico?

The Pico comes in five different colors and folds up easily to be carried or stored.

The Pico is a compact and collapsable forward-facing, five-point harness car seat. It’s made for kids 25 to 50 pounds, and 30 to 45 inches tall. When not in use, it folds up about 10 inches front-to-back and a little under 17 inches from top to bottom, and it weighs 8 pounds. To assemble it, simply click, push, and pull and it’s ready to go in under a minute. It also meets all U.S. standards regulated by NHTSA, the FAA, and the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.

The car seat can be used on airplanes with a lap belt. In cars it’s installed using the LATCH system (ideally with rear tether), a shoulder belt, or a lap belt. Whatever kind of car you have, the Pico should be easy to install.

Manufactured with an aluminum alloy that absorbs energy forces in a crash, as well as highly breathable mesh fabric, the Pico retails for $330. There’s a handy travel backpack that you can buy for an extra $50, or you can spring for the $70 Deluxe travel backpack, which has a contoured shape and a sleeve that slides over the handle of a wheeled suitcase. Both backpacks are great for keeping the seat clean, and if you plan to tote them around a city (which it’s absolutely light enough to do), we’d recommend them.

There are a few options for backpacks that can carry the Pico.

We, however, found that you could easily slip the Pico over your suitcase handles, if you’d rather forgo the extra accessory.

What we like about the WayB Pico

To use the seat, all you need to do is unfold it, lock the seat bottom into place, and raise the headrest. The way this seat popped open on our airplane was a three-step sight to behold and impressed everyone around us. It installed in seconds and kept our child secure, but the sides weren’t so high that he felt claustrophobic, as can sometimes be the case with car seats. Our son is 40 pounds and 42 inches tall. We found the seat comfortably cradled him and felt more ergonomically designed to a child’s size than typical airline seats, which tend to encourage kids to slump and kick the seat in front of them.

It's small and light enough for a kid to carry. For real!

As for the construction of the seat, our son enjoyed how the edges of the seat splayed out a bit, giving him someplace to rest his head when he shifted. We appreciated that the seat itself is made from a strong poly-wool mesh material that prevented him from overheating when he had to sit in it for hours on end. We were grateful to have it on our six-hour flight and for multi-hour road trips across New England.

We tested the Pico at home in our Ford Escape and Honda Prius, in Boston city cabs, and in a Toyota Versa. After an initial trial run at home, we found it to be a cinch to install in all of the vehicles we rode in. When it wasn’t in use, it folded flat and took up minimal space either in the trunk of a car or a hall closet. When not traveling, this seat would make for a terrific back up car seat for transporting friends.

We also found the tethers and LATCH connectors to be really smooth to adjust, which enhanced the ease of moving it from vehicle to vehicle quickly—a pretty important feature when traveling. You don’t want to be messing around with tricky adjustments as you move from car to car, particularly where your child’s safety is concerned.

What we don't like about the WayB Pico

As much as we liked the Pico, there were definitely some issues we’d like to see fixed to help justify the $330 price tag.

The harness height is non-adjustable. It comes in at approximately 16 inches from the seat bottom, so the lack of adjustability means it's likely to be outgrown for most kids before they meet the weight limit of 50 pounds, as was the case with two of the four children who tried the seat. Both were under 50 pounds and just under 4 feet tall.

Another issue is the very short crotch buckle, which cannot be adjusted. The buckle itself sits about 4.5 inches from the back of the seat and comes up 4 inches from the seat itself, so that makes for a very tight fit in some cases. The only way to make it work is to extend the arm straps. It’s a solution that works, but does nothing for the comfort level of the seat. Boys found it particularly constricting, and it felt pretty awkward helping other children into the seat when the strap required you to reach in areas you’d prefer to have a bit of clearance from.

Should you buy the WayB Pico?

We found the Pico easy to install and we appreciated the 5-point harness.

This Pico is the only travel solution that a parent—particularly one traveling alone with a small child—can take everywhere they need to be. And, if you spring for one of the backpacks, it’s easy to tote around on your back, making it a good solution when traveling in cities where you’re going to need to Uber, Lyft, or cab it to get around all day. While the price tag may seem steep, this is a do-it-all piece that's made from the highest quality, force absorbing aluminum alloy and a highly breathable fabric.

If your child is between the ages of 2 and 5 years old and they fit within the recommended height and weight limits of the Pico, buy this seat. It’s a lifesaver. It’s a game-changer. It changed our family travel and it'll will do the same for you.

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2022 WAYB Pico Review: Just What Your Vacation Needs

WAYB Pico Folding Travel Carseat Review

Or you don’t bring a seat and you rent one at your destination and it’s a) not the right seat, b) it’s disgusting, c) you don’t know its history or whether it’s safe, but mostly likely d) all of these horror-scapes above.

Or maybe you’re traveling in a different city and you need to take an Uber or Lyft or a cab with kids. You can pay extra in some cities for a ride share with seats installed, but it’s more expensive and harder to come by and you weren’t the one installing those seats, so it’s still a risk. You can legally choose not to use a carseat in some places but then you have to restrain your kids in a moving car and unfortunately all the crash probabilities and risks don’t go away on vacation. In short, traveling with kids is a mess.

Have I convinced you never to travel? Just hold on for a moment, because the solution to this stress may have arrived.

WAYB (pronounced way-bee) claims to have the solution with their new seat, the WAYB Pico . I was one of many parents and CPS technicians who was immediately intrigued. Before I spoil the whole review, let’s dive into the details.

WAYB Pico Highlights

• Forward facing only
• For children 1 and older (WAYB recommends you wait until age 2), 22-50 pounds, 30-45 inches, and shoulders below the top of the seat back
• Whole seat weighs 8 (!) pounds and folds very compactly
• One shoulder harness position, one crotch buckle position
• Body is made of aerospace-grade aluminum
• Seat is made with ASTROKNIT™ mesh, which takes the place of foams
• Pico is eco-friendly, with the majority of the seat being recyclable
• MSRP $330 , or bundled together with a fabulous travel bag for $410

Specifications

• Width of seat: 14.75 inches at the widest point (middle of the torso)
• Height of seat with headrest in lowest position: 22.75 inches
• Height of seat headrest fully extended: 27.75 inches
• Depth of seat: 15.25 inches
• Harness (torso) height: 16.5 inches
• Weight of seat: 8 pound

Fit to Child

The first time I saw the Pico, I was skeptical. It is SO small. I worried that it wouldn’t fit older kids or would be outgrown too quickly, especially with a 45” height limit. But rest easy, my eyes deceived me.

I put all 3 of my kids, ages 7, 4 and 1 into this seat and somehow they all fit. It might be magic because it’s seriously the smallest seat I’ve ever seen.

