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• Baby and kid

The Best Travel Car Seats

By Christina Szalinski and Rebecca Gale

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

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

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

Everything we recommend

Chicco KeyFit 35 ClearTex

The best infant car seat for travel.

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

Buying Options

An infant car seat and stroller in one

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

Cosco Scenera Next

The best convertible car seat for travel.

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

Cosco Finale 2-in-1 Booster Car Seat

The best harness booster car seat for travel.

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

Britax Travel Cart

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

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

The best backless booster seat for travel

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

May be out of stock

How we picked

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Weight of cart: 7.6 pounds

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

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

The research

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

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

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

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

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

Infant car seats for travel

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

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

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

Convertible car seats for travel

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

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

Booster seats for travel

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

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

Travel car seat alternatives

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Flaws but not dealbreakers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Infant travel seats

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

Convertible travel seats

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

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

Booster travel seats

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

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

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

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

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

Travel carts

The Torevsior Car Seat Travel Cart is about $30 less than the Britax Travel Cart we recommend, but it’s also less robust—the frame just doesn’t feel as sturdy. The weight limit is also lower than the Britax’s, at 70 pounds versus Britax’s 100 pounds. Like the Britax travel cart, the Torevsior cart has hooks for LATCH straps, to secure a car seat onto the cart so that your child can ride in it as you’re moving through the airport. It’s 6.4 pounds (Britax is 7.6 pounds), and extends up to 46 inches (Britax to 42 inches).

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

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

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

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

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

Meet your guides

Christina Szalinski

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

Rebecca Gale

Further reading

The Best Booster Car Seats

by Rebecca Gale

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

The Best Travel Strollers

by Elise Czajkowski

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

The Best Infant Car Seats

by Christina Szalinski

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

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

by Kerry Davis McGuinness

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

7 Best Portable Car Seats for Babies, Toddlers and Big Kids

We prioritized lightweight car seats for travel by plane, rental car and rideshare.

We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.

Best Overall Portable Infant Car Seat

Doona car seat stroller.

Best Value Portable Booster Seat

Graco turbobooster 2.0.

Best Portable Convertible Car Seat

Cosco scenera next.

Having kids doesn't mean the end of travel, though it does mean you'll want to get savvy about ways to make it more manageable. Enter: The portable car seat. Unlike your typical day-to-day all-in-one car seat that stays in your car, a portable car seat can easily go through the airport and into a rental car or rideshare . Our list has a range of safe car seats that travel well with infants, toddlers and big kids.

Aside from requiring a lot more gear, traveling with kids can be quite stressful, and in between packing your luggage and investing in a travel stroller , there's little mental energy for anything else. Fortunately, our experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute Parenting Lab have been testing car seats for decades, including the best convertible car seats , rotating car seats and the best booster seats . We test based on safety features, functionality, ease of use and value. Our picks are based on tests done in-Lab by our experts, evaluations from our consumer testers and extensive research.

Head to the end of this guide to find more information on how we test, whether or not you should use a car seat on a plane, what to look for when shopping for the best portable car seats and more. Looking for more to make traveling with kids as easy as possible? Check out our favorite outdoor-ready stroller wagons , the best lightweight strollers and top-rated double strollers .

The Doona car seat is our pick for the best overall car seat and stroller combo and it's one of our past Parenting Award winners. A dedicated fan following backs it up; see its more than 13,000 five-star reviews on Amazon. The Doona makes it easy to switch between car seat and stroller mode in seconds even with your baby strapped inside. In short, you don't need a separate infant car seat and a stroller, because this is both.

"It's the easiest stroller to maneuver through airport security and around an airport terminal," says one tester who's a mom of two young kids. It goes into a rideshare vehicle using the seat belt (no stroller to put in the trunk!). It's also FAA-approved for use in an airplane cabin and fits on most economy airplane seats, which are often about 17 inches wide.

Rachel Rothman , the Good Housekeeping Institute's former Chief Technologist and a mom of three, is a fan of this for travel. But it's important to note that, as well as being pricey, the Doona is only for rear-facing use and for toddlers up to 35 pounds. Toddlers outgrow it typically at age 2. But if you'll travel a lot in those first two years — even if it's just catching Ubers around town — you'll be grateful for the Doona.

Big kids need a bit of help ensuring that the seatbelt is hitting their body just right, so this backless booster gives them that extra height. It's also exceptionally small, lightweight and easy to travel with; you might even keep several in your car's trunk for when you're carpooling other kids.

Because it's backless, it doesn't offer as much support as a highback booster (for that, see the Peg Perego on this list). It is okayed for ages 4 and up as long as they weigh at least 40 pounds and could be great for a quick trip when you don't want to lug something large. This fits into a tote bag!

With its two hideaway cupholders, machine-washable seat cushions and padded armrests, this tucks a lot of features into a (really!) affordable seat. It's no surprise that it has more than 22,000 five-star reviews on Amazon. While it isn't airline-approved — all booster seats require a shoulder belt, which you won't find on an airplane — its compact size makes it incredibly simple to slide into your overhead bin to later use in taxis, Ubers or other vehicles once you get to your destination.

For a little more money there's a TurboBooster LX version that works with LATCH; nice if you'll be keeping this in one car for a length of time.

Got enough to carry already? At 10 pounds, this is the best lightweight convertible car seat for traveling and it won't break the bank. Five harness heights and three buckle locations help customize the seat to your baby or toddler's size, though it's the kind of harness you have to rethread each time you need to change it.

The Scenera can be installed rear-facing for babies and toddlers and forward-facing for preschoolers up to 40 pounds but lacks the cushioning and other comforts, like a recline mechanism, we've come to enjoy in an everyday toddler car seat . Still, with its deep bucket seat, this will keep your tiny passenger comfy enough and car seat compliant when you're traveling and in and out of other people's vehicles. It's especially great as a rear-facing travel option for 2- and 3-year-olds who have outgrown an infant car seat.

You can remove both the cupholder and seat pad for washing. The seat pad can even go in the dryer. The brand claims that three of these seats fit across a back seat and our tests were able to validate that in certain vehicles. It can be installed with the LATCH system or a seatbelt. It's approved for airplane seats and like our best overall pick it fits on most economy seats.

Peg Perego Viaggio Flex 120

Kids who are at least age 4 and who weigh 40 pounds or more will appreciate the comfort of this belt-positioning booster seat just as much as parents will appreciate its ability to fold down to a fraction of its size.

The Flex 120 has an exceptionally large weight range, functioning for kids up to — you guessed it — 120 pounds. While it's a bit pricier than some other booster options, its ability to compact down makes it perfect for folding up and storing in a bag that you can then gate-check, or even fit into the overhead bin while in-flight. Note that no belt-positioning booster is certified for use in an airplane cabin because they're meant to be used with a car's shoulder belt, not an airplane lap belt. The big kids who fit this are good to use the airplane belt anyway! This is perfect for use in a rideshare, taxi or a far-off relative's vehicle when you land.

Customize this booster to your child by adjusting the headrest, upper backrest, side wings and seat. In addition to being an easy portable car seat, this is another great choice for grandparents or other caregivers who only occasionally drive big kids around because it so easily fits into a car's trunk when not in use.

Graco 4Ever DLX

This is larger and heavier than any of our other choices. However, this is the most portable all-in-one car seat that grows with your little one from a rear-facing infant car seat to a backless booster, from 4 to 120 pounds .

Its versatility means that it may be the only car seat you ever have to buy, and if you travel infrequently, you could manage to tote this on a few trips and avoid buying something separate just for travel. It is certified to work on an airplane seat with the harness (so, up to 65 pounds), but it's about 3 inches wider than many economy airplane seats so the fit isn't great; one Reddit user said they put it in the window seat and then just accepted squeezing themselves into the middle-seat position.

While testing, we appreciated how easy this car seat was to install and use, making it pretty difficult to mess up due to user error. We also love how highly adjustable it is, with a six-position recline and a no-rethread harness with 10 possible heights. The easy-to-remove washable seat pads make it simple to clean up after your little one. If you're taking it with you into a rideshare and can't use the LATCH installation system, there's an integrated belt lock off on the back of the seat that helps make seat belt installation as simple as possible.

WAYB Pico Travel Car Seat

This is a pricey option that has a fan following with frequent travelers who travel with a preschooler. It folds down into its own carrying case, which can be worn as a backpack, so you can easily get it through the airport and store it in a hotel. It's got a five-point harness and is meant for kids up to 50 pounds. The brand says it's for kids as young as 2 but because rear-facing is safest and this only faces forward, we would not recommend using it for a child until they are at least age 3, preferably 4.

The Pico does not have side-impact protection and other safety features we want on an everyday car seat, but for travel we agree that this has portability appeal. It also gets knocked in reviews for not being comfortable for long car rides if your child likes to nap, but again, we're putting it on this list for on-the-go families who are in "something is better than nothing" mode, even for short train, bus or van rides.

Our experts appreciate how lightweight this seat is (8 pounds), and that it easily fits even on the smallest economy airplane seat (it's FAA-approved). The seat can either be installed using the LATCH system or the seatbelt in a car or airplane.

Nuna PIPA urbn + TRVL Stroller

If you're a city family that doesn't even own a car, there's a big reason to love the PIPA portable infant car seat: It's built to be installed without a base and is exceptionally easy to move between vehicles, including rideshares like Uber.

It's got a built-in rigid LATCH system or alternatively you can use the back seat seatbelt. Plus, the PIPA urbn only weighs 7 pounds, making it one of the lightest infant car seats we know of and an easy one to carry from place to place. The stroller, too, is lightweight at just under 14 pounds and can be folded down using just one hand. The car seat is built to ride on top of the stroller, to get them both through an airport, and we named it our favorite lightweight travel system .

The infant car seat does not have a high weight limit, however. Your baby will outgrow it when they hit 22 pounds or are 29 inches tall, whichever comes first. For some that can mean by their first birthday. But the stroller will stay useful through the preschool years since it has a weight limit of 50 pounds. The car seat is airline-approved and will fit on most economy cabin seats.

How we test the best portable car seats

The Good Housekeeping Institute's engineering and parenting pros have reviewed dozens of car seats over the past five years, including portable car seats . Our Lab experts work with parents to test these car seats on a variety of vehicles of different brands and sizes to ensure that you can find the right car seat for your family.

Each car seat we consider has passed Federal Safety Standards. We perform tests both in the Lab and at home to evaluate each product's safety, ease of installation, stability, ease of adjustments, stroller compatibility and portability. To accomplish this, we set up each car seat in a variety of vehicles and strollers. We evaluate how easy it is to secure the harness as well as how difficult it is to install the car seats. For portable car seats we pay special attention to whether they can be installed without a LATCH system and if they are approved for use in an airplane cabin.

What to look for when shopping for a portable car seat

Whether you're going on a trip or often take your child places in a rideshare vehicle, if you need a portable car seat you should consider these things:

✔️ Height and weight limits : All car seats come with minimum and maximum height and weight specifications. To ensure proper seatbelt placement and optimal security, make sure your child fits within those ranges. Once they meet the maximum in either height or weight, it's time to switch. If you have an adjustable car seat that transitions to a booster look at the labels on the car seat, check the user manual or contact the manufacturer so you know when it's time to switch modes.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) can help you determine the right kind of car seat for your child based on their age, weight and height. That will help you figure out if you can use an infant car seat or if you need a convertible car seat and if you're ready to move on to a booster car seat for travel.

✔️ Weight : The lightest car seats are often the most portable. We get especially excited when we find any that are less than 15 pounds, though a few on our list are heavier than that.

✔️ Easy cleaning : Regardless of age, spills happen. Luckily, like many other car seats, most portable seats offer removable machine-washable seat covers and padding.

✔️ Design : Traditional car seats have a ton of padding, robust side-impact protection and extra features that are important for every day but might be overkill for short trips. The best design for a portable car seat is a slim, streamlined one.

✔️ Ease of installation : Since you will be re-installing the car seat each time you put it in a new car or aircraft, it's important to find a car seat that is so easy to install it won't take more than a few minutes. The easiest car seats for traveling can be installed without a car seat base.

✔️ State laws : Before you bring your car seat across state lines, check state laws to be sure you'll be compliant. Often children through age 7 must be in a child-restraint seat. But if you're heading to Florida for Disney World, the laws there only apply to children through age 5.

Should you bring a car seat on the plane?

While it is not mandatory to strap your little one into a car seat on an airplane, many parents opt to do so since it can be both a safer and more comfortable for everyone . It's recommended to do so for children under age 2 by the FAA and AAP. Note: For your child to ride in a car seat, you'll need to buy them their own plane ticket so they're guaranteed to have the space. If your baby under age 2 is flying as a free "lap baby" you are not guaranteed space for your car seat.

Before you bring a car seat onboard, check that it has an FAA-approved sticker. It's also a good idea to bring along your car seat manual to help ensure that you're properly installing the seat on the aircraft. There are helpful videos on YouTube, too, that show how to buckle a car seat in with a lap belt. (This one from the FAA shows how to install a forward-facing car seat on a plane .) Watch some before your trip!

The average airline seat is about 17 inches wide and measures 30 inches from the back of the seat to the seat in front of you — but size can vary depending on which airline you are flying. Because of this, it's best to pick a narrow, compact car seat. Infant car seats fit better than most convertible car seats, though we find that the Cosco choice on our list generally fits well.

For those who are traveling with a car seat who don't plan to use it while on the plane, many airlines will check the car seat or booster seat for free at the check-in desk or at the gate. It might be a good idea to purchase a travel bag to fit it in, to help avoid damage.