I’m going to start with the littlest, who is 22 months, 25 pounds and 33 inches. I was easily able to adjust the seat to hold him totally securely, despite being on the smaller end of the limits of the seat. Now, the tricky part is that he can’t legally ride in this seat in California, despite being within the stated limits of the seat, because he’s not yet 2 years old. If you choose to use this seat for travel, you’ll need to research the rear facing laws at your destination, because you may not be able to use this seat for your younger toddlers everywhere.

My middle kid is 4.5 years old, 41.5 inches and 32 pounds. He also has the longest torso of any child I have ever met. And even with that, he still has a solid 2-3 inches of torso growth left in the Pico. I was absolutely shocked. He fit well and said the seat was so comfortable that he wanted to keep it in the car. That’s a ringing endorsement if there ever was one.

My oldest kid is 7 years old, 47.5 inches and 49 pounds. He has outgrown this seat per the stated limits and I would not use it for him and am not recommending you do so either, just to be clear. I just put him in it because I wanted to get a sense of whether the harness would truly accommodate a 45” inch child and I feel pretty confident in saying that it really will. The shape of the seat definitely gives more room than the written measurements would suggest. My oldest had outgrown it by a sneeze, even though he was almost 3 inches taller than the limit.

The adjustment process is a little tricky at first because the harness adjusters aren’t what you’re used to. There’s one on each hip strap and they resemble a lower anchor adjustment mechanism. You have to tighten each side independent of the other, which is a little tricky at first, but it gets easier with practice and it’s not hard to do. There’s no moving the shoulder straps or the crotch buckle because there’s only one slot, which is kind of great, actually. I do think that chest clip is oddly hard to place on some kids because the straps go so high that your perspective is skewed. So if you decide to get the Pico, stand back and look at the child, not the seat as a whole, to make sure things are in the right spot.

Fit to Vehicle

The lower anchors can be used the whole lifespan of the seat because it’s so light and they are definitely the easiest way to install it. The only tricky part of the lower anchor installation is that a little bit of slack can get caught in the lower anchor belt on the non-adjuster side, so you just have to be watching both sides to make sure to remove it all.

The seatbelt installation is not complicated by any means. There are red seat belt guides that hold the belt in place, then it’s a standard install (lock the belt, remove the slack, get less than an inch of movement at the belt path). Depending upon the angle of your seatbelt, it may bunch lightly, but it doesn’t make it terribly challenging to remove the slack, it just may look a little different than you may be used to.

Center LATCH installations with Non-Standard Spacing :

WAYB allows LATCH installation in the center seating position if the vehicle manufacturer allows it and the LATCH anchor bars are spaced 11-20” apart. Check your vehicle owner’s manual to see if there are allowances for anchor spacing other than 11-20″.

Inflatable Seat Belts

WAYB has determined that the Pico CANNOT be installed with any inflatable seat belts found in vehicles.

Fit to Airplane

I’m sad to say that I neither have an airplane, nor the money to take a trip just to try this seat, though I did consider it. Fortunately, I have family who has the means and energy and a 3 year old! My sister used the Pico on a recent trip with my nephew Asher. Asher is 3 years old, 35 pounds and 39 inches. My sister was easily able to transport the seat through the airport and install it on the plane without a seatbelt extender. At WAYB’s recommendation, she threaded the seatbelt through the guides before buckling, then buckled and tightened.

Though the buckle was right in the middle of the seatback, because the mesh seat is reasonably taught, Asher couldn’t compress the seat enough to make contact with the buckle. The design was really, really thoughtful and I am mostly just mad I have installed so many harder seats on airplanes than this one. Where have you been all my life, Pico? And yes, Asher’s chest clip could be moved up a touch. I told you it was tricky to place correctly and unlike when I tossed my kids into my car, I couldn’t just bump his clip up and retake the picture because, well, I wasn’t there. So heed a warning here and be mindful of this.

Since the Pico sits so low on the airplane seat, the tray table can be lowered for the child to use during the flight.

Cover Removal/Maintenance

WAYB recommends spot cleaning whenever possible, with a mild, wool safe detergent, but you can remove the fabric and hand wash everything with warm water and wool safe detergent.

Crash and Lifespan

WAYB goes by NHTSA standards for replacement following a crash, and it is well described in the manual.

The Pico is covered by a 3 year (!) limited warranty from day of purchase, which is pretty great. The seat itself has a 6 year lifespan from date of manufacture, but Pico’s advocate told me that they intend to monitor this and decide whether to extend the lifespan as they are able to test the seat as it ages. Because it’s brand new, they aren’t sure how the materials will age and their goal is to make sure that it can be used as long as is safe to do so.

• Compact doesn’t even begin to describe the size of this seat. It is so small and so light.
• Eco-friendly with aluminum frame and other recyclable materials
• Removable shoulder strap covers
• 4 fashions, from black on black to a couple really eye catching options
• Wool blend ASTROKNIT™ mesh is breathable and reduces the need for foams
• Uses NHTSA rules for replacement after a crash. This may not seem like an advantage, but I truly believe that it is forward thinking in a new car seat.

Disadvantages

• The cover isn’t machine washable, which isn’t a huge disadvantage as it would be pretty easy to hand wash, but it’s worth noting, I think.

I feel like travel seats are an area where many companies have tried to make their seats work, but the reality is that conventional car seats just aren’t travel seats. WAYB did the opposite: they strayed from convention, focused on travel and portability and they really knocked it out of the park. The WAYB Pico does everything it promises to do, and it does it with genius design and eco-friendly materials. If you’re looking for a car seat for travel or a tight three across, or both, look no further. It’s an expensive seat, but it is a niche seat using state of the art materials. The Pico is the seat you’ve dreamed of every time you’ve sat down sweaty from the car seat hustle on an airplane. It’s the seat you’ve wished you had in every Uber ride with kids (or in every Uber ride you skipped because of kids). It’s the seat you wanted when you had to rent one through your car rental place. If you have a kid in the size and age range covered by Pico and intend to travel, run, don’t walk, and get one. You won’t regret it.

Thank you to WAYB for the sample Pico used in this review. No other compensation was provided. All opinions expressed are those of CarseatBlog.  More information at their official website: WAYB.com .

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RECALL ALERT : The NHTSA reports WAYB is recalling certain WAYB Pico child restraints manufactured between March 1, 2019 and May 12, 2019. The headrest’s aluminum tubular frame can break allowing the headrest to detach. For more info: https://carseatblog.com/48803/

FYI – Wirecutter did a long-term test with the WayB and the frame broke. Apparently this happened to another seat unrelated to Wirecutter. I have one and am kicking myself for having bought a seat that didn’t have a long track record. Now waiting for the recall to happen.

We have so far not had a similar issue with our WayB and would report on any such issues with any carseat if we discovered a safety concern. Unfortunately, this is always a possibility with a new product and we simply don’t know if it was a rare issue with one or more isolated products or if it could be a more widespread concern.