Why trust Good Housekeeping?

Lab pros and journalists at the Good Housekeeping Institute provide expert reviews and advice on everything a parent needs, including portable car seats.

This article was overseen by Rachel Rothman , former Chief Technologist & Director of Engineering at the Institute, who was trained in mechanical engineering and applied mathematics. As a mom to three kids, she personally used many of our recommended products.

In her former role as Parenting & Pets Reviews Analyst, Jamie Spain brought years of experience to the Institute and wrote the first iteration of this story. It has since been updated by contributing writer Jessica Hartshorn who has followed the car-seat market for 25 years, previously for Parents magazine and American Baby magazine. She's also a mom of two.

Jamie (she/her) is a parenting and pets reviews analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute , where she spends her time testing, researching and writing about pet and family products. Prior to starting at GH in 2021, she worked at BuzzFeed and People , covering a combination of product reviews and lifestyle content. She's a graduate of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and psychology and a master’s degree in journalism.

Jessica (she/her) is a freelance writer with several decades of experience writing lifestyle content and evaluating home and parenting products. A mom of two teens and two cats, her previous work can be seen in American Baby and Parents .

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• Trip Planning

The 7 Best Travel Car Seats of 2024

These top picks combine convenience and peace of mind

Jordi is a freelance contributor to TripSavvy. Her personal passions gravitate toward wellness and adventure, leading her to frequently plan trips that blend zen relaxation with urban and rugged exploration.

In This Article

• Our Top Picks

Final Verdict

• What to Look For

Frequently Asked Questions

Why trust tripsavvy.

Getty Images

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

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

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

Best Overall

Cosco scenera next convertible car seat.

Easy to carry

Budget friendly

Sizing issues for older childen

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

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

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

Best Lightweight

Wayb pico travel car seat.

Very compact

Includes a travel bag

Only for toddlers and older

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

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

Most Compact

Safety 1st guide 65 convertible car seat.

Supports a variety of sizes and ages

Sleek design

Machine-washable cover

Complaints about installation

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

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

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

Best for Bigger Kids

Graco extend2fit convertible car seat.

Harness storage makes loading and unloading easy

Rigorously crash tested

Several customizable features

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

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

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

Best Booster Combo

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

Can fit three across

Easy to clean

Accommodates older children

Durability complaints

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

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

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

Most Innovative

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

Easy to buckle

Not the lightest pick

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

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

Best For Road Trips

Chicco keyfit 35 cleartex infant car seat.

FAA-approved

Eco-friendly textiles

UPF 50+ canopy

Rear-facing only

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

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

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

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

What to Look For in Travel Car Seats

Installation.

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

Weight Rating

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

Certification Status

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In This Article

• Our Top Picks
• Others We Liked

Our Testing Process

• Tips for Buying

You May Also Need

• Why Trust T+L

Travel + Leisure / Cassie Aulie

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

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

Best Overall

Graco contender slim convertible car seat.

It is an excellent fit for compact cars.

The chest buckle is large and bulky.

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

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

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

• PHOTO: Travel + Leisure

Best Rotating

Evenflo gold revolve360 convertible car seat.

It’s easy to install and rotates 360 degrees.

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

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

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

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

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

Best for Compact Cars

Diono radian 3rxt convertible car seat.

The seat folds, making it easy to carry.

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

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

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

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

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

Best With Stroller

Doona car seat and stroller.

The wheels fold up and attach to the seat.

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

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

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

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

Most Durable

Graco extend2fit 3-in-1 car seat.

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

The shoulder straps are difficult to adjust.

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

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

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

Most Comfortable

Safety 1st grow and go lx convertible car seat.

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

 It is a bit tricky to install.

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

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

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

Best for Multiple Age Groups

Graco 3-in-1 rotating car seat.

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

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

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

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

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

Easiest Installation

Britax emblem 3-stage convertible car seat.

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

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

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

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

Other Car Seats We Liked

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

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

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

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

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

Tips for Buying a Travel Car Seat

Look for portability.

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

Consider ease of installation

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

Pay attention to your child's weight and height

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

Frequently Asked Questions

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Why Trust Travel + Leisure

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

Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter , and we'll send you our favorite travel products each week.

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What is the best travel car seat? CPST Picks for Every Age

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You’ve probably come here because you’re planning a big trip for your family and don’t want to lug your beast of a car seat for home. What are the best travel car seats for airplanes to pick for your situation? Every family and every trip is different so there’s no single right answer.

We have tons of experience traveling with a car seat and have used many different ones. As a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician, I also have the in-depth knowledge of what it takes to keep kids safe and familiarity with most car seats on the market. In this article you’ll find the honest pros and cons of the top traveling car seats available today as well as our favorite car seats for travel at each age.

Quick picks: Best travel car seat by age

Best car seat for airplane travel, best booster seat for travel, top picks: the best travel car seat for every age, best car seats for travel – wrapping up, you might also like….

Here are my top choices for the best portable car seat for travel at each stage:

• Doona – car seat stroller for birth to 1yo (also available here and here )
• Cosco Scenera DLX – travel convertible car seat for birth to 3 years old
• Evenflo Sonus 65 – long-lasting convertible car seat for birth to 6 years old ( check prices here too )
• WAYB Pico – ultra-portable forward-facing only seat for 2 to 5 years old
• Evenflo Maestro Sport – forward-facing travel car seat for ages 3 to 5 ( check prices here too )
• Ride Safer travel vest – car seat alternative for ages 4 to 6
• Bubblebum – inflatable booster seat for ages 5+

Want more info? We have full reviews of all of these best car seats for travel and other portable car seats further down. Remember: the best car seat for travel is the one that fits your child and that you actually use when you’re out in the world.

We’ve traveled with nearly a dozen different car seats over the years, and these are our favorites. The only one from this table we haven’t personally used is the Doona, which sadly came out after our kids had outgrown infant car seats.

Good news: nearly every seat sold in the US is an FAA-approved car seat! Just remember that you can’t use a booster seat (or the Ride Safer travel vest ) on an airplane.

Read more You’ll find an in-depth breakdown of what to look for, reviews and recommendations in these articles on the top travel car seats by age: – The best travel infant car seats – The best travel car seats for 1 year olds – The best travel car seats for 2 year olds – The best travel car seats for 3 year olds – The best travel car seats for 4 year olds – The best travel car seats for 5 year olds – The best travel car seats for 6 year olds – The best booster seats for travel

If your child is a frequent traveler, owning a lightweight car seat for travelling abroad is crucial for getting through the airport, hoisting it through the plane, rental car shuttles and taxis. We love our full-sized, full-features seats at home but would never dream of transporting 50lbs of car seats to the other side of the world. Here are our favorite travel-worthy car seats for kids of all ages, many of which we’ve owned over the years.

Best car seat for travel with an infant

You’re in luck! Usually you can just use your infant car seat – and if your little one isn’t too big yet, it makes a great travel car seat for a 1 year old. Our Chicco Keyfit 30 served us well for many trips. A portable infant car seat is handy because you can click it into a matching stroller or carry it by the handle when you need to.

To save weight and bulk, leave the base at home and install with the seatbelt instead. In some countries, the seatbelts do not lock at the retractor so you’ll need to bring an old-school locking clip. If your car seat didn’t come with one, you can buy a locking clip here . Learn everything you wanted to know about locking clips (and more!).

If your infant will have more passport stamps than a flight crew or you live in a big city where you mostly take public transit check out the Doona car seat stroller combo, the infant car seat that magically becomes a stroller! Keep in mind that for long neighborhood walks with a young infant, you’ll still want to use either a carrier or a stroller with a fairly flat recline.

Many families say that it lives up to the hype as the best car seat for airplane travel with an infant. Stroll up to the taxi door, retract the handle and wheels, then install as you would any other infant seat. It makes a perfect portable car seat for taxi rides with an infant.

>>> Check prices on the Doona here

An awesome infant car seat for travel is the Century Carry On 35 , which weighs just 10 pounds for the car seat and base together . It’s the lightest infant car seat and base combination you can find. It’s easy to install and fits kids well from birth to 15-18 months. The best part? In addition to the light physical weight, it’s got one of the lightest price tags around !

Read more: MUST-HAVE travel baby gear to make your life easier

Travel toddler car seat options

Here are some choices for the best convertible car seat for travel. We look for light weight and ease of installation in portable car seats for toddlers. Every country we’ve visited in Europe has had lower anchors for LATCH/ISOFIX, though top tethers for forward-facing kids are not yet universal; if you’re traveling outside of the developed world you should bring a locking clip just in case and know how to use it .

Get more details on the best convertible car seats for travel

Here are several portable car seat reviews to start your search:

Cosco Scenera NEXT Review

*Our top pick for a travel car seat for a 1 year old

The Cosco Scenera NEXT is not designed specifically as a travel seat; rather, it’s designed as an affordable way for families to keep their children rear-facing until at least 2yo (as the AAP recommends) but as long as 4yo. Note that the forward-facing mode is outgrown before rear-facing because of the low top harness slots.

But it has quickly become an extremely popular travel car seat for preschoolers because of its light weight and shockingly low price tag . It’s the lightest toddler car seat currently on the market! If you’re an infrequent traveler but you want a portable car seat for travel or a backup for home, this is the car seat to buy.

Pro tip: the solid colors have much nicer, more cushioned covers than the patterns. Check Cosco travel car seat reviews and latest prices on Amazon – but you’ll often find the best deals on this seat at Walmart . There’s also now a Cosco Scenera Deluxe that offers a plush cover, padded head and body inserts and and harness covers.

For families on a budget, this is an excellent portable car seat for toddler travelers!

What we like:

• Ultra-low price tag for a functional seat
• Lightest convertible car seat – only 7lbs!
• Narrow convertible car seat is great for 3-across
• Rear-facing mode fits newborn until around 3-4yo

What we don’t like:

• Patterned cover has absolutely no padding – upgrade to the still-cheap Cosco Scenera Deluxe for more padding
• Taller shell makes it harder to install on planes with narrow seat pitch
• Car installation/removal isn’t always easy – cheaper hook-on LATCH connectors, and pull strap can be very stiff to tighten
• Continuous harness can be tough to use for a heavier child, especially forward facing; sometimes pulling the strap causes the entire seat to pivot when installed on leather seats

>>> Check prices on the Cosco Scenera NEXT here

Evenflo Sonus 65 Review

*Our top pick for a travel car seat for a 2 year old

We’ve been satisfied Evenflo customers for the last six years and are impressed by their latest lightweight convertible car seat offerings, including the travel-worthy Evenflo Sonus 65 . Unlike the Scenera NEXT, the Sonus 65 has a 25″ shell height that can keep average kids rear-facing until their 4th birthday – and then keep them forward-facing for several years after that!

This is one of the best traveling car seat options if your child will appreciate using the tray table one she turns forward-facing. Unlike some other seats, the front is low-profile enough to let the tray table fold all the way down. That also makes it a great car seat for travelling abroad since international flights typically involve meal service.

There are several other seats in the new Evenflo family (the Sonus and Stratos), but the middle-of-the road Sonus 65 strikes the right balance of travel features like light weight (around 11lbs) and two different recline options – it’s a solid portable toddler car seat option. Check reviews and latest prices on Amazon and be sure to compare the price with Walmart .

• Light convertible car seat
• Two re cline options should help fitting in an economy class seat
• Rear-facing mode fits an average 4yo
• Low profile allows tray table use when forward facing
• Decent padding, cupholders and ventilation make this a comfortable convertible car seat
• Taller shell makes it harder to install on planes with narrow seat pitch if you have a young infant
• Be careful not to pinch thighs when you’re buckling!
• Installation can be tricky in some cars

>>> Check prices on the Evenflo Sonus 65 here

Safety 1st Guide 65 Review

We haven’t tried the Safety First Guide 65 (also now available as the Cosco Mighty Fit 65 ), but we’ve heard that it can be a good choice for travel with older infants and toddlers. It’s almost as affordable as the Cosco Scenera Next! It offers more room forward-facing and a higher weight limit, but isn’t as ideally suited for youngest travelers. It weighs a moderate 13lbs, but probably wouldn’t be my top choice as a car seat to install in unfamiliar rental cars. Even so, it’s probably the best lightweight car seat for travel if you want just one travel car seat to last for many years. Check the latest prices on Amazon and Walmart .

• Affordable price tag
• Compact front-to-back for kids over 22lbs
• Relatively light weight
• Fits older infants through Kindergarteners!

What we don’t like:

• Doesn’t fit average babies until 6mo – don’t buy this for a newborn or young infant!
• Required recline position for babies under 22lbs is very reclined and takes up a lot of space, not ideal for smaller cars found in many countries
• Installation can be tricky and might require a pool noodle

>>> Check prices on the Safety 1st Guide 65 here

WAYB Pico foldable car seat review

If you’ve been anywhere on social media over the last year, you’ve surely heard of the WAYB Pico foldable toddler car seat. This lightweight aluminum foldable car seat for travel has the potential to be a real game-changer for kids who are old enough to forward-face (minimum age 2, but ideally closer to 4yo). It weighs a scant 8lbs and integrates a full five-point harness, making this a solid contender as your child’s travel car seat. But does it stand up to the hype?

We’ve recently started traveling with the WAYB Pico for our youngest niece. Read our in-depth Wayb Pico expert review here.