It’s fairly irresponsible to not at least report / mention in the body of your post that the NYTimes’s Wirecutter no longer recommends the Wayb Pico. Simply because this hasn’t happened to your own Wayb Pico, doesn’t mean this shouldn’t be mentioned. For you to say they knocked it out of the park in the main body of your review then mention that issues are “always a possibility with a new product” only in response to a commenter lends to how non-credible your review truly is.

I don’t think I can agree that it’s critically important to mention that one person had a part break on a seat when the seat is still in my possession and has been used quite extensively. It was used daily for almost a month by a 4 year old, it has been on 4 airplanes, and in several rental cars in use for weeks at a time. There are zero cracks, bends, or anything other than a perfectly functioning travel seat. I have no reason to believe that this is a problem beyond the exact seat that was given to Wirecutter, and if it turns out that it is, we will, of course, update our review or write a follow up post. For now, that does not seem to be the case.

The reality is that car seats aren’t indestructible. My 2 year old threw a huge tantrum a few weeks ago, grabbed the headwing of his convertible seat and destroyed the foam. This wasn’t a new seat, it is a much beloved and widely used seat, but it, like every other seat, is breakable. One seat breaking isn’t automatically reflective of a bigger problem.

@Katie – First, do you see the flaw in your argument? You’re not comparing apples to apples when using the example of your 2 year old actively destroying the seat during a tantrum versus the breaking of the Pico upon normal wear and tear? You note yourself that your carseat wasn’t new, but “much beloved,” as opposed to Wirecutter’s carseat, which was used for a few months (heck, the Pico hasn’t even been widely available for a full year).

Second, if you read the Wirecutter review, they note specifically that theirs wasn’t the only isolated incident. Wayb admitted that there was at least another isolated, unrelated incident where the exact same part broke. If they broke in different areas of the carseat, this might be a different story, but seems like too much of a coincidence that they broke in the same area.

Finally, it’s clear to me, at least, that these ultimately aren’t two isolated incidents given Wayb’s recall of the Pico, which supports my original post that it’s highly irresponsible to not even mention the Wirecutter review. I’ll add on to that now, as it’s highly disappointing that the recall update is located at the very bottom of the Carseatblog’s otherwise rave review. Any responsible review website should put the update at the top before your original review.

Hi there. So when I say “much beloved” I don’t mean much used, I mean it’s a seat that the car seat world likes very much. It’s not an old seat and my child still broke it with minimal effort. Conversely my Pico (which is part of the recall and which I will be getting a fix for) has been used pretty aggressively without event. I’m not here to argue that these seats aren’t breaking, they obviously are and as promised, we reported as soon as the recall started. No one is denying it, we are simply trying to suggest that it’s not the experience we’ve had using this seat.

Finally, I think my confusion lies in the expectation that we would report on what a different car seat group finds? I think you’ll find that within the car seat parts of the internet that there are many diverse opinions and experiences about a variety of seats and we focus on our opinions and experiences as do most other sites. The great news is that you’re free to browse them all at your leisure.

Also there’s a separate post about the recall here that was published on Tuesday.( https://carseatblog.com/48803/wayb-pico-recalled-for-headrest-defect/ ). The note on the post was just for those who may not have read the front page of the website. I hope that helps resolve some disappointment.

Hi Wisteria,

As I stated, Wirecutter’s single incident or the other one you mentioned was simply not enough verified information and we did not know if only some or all Pico products were affected. Though commonplace in the media today, we prefer not to spread unsubstantiated claims and instead waited for an authority like the NHTSA to issue a statement. Now that there is a recall and the range of dates for affected models is known, we quickly posted a notation in our review, a comment here in response, a blog and a post on our facebook page. Owners of affected products can find this information in our review and comments, while those who own product made after May 12th do not have to worry unnecessarily as theirs are not included in the recall.

Various child safety seats have a recall and we don’t usually include such notations in our reviews. This was an exception given it is a very new product and potentially serious recall that does not have a remedy yet.

We do appreciate your concern, and in fact you have mentioned it right here in response to our review. This is the usual way for owners to let us know of issues they have had, or for readers to share concerns like this one.

If Wirecutter was more established as an authority in the Child Passenger Safety industry and had a verified issue with multiple retail samples, it might warrant further concern and reporting by other news media. An investigative report published in the actual New York Times might be a different matter. Otherwise, we generally don’t refer to other review websites for anecdotal reports about carseat issues. For example, if we were to believe every reported issue was representative of a major injury risk, then nearly every carseat on the market would be suspect based upon reviews and reports on the internet, social media and retailer websites. What would be non-credible is to propagate a reliability concern that ends up being isolated or in some cases even damage caused by the owner. We base our reviews on our own experience and expertise , which is quite significant, both individually and as a team.

When there is clear evidence of a widespread issue, such as an NHTSA investigation, published report in a peer-reviewed journal or major national news outlet, recall or other voluntary action, we will be much more likely to report on this. We have no reason to doubt the report by Wirecutter. On the other hand, we also don’t know their reviewer(s), they have not contacted us about their findings, and I don’t recall meeting any of their staff at technical meetings, conferences or trade shows in nearly 20 years we have been involved in the industry. As such, it is certainly not something we would publish in our own review, nor would I expect they do the same in a similar situation. Even if we had an isolated failure of our own, we would likely mention it, but it wouldn’t necessarily preclude us from giving appropriate praise to a product if we thought it could be an isolated issue. Without any additional information from Wirecutter and evidence that this issue is more common, it would actually be irresponsible to highlight it in our own review if we have not had a similar experience or additional verified reports indicative of a widespread problem.

If you offer the tether extensions, might you also have an extension for the crotch buckle? My child had to sit on the fabric flap in order to relieve some discomfort in that area as it is too tight & short.

Hi – can the wayb be used as an everyday car aeat as well, or is it only recommended for travel?

The Wayb can definitely be used as an everyday carseat. The harness adjusts differently than other carseats, though, but I think like everything, it’s a matter of getting used to it.

I’m trying to understand crash test results for this seat. I cant seem to find it anywhere. We are looking to purchase the seat for travel and Uber rides, so not our daily seat. But I still want to make sure it’s safe. What’s your assessment. Thx!

Hi Michelle,

Unfortunately, there are no comprehensive crash test ratings for carseats like there are for new vehicles. Manufacturers generally self-certify to the minimum required government crash test standard, but as far as I know, the results are not required to be made public. Every legal car seat must pass to be certified for sale, but the actual injury measurements are generally not available. So, you can be sure it has met the federal safety standards, but beyond that, we can’t say if it is any safer or less safe than another carseat.

Just a quick comment for you about the tether length – we have tether extenders available if anyone runs into an issue with the tether length. Please contact our Customer Experience team at wayb.com for assistance.

Beth Warren, WAYB Safety Advocate

Will this work in a vehicle that predates the LATCH system AND does not have seatbelts that lock? We have an older vehicle we’d love to take our 3yr old in on special occasion drives but the seatbelts don’t lock.

Hi Jennifer! If the car has a latch plate (the male part of the buckle, essentially) that can slide along the belt, then you can install the Pico with a locking clip. The manual has a good description of the process!

We are trying to determine if it is safe, we followed all instructions but it seems to move more than an inch. What are we doing ñ wrong? We are trying to put it in a Honda Civic with the fixed headrests in the back….

I see your comment is over a year old, but the rest here are some 3 years old so doesn’t hurt to reply for the record. You probably aren’t doing anything “wrong” that you can change with a written explanation. There are two possibilities in your situation. One is simply that it won’t work. Not every car seat is compatible with every vehicle.

But the first step I’d suggest is to find a certified CPST (Child Passenger Safety Technician) in your area to help. I’m a former tech. We know little things to try to improve installation, and if they can figure out what is needed to get this seat tightly and safely installed in your car, they can then teach you what they did in your case. It can be particularly tricky to use a locking clip and get a tight install.

Some 20+ years ago there was a product made that was particularly difficult to install. It was the first ever seat that converted from harness to a booster, and in an era when car seat weight maximums were all just 40 lbs, it had higher top harness strap slots that would fit kids longer. In Canada the same seat was certified to 45 lbs, and the difference wasn’t in the seat but in crash test regulations. Canada has always required a top tether and used one in their crash tests, but in the US there was also the required test without a tether which it couldn’t pass over 40 lbs.

One day I was working a car seat checkup when a volunteer came and asked me if I could come try to get one in they were having trouble with. It was known that I owned one myself. So 120 lb, 5’4” me went and the 200 lb muscular firefighter stepped aside so I could try. And I got it tight in two minutes. It sure wasn’t a matter of strength! With a wiggle wiggle here, and a tug tug there and a pull pull here…I’d just gotten to know where the seat belt tended to resist being pulled tighter thru the belt path and adjusted those spots a little at a time.

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WAYB Pico Car Seat – Compact Travel Solution for Families

The WayB Pico car seat is a lightweight and portable travel car seat perfect for families on the go. With its compact design and safety features, the WayB Pico is designed for convenience and ease of use during travels.

The WayB Pico has been a game-changer for our family during long trips, whether by plane, rideshare, or road trips. Its lightweight construction and easy installation have made traveling with our little one a breeze. The ability to quickly fold and unfold the car seat, along with the option to wear it as a backpack, has been incredibly convenient, especially when navigating through airports. The safety features and compliance with U.S. regulations have provided peace of mind knowing our child is secure during travel.

WAYB Pico car seat: Lightweight and Portable Design

The WayB Pico travel car seat is a game-changer when it comes to portability and convenience. Weighing just 8 pounds, this car seat is incredibly lightweight, making it easy to carry and move around, whether you are traveling by air, car, or rideshares. Its compact design folds down to a size of 11.6″ L x 14.5″ W x 18.9″ H, making it a perfect fit for overhead bins and easy to transport while walking through the airport or to and from the car. The AeroWing aerospace-grade aluminum frame provides lightweight strength, while the AstroKnit performance wool/polyester mesh fabric cover keeps kids cool and comfortable during travels.

WAYB Pico car seat: Safety First with Pico

Designed with safety as a top priority, the WayB Pico travel car seat meets all U.S. safety standards regulated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Federal Aviation Administration. It is FAA approved for air travel, with a sticker located on the bottom of the seat for easy identification. The 5-point safety harness ensures that your little ones are securely strapped in, providing peace of mind during your journeys. The forward-facing design caters to kids aged 2+ within the weight range of 22-50 lbs. and height range of 30-45 inches, making it suitable for a wide range of ages and sizes.

Easy Installation and Versatile Usage

Installing the WayB Pico car seat is a breeze, whether you are using it in a car, airplane, or rideshare. The seat offers two different installation methods, catering to various vehicle setups. The portable and foldable design allows for quick and hassle-free installation and packing, perfect for parents on the go. The versatile carrying options, including using it as a backpack or slipping it onto the handle of rolling luggage, make it convenient for various travel scenarios. The included Carry Bag provides added portability and protection, ensuring that your Pico stays secure and ready for your next adventure.

WAYB Pico car seat: User-Friendly Features and Functionality

The WayB Pico travel car seat is designed with user convenience in mind. Its intuitive folding mechanism allows for quick setup and takedown, saving you time and effort during your travels. The adjustable height feature ensures a customized fit for your child, making their journey comfortable and secure. The included backpack carrier adds another layer of convenience, allowing you to carry the car seat hands-free while navigating airports or other travel hubs. With thoughtful features like additional storage pockets and a lightweight construction, the Pico offers a seamless travel experience for families on the move.

• Super lightweight and portable, making it a breeze for travel. At just 8 pounds, you can easily carry it through airports or to and from cars without feeling weighed down.
• Designed for safety, meeting all U.S. standards regulated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Federal Aviation Administration. You can travel with peace of mind knowing your little one is secure.
• Versatile installation options cater to various travel needs, whether you’re hopping into an Uber or boarding a flight, ensuring your child is always safely buckled in.
• The seat is forward-facing only, which may not be suitable for parents who prefer rear-facing seats for their toddlers for as long as possible.
• Although it’s designed for travel, some children might find it less comfortable for sleeping due to the lack of side support for their heads.
• The price point is high, which might be a significant investment for a car seat primarily used for travel instead of everyday use.

In conclusion, the WayB Pico travel car seat has exceeded our expectations in terms of portability, ease of use, and safety. While it may have some minor drawbacks, such as limited comfort for long-term use and a shorter belt length, its overall benefits make it a worthwhile investment for families who prioritize convenience and safety while traveling. We highly recommend the WayB Pico for families seeking a reliable and versatile travel car seat solution.

Questions & Answers:

Question: Can this car seat be used on all airplane seats?

Answer: Yes, the WAYB Pico Car Seat is FAA approved for air travel. Just make sure to use the lap belt installation method on the airplane seat for a secure fit.

Question: How do I clean the car seat, especially after a messy travel day?

Answer: The fabric cover is removable and machine washable, making it easy to keep clean. Just follow the washing instructions provided by the manufacturer to ensure the fabric stays in great condition.

Question: Is this car seat suitable for daily use, or should it only be used for travel?

Answer: While the WAYB Pico is designed with travel in mind, thanks to its lightweight and foldable design, it can also be used for daily trips. However, if comfort for extended periods is a priority, you might want to consider a more traditional car seat for everyday use.

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Product Key Features

• Seating Direction Forward Facing
• Age Toddler
• Color Black

Forward Facing Convertible Baby Car Seats (5-40lbs)

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WayB Pico Foldable Travel Car Seat Review

Flying with a car seat is a pain. They’re large, and heavy and as airlines don’t really treat most items well and keep breaking strollers, many parents understandably don’t want to check their car seats.