• 8lb weight and easy folding make it perfect for city travels when you’ll need to use a taxi
• Optional carry backpack makes transporting it a breeze
• FAA approved car seat
• Easy LATCH install
• Max 50lbs and 45 inches gives a limited lifespan (around 5yo for average size kids)
• Seatbelt install can be tricky
• Short crotch strap
• Short tether strap for some cars (WAYB will send an extender upon request)
• High price tag for a seat that’s unlikely to be used as a daily ride

>>> Buy WAYB Pico direct or find out how to get a discounted WAYB Pico

Best travel car seats for older preschoolers and early elementary

Once your child is ready to turn forward-facing, around 3 or 4yo, a combination seat (forward-facing harness that changes into a high-back booster) is a great light-weight option if you choose the right one. There are even some specialized car seats for travel for this age group that you may never have heard of!

Evenflo Maestro Review

*Our top pick for a travel car seat for a 3 year old

Evenflo’s combination seats are a great choice for travel thanks to their light weight and ease of use. We use the Maestro’s cousin every day, and it will last kids for several years as a harness and then well into booster age. It’s light enough for travel and easy to install. The newer Maestro Sport version has a little more padding than the original too. Check the latest prices here.

• Lasts from age 3 (as a forward-facing harness) until roughly age 9 (as a high-back booster seat)
• Easy to install in a range of cars
• No built-in lock-off
• 50 lb harness weight limit
• No harness strap covers and straps are somewhat narrow at the shoulders

>>> Check prices on the Evenflo Maestro here

Graco Tranzitions Review

While Graco redefined the market more than a decade ago with their Nautilus combination seat, it was always far too heavy and bulky to be a good travel booster seat or travel combination seat. They’ve now upped the ante with a new offering that’s vying for the best travel combination seat title – the Graco Tranzitions and Graco Wayz seats (same seat, different names). These three-mode harnessed booster seats for travel are narrower, cheaper and lighter than the Nautilus! There’s certainly a lot to like with this new Graco car seat platform.  Check the latest reviews and prices here.

In summer 2020, Graco addressed one of the biggest complaints about the Tranzitions: it can sometimes be a pain to install with the seatbelt. Obviously that’s an important factor for families traveling to countries that may not offer LATCH in cars and for kids who have exceeded the LATCH limit. Their new version is the Graco Tranzitions SnugLock , which adds a little weight and a few dollars but offers a much easier seatbelt installation. This is the version I’d pick!

• Reasonable price tag (though more than the Maestro)
• Lasts from age 3 (as a forward-facing harness) until age 10+ (as a backless booster seat)
• Only 17.5″ wide when the cupholders are folded in
• Lightweight 12.5lbs
• Works as a forward-facing harness, high-back booster seat and backless booster seat
• No built-in lock-off on the base version
• The seat itself has sparse padding, and for travel it may be inconvenient to bring the optional pad

>>> Check prices on the Graco Tranzitions here >>> Check prices on the Graco Wayz here >>> Check prices on the Graco Tranzitions SnugLock here

Ride Safer travel vest (Ride Safer Delight) Review

*Our top pick for a travel car seat for a 4 year old

The Ride Safer Travel Vest is one of the only safe, legal car seat alternatives. It’s a wearable booster seat, but when used with the top tether it passes US crash testing as a forward-facing harnessed booster. It weighs about 2 pounds and rolls up to the size of a 2L soda bottle. This folding car seat for travel beats any other portable carseat on size, hands down!

Check out our full review of the latest Ride Safer travel vest, the Gen 5. It’s now an indispensable piece of travel gear for our family and we’ve been so glad to have it for our year-long trip around the world. The Ride Safer travel vest is truly a game-changer in that it provides a safe restraint for kids 3 and up (though we feel more comfortable using it for age 4 and up, especially if there’s no top tether and/or parent sitting in back). 

Note: The Ride Safer Delight is not certified for use on airplanes, but pairs perfectly with the CARES harness for kids under 40lbs who still need extra protection in-flight – read my full review here . 

Get yours here – use coupon VOYAGE for a great discount!

• Extremely portable – it worked great on our trip to Paris with kids  and subsequent Croatia adventure and then for our round-the-world family gap year
• Provides better support and protection than a traditional booster seat, especially for sleeping kids
• Works in any car with a lap-shoulder belt – no worries about compatibility with an unfamiliar rental car
• Only as big as your child, perfect for tiny rental cars abroad
• Great car seat for taxi rides with a preschooler
• Not as easy to use as a car seat
• Can get uncomfortable after several hours of driving
• No view out the window
• Not a great fit for smaller kids

Read our full review of the Ride Safer travel vest (including video demos!)

>>> Check prices on the Ride Safer Delight here

When your child is old enough and mature enough (usually around age 5) you can move on to a portable booster seat to make your travels even lighter – keep reading to find the best travel booster car seat. Note that  you can’t use any booster seat on an airplane because they all require a lap-shoulder belt.

Bubblebum travel booster car seat

*Our top pick for best travel booster seat

We started using the Bubblebum as backup for our older one at 6 years old and then used it full-time during our gap year. We love it! It’s an inflatable cushion that has a positioning clip on each side to keep the lap belt in place and an optional clip to position the shoulder belt at the right spot.

It’s an awesome portable travel car seat! It folds up into a small stuff sack, about the size of a very compact sleeping bag. Inflating is a breeze and our son can get himself in and out.  Note: not for use on airplanes. Read our full review   or  check prices here.

• Extremely portable
• Easy to set up and use
• Kids can still see out the window
• Comfortable
• Very narrow
• Great car seat for taxi rides with an older child
• Adjusting the optional shoulder clip to the right height takes a little practice
• Need to make sure your child is sitting in the middle of the seat so that they don’t slide
• No support for sleeping kids

>>> Check prices on the Bubblebum here

Cosco Topside

If you want an extremely affordable booster seat that’s light enough for your child to carry, the simple-but-functional Cosco Topside may fit the bill. Unlike most other backless booster seats,  it doesn’t have a shoulder belt guide – that makes it more likely to fit slightly older kids (indeed, the minimum height is 43″ unlike the usual 40″). But at just 2.5lbs and less than $20, it may be a great choice for some families! Check the latest prices here.

• One of the lightest booster seats for travel
• Extremely low price
• Narrow enough to fit 3-across
• Shorter kids may not get a great fit due to the absence of a shoulder belt guide

>>> Check prices on the Cosco Topside here

Chicco GoFit

The Chicco GoFit isn’t technically a travel booster seat, but it could be a great pick for many families on the go! It’s reasonably priced, fairly light, extremely comfortable for kids, narrow enough to fit in even the tiniest rental cars and… drum roll please… it has a built-in carrying handle! Our 7yo has carried his through the airport without issue.

The belt fit is consistent, so you won’t have to worry about weird issues in different cars. The minimum height is just 38″, so if you have a tiny kid who’s mature enough to ride in a booster seat and stay in the correct position all the time, the Chicco GoFit is an awesome choice for travel. When we’re going on a long trip that doesn’t require multiple flights, we bring our GoFit. The latest version even has LATCH to keep it from shifting around. Check the latest price and read more reviews.

• Comfortable for kids
• Easy to use
• Carry handle for easy transportation
• Fits kids for many years (and it has an 8 year expiration, so multiple kids can use it)
• The price tag, though we’re willing to forgive that since it’s a wonderful choice for full-time use

>>> Check prices on the Chicco GoFit here

Which car seats are approved for air travel? Nearly all car seat in the US are FAA-approved!

Best portable car seat for baby:

The best travel car seat for 1 year old and younger – Doona infant car seat ( click here for reviews and latest prices )

Best portable car seat for 1 year old:

Cosco Scenera Deluxe portable toddler car seat ( click here for reviews and latest prices )

Best portable car seat for 2 year old:

Evenflo Sonus 65 lightweight convertible car seat ( click here for reviews and latest prices )

Best portable car seat for 3 year old:

Evenflo Maestro ( click here for reviews and latest prices )

Best portable car seat for 4 year old:

Ride Safer Delight travel vest ( click here for reviews and latest prices or buy directly from SafeRide4Kids )

Best travel booster seat:

Bubblebum inflatable travel booster seat ( click here for reviews and latest prices )

There are plenty of great lightweight car seats for travel available now! Hopefully you can find one from this list that makes your family’s travels easier and safer.

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What to read next

12 thoughts on “what is the best travel car seat cpst picks for every age”.

wow thats alot of info! right now, my kids are 6 and 8 so we have been through all the stages and are now at the point where they are both in a backless booster. We check those with the luggage and its all good. easy to use on the cab to and from airport and they are fine with the lap belt on the plane. BUT we have been through the snap and go with the infant seat, and then I had a Britax Boulevard – the smallest Britax of the line (I bought it in 09) and it fit in the airplane seat. I had a JJ Childress backpack to transport it. At one point we had two kids in big car seats and had two of the backpacks. those were great. I even did an CARES harness rental one time for my son. When he really didnt need the big car seat on the plane BUT I didnt trust him to keep the lap belt closed ( I think he was about 3.5) great wrap up

This is an essential read for parents. We always travel with ours

Great post. We have rented a car seat on a few occasions but always turned out more stressful than needed. So now we travel with our own car seats. So much easier! #fearlessfamtrav

This is really helpful, I never would have thought about needing a car seat in a plane. I just had my little girl on my lap when I travelled with her as a baby, I can see having read this that a car seat would have been saver. Lots of brilliant tips, thanks for linking up to #familytraveltips Nat.x

Wow, what a brilliant and comprehensive post. A great post for families who travel with young children. It gives clear options for most stages and alternative ideas to rent-a-car seats. Thanks for linking up to #wanderlustkids

Thank you for your great post, yours was the only I could find informing about flying with a car-seat in the plane. It is really very detailed and helpful. I hope I will keep my cool since it will be our first flight with our little one and it will be a 10 hour flight to the US.

Awwwww thanks! It’s comments like yours that make all the work worthwhile. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions!

We have our first trip after having a second child coming up. We will bring the car seat for our toddler in his purchased seat. But what to do for infant/newborn car seat since we didn’t buy a seat for her? Do you recommend checking it at the check in counter? Use it in the airport and then gate check it? For either option, any recommendations for how to securely pack/check it? We do have a layover if that matters.

A few options: 1) If you’re set on bringing one convertible and one infant seat, I’d bring the infant seat to the gate. If there’s an empty seat, many agents will shuffle sets to let your baby use it. There are also fewer opportunities for your seat to be lost or mishandled if you’re bringing it to the gate yourself. From there is put it in a padded bag like the one linked above. Not my top choice, but better than counter check with the baggage.

2) If you’re frequent travelers and your older one will be at least 3 (bigger is better), you can buy a Ride Safer Delight Vest for him or her. You can’t use it on board, but you’d use the convertible on-board for the big one and then once you get to the rental car adjust the straps down and put the baby in the convertible while the older one uses the vest for car rides. https://www.thefamilyvoyage.com/ride-safer-travel-vest-review/

What a magnificent blog this is! Bookmarked this & love this. Thanks a lot for your great info.

Thank so much The family voyage for this great content and information. I appreciate your efforts.

Happy to help!

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The Best Travel Car Seats to Keep Your Little One Safe on the Go

‘Tis the season for going over the river and through the woods to Grandmother’s house. But what to do when you have a little one in tow and Grandmother’s house is 2,000 miles away? Your full-featured, miniature La-Z-Boy-style car seat may be exactly the right tool for the job in day-to-day travels, however you’ll quickly find it’s impractical for planes, trains, and (rental) automobiles.

For long-distance travel you need a car seat that can safely transport your infant, toddler, or school age kiddo while being eminently luggable along with your rollaboards and diaper bag accoutrement. It needs to be easy to set up and break down while Uber drivers tap their fingers and fellow airplane passengers pile up behind you. Extra-soft cushions, sturdy cupholders, and cute patterns? These things are all gravy.

Here’s a selection of travel car seats to fit your budget and specific age-range needs. We’ve pulled a few with some nice-to-have bells and whistles as well as some innovative options that will have you thinking outside the standard car seat box.

For more information on the best travel car seats, refer to our table of contents.

Table of contents

1. editor’s pick: combi coccoro convertible car seat, 2. budget pick: cosco apt 50 convertible car seat, 3. luxury pick: doona infant car seat and stroller, 4. toddler and older pick: wayb pico travel car seat, 5. graco admiral 65 convertible car seat, 6. safety 1st guide 65 convertible car seat, 7. evenflo tribute 5 convertible car seat, 8. evenflo maestro sport booster car seat, 9. evenflo sonus convertible car seat, 10. bubblebum inflatable backless booster car seat, what is a travel car seat, what to expect when you’re choosing a travel car seat, how to install a travel car seat.

Our favorite travel car seat is a well-rounded pick with what we think is just the right mix of necessary features, quality construction, and simplicity. The Combi Coccoro is a travel car seat that is convertible, meaning that it can be mounted in either forward-facing or rear-facing modes depending on the age range and size of your child.

When positioned to be rear facing, the Coccoro accommodates kids from 3 to 33 pounds. In forward mode, the seat is rated for 20 to 40 pounds, and overall whether facing to the front or back, it’s made for a minimum height of 19 inches and maxes out at 40 inches.

The seat itself is especially lightweight at only 11 pounds, meaning transporting the Coccoro in and out of shuttles and through the airport is a breeze, even if you have to hand hold it. At a mere 15.5-inches wide, this seat has a notably slim footprint meaning not only is it less unwieldy to haul around, but also that it will mount in those ever-shrinking Economy Class seats with no problem. It’s compact enough that some parents report they can drop it into their stroller seat, kid and all, for even easier conveyance through the concourse. One more benefit of its skinny build is that you can easily fit three of these seats across the average automotive bench seat, a boon for parents with a passel of children who want to employ the Coccoro year-round.

Other features include a removable infant insert and machine-washable cover. It also has one-touch height adjustment of the five-point harness. As all good seats should have, this offering from Combi has side-impact protection and a thick layer of energy-absorbing foam. It’s FAA approved, and it has a buckle with a visual cue so you know when it is securely in place.

Buyers of the Coccoro report that it’s easy to mount in an airplane seat due to its small stature and curved bottom, allowing you to fine-tune its angle in tight quarters. These same qualities make it ideal for small rental cars outside of North America. As with most of our picks, this seat mounts securely using the LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) system or via seatbelt in older or non-American cars.

Of course, a simplified and compact car seat is not without its downsides. You won’t find any cupholders here, and its small size limits the kinds of kids that will fit comfortably within its confines. Average-sized kids are likely to max this car seat out at around four and a half years old while faster growers are going to find themselves in a squeeze.

A few customers have also struggled with rear-facing installations in certain vehicle models, and one reviewer took issue with the tricky crotch buckle. There also appear to be isolated incidents of the shock-absorbing Styrofoam cracking under the strains of normal use within a year.

For budget conscious shoppers, the Cosco Apt 50 provides a stripped down convertible car seat that gets the job done. Even lighter weight than our top pick, this model clocks in at a svelte 8 pounds, yet is rated for a wider range of occupants.

In rear-facing mode, the Apt 50 accommodates kids from 5 to 40 pounds and a maximum of 50 pounds while in the forward position. The seat’s five-point harness can be adjusted to six heights and three front buckle locations as children grow, and its seat pad is machine washable and tumble dry safe.

The gains in capability at a lower price point are achieved in part through the features it doesn’t have. Infant inserts and other niceties like strap pads must be purchased as separate accessories. Meanwhile, strap height adjustment is a manual affair unlike the one-touch operation of our top pick. Each time the height has to be adjusted, it requires rethreading the straps through one set of six pre-determined slots.

Still, this cost-effective model sports a pair of cupholders, has side impact protection and is certified for use on aircraft. James L. says the Cosco Apt 50 is “incredibly easy to install and take out, since there's a tension release button on the latch strap, which not all car seats have.”

It’s additionally worth noting that while owners report that it mounts fine to airplane seats in either forward or rear positions, the seatbelt can be felt beneath the padding and is uncomfortable to lay against without extra cushioning. Some reviewers also have encountered difficulty achieving a safe mount of any sort in a car, even when utilizing professional help.

If money is no object, and ultimate convenience is what you’re after, look no further than the Doona Infant Car Seat. When it’s in a vehicle, it’s a rear-facing car seat, but once outside, in one smooth motion, it’s a stroller. True, this option has a much more limited lifespan, being limited to infants 4 to 35 pounds and maxing out at 32 inches in height, but during that time it would be hard to find a carrier offering a more seamless experience.

The Doona features a five-point harness, adjustable handlebar, washable fabric cover, and side-impact protection. It includes an infant insert, head support, vehicle seat protector, and a base. The carrier is FAA approved and weighs a not insignificant 16.5 pounds.

Buyers say that while it is heavy, you’re rarely carrying it around as the burden of the weight is borne by the wheels. According to reviews, converting it can take a bit of practice, but if you try it a few times at home, you’ll quickly be ready to use it out in the real world. The Doona fits perfectly in an airplane seat or in the back of a two-door vehicle, and while it’s more secure on the base, which weighs an additional 10 pounds, it’s unnecessary while traveling. Getting it through airport security is simple too; just flip it upside down in car seat mode and it fits right through the scanner.

As for downsides, some taller customers mention needing to hunch down to push the carrier in stroller mode. On the flip side, more petite owners explain that getting the heavy car seat out of a tall SUV or crossover can be a bit of a struggle. Also, considering its steep price tag, reviewers wish it came with accessories such as a storage bag or shade extender.

Most buyers agree that it’s expensive, but worth the convenience it provides. NelWa lays it out this way, “We call this the marriage saver! We had a long distance trip with 6 flights and 10+ cabs and Uber’s [sic] and this saved us a ton of hassle and we got a lot of compliments on it!”

For toddler-age kids and up, WAYB has a unique solution that keeps children safely harnessed and also packs up easily when not in use. The Pico is a travel car seat recommended for kids two years and older in the 22- to 50-pound range who are between 30 and 45 inches tall. Unlike standard one-piece, shell-style seats, this product cleverly folds up into a compact eight-pound package that’s easy to lug around or stow away when not needed.

The WAYB Pico’s frame is sheathed in a responsibly sourced wool-polyester mesh fabric, which helps keep kids cool and is devoid of flame retardant chemicals and foams. The Pico is a forward-facing only design and is FAA approved. It can mount via the LATCH standard or via car or airplane belt. Children are secured by a five-point harness, and the design is slim enough to fit three Pico seats across most car bench seats.

The manufacturer recommends the fabric be spot cleaned and air dried, though it can be removed for more extensive cleaning. One buyer warns that the mesh can tear easily and is not easy to clean as any sort of liquid food becomes embedded in the covering. While the WAYB meets all NHTSA safety standards, some owners express concern over its impact protection compared to conventional seats.

Overall, reviewers agree that while not ideal as an everyday seat—armrests would be a welcome addition, for instance—the WAYB Pico serves well as a solution while traveling. It’s very convenient to install in a rush, and quite comfortable despite its skeletal appearance.

Accommodating the widest range of ages yet in this list of travel car seats is a convertible offering from Graco, the Admiral 65, whose name comes bearing a strong hint at its maximum weight rating.

In rear-facing configuration, the Admiral 65 seats kids from 5 to 40 pounds. When facing forward, the range is 22 to 65 pounds. The seat includes removable body supports for infants and has been tested to meet or exceed impact standards for front, side, rear, and rollover collisions. Additionally, it has been tested for structural integrity under extreme hot and cold temperatures.

This FAA-approved car seat mounts using the LATCH system and has a five-point harness and headrest that move in concert without the need to rethread the straps as kids grow or as differently sized siblings swap seats. The design also includes an integrated cupholder.

Owners praise its cozy padding, though they admit the seat is on the heavier side to travel with. A few find it challenging to loosen the straps and some wish it came with shoulder pads to protect the occupant’s neck. Several reviewers also complain of the difficult-to-release latch, which can be almost impossible to access when the seat is in rear-facing mode.

Another travel car seat that’s intent on giving the game away in its name is the Safety 1st Guide 65. As you might have guessed, it’s rated to carry children 5 to 40 pounds in rear-facing mode and 22 to 65 pounds in forward-facing configuration. Safety 1st specifies a minimum height of 19 inches and between 34 and 52 inches for each mode, respectively.

The Guide 65 utilizes a five-point harness, which must be threaded manually through one of five preset heights and one of three lower buckle positions. The head support is also adjustable, and the body pillows are removable, as is the cupholder, which can be placed on either the right or left side. The seat pad can be removed for handwashing.

Making it great for travel, this car seat has a diminutive profile and is FAA approved. It fits well in small cars, though reviewers warn that it can be a tight squeeze in airplane seats. Speaking of tight squeeze, bulkier or fast-growing kids may be better suited to a different seat as this one can be a bit of a pinch. It’s not a great fit for newborns either since the lowest shoulder strap setting is not quite low enough to be safe.

Also of note, some parents have found it a challenge to safely install, saying it requires multiple pool noodles or towels to shim it up. A couple of buyers have also spotted a manufacturing defect wherein screws were missing in a critical location.

Keeping costs in check, the Evenflo Tribute 5 convertible car seat offers up a no-frills solution that gets the job done. Weight ranges are 5 to 40 pounds when pointed rearward and 22 to 40 pounds when forward facing. The acceptable height range is 19 to 37 inches.

The Tribute 5 is engineered with side-impact protection which meets or exceeds all federal safety standards and is FAA certified. It features a removable head pillow and integrated body cushions. The seat pad can be removed and is machine washable on the cold cycle and safe to tumble dry on low heat. The five-point harness can be adjusted to multiple positions, and the seat itself is installed via the LATCH standard, though recline will need to be fine-tuned by using towels or pool noodles.

The seat includes a detachable cupholder, and overall, only weighs 9.3 pounds. Be advised however, that the cupholder does not match the one in the photo and has garnered poor reviews. Similarly, the placement of the airplane belt buckle can be felt through the modest seat padding and can be uncomfortable for little ones. Also, make sure you know the location of the hard-to-find FAA statement on this seat before the flight attendant puts you on the spot.

On the plus side, reviewers praise its lightweight, travel-friendly design saying it even squeezes into tiny budget airline seats *cough* Spirit *cough* . The cover holds up well to the rigors of cleaning up after car sick toddlers, and though it lacks many creature comforts, it delivers where it matters. Jim A. gets down to the brass tacks of what a car seat is for: “My daughter and my 2 year old were in horrible crash... the car flipped over, (sliding) across the highway landing upside down! The car seat saved her life! Just some red marks from the straps!”

For kids that have transitioned beyond the infant stage, the Evenflo Maestro Sport is a travel car seat that offers two front facing modes. One configuration is for smaller kids, 22 to 50 pounds and up to 50 inches in height, and it utilizes a standard five-point harness. When the kids have graduated beyond that stage, this seat converts to a belt-positioning booster that uses the car’s own safety restraints. Its top capacity is 110 pounds and 57 inches in height.

It features dual cupholders, a machine washable pad, and removable head pillow. It weighs less than 10 pounds and is FAA approved when used with the five-point harness. It’s manufactured with side-impact and rollover protection and can be mounted using the LATCH system or seatbelts. Perhaps most interesting, each purchase includes live video installation support.

Owners of the Maestro Sport report that it’s great for airplane use but can be a bit unwieldy to haul around. For that reason, a strap that can attach the seat to your roller bag is highly recommended. As with many travel car seats, parents tend to dislike this model for day-to-day use. It’s not as padded as more expensive models, tightening the top tether in trucks can be very difficult, and the upright seating position means kids’ heads tend to nod forward, unsupported, when they doze off. The cupholders also detach with frustrating ease, leaving one mom to worry that they will one day become toddler-powered projectiles while driving.

One last entry from the folks at Evenflo is the Sonus convertible car seat. Rated for children five to 40 pounds while rear facing and 22 to 50 pounds when aimed at the front, this travel car seat accommodates kids up to 50 inches tall.

In addition to rollover and side-impact protection, FAA approval, and a five-point harness adjustable to five height positions, the Sonus also touts ventilation built into the frame for better temperature regulation. And, to prevent unintentional “ouchies,” this seat has buckle storage pockets to keep hot metal clasps away from little fingers. The head pillow is removable, as are the seat pads for machine washing and tumble drying. There are two cupholders that fit both standard sippy cups as well as non-round objects like juice boxes due to the addition of elastic bands.

Parents report that this seat works well on airplanes and isn’t too heavy at just 11 pounds. Reviews indicate that this is a particularly good pick for taller toddlers and the kickstand allows the seat to recline both in forward- and rear-facing modes.

As to the bad, the crotch buckle is unpadded and is a potential pinch hazard, and despite efforts to the contrary, the black neoprene material gets very hot during the summer months. The seat is also quite tall making it problematic in rear-facing configurations since it needs a very deep back seat for proper installation. Finally, multiple buyers complain of the elastic breaking on the cupholders.

And finally for a completely different approach. With a cheeky, memorable name, the BubbleBum is a backless booster seat for toddlers and school age kids that may not need a full car seat but still need a boost for proper belt positioning.

Geared toward kids between four and 11 years old and weighing between 40 and 100 pounds, the BubbleBum is foldable for travel, easily squeezing into a purse or backpack. This booster gets its name from the fact that it has to be inflated by mouth using a nozzle in the rear, and when it’s time to pack it away, the air is squeezed out for a compact footprint. It takes about 10 seconds to inflate according to its manufacturer, but even when deflated, it meets federal safety regulations due to an adequate amount of memory foam that comprises its construction.

The BubbleBum includes seatbelt guides for proper routing of the vehicle’s safety restraints and a travel bag for storage. The booster can be cleaned by spraying and wiping the exterior and weighs a mere 1.2 pounds. The company advises that the seat should not be exposed to extreme temperatures while inflated because the internal bladder can expand and split, compromising its function. This includes leaving the booster in a hot car. Similarly, the BubbleBum is susceptible to great changes in altitude and may deflate when going from low to high. For this reason, it should never be inflated while at high altitude and then taken to a lower altitude. When flying, the booster should always be deflated.

While the manufacturer touts this product as an everyday solution, most reviewers agree it works better as a stopgap for situations where proper boosters with backs are unavailable. While it’s reportedly softer and more comfortable than standard boosters, it’s not as effective for a wiggly or sleepy kid who might slide off the seat. Finally, there’s a bit of an “ick” factor which is perhaps more pronounced in the COVID era. The only way to inflate the BubbleBum is to put the nozzle between your lips. The same nozzle that might have just been touching the seat of a well-used taxicab. Just sayin’.

Photo credit: mathom / Shutterstock.com

All the shiny bells and whistles are great when your kid’s car seat is practically a permanent fixture of your vehicle, but when it’s time to traverse the country—or the world—a lighter, more travel-friendly alternative is practically a must. Standard car seats fall in the 25- to 30-pound range while the kind of car seat you’ll want to haul through the airport is more like eight to 15 pounds.