With infant car seat it’s easy – you can take it with you on board if there’s an empty seat (although personally, I don’t like doing that).

Renting a car seat at the destination is an option, but it’s costly and you can never know what you’re getting – or if it’s even very clean.

In some places, you legally cannot take your baby or toddler on a short Uber ride without a car seat and if you’re roaming the city you don’t want to drag a giant car seat with you. On the other hand, if you plan on dragging your US or Canadian car seat to Europe don’t even bother, because they’re illegal there (and vice versa).

As frequent travelers, we struggled with the idea of having to bring a car seat. While we considered Doona, ultimately we decided it’s not worth the price and it’s not so great for the baby (a story for another time).

For older kids things are easier as there are so many options for foldable booster seats (eg. Mifold ). But, for toddlers there are none. Cosco Scenera Next is a lightweight and cheap car seat many parents opt for, but it doesn’t fold so it’s not like I can carry it with me here or there (also, it doesn’t work everywhere – read more under adaptability).

Once our older son Dylan was old and tall enough to hop into a standard car seat we got recommended WayB Pico foldable car seat. We’ve been using it for 1.5 years now.

Is this car seat ideal? Absolutely not, but it does the job for us. Below it’s my honest review of Wayb Pico car seat and whether it’s worth the price tag.

Disclaimer: This review is NOT sponsored in any way. I didn’t receive this product for free in exchange for this review. All opinions are entirely my own (well, and my husband’s).

Wayb Pico Car Seat Review

Wayb pico highlights.

• Forward-facing only
• For children 1 and older (WAYB recommends you wait until age 2); 22-50 pounds, 30-45 inches
• Seat is made with ASTROKNIT™ mesh, which takes the place of foam
• Pico is eco-friendly, with the majority of the seat being recyclable and made of aerospace-grade aluminum
• Width of seat: 14.75 inches at the widest point (middle of the torso)
• Height of seat with headrest in lowest position: 22.75 inches
• Height of seat headrest fully extended: 27.75 inches
• Depth of seat: 15.25 inches
• Harness (torso) height: 16.5 inches
• Weight of seat: 8 pound
• Easy install
• Lightweight
• Works everywhere

Not great for naps

Where to buy wayb pico car seat.

• Dillard’s
• Saks Fifth Avenue
• Amazon (with the travel bag)

Wayb Pico carseat is on the American Academy of Pediatrics’ 2020 list of approved forward-facing car seats, and works in a front-facing mode for kids between 22 and 50 pounds, who are 30 to 45 inches tall.

Which, in the case of my big child – made him eligible for it as early as 13 months if I remember his dimensions correctly (official minimum age is 1, the recommendation is 2). Our cousins also used it from about 15 months as they fly stand-by where it’s impossible to get regular car seats checked and dragging 2 full-size car seats through the airport on top of the 2 toddlers is simply impossible.

We encourage you to check your state’s laws. Some states, such as California, require children to remain rear-facing in most cases until age 2.

Pico is also FAA approved for in-flight use, so if you wish to keep your child contained on board you can bring it with you.

Important reminded here (as many aren’t aware) – car seats on board can only be placed on a window seat, so make sure you book a window seat if you wish to install it for your flight.

Pros of Wayb Pico Carseat

Size and portability.

The Pico will fit just pretty much anywhere you could put it in terms of width and height. It’s that small you can just bring it on the plane and put it in the overhead or under the seat. You can keep it under the stroller. It folds in seconds.

When you buy it comes with a travel bag, but my husband lost it instantly so can’t talk about the bag in much detail because I never got to see it, haha 😀

Easy installation

The  LATCH system  and the top rope on either side make it easier for you to strap and place the car seat into the motor vehicle. The seat belt installation is also possible; however, the process is a little more complex. But, by no means long or complicated.

Unlike in full-size car seats, on Pico you don’t have to pull on a single strap between your kiddos’ legs when you place them in.

While I didn’t get a chance to install the Pico on a plane, because we’re not fans of using car seats on planes for both babies and toddlers (kids aren’t fans either), from what I heard it’s not hard.

Adaptability

Many parents will tell you that they used their car seats all around the world. While I say that you CAN you might need to take some things into consideration. Europe is problematic.

I mentioned before that standard US car seats are illegal in Europe and vice versa because they have a chest clip. While you can technically bring it, if you get stopped and the police know the laws they might fine you and if (knock on wood) you get into an accident insurance has the right to refuse the payout if you don’t have the correct car seat.

In most other places you should be just fine. Many countries don’t require kids to be rear facing for long (eg. Australia only does for the first 6 months, but in most countries, by 12 months they can be front-facing ).

You can use it in Africa or Asia as it has a LATCH system, but it can be used without it. And the fact that it doesn’t require the top tether though. Carseats like Cosco Scenera wouldn’t be possible to use in cars without the top tether (and if you even traveled to South America or Africa you know that most older cars are lacking it).

Breathability

This seat seems to allow the airflow that our other car seats lack. It was super handy in Mexico in high temperatures, because Dylan was never sweaty.

WAYB recommends spot cleaning whenever possible, with a mild, wool-safe detergent, but you can remove the fabric and hand wash everything with warm water and wool-safe detergent.

Cons of Wayb Pico Carseat

Like I said before, Wayb Pico is great overall, but it does have some flaws. I don’t think any stroller , crib, or other baby item is ideal without flaws. Everyone should weigh pros and cons and decide what’s important for them and for their child.

The biggest real con of this car seat is naturally its price as it’s not a cheap seat. If you travel a lot or live in the city where you need occasional cab rides, it’s worth it in my opinion.

Especially if you have multiple kids, when Dylan outgrows it when he reaches 45″ (which for most kids is 5, but in his case might be 3.5 or 4), he can pass it to his younger brother.

Crotch Buckle is short

The crotch buckle is a bit short, and shorter than on other car seats. The crotch buckle sits approximately 4.5 inches from the back of the seat.

Dylan is a skinny dude, so he has no issues, but I wouldn’t be so sure how would it work on a chunkier child.

As Pico is meant for older kids, it’s not an ideal car seat for road trips or during nap times. The head support is more upright than a regular car seat though, so if your toddler falls asleep in the car his head will be sort of hanging.

Dylan doesn’t mind, if he wants to sleep he sleeps but some parents might get upset by this. We tried to adjust it with a neck pillow, but he’s not a fan of it.

Straps are not as soft

Apparently some kids might complain that the padded straps irritate their necks as they’re not that soft. Dylan removes them within seconds and prefers to ride without them for some reason. He does it on his other car seat (Graco) as well, so I guess he just doesn’t like the padding at all, but some other kiddos might not find it great.

WayB Pico FAQ & Other Things to Know

Why there are no crash tests is wayb car seat safe.