The perfect travel car seat has all of the essentials and none of the overkill. That seat is going to go with you from home to shuttle to security to plane to shuttle number two to rental car and then the same sequence in reverse (and that’s assuming a direct flight!). Lightweight and easy-to-carry is the name of the game. Oh, and one more thing: approval from the FAA. Any car seat that you plan to install on an airplane must have explicit documentation stating that it’s safe to fly.

Travel car seats come in the same flavors as normal car seats: infant, convertible, booster, etc. In fact there aren’t really travel car seats so much as there are car seats that are better for travel. That is, there’s no reason you can’t use a travel car seat as your everyday car seat, just that a car seat ideal for travel is probably not the one you want to take the kids to school in day to day, if you can help it. They tend to be a bit flimsier, have a few less cupholders, and a little less room to spread out.

When choosing a travel car seat, consider how you want to use it and the child who will be using it. Ask yourself, how do I want to transport this through the airport? Will you have a cart at the ready, or do you plan to carry it?

While smaller is generally better, you’re ultimately limited by the size of your ever-growing passenger. Get a seat that’s made for an infant, and by the next time you go on vacation you may find you’re shopping for travel car seat number two. In fact, if you already have an infant carrier, a seat specifically for travel is probably unnecessary as your everyday car carrier can just be removed from its base and installed in the plane or in the car directly via seatbelt routing.

So, make sure you choose the right size for your needs according to how long you reasonably expect to use the same seat. You’ll get a lot more life out of a convertible car seat that can start out being mounted in rear-facing mode for infants and transition to forward-facing mode for toddlers and older kids. Just remember that do-it-all seats have their drawbacks, notably cramped installation in rear-facing mode.

And that’s one of the other major considerations. The seat you choose to travel with should be able to install in a shuttle, taxi, Uber, rental car, and airplane with minimal rigamarole. Some seats require shims like rolled up towels or pool noodles to achieve a safe and secure install. Do you really want to travel across the country with pool noodles in your diaper bag?

Other considerations include comfort. The amount of padding should be directly related to how long you expect your little one to stay in their seat. In poorly padded seats, the airplane buckle can often be felt through the cushion, poking into the child’s back. Verify also that the seat you choose is FAA approved. Know where the sticker stating its certification is located. It is always printed in red, and you may be asked by a flight attendant to show it.

Is your kid four or older? A traditional car seat may not even be necessary. Other solutions exist such as travel boosters, backless or not, or a travel vest. Just remember, a booster seat is only for a car. On the airplane they need to be stowed away.

Proper installation of a car seat is an important safety concern. Always refer to your specific seat’s instruction manual and other accompanying documentation such as video demonstrations. It is often helpful to look for other customers’ how-to videos as well, but remember that your car seat manufacturer is the ultimate resource.

In general, every American car seat can be installed one of two ways: either using the LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) system or by using the automobile’s seat belt. Most cars manufactured after September 2002 are required to have the LATCH system, and it’s generally considered the safest way to install a child seat.

Before traveling, learn and practice installing your travel car seat using both methods. Once you’re in another city, state, or country, you will be in an unfamiliar vehicle with all of the pressures of family travel in tow. While almost any car you encounter will be child seat-ready, there’s still the chance you’ll find yourself in an outdated or foreign vehicle that doesn’t adhere to the American standard. Note the fact that while some child seats are equipped with top tethers, not all vehicles come equipped with top tether hooks, and not all top tether hooks are located in the same place. Some are closer to the floor than they are to the top of the seat.

We are committed to finding, researching, and recommending the best products. We earn commissions from purchases you make using the retail links in our product reviews. Learn more about how this works .

Main photo credit: TierneyMJ / Shutterstock.com

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Best 4 Travel Car Seat with Wheels for Baby in Car and Airplanes

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support!

Quick List: Best Travel Car Seat with Wheels

There are now four infant car seats with wheels and handles on the market. They have four built-in wheels, which makes them different from a travel system or a traditional car seat stroller combo. Even better, they’re more friendly for air travel.

1. Best one-piece travel car seat with wheels : Doona Infant Car Seat Stroller ($550 on Amazon) – 35 lbs weight limit and 32 inches height limit.

2. Best value travel car seat with wheels: Evenflo Shyft DualRide with Carryall Storage ($549 on Amazon) – 2023 released, friendly for preemies at 3 pounds weight, wheel wells, detachable wheels, storage bag.

3. Best budget travel car seat with wheels : Evenflo Shyft DualRide ($499 on Evenflo) – 2023 released, friendly for preemies at 3 pounds weight, wheel wells, detachable wheels.

5. Best practical travel car seat with wheels : Evenflo Gold Shyft DualRide with Carryall Storage ( $599 on Amazon ) – 2023 released, friendly for preemies at 3 pounds weight, wheel wells, detachable wheels, storage bag, extendable canopy.

See Our Top Picks

Best travel car seat with wheels.

Car Seat with Wheels Comparison

Carriers to Turn Infant Car Seat with Wheels

If you’re looking for a travel car seat with wheels , here is the right place. Once upon a time, the Doona car seat stroller is the only car seat with built-in wheels on the market, now this group adds the 2023 newly released Evenflo Shyft DualRide. 

The Evenflo launched three versions of the Shyft DualRide, the premium version with a storage bag, the Gold version with both a storage bag and an extendable canopy, and the basic version with no extras. We’ll compare these three Evenflo car seats with wheels later and you can always pick the best one to suit your needs.

A travel car seat with wheels is expensive. All four models are over $500. But considering it works as a car seat stroller combo and combines a stroller and an infant car seat carrier into one, it’s not that difficult to accept that price.

For example, a traditional travel system costs around $300. Some more expensive ones may be pricier up to $800, like the UPPAbaby MESA V2 and Vista stroller.

Best Travel Car Seats with Wheels

4-35 lbs/ 32″

Doona Car Seat Stroller

3-35 lbs/ 32″

Evenflo Shyft DualRide Premium

Evenflo shyft dualride, evenflo gold shyft dualride, why a travel car seat with wheels.

They give the parents a few benefits. They are more convenient. You don’t need to carry a car seat and a stroller when going outside, the travel car seat with wheels can easily turn into a stroller in seconds by expanding the folded wheels. 

They’re super compact in design, no matter the car seat style or use in the stroller way. It’s much easier for parents especially for moms to carry it to public transportation like the bus or train. You don’t need to close the stroller and car seat separately but need to fold the wheels and transform it from a stroller into a car seat.

However, few car seats designed with wheels are available on the market. After spending hours researching car seats and stroller combo, we find the Doona car seat stroller is the only brand that created the world’s first car seat with wheels . 

[Updated] In 2023, Evenflo released three models of this type – Evenflo Shyft DualRide and its siblings, greatly implementing the travel car seat with wheels market. Evenflo is always on the tide of new technology in the child car seat industry, the wheeled car seats, and the 360-degree rotating car seats .

We also include other options- car seat carriers, which support holding and turning car seats into strollers.

Doona Infant Car Seat Stroller

First car seat with wheels

Key features.

• Weight Range: 4-35 lbs.
• Height Limit: 32 inches
• Lifespan: 6 years
• Type: Infant
• Suitable for: Birth to 1 year old
• Combine a car seat and stroller
• Easy in and out
• Support installation without a car seat base
• Smooth transition between car seat and stroller
• Compact size design for storage and carrying
• Friendly and portable to take for air travel
• The handle can be used as an anti-rebound bar
• 2 years manufacturer's warranty
• Short handle not friendly for tall people
• A little expensive
• Not include undercarriage basket for storage
• A bit heavy

If you’re looking for the best car seat with wheels, the Doona Infant Car Seat and Stroller should be your first consideration. It’s the world’s first blend product that combines an infant car seat and a stroller and it’s the only travel car seat with wheels that turns into a stroller on the market right now.

Yes, it’s a baby travel system in one product, thanks to its uniquely designed wheels integrated into the car seat. This makes the Doona car seat completely different from those traditional child car seat travel systems , which typically consist of two devices – an infant car seat and a separate stroller.

For its original and distinct design in this unique category of the car seat with wheels, we would talk more details and make a full review about it in several aspects – design, modes, installation, additional features, and most of all – safety. 

Doona Car Seat with Wheels: Design

The Doona car seat blends four wheels into its body, making it the best option for parents who are finding a car seat with wheels. This unique design allows it to work in three modes .

The Doona car seat is sleek, and stylish, and sports a low profile. You’ll love that it’s compact enough to fit inside small cars and on airplanes, especially for those parents who like to travel around. The Doona car seat with wheels is one of the best portable car seats for travel .

The car seat has a premium look. The frame is made of sturdy aluminum, while the seat features a breathable fiber textile, which is supposed to be antibacterial, hypoallergenic, and heat- and humidity-regulating. This combination ensures the baby’s safety and comfort at the most. The fabric is also removable and washable, which is a huge plus for parents, as kids usually leave messes wherever they go.

An extendable, water-repellant canopy offers UPF 50+ sun protection and is also removable and washable. The included head support is made of energy-absorbing materials and is specifically designed for extra side impact protection. It’s supposed to be installed at all times, which made for a snug fit for babies, especially for those newborns. There’s also a removable infant insert for babies less than 11 pounds.

The Doona car seat with wheels is available in several different colors, making it a great choice for newborn baby girls or boys. Nitro Black is the most popular color online, just pick the one you like: Racing Green, Greyhound, Blush Pink, Royal Blue, and Flame Red. The Blush Pink makes the Doona car seat with wheels one of the best pink car seats for girls .

Doona Car Seat with Wheels: Modes

The Doona is the only car seat with wheels on the market that turns into a stroller, making it extremely unique and very convenient to use. You don’t need to assemble or disassemble the car seat into stroller frames when getting into and out of the cars.

The car seat turns into stroller mode in seconds . You can just push the red safety lock button located at the rear of the car seat to release the wheels. This unfolds the wheels instantly and turns Doona into a stroller for walking your baby on the pavement.

With the Doona infant car seat and stroller combo, getting around in a city with a baby is much easier or more convenient now. It becomes the favorite car seat with wheels for on-the-go parents to take their babies to meet friends or visit museums.

No more setting up and breaking down all while hailing a cab or taking the subway, and no more schlepping around a heavy car seat. Best of all, no more disturbing a sleeping baby to transfer from car to stroller or vice versa. There might be a slight ‘click’ sound when folding or unfolding the wheels. If you have a sleeping baby in it, make sure gently do the transition.

However, it’s a pity that the car seat does not support letting your baby face forward during the walks. That is not possible due to its integrated design. The wheels can be only released in one direction – from the car seat or your baby’s back to the front. This design gives the car seat the most balance when you want to use it in the third mode – pull-along the car seat aside with you.

Doona Car Seat with Wheels: Installation

The Doona car seat with wheels arrives ready to go in the car seat mode with the wheels folded. There is a base included in the box. But this doesn’t mean you should use it like a traditional infant car seat.

One of the advantages of this car seat with wheels is that it can be installed in a vehicle without the base. You can install the seat with a seatbelt as well, just follow the instructions in the manual, or check the installation video below from the company. 

For on-the-go parents who take their babies around the country or the world, this installation way helps a lot to save time and strength. You don’t always want to take and install the base to hold the car seat in the uber or cab.

Certainly, the typical way to install a car seat with a base is still available when you drive your baby in your own car. If you want to install it with the base, another video will help. It also comes from the company’s guide. 

There is a vehicle seat protector included protecting your vehicle’s seat, no matter which way you’ll install the car seat with wheels. The vehicle seat protector should be placed on the seat of your car before installing either the base or the car seat. This saves you money to buy one separately as most manufacturers don’t include this protector. 

When in a vehicle, the Doona car seat with wheels should only be installed rear-facing – this is a drawback but most infant car seats are used only for rear-facing mode. 

Installing and removing the car seat with the baby in it can be somewhat strenuous for moms. This car seat and stroller in one is a bit heavier than most infant car seats. That is unavoidable due to the integrated stroller frame and wheels. The Doona car seat with wheels weighs a whopping 16.5 pounds. That’s even triple of the lightest infant car seats . 

Luckily, you don’t have to carry that weight once you move the car seat out of the car. You can quickly turn the car seat into a stroller in seconds. 

Doona Car Seat with Wheels: Safety

Last but not least – safety. This should be the top priority to take into consideration when purchasing an infant car seat. Actually, the car seats sold on the market are mandatory to meet the US or European safety and quality standards, or both. So you don’t need to worry about the safety of the Doona car seat with wheels.

It also has passed all legally required compliance tests and meets both the U.S. and Europe’s standards for car seats, strollers, and handheld carriers. It’s even TUV and FAA aircraft-approved for travel, but you should always call your airline ahead of time to confirm.

This car seat with wheels uses materials that are free of hazardous chemicals and are carefully tested and approved under the strictest European standards and the REACH regulation, including SVHC (Substances of Very High Concern).

The unique double-wall structure of Doona enables the folding of the wheels into the body and offers a significant safety benefit. The two layers of durable, impact-absorbing plastic, along with additional layers of EPS, foam, and textiles provide enhanced side-impact protection.

The handlebar is adjustable and can be used as an anti-rebound bar in the car seat mode inside the car, giving your baby additional protection when riding in the car.

The Doona infant car seat with wheels is the only option that blends the car seat and stroller frame on the market and it’s the best option for parents that look for this type of car seat. But this doesn’t mean it’s perfect to use. Many parents complain about its lack of storage space.

The wheels will take up the room under the car seat when unfolded to use as a stroller. The parents will need to grab another storage bag if going out with essential baby things. Luckily, the bag can be hung onto the handlebar. 

The other drawback of this car seat with wheels is that it’s more expensive than an infant car seat, even than a baby car seat travel system. 

What it’s for

The Doona infant car seat with wheels has a size limit of 35 lbs/ 32″. That means it’s a good car seat for 1 year old or at most 18 months infants.

Thanks to its folding design, the Doona is also one of the best foldable car seats and it’s good for traveling, no matter in domestic or outbound, in a car, or on an airplane.

It’s also great for use in the uber or cab with easy installation. Taking the car seat with the baby to the train or bus is not as difficult as most traditional infant car seats or baby travel systems. The car seat with wheels gives the parents the most convenient to use it as an infant car seat in the car or a walking stroller out of the car. 

Evenflo Shyft DualRide with CarryAll Storage

Best car seat with wheels

• Weight Range: 3-35 lbs.
• Suitable for: Birth to 12~18 months old
• 35 lbs/ 32" for growing infants
• Combine a stroller into infant car seat
• Four wheels for best convenience
• Friendly for preemies (3 pounds)
• Detachable wheel design
• Parent cup holder
• Carry-all storage bag
• SensorSafe for enhanced safety
• Large UPF 50+ canopy
• 8-position harness adjustment
• Anti-rebound for better reliability
• Baseless installation for travel
• LockStrong for easy installation
• High priced ($549.99)
• A bit heavy (Carrier: 9 lbs)

Okay, I’ll choose the Evenflo Shyft DualRide with Carryall Storage over its siblings and the Doona for the best travel car seat with wheels. It’s even more parent-friendly and designed to make your journey smoother and more convenient.

Just like the Doona, it’s an innovative solution that seamlessly transforms from an infant car seat to a stroller in a single step, streamlining your on-the-go life. Moving from your car to the sidewalk is a breeze – just lift the carrier off the base, release the wheels, and you’re ready to roll. If you encounter stairs, retract the wheels, carry the seat up or down, and then pop the wheels back down for effortless strolling.

The Evenflo’s travel car seat with wheels is even better than the Doona – the wheels (and the frame) can be detached from the carrier and left to the base in the vehicle if you don’t need to turn it into a stroller. The wheels on the Doona car seat are built-in and can’t be removed from the car seat.

One point that Evenflo Shyft DualRide beats the Doona is the wheel wells, which are good to store the specks of dirt when turning the stroller into a car seat in the vehicle. You don’t want to see the dirt on the wheels fall into your seat pad, right? Choosing this Evenflo travel car seat with wheels won’t disappoint you.

Safety is paramount, and the Shyft DualRide prioritizes it with an anti-rebound base that absorbs and disperses crash forces for added stability, ensuring peace of mind for you and your little one. Here is another point that Evenflo Shyft DualRide wins over Doona, which does not have an anti-rebound bar in the base. If the travel car sat with wheels has this feature, why not pick it?

The adjustable no-rethread harness grows with your child, accommodating their changing needs. Additionally, the elevated placement of the infant carrier on the stroller keeps your baby’s face within easy view, fostering a closer connection during your outings.

A state-of-the-art SensorSafe™ technology system connects you to your baby’s car seat from the backseat, alerting you in real-time to potentially unsafe conditions such as chest clip unbuckling, extreme temperatures, unattended child, and extended sitting.

Installation is a breeze thanks to the LockStrong™ mechanism, offering you solid and secure placement. The full-coverage canopy shields your baby from the elements with UPF 50+ protection against the sun’s rays.

This Evnflo Shyft DualRide car seat with wheels stands out for added convenience. It includes a removable carryall storage bag and parent cupholder. That’s a very kind and brilliant design. As you know, there are lots of baby things when traveling out. A storage bag helps a lot.

With its sophisticated design, washable padding, and thoughtful touches, the Evenflo Shyft DualRide is your trusted partner for a safer, smoother, and more stylish journey with your precious one.

Evenflo Shyft DualRide Premium vs Gold vs Basic

Best travel car seat with wheels comparison, best carrier to turn infant car seat with wheels.

Besides the only Doona car seat with wheels, there is another way to turn an infant car seat into the mode with wheels. This saves you money to buy a car seat travel system that contains an infant car seat and a stroller.

The car seat carriers generally cost less money than a stroller that comes with the car seat as a system. They usually support more than one model of infant car seats from the same company.

But if you need a universally compatible car seat carrier for a wide range of car seats, you can check with the Baby Trend Snap-N-Go Premiere Universal Infant Car Seat Carrier .

The double stroller frame carrier is also available for carrying two infant car seats for those families with baby twins.

Let’s start with the single car seat carriers that will turn infant car seats with wheels. 

Graco SnugRider Elite Car Seat Carrier

GUIDE TO THE BEST CAR SEAT TRAVEL BAG, CARTS & CAR SEAT TRANSPORTERS

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN COMPENSATED LINKS. FIND MORE INFO IN MY DISCLAIMER.

Home » GUIDE TO THE BEST CAR SEAT TRAVEL BAG, CARTS & CAR SEAT TRANSPORTERS

Traveling with a little one can be really difficult – especially if you will be catching a flight!

Running through the airport with a toddler, a travel car seat, and your luggage all at once is no easy feat.

This is why car seat travel carts and carriers exist.

These fantastic products allow you to turn your car seat into either a backpack or a stroller.

This makes traveling so much easier. With a good car seat travel cart, you can pull your child and their car seat in one hand while carrying your luggage with the other.

Or go hands-free by purchasing a good-quality backpack carrier.

If you will be flying with your toddler in tow, we think that a car seat transporter is absolutely essential.

You just need to figure out what works best for you, a backpack-style carrier, a cart, or a belt that adheres the car seat to your luggage.

Here are our top picks for car seat travel carts and car seat transporters to make your airport experience run a whole lot smoother.

Click here to see our pick  for the best backpack car seat travel transporter

Click here to see our pick  for the best car seat travel cart

Our Best Car Seat Travel Bag Reviews

Before we get started, I’m assuming that you have already purchased your car seat to take with you, but if you haven’t, here is our list of the best travel car seats , and here is our post to help you find the best booster seat for travel if you child is older than 4.

And in case you are interested, here is our blog post on the best travel car seat for 2 year old .

Car seat bags for air travel are fabulous options as they will leave you hands-free to deal with other things such as pushing a stroller or pulling luggage along.

Car seat backpacks can get heavy though, so we typically only recommend this product if you will be checking in your car seat, or if your airport walk from the parking lot to the plane gate is small.

Otherwise, it might be best to check out the car seat carts in the next section below.

Here’s our list of the best car seat travel bags available for purchase. We share the positives and negatives in our review to help you find the best car seat travel bag.

1. J.L. Childress Ultimate Backpack Padded Car Seat Travel Bag Review

Overall the J.L. Childress car seat travel bag is our general favorite choice.

The backpack is fully padded with padded interior wings to help protect your car seat. It also has ergonomic, padded harness-style backpack straps that are fully adjustable to help you carry the seat comfortably. 

It is important to get a backpack carrier that allows you to carry the backpack higher on your back, to help protect your posture.

The backpack is made from durable, heavy-duty fabric, which means that it should last throughout your child’s car seat years. The water-resistant fabric is easy-to-clean and comes with an anti-microbial inner lining.

We also love the dual, lockable zipper opening, that allows you to lock up your seat when you check it as luggage. 

This carrier is perfect to  check your travel car seat as luggage , take the seat with you onto the plane, or even use it on cruises or trains. Whilst the backpack might be a bit heavy to carry around, it does mean that you can have your hands free to push your little one in the stroller or to pull along luggage.

We also love that you can use the extra space in the bag to fill up with diapers, wipes, and baby blankets (you can check your car seat for free, so good idea to use the ‘free’ weight as best you can).

It is our favorite if you can handle the weight on your back. If however, you are traveling solo as a mum (I don’t like carrying the weight on my back, but my husband is fine to do so) or if you have a bad back, you might prefer one of the carts mentioned below. You can also check out the  J.L Childress car seat travel bag with wheels  as well.

• Really compact
• Comfortable to carry around due to padded straps
• Easily fits most car seats
• It is cheap
• It has space for extra baby items
• It has a lockable zipper
• It is made from a super durable material
• Padded car seat travel bag
• The weight on your back can get tiresome (if you aren’t checking it in at the counter, but carrying it all the way to the plane at a large airport).

>>  Click here to purchase the popular Backpack Travel Car Seat Transporter

2. ZOHZO Car Seat Travel Bag Review

Another fabulous padded car seat travel bag. This bag is really well designed with padding to protect both your car seat as well as protective features protect the bag.

The fabric of the bag is heavy-duty and waterproof in design. It has a lockable double zipper opening for durability and ease of use.

The backpack carrier has multiple options for carrying, from padded backpack straps, or to the built-in rubber handle. We also love the additional feature of the waist strap so that you can carry the weight of your bag on your waist rather than your shoulders.

They also have a 1-year manufacturer’s warranty and a 14-day-full refund satisfaction guarantee. 

Here is a list of compatible car seats.

>>> Click here to purchase the ZOHZO Car Seat Travel Bag

3. Yorepek Car Seat Travel Bag Review

If you are traveling with an infant and using a car seat that has a base, you will like this car seat bag. The bag is large enough to fit both the seat and the base or even a small stroller.

The fabric is water-resistant and is lovely and thick and durable. The backpack straps are padded and adjustable.

There are also multiple carry handles so you can pick it up or carry it however you like. 

The car seat travel bag also has 360-degree spinner wheels, so you can roll the travel bag in a multi-directional upright position without needing to tilt.

Although it may be slightly uncomfortable to use this feature, it does give you many options for getting it from point A to B.

There is also a luggage ID holder and a double zipper opening.

Dimensions 28 H x 18 W x 18 D inches.

• Padded shoulder straps
• Fits both a car seat and a base
• Multiple carry handles
• Uncomfortable to wheel around
• The base of the bag tends to dig into your back a bit
• Little padding to protect car seat

>>> Click here to purchase the popular Yorepek infant car seat travel bag

Best Car Seat Travel Cart Reviews

Here’s our list of the best car seat travel carts available for purchase.

1. KEDSUM Folding Hand Car Seat Travel Cart Review

This product by Kedsum has got to be our overall best car seat travel cart.

You will love how this travel cart can be folded up easily in a few seconds. When folded up, the size is 17.7 x 12.2’’, and the weight is about 6.2 lbs, you can easy to put it into the car or locker, perfect for moving or shopping.

The handle has 3 different positions, and it can telescope into a really convenient size when you need it to.

The travel cart comes with bungee cords which are perfect for securing the cart seat to the travel cart tightly and securely, making your life in the airport much more enjoyable.

Overall the Kedsum car seat travel roller is our general favorite choice if you prefer a system on wheels rather than on your back.

• Easy to push around
• Can be left on when on the plane seat
• Doesn’t stand very well without your support

>>> Click here to purchase the popular Kedsum Car Seat Travel Cart

2. Britax Car Seat Travel Cart Review

If you are going to be on the move and in the airport with your little one, then the Britax travel cart will make life a whole lot easier.

The trolley is super simple to fold up and store away. You can pack it up into a conveniently small size – perfect for fitting into aircraft overhead bins and other small spaces. You also don’t need to do any kind of difficult assembly or break-down with the Britax car seat cart.

Car seats attach easily using LATCH connectors. This product is compatible with basically all car seats that use LATCH, as well as any Britax car or booster seat. Your seat will be fixed onto durable steel in order to keep your child safe and sturdy.

We love that the handle is adjustable and can suit different heights. We also like how easy the trolley is to maneuver. This travel cart is a fabulous choice, especially if you are using a Britax travel car seat.

• Best overall car seat travel cart
• Easy to set up and pack away
• Folds into a very compact size
• Easy to maneuver
• Adjustable handle height
• Premium price tag

>>> Click here to purchase the Britax Car Seat Travel Cart

3. Mount-It! Car Seat Travel Cart Review

This is a well-designed car seat trolley that is as functional as it is practical. Easy to use, easy to assemble, and fantastic for making traveling with a toddler a much smoother experience.

This transporter fits most major brands of convertible and forward-facing car seats. The design allows for quick and easy attachment of the seat.

The handle is adjustable and can become really compact when stored.

This car seat travel cart does everything one would want, and it does it well. This is a great choice for any parent on the move.

• Compact flat-fold design
• Telescopic handle
• Compatible with most car seat brands
• No assembly required
• The strap could be tighter
• The plastic base is not as strong as metal versions

>>> Click here to purchase the Mount-It! Luggage Car Seat Travel Cart

4. Baby Trend Snap ‘n Go Infant Car Seat Carrier Review

When traveling with a little one, this car seat luggage cart offers you relief from all the walking at the airport. It is one of our best choices for compact use and can be easily utilized on different car seats and brands.

Due to the lightweight materials and design, you will have no problem transporting this product. When not in use it folds up flat and can be assembled without any difficulties. The telescopic handle is suitable for all kinds of different heights, and it also allows for seriously compact storage. It also has a storage basket which you can use to place extra bags or items when walking through the airport to free up your hands.

This trolley has a safe-sit angle design to keep the seat stable and secure. No need to worry about your car seat rolling away or tipping over.