The Pico meets all U. S. federal safety standards and crash test requirements for forward-facing harnessed safety seats for use in passenger vehicles and the FAA requirements for use on commercial airplanes.

Unfortunately, there are no comprehensive crash test ratings for car seats like there are for new vehicles. Manufacturers generally self-certify to the minimum required government crash test standard,

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Thank you. I am really leaning toward the Pico but we are traveling in Europe. I know there are no US carseats that are legal in Europe, so…what car seat do you use for the in btwn toddler stage? My son is 2.5, 37 in and 30 lbs. Do you have a good, lightweight and possibly foldable travel car seat for Europe? Or do we just take our chances and bring Pico with us to Europe?

I can honestly say that most people just bring their American car seats to Europe, because they don’t know. We had our Pico with us for the past few months in Europe as a second car seat. If you’re planning on coming back to Europe you could buy him a European car seat (it also works for basically most places that aren’t the US) as they’re better.

Most European car seats for toddlers work mostly with seatbelts instead of harnesses or the one belt with an airbag (which is the best!). We got Nachfolger for the younger one as my friends raved about it in terms of traveling because it deflates so small and works fantastic, but unfortunately, it’s only rear-facing and my kids refuse to sit that way so it didn’t work for us. The only other foldable “American style” European car seat is Maxi Cosi Nomad.

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Customer Reviews

It is a stellar choice for families prioritizing safety and convenience. Its lightweight yet sturdy construction, coupled with easy installation and compact design, make it ideal for travel and everyday use.

We traveled with this for the first time using the carrying backpack and it was so easy! Gate checked the backpack and used the car seat in a rental car for a week. Lightweight, easy to place and remove from car quickly!

Small and compact but sturdy and solid

I bought this product during the Black Friday sale. The color I chose was on back order until January. Customer service reached out proactively and offered to swap colors for earlier shipment and matching the sale price of the color that I chose. Although I prefer the original color that I selected, but I rather get the product asap. The new color is actually more expensive than the one I selected.

I love this car seat for travel. It’s compact and lightweight. It easily hooks to the back of my suitcase and wheels through the airport with ease. I do keep it in and travel with it in the bag it originally came in. The bag has held up great. Installation is simple either on the plane or car. I do wish they had a rear facing seat, just from a safety standpoint. This seat will last quite awhile for my petite 3 year old. For taller children this seat won’t last as long. We travel cross country every 6 to 12 weeks and I love this seat.

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Compare to Retail Price $495

Age Range: 2- 5 years

Average Rental Duration: 1 month

Meet Pico, the car seat that's actually portable! It's a parent-favorite and car and plane-approved car seat for traveling with toddlers and young kids. 

Forward-facing car seat Fits kids 22-50lbs and 30-45 inches (recommended for ages 2+) Passes all US safety standards for motor vehicles and planes Compact Fold 5-point harness Can fit 3 in a row in most vehicles

Dimension & Details

Product Weight: 8lbs Product dimensions (folded): ‎11.6 x 14.5 x 18.9 inches Product dimensions (open): ‎15.2 x 14.5 x 27.8 inches Product Materials: Breathable mesh fabrics with aluminum frame for strength and durability

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The Ultimate Guide to Baseless Car Seats: 7 Great Choices for Traveling Moms

Busy moms need flexibility, like baseless car seats.

B efore your baby was born, you likely spent hours researching which car seat to buy. You chose one you believed would be easy to use and keep your baby safe and secure. Maybe at that time, too, you hadn’t considered how much time you’d spend in other people’s cars.

Fast forward to the present, now. Do you find yourself in the never-ending hassle of lugging around your child’s heavy car seat every time you travel? If you’re like me, a constantly on-the-go parent, exploring new places with your little ones in tow, you understand the need for a reliable and convenient car seat. That’s where baseless car seats come into play.

From popular infant car seats , to versatile all-in-one seats, and car seats for older children, we’ve got you covered. What makes these seats stand out is their ability to be used without a base, making them perfect for situations like traveling in an Uber or hopping on an airplane .

Ready to dive in? Let’s go!

Related: The Best Small Family Cars to Transport Your New Family In

This story contains affiliate links; A Girls Guide to Cars may earn a commission from sales generated by links in this story. So, shop away!

Baseless car seats are a convenient way to enjoy traveling with your family. Photo: Nuna

What Is a Baseless Car Seat?

A baseless car seat , as the name suggests, is a type of car seat that can be installed without a separate base. It offers a range of benefits for various situations. If you frequently travel, whether by car, taxi , or airplane, a baseless car seat can be a game-changer. It eliminates the need to carry a bulky base and allows for quick and hassle-free installation wherever you go. For city dwellers without a personal vehicle, relying on taxis or rideshares becomes effortless as these car seats can be securely installed without the base, making transportation more convenient.

Even for families with multiple cars, a baseless car seat offers flexibility and ease of transfer between vehicles. However, it’s important to note that baseless car seats may not be the ideal choice for those seeking ultimate convenience. Some models require the seat belt to be buckled over the top of the seat, which can make it challenging to get the baby in if the seat is already buckled in. This means you may still need to reinstall the seat for each ride, which may not be as convenient for some parents.

With all that in mind, let’s explore the versatility and long-lasting benefits of some of our favorite baseless car seats.

The center row bench seat accommodates a baseless car seat for an infant perfectly. Photo: Scotty Reiss

Infant Baseless Car Seats

Let’s explore three exceptional baseless infant car seat picks: Doona, Nuna Pipa urbn, and Chico KeyFit 35. The Chicco KeyFit 35 stands out for its reliability and ease of use. The Doona car seat impresses with its all-in-one design, seamlessly transforming into a stroller. Finally, the Nuna Pipa urbn offers a lightweight and stylish option with top-notch safety features.

The Chicco Keyfit car seat offers user-friendly baseless car seat installation. Photo: Amazon

Chicco KeyFit 35

The Chicco KeyFit35 is an outstanding baseless infant car seat that offers a range of impressive features. One of its notable strengths lies in its easy installation process, ensuring a secure fit in your vehicle every time. Additionally, the Chicco KeyFit35 is compatible with a wide range of strollers, allowing for seamless transitions between car rides and strolling adventures. Safety is paramount, and this car seat delivers with its included rebound bar, providing an extra layer of protection.

We know how heavy infant seats can get, but the Chicco KeyFit wins in this category, coming in at a mere 10 lbs. It is notably lightweight, making it a breeze to carry and handle. It’s important to note that the Chicco KeyFit35 has a weight limit of 4-35 lbs. and a height limit of 32″. The Chicco KeyFit35 remains a popular choice due to its user-friendly installation, compatibility, safety features, and lightweight design.

Find it here for $260.