We highly recommend this product and brand, you can happily use it for any trip on a plane!

• Compact design
• Offers great support
• Lightweight
• Easy to manage

>> Click here to purchase the Baby Trend Snap ‘n Go Infant Car Seat Cart

5. Holm Airport Car Seat Stroller Review

The Holm stroller will make any journey through the airport much easier and more relaxing. This car seat trolley is designed with travel and convenience in mind.

All you need to do is strap your child’s car seat into this stroller, and you can easily wheel them around – no need to struggle to carry a car seat and a child. The silicone gel wheels roll super smoothly, and the travel cart as a whole is very easy to maneuver.

It folds up to a really convenient size at the push of a button. You can easily store this stroller under a seat or in an overhead luggage compartment.

This product by Holm works really well, and we highly recommend it to anyone traveling with a small child.

• Easy to collapse
• Compact folding
• Simple to use
• Works well with different heights
• Not compatible with all car seats
• Straps could tighten better

>>> Click here to purchase the Holm Car Seat Travel Cart

Best Car Seat Travel Covers

Another option is to simply grab a car seat cover for travel purposes. These covers typically don’t offer much protection, as the car seat travel cover is generally thin. It is a great cheap way to keep your car seat clean.

A lot of airlines do offer plastic car seat covers for traveling by air, but not all of them do, so it might be best to purchase your own baby car seat travel bag to ensure that you are all set for the trip.

Our recommended baby car seat covers for travel are:

• VolkGo Durable Car Seat Travel Cover
• Birdee Car Seat Travel Cover
• KangoKids Car Seat Cover
• Gorilla Grip Durable Easy Carry Gate Check Travel Cover

Remember that your child’s safety is just as important on a plane as it is in a car.

Whilst it is definitely a challenge and hassle to arrive at an airport with a car seat, it is definitely a sure way to ensure you travel as safely as you can with your baby. You can grab some  tips on how to fly with a car seat  in our post here.

Leave us a comment and let us know which car seat travel carrier you settled with.

Further Reading:

If you are interested, you can check out our best car seat on plane for 3 year old  guide here and the  children’s luggage  guide here.

Andrzej Ejmont

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Want a folding car seat for travel? Here are your best choices by age (2023 reviews)

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This article about folding car seats for travel is written by certified Child Passenger Safety Technician Melissa Conn and may contain affiliate links.

The car seat game is changing quickly these days. Child safety seats for use at home are getting bigger and beefier with every new generation – steel frames, massive headwings, and extremely high weight and height limits.

But on the other end, there’s a new set of folding car seats for travel that are changing how families explore the world. Gone are the days when you had no choice but to stay within the confines of the US and Europe lest you risk your child’s safety on crazy roads (there are still places like that, for the record). No, in 2023 you have options .

There are some amazing foldable car seats for travel and car seat alternatives that will take you around the world and back again without breaking a sweat. Especially once your child is a mature enough, there’s now an entire ecosystem of foldable booster seat choices for you!

In this article will share our top picks for folding travel car seats at each stage, including the advantages and disadvantages of each. You’ll also learn what to consider when you’re choosing the right portable car seat for travel with your family.

Quick picks: which folding car seat for travel is right for you?

Read more: 10 things you NEED to know before flying with your car seat

How to choose a foldable car seat for travel

What should you look for in a collapsible car seat? In reality, you don’t have nearly the same choices as you do in more “traditional” car seats.

The most important feature to look at is what stage the car seat is and how that matches up with your child’s age and size. After all, it’s not safe to put a 2 or 3 year old on a backless booster no matter how convenient! Likewise, your 6 year old who still sleeps in the car might not fit into the folding car seat with a 5 point harness option.

Since this article is all about folding car seats, portability is the name of the game! You want a car seat that folds small enough to take out for the day so that you have it when you need it. So some of the options on this list may not be the lightest in their classes, but they’re the best for putting in the overhead bin of an airplane or toting around the city.

In the picture at the beginning of this article, you can see how our family rocks folding travel car seats (and car seat alternatives). That photo was taken at the beginning of our family’s gap year – we needed to travel extremely light while keeping our kids as safe as possible. We’re fortunate to live in an era when we could make that happen!

Reviewing the best foldable travel car seat options

Doona infant car seat stroller review.

*Ideal for birth to age 1-1.5 years old

Key stats: -Weight 16.5lbs -Rear-facing size limits: 4-35lbs, up to 32”

Pros: ✔ Integrated car seat/stroller ✔ Several installation options ✔ Car seat handle doubles as anti-rebound bar

Cons: ✘ High price ✘ Heavy ✘ Need to buy a new car seat and travel stroller when it’s outgrown

Do you want the Swiss Army knife of baby travel gear? You’ll find it in the Doona infant car seat stroller , one of the coolest baby products I’ve ever seen. In just a matter of seconds your very capable infant car seat deploys its own wheels and converts into a perfectly serviceable baby-friendly stroller! I’ve had the opportunity to play around with it in person (though it was released after our youngest was born) and I definitely let out a few “WOW”s during my test drive.

This is the perfect foldable baby car seat for families who live in or travel to big cities and need to hop in and out of taxis. You’ll never have to worry about your baby being safe on the road, but you also won’t have to wonder what to do with your car seat while you hit a museum or go into a store.

Likewise, a foldable car seat stroller is an easier solution than a two-piece travel system that has to be separated and stored in the car trunk. The Doona is even FAA-approved and you can just wheel is straight down the airplane aisle. (While this isn’t truly a “foldable” car seat for a 1 year old, it’s the closest option out there – not including the extremely unsafe unapproved knock-off contraptions you’ll find online).

So why wouldn’t every family put this foldable carseat on their baby registry ? There are three downsides to consider with the Doona, and it’s up to you how important they are.

First, it’s heavy compared to other infant car seats. The official Doona weight listing is 14lbs (some reviewers say it’s more like 16lbs). Most infant carriers weigh more like 10lbs, but of course they don’t have a whole stroller built in. If you prefer a lightweight infant car seat, you’ll find great options here .

Second, it ain’t cheap . The price tag may make it a non-starter for many families, though once you add the cost of a well-respected infant car seat and a car seat stroller frame the sticker shock might subside a little.

Third, once your baby outgrows the Doona as a car seat around 1 year old you’ll be on the hook to buy a new car seat and a new stroller. Obviously that’s a tough nut to swallow financially. But many families find that the stroller they love for the newborn and infant stage just isn’t ideal for the toddler stage and they wind up wanting a new stroller anyway. Especially if you’re focusing on lightweight, travel friendly products you’ll find that many of the best ultralight strollers aren’t ideal until at least 6-12 months anyway.

All those cons aside, the Doona really is an incredible option for families who want to travel extensively with a young baby. It’s the only collapsible car seat that rear faces to keep the littlest travelers safe!

Evenflo Shyft DualRide review

*Ideal for preemie to age 1.5 years old

Key stats: -Weight 8-9lbs without wheels, ~19lbs with wheels -Rear-facing size limits: 3-35lbs, up to 32”

Pros: ✔ Integrated car seat/stroller ✔ Several installation options ✔ Approved down to 3lbs ✔ Option to leave the wheels in the car if you want to carry the car seat alone ✔ Tensioning panel on base for easy seatbelt installation ✔ Anti-rebound panel on base ✔ Approved in Canada

Cons: ✘ High price ✘ Requires 1.5″ between car seat and front seats if not installing in the center ✘ Can’t be used with other strollers ✘ Need to buy a new car seat and travel stroller when it’s outgrown

The Evenflo Shyft DualRide integrated infant car seat/stroller is brand new for 2023. If it looks similar to the Doona above, that’s because it is. But the Evenflo has a few nifty tricks up its sleeve that are worth mentioning.

First, the Evenflo Shyft DualRide is approved for newborns as small as 3 pounds (just like most Evenflo infant car seats). No one outside of Evenflo has gotten to test one out with such a tiny baby so we’ll need to see how the fit is for preemies in the real world – sometimes the beefy headrests of no-rethread harnesses like this one can be challenging for newborn head positioning. Hopefully the fit will be just as good as it is with this excellent preemie car seat .

On the other end, many kids can use it until 15-18 months thanks to the extended headrest. It’s a very convenient option for travel with toddlers!

Second, while the Doona always brings its wheels (and their weight) the Evenflo Shyft DualRide can leave the wheels behind on the car seat base or at home if you don’t anticipate needing them. That brings the weight of the car seat itself down to just 8-9 pounds – in line with many other car seats on the market. But it’s nice to have the flexibility to use the wheels when you want them and leave them behind when you don’t.

Third, the base has an integrated anti-rebound panel to help manage crash energy and a tensioning arm for easy seatbelt installation. You still need to lock the seatbelt when you install – always read your manual – but you don’t have to worry about putting much force into installing it.

As with all products, the Shyft DualRide isn’t perfect. For starters, the Evenflo Shyft DualRide is not compatible with any of the company’s strollers. That’s a bummer since many parents with an older child might like the flexibility to sometimes use the car seat with the Evenflo Pivot Xpand single-to-double stroller .

Like all Evenflo car seats, the manufacturer wants 1.5″ of clearance between the car seat and the vehicle seat in front of it. Practically speaking this rules it out for some compact cars unless you will always install it in the center seat (where the rule doesn’t apply). Keep that in mind if you’re planning on installing it by the window so that you can install another car seat on the other side!

The 10lb weight of the wheel assembly is surprisingly high. Families already sometimes complain that the Doona is too heavy, and the Evenflo car seat stroller combo is even heaver; the trade-off, of course, is that if you plan to hand carry it you can leave the wheels behind… unless you’re traveling and taking a taxi followed by a lovely walk over cobblestones.

Moment of truth here: I’m also surprised by the price point of the Evenflo Shyft DualRide. There are several versions with slightly different features/accessories and they range from $500-600. Thankfully you can get a discount when you buy direct and sign up for the email list, and Evenflo runs frequent sales as well. There’s also a slightly less expensive Walmart version , which lacks the carry-all bag and leather accents.

It’s great to see more innovation in this space, and finally a competitor to the Doona. The Evenflo Shyft DualRide has a lot going for it and will definitely be a contender for car-free city dwellers and travelers alike!

Read next: Best portable car seats for a 1 year old

Wayb Pico review

*Ideal for ages 2-5

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)

One of the coolest kid travel products we’ve seen in a loooong time is the new Wayb Pico collapsible car seat. It was hard to miss as they plastered their Indiegogo campaign all over Facebook in 2018! The promise? An ultra-light, ultra-compact folding car seat with 5-point harness. Families would be able to travel with world with this foldable toddler car seat without compromising safety.

In many ways their promise has come true. For certain families the Pico is the perfect solution to a really tough question of what to do when they need a travel 5-point harness, while for others it isn’t quite the right fit. Read our in-depth expert Wayb Pico review here .

I’ll start with the advantages: the Wayb Pico is small and easy to use. The weight is about the same as the Cosco Scenera Next, but the genius is in how small it folds up (and even packs into its own backpack!) so that you can lug it around and have it when you need it for spur-of-the-moment taxi rides.

The Wayb Pico is by far the best foldable car seat for a 3 year old if you plan on lots of international travel. Why? The concept of a folding forward-facing harnessed car seat isn’t new. They’ve actually been made for years , including the current car seat used by Uber Family . The downside of prior seats is that they required use of a top tether. Without it, the seats don’t stay upright! If you’re traveling within the US, Canada or Western Europe that’s no problem.

But if you plan to venture outside those areas you may have an extremely hard time using those car seats. We’ve encountered so many cars in South America, Morocco, Thailand and more that don’t have top tethers – rendering a fold up car seat like the IMMI Go completely useless. While you’d ideally use the top tether all the time with the Wayb Pico , at least you have the option to use it without the top tether if absolutely necessary.

Because it doesn’t require a top tether, the Wayb Pico is also the only foldable car seat for airplane use. Your kids can even fully use the tray table, unlike most forward-facing travel car seats, since it’s so low-profile.

The major disadvantage of the Wayb Pico foldable child car seat is that the 45″ upper height limit and 16.5″ harness slots aren’t high enough for some families. Many kids will outgrow it around 5-5.5 years old, though if you’re buying it at 2 or 3 years old that’s a few years of good usage (and more if you can pass it down to a younger sibling). If you’re a family that prioritizes extended rear-facing and then you want an extended forward-facing harness, this isn’t the car seat for you! But if you’ll be doing a ton of traveling with a 2 or 3 year old (like our family gap year) then the Wayb Pico fold up travel car seat is the best option to keep your kid safe without lugging a full-size model. On the small end, the Pico is approved for kids at least 1 year old – but that’s not recommended, and in some places (like California and New York) it’s not even legal.

Finally, the price tag of the Pico may be tough for some families to swallow for a portable car seat for 3 year old. Of course, some families opt to use it at home too though it doesn’t offer the same creature comforts as typical forward facing car seats.

Is the Wayb Pico right for everyone? Maybe not. But if your family is going on an extended trip or relying on lots of taxis in your daily life and a folding travel car seat is on your must-have list, give the Wayb Pico a serious look once it’s available again.