The Doona baseless car seat brilliantly converts into a stroller. Photo: Amazon

Doona Car Seat & Stroller

The Doona Car Seat and Stroller is an incredibly popular all-in-one travel system that has captured the hearts of many new parents. Its popularity often leads to high demand, making it challenging to acquire at times. Trust this as someone who tried to get one for my baby when she was little. However, its exceptional features make it well worth the effort.

Installing the Doona is a breeze in various vehicle types, ensuring convenience and peace of mind. Despite its compact size as a travel system, it doesn’t compromise on impact protection, offering robust safety features. It’s important to note that the Doona has weight and height limits of 4-35 lbs. and 32″, respectively. It is relatively heavier at 17 lbs. compared to other options, but the Doona’s versatility and convenience outweigh this factor for many parents.

It’s worth noting that the Doona falls into a higher price range ($550), making it a more expensive choice. However, its popularity, ease of installation, compact design, and impressive safety features make it a top contender among all-in-one travel systems for parents.

Find it here for $550.

The Nuna Pipa Urbn baseless car seat offers exceptional safety for your little ones. Photo: Nuna

Nuna Pipa Urbn

The Nuna Pipa Urbn is another highly sought-after infant car seat known for its exceptional safety features. Installing the Nuna Pipa Urbn is a breeze, thanks to its anchor guides that provide easy and secure installation in any vehicle.

What sets this infant car seat apart is its incredibly lightweight design, making it effortless to carry and handle. The built-in latch system adds an extra layer of convenience. It’s important to note that the Nuna Pipa Urbn has a height limit of less than 29 inches and a weight limit of 4-22 lbs, which may be a consideration for families looking for a seat that will grow with their child.

Even though it falls in a higher price range, its unmatched safety features, easy installation, lightweight design, and the brand’s reputation make it an appealing choice for parents who prioritize the utmost protection for their little ones.

Find it here for $900.

Related: How to Keep Your Car Clean, Even with Kids

All-in-one car seats.

Now, let’s dive into the world of All-in-One car seats, an excellent choice that offers exceptional value for your investment. These seats are designed to grow with your children from infancy all the way up to around age 10. In this section, we’ll discuss two popular options: the Britax One4Life ClickTight All-in-One, which I currently own, and the Graco 4Ever DLX 4-in-1 Car Seat.

The Britax One4Life is one of the most versatile baseless car seats on the market right now. Photo: Amazon

Britax One4Life ClickTight All-in-One

The Britax One4Life ClickTight is a remarkable baseless car seat that I have been using with my toddler since she was an infant. This car seat stands out with its easy installation process, requiring just three simple steps to install it in your vehicle securely.

As a brand, Britax is known for its top safety standards, making it a reliable choice for parents seeking the utmost protection for their little ones. However, it’s worth noting that the Britax One4Life ClickTight is relatively heavy, weighing 30 lbs., which may not be as convenient for travel or frequent vehicle changes.

What makes this car seat truly outstanding is its ability to grow with your child. It is the only 10-year car seat equipped with ClickTight technology, ensuring a secure fit in four different configurations: rear-facing infant car seat, rear-facing toddler car seat, forward-facing 5-point harness car seat, and forward-facing high back booster seat.

With its versatility and long-term use, the Britax One4Life ClickTight offers peace of mind and comfort for your child throughout their developmental stages.

Find it here for $400.

Related: Why We Are Just Bonkers for Britax

The Graco 4ever DLX 4 in one baseless car seat makes traveling with young ones a dream. Photo: Amazon

Graco 4Ever DLX 4-in-1 Car Seat

The Graco 4Ever DLX 4-in-1 Car Seat is a fantastic choice that offers a range of impressive features. Installing this car seat is a breeze, thanks to its integrated belt lock off, which simplifies seat belt installation. As your child grows, the Graco 4Ever DLX transforms from a rear-facing seat to a backless booster, accommodating their changing needs.

With a large weight range from 4 to 120 pounds, this car seat provides long-term usability. It has specific weight limits for each mode, including rear-facing, forward-facing, high-back booster, and backless booster. The height limits for forward-facing, high-back booster, and backless booster modes ensure a secure fit for your child’s growth.

The Graco 4Ever DLX weighs 23 lbs., making it relatively lightweight compared to other All-in-Ones. Additionally, it is an affordable option, offering excellent value for your money.

With its easy installation, versatility, wide weight range, and affordability, the Graco 4Ever DLX 4-in-1 Car Seat is a reliable choice for families seeking long-term usability and convenience.

Find it here for $330.

Easy to Install Car Seats for Older Children

Lastly, let’s explore the top baseless car seats ideal for traveling with older children. We’ll discuss two exceptional options: the WAYB Pico, which I personally own, and the Cosco Scenera Next.  These car seats are specifically designed to cater to the needs of older children during your travels.

The WAYB Pico is a foldable and compact option in baseless car seats. Photo: WAYB

WAYB Pico Portable Car Seat

The WAYB Pico is the go-to seat we rely on during our travels. It excels in convenience and versatility, effortlessly installing on airplanes and in shared rides. With its foldable design and compact size, it is easy to carry and fits perfectly in the overhead compartment.

Whether we’re hopping between taxis or engaging in travel activities like dining out or visiting zoos , the WAYB Pico proves to be a reliable travel companion. Weighing a mere eight pounds and folding into a compact size of 12 x 15 x 19 inches, it can be effortlessly stowed in its included travel bag or conveniently placed in your current carry-all.

Designed for toddlers within the 22-50 lb. range, the WAYB Pico offers an adjustable five-point harness and a headrest, ensuring a comfortable and secure fit for your child. With its lightweight, portable nature and thoughtful features, the WAYB Pico provides peace of mind and convenience for both parents and little ones on the go.

Find it here for $380.

Related: Why We Simply Adore the WAYB Pico

The Cosco Scenera Next is a value-conscious choice in baseless car seats. Photo: Walmart

Cosco Scenera Next

The Cosco Scenera Next is a standout choice when it comes to value for money. Not only does it offer exceptional affordability, but it also boasts convenient features. Cleaning is a breeze with machine-washable seat pads, and even the cupholder is dishwasher safe.

The versatility of the Cosco Scenera Next is evident as it effortlessly switches between forward-facing and rear-facing positions, accommodating the needs of your growing child. Its slim and lightweight design, weighing just 10.4 lbs., makes it easy to handle and maneuver. With height limits of 19-40 inches for rear-facing and 29-43 inches for forward-facing, as well as weight limits of 5-40 lbs for rear-facing and 22-40 lbs. for forward-facing, this car seat ensures a comfortable and secure fit for your child.

With its unbeatable value, easy maintenance, versatility, and lightweight design, the Cosco Scenera Next is an excellent choice for families seeking an affordable and reliable baseless car seat option.

Find it here for $60.

The rear seat definitely has room for car seats! Photo: Hummer

Practice Makes Perfect: Baseless Car Seat Installation

Don’t let the first time you install a car seat with no base be when you need to. Practice makes perfect. Try installing the seat — both with and without the baby in it — before you travel. Practice before you go, more than once.

Practice installing the seat on both the center of the back seat and the sides. Studies have shown that the center position in the back seat can be up to 43 percent safer for babies. But some center seats bump out a bit, which can make installation tricky.

What is the right installation? One that you feel confident is secure. So go with what you feel most comfortable with.

Most parents examine  safety ratings and ease of installation  before they buy a car seat. If you will be using rideshares and taxis regularly, consider buying one with a feature called “European belt path.” A European belt path allows you to stretch the shoulder part of the seat belt behind the infant car seat and secure it through a special “belt path” on the back. That gives the car seat two spots where the seatbelt holds it in rather than just one.

A baseless car seat installation is possible even without a European belt path. But the second anchor will give you peace of mind if you regularly travel with your baby.

Read More: Best Family Cars to Buy When Baby Makes 3

The rear seat in the VinFast VF 8; the door also opens wide for installing kids car seats. Photo: Scotty Reiss

How to Install an Infant Car Seat With a Seatbelt

Baseless car seat installation can be tricky. These tips will turn you into a pro.

Let’s walk step by step through a baseless car seat installation.

• Place your car seat, rear-facing, on the vehicle seat.
• Pull out the seat belt; thread the lap section through the lap belt guides on the car seat.
• Put the shoulder belt portion through, making sure it lies flat. (If your car seat has a European belt path, you will pull the shoulder belt behind the car seat and secure it in that belt path.)
• Buckle the safety belt.
• Pull down on the shoulder belt to activate the locking mechanism.
• Push on the car seat and pull on the safety belt to make sure your installation is tight. The seat should not move more than one inch if you try to wiggle it.
• Double-check that the seat is level.

Read More: 5 Important Car Seat Safety Tips

Installing a baseless car seat in a rideshare or taxi is as easy as 1-2-3-4-5.

Baseless Car Seat Conclusions

After exploring a range of baseless car seats that cater to the needs of traveling families , I hope you’ve gained valuable insights to help you choose the best one for your family. The great news is that all the mentioned seats are airline approved and have high safety ratings. These car seats offer convenience, safety, and versatility, making them reliable companions during your journeys. 

The ideal ages for children to use these car seats vary based on the model, with infant car seats like the Chico KeyFit35, Doona, and Nuna Pipa URBN suitable for babies weighing 4-35 lbs, and the WAYB Pico and Cosco Scenera Next designed for toddlers weighing 22-50 lbs and 5-40 lbs respectively.

While baseless car seats provide numerous advantages, it’s important to note that they may not be the best choice in certain situations. Some models require reinstallation for each ride, which can be cumbersome for families seeking convenience . Additionally, heavier car seats like the Britax One4Life ClickTight and Graco 4Ever DLX 4-in-1 Car Seat may pose challenges for frequent travel or maneuvering between vehicles. It’s essential to consider these factors and evaluate your specific needs when selecting the most suitable baseless car seat for your family’s travels.

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Re-Certified Pico™ Portable Car Seat

Meet the Re-Certified Pico, the car seat that’s actually portable! Returned Pico seats can have another certified life thanks to 360 degree quality review and inspection.

Forward-facing car seat fits kids 22-50 lbs and 30-45 inches.

Recommended for ages 2+

Re-certified seats pass all U.S. safety standards for motor vehicles and planes. All re-certified seats have a useful life of 7 years from the date of re-certification. Limited seats available, while supplies last.

The Pico Essentials Bundle

Commitment to Safety and Sustainability

Parents Love Pico

Experience a way better car seat..

The Pico car seat is light and portable. It even fits in most airplane overhead bins!

Storage Position:  11.6” L x 14.5” W x 18.9” H

Lowest Use Position:  15.2” L x 14.5” W x 22.8” H

Highest Use Position:  15.2” L x 14.5” W x 27.8” H

Weight:  8 pounds

The Pico car seat passes all safety testing according to U.S. standards regulated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

We are giving parents a better choice  rather   than skipping the seat when traveling, the Pico can help keep kids travel safer wherever they go.

We take safety seriously at WAYB.  It’s in our heritage: our founders come from the outdoor gear industry and are known for their commitment to quality and safety.

WAYB  offers easy-to-follow installation videos on our support page, and recommends checking any car seat installation with a Certified Passenger Safety Technician in your area.

Frame Components:  Pico's AeroWing™ space-grade aluminum alloy is ultralight, super strong, and absorbs energy forces in a crash. Designed with the planet in mind, the Pico car seat uses minimal plastic components and no PU foam.

Fabric Pads:  Made from a blend of polyester and responsibly sourced wool, Pico's AstroKnit™ mesh fabric is breathable and ergonomic, keeping little travelers cool and comfortable. Pico’s frame sections are covered with a rugged polyester material.

Care:  Spot clean using warm water and wool-safe detergent, or remove fabric pads and hand wash using warm water and wool-safe detergent.

The Pico car seat can be installed using a car’s LATCH system or a car or plane seatbelt. See our installation video here.

Meet Pico's Pals

In the Press

• 5 Stars 379 Reviews
• 4 Stars 53 Reviews
• 3 Stars 20 Reviews
• 2 Stars 3 Reviews
• 1 Star 5 Reviews

Low Profile

Needed something low profile to fit in the back of my mustang and this works perfectly.

BEST purchase ever for a single parent who doesn’t drive :)

As a single parent of a 2 year old, and someone who lives in NY and takes tons of Ubers/Lyfts, the moment my daughter grew out of her infant car seat I panicked and knew that I wouldn’t be able to carry around a HUGE toddler car seat with me everywhere. This car seat had made my life so much EASIER. I’m so thankful that I purchased it.

Great car seat

Was very happy to have found this as an alternative to the standard car seat for our 4 yr old. Doesn't take up the whole back seat and is easily transferred to different cars seamlessly

Great size and quality!

This was a great purchase. It’s amazing in quality for the size and easy to transport and rely on!

AMAZING Customer Service

We ordered our Pico for an international trip for our toddler. We were practicing installing it and we realized one of the belt-path arms was bent. Ari was able send us a new one SUPER fast and our kiddo had safe flights and drives on our trip! Thank you!

"Great for everyday use or traveling. Liked the ease of installation. It is light and comfortable, easy to carry on trips and for daily use. It is perfect, and deserves 5 stars."

"It's the best travel car seat! We flew 20k+ miles with ours in 2021! Plus rental cars, ride share, and carpool! Worth every penny!"

"As a single mama, it’s completely changed the way we travel and I’m able to have both my hands available in the airport and beyond. Love ours!"

"My girls love our Pico! Can’t wait to take it with us on our next trip! No more sore muscles from carry-ons and goodbye to questionable rentals!"