Read next: Best travel car seats for a 2 year old

Ride Safer Travel Vest review

*Ideal for ages 3.5-6

Key stats: -Weight 2lbs -Size small: minimum age 3, fits best for 30+ lbs and 35-47″ -Size large: minimum age 4, fits best for 50+ lbs and 45-57″

Pros: ✔ Rolls up to the size of a 2L soda bottle ✔ Perfect for taxi rides ✔ Lowers seat belt to provide an appropriate fit for young children ✔ Keeps kids properly seated better than a traditional booster seat – even when sleeping ✔ Easy to fit 3-across since it’s only as wide as the child ✔ 5 year expiration

Cons: ✘ No side impact protection like a highback booster seat ✘ Takes practice to get belt fit right ✘ NOT permitted for use on planes

Several years ago the kind folks at Safe Ride 4 Kids sent us a Ride Safer Delight travel vest to review, and it hasn’t left our travel kit since. The Ride Safer travel vest (“Delight” has been dropped with the latest Ride Safer travel vest Gen 5 release) is completely different than the travel car seats above.

You could say that the Ride Safer travel vest is sort of in between a booster seat and a traditional forward-facing car seat. It relies on the car’s seat belt to handle most of the restraint, but also has an optional-but-pease-use-it-always top tether that minimizes head movement in an accident and keeps your child in the correct position even if they fall asleep (or drop a toy). While we won’t put our youngest child in a booster seat yet since she’s a car sleeper – especially when jet-lagged – we’re comfortable with her riding in the Ride Safer vest.

So comfortable, in fact, that we brought our Ride Safer vest on our year-long trip around the world! It’s seen action on six continents and served us well the whole time. Once we practiced a few times, we got very fast at putting her in the vest and getting her secured in the car. The biggest change from the Ride Safer Delight to the Gen 5 is an easier buckle in the front, so that should help many parents.

The Ride Safer Gen 5 is rated for kids beginning at 3 years old and 30lbs, but honestly we felt that the fit was better starting at 4 years old and other parents agree with us. Fortunately size small should last most kids until 6 or even 7 thanks to the adjustable shoulder strap length. Because there’s no side impact protection, it’s a good idea to put your Ride Safer in the middle seat if it has a top tether available. Read our in-depth Ride Safer review .

For families going on extended journeys like ours who just can’t take a traditional car seat or those heading somewhere like NYC or Paris, where they’ll mostly rely on public transportation but need an occasional taxi ride, the Ride Safer travel vest is a fantastic option. It is not approved for use on an airplane, so you may want to pair it with the CARES harness ( full review here ) to use on the plane.

For a more typical trip that involves flying and then renting a car for a week or two, we sometimes opt to bring our other travel car seat . But if you’re choosing between the Ride Safer travel vest or a backless booster seat, the vest is the better choice for younger kids and/or car sleepers .

While we generally think of the Ride Safer as one of the travel car seat alternatives, we also use it at home often. I keep it in my trunk at all times so that we can fit 3-across in our car for those unexpected carpools or for when Grandma comes for a visit! Since the vest is as narrow as the child in it, there’s no trouble fitting it between two big car seats in our compact SUV.

Read next: Best travel car seats for a 3 year old Best travel car seats for a 4 year old

Key stats: -Weight 10lbs -Highback booster size limit 4yo, 40-100lbs, 40-59″ -Belt guide 14-20″

Pros: ✔ Tons of size adjustments for great fit ✔ Folds down small ✔ Legal to use everywhere except Australia (in progress) ✔ Extremely narrow ✔ 7 year expiration

Cons: ✘ Expensive if you will only use for a few years ✘ No cup holders included ✘ Bigger than some of the other travel-specific car seats

Bubblebum booster seat review

*Ideal for ages 5+

Key stats: -Weight under 1 lbs ( really! ) -Backless booster size limit 40-100lbs, age 4+

Pros: ✔ Lightest booster seat ✔ Extremely narrow ✔ Good seatbelt fit in lots of cars

Cons: ✘ Can slide around if kids are wiggly ✘ 4 year expiration (from first use)

The best backless booster seat for travel is one with which we’re extremely familiar: the Bubblebum inflatable booster seat . We traveled full-time with this booster seat for the better part of two years. It’s my favorite folding travel booster seat!

The Bubblebum is a pretty amazing collapsible booster seat. It weighs about one pound and deflates/rolls to the size of a soda bottle. Setting it up takes just a few seconds, and there’s even a shoulder belt guide to give a great fit for kids of different sizes in all different vehicles.

Read more: My in-depth Bubblebum review

If you’re a family with a mature kid who doesn’t sleep in the car the Bubblebum gives you the paragon of portability. It’s the perfect option for taking around on days in a city when you think you might hop in a taxi to get home at night or if you’re taking lots of planes and trains for an extended trip.

The Bubblebum is so light that it may shift if your kid is very wiggly. But if your kid is very wiggly, they may not be ready for a backless booster yet. In that case, I’d go with the RideSafer travel vest for an ultra-portable option or the hifold folding booster seat . We also had an issue with one of our Bubblebums deflating after we left it inflated in a hot car for a month (oops!); we reached out to customer service and they sent us a whole new one for just the $7 shipping charge!

We started using this booster seat at 6 years old, and we think that’s about right. But it’s approved for 4 years old/40lbs and there are plenty of 5 year olds who can use it successfully, especially if your drives are short. This is a judgement call for each family and also depends on the specifics of your travels.

Read next: Best travel car seats for a 6 year old and best travel booster seat

hiccapop Uberboost booster seat review

*Ideal for ages 7+

Key stats: -Weight 1.25 lbs -Backless booster size limit 40-110lbs and 38-62″

Pros: ✔ Extremely light and compact ✔ Very narrow ✔ More stable than other ultra-portable booster seats

Cons: ✘ Frustrating shoulder belt adjuster clip

If you like the idea of an inflatable booster seat for travel, there’s a new option to consider these days. The newish hiccapop Uberboost follows the same basic concept as the Bubblebum but with a few pros and cons.

Read more: My in-depth hiccapop Uberboos t review

The hiccapop packs down slightly smaller than the Bubblebum but inflates to offer a larger seating seating area. Score! It also has a grippy layer on the bottom to prevent it from sliding around.

The biggest downside for us is that our leggy 48″ rider needs the shoulder adjuster clip in most seating positions but finds it very uncomfortable. The clip is much bulkier than on our other travel booster seats.

If your child is 48″+ or has a longer torso, you might be able to avoid using the clip – just be sure that the shoulder belt makes nice, complete contact with the middle of the collar bone. In that case the hiccapop Uberboost is a great choice for a traveling booster seat. For a smaller child, I’d stick with the Bubblebum for now.

Graco RightGuide

Key stats: -Weight 2 lbs -Backless booster size limit 50-120lbs, 43-60″, age 5+

Pros: ✔ Extremely light booster seat ✔ Very compact booster seat when folded ✔ Narrow option for 3-across with big kids ✔ Inconspicuous option for tweens ✔ 10 year expiration

Cons: ✘ Belt guide may not stay in place securely ✘ Incompatible with some seatbelt designs

If you have a big kid or tween who’s approaching readiness for the adult seatbelt (usually 10-12 years old) but not quite there, check out the Graco RightGuide . It’s ultra low profile and easy to throw in a backpack or clip to the outside of a carry-on suitcase. It does require that kids be at least 5 years old, 43″ and 50lbs – a weight many kids don’t achieve until they’re around 7 or even older.

The RightGuide offers a wonderful seatbelt fit even for kids at the bottom of the stated size range. It can be problematic with certain types of seatbelts, so be sure to read my Graco RightGuide review to know what you need to look out for.

Foldable Car Seat for Travel FAQs

Yes. All car seats sold in the US have to pass the same Federal testing. The most important factors in keeping your child safe in the car are choosing an age-appropriate car seat for and using it correctly 100% of the time.

The best car seat for traveling is the one that fits your child properly and that you’ll use every time you’re in the car. Check this list to find the best choices by age.

Need more ideas? Check out the best travel car seats for every age

What’s your favorite folding car seat for travel? Tell us in the comments below!

2 thoughts on “Want a folding car seat for travel? Here are your best choices by age (2023 reviews)”

Hi! I am just trying to clarify- can the WayB Pico car seat be used on international flights that don’t adhere to FAA regulations? Has anyone done this or had a problem? Specifically I am most concerned with TAP Portugal. Do they allow? Thanks!

TAP allows a car seat for children up to 5 years old as long as it’s FAA-approved (which WAYB is) and the bottom of the seat is physically small enough (which WAYB’s is as well).

Safe travels,

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Venture 3-Wheel Stroller Travel System

Available Accessories

Product Details

Download Product Instruction Manual - Stroller

Download Product Instruction Manual - Infant Car Seat

Infant Car Seat Base: Compatible Infant Seat

• Parent tray with 2 cupholders and a center console
• Child Tray with 2 cup holders and a center console
• Large Basket with front and rear access for all essentials
• In-seat center fold, collapses with one hand
• Slim and compact when folded for easy storage
• Includes EZ-LIFT™ Infant Car Seat with Base
• Handlebar of the EZ-LIFT™ can be used as an anti-rebound bar
• Car seat includes EZ-LIFT™ side grip that is ergonomically-friendly and helps with weight distribution while carrying the car seat
• Car seat is lightweight, weighs less than 8 pounds
• Car seat is certified for air travel and meets and exceeds federal safety standards
• Car seat compatible with EZ-Lift base only.

Description

Enjoy smooth rides and easy storage with Baby Trend Venture 3-Wheel Stroller Travel System. The parent tray features a center console with two cup holders, securing your phone and keeping essentials within easy reach. The child tray holds two cups and snacks for your little ones. A spacious storage basket, accessible from both the front and back, adds flexibility for placing your items. Equipped with in-seat center folding, this stroller collapses into a slim, compact unit using just one hand. 

Additionally, the lightweight, EZ-Lift Infant Car Seat includes an innovative Side Grip for ergonomic carrying and a carry that doubles as an anti-rebound bar for added safety in extreme situations. Certified for air travel, this system exceeds federal safety standards. Designed for convenience and maneuverability, our Venture 3-Wheel Stroller Travel System covers all your needs.

Recommended Use

• Stroller: The upright position should be used only for a child that is at least 6 months old. The child occupant must not exceed 50 lb or over 42" tall when used with the maximum weight on the child tray, parent tray and basket. Do not exceed 60 lb including the weight used in the accessories.
• Car Seat: 4 ~ 30 lb and up to 29.5"

Refund Policy

THE FOLLOWING IS FOR ONLINE PURCHASES FROM BABYTREND.COM ONLY

Clearance Items

All Clearance items can only be returned within 7 days of purchase. All clearance items are sold through our Closeouts category section. Only items within the Closeouts category are consider as Clearance items. For order inquiries please email us at [email protected] . Please provide your name, order number and the date you placed the order. Baby Trend does not accept returns of items purchased through any third-party, including its retail partners. Baby Trend does not accept returns of any items that have been used for any period. You MUST request and receive a Returns Authorization number (RA#). Returns without a RA# will NOT be accepted. All returned items must be returned new and unused in the original packaging & return shipping costs are the responsibility of the purchaser. Please use a package delivery service able to track and/or insure your return items. A 25% restocking fee will apply and will be deducted from the refund amount. A refund of the merchandise value, tax less the restocking fee will be refunded upon receipt and confirmation. Original shipping charges, if any, will not be refunded. By placing an order on babytrend.com , you are accepting the terms of this return policy.

Regular Priced Items

Returns for regularly priced items are accepted within 30 days of purchase from the babytrend.com website. Baby Trend does not accept returns of items purchased through any third-party, including its retail partners. Baby Trend does not accept returns of any items that have been used for any period. You MUST request and receive a Returns Authorization number (RA#). Returns without a RA# will NOT be accepted. All returned items must be returned new and unused in the original packaging & return shipping costs are the responsibility of the purchaser. Please use a package delivery service able to track and/or insure your return items. A 25% restocking fee will apply and will be deducted from the refund amount. A refund of the merchandise value, tax less the restocking fee will be refunded upon receipt and confirmation. Original shipping charges, if any, will not be refunded. By placing an order on babytrend.com, you are accepting the terms of this return policy.

Returns for exchange are accepted within 30 days of purchase from the babytrend.com website for item with equal or lesser value ONLY. Return without RA# will NOT be accepted. You MUST request and receive a Returns Authorization number (RA#). Returns without a RA# will NOT be accepted. All returned items must be returned new and unused in the original packaging & return shipping costs are the responsibility of the purchaser. Please use a package delivery service able to track and/or insure your return items. Baby Trend does not accept returns of any items that have been used for any period. A replacement item will NOT be shipped before the original item has been received and confirmed. By placing an order on babytrend.com, you are accepting the terms of this return policy.

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Free Baby Car Seats Programs Near You! (Sept 2023)

September 27, 2023 by Peter

Last Updated: 27th September 2023

So you have a little bundle of joy on the way and you’re strapped for cash. And you know that some things are a necessity – like a safe car seat .

What do you do?

Luckily, nation-wide there exists a wealth of resources, encompassing government schemes, not-for-profit organizations, ecclesiastical assistance, and giveaways that offer free car seats across the USA.

This guide is an invaluable resource, containing links to all the free car seat programs in America diligently collected over numerous hours of research. Check out this comprehensive tool by clicking on your respective state and exploring the most suitable free car seat program for you.

Click on your state in the menu below to find local information, or check out the National Free Car Seat page for national information:

What Car Seat Do You Need? (Video Tutorials)

Free Baby Car Seat Programs in all 50 US States

National Free Car Seats

WIC   (Women, Infants, and Children) is the first place to check when looking for a free car seat.

Inquire ‎them about their free car seat program if you are already enrolled in WIC. Most WIC programs require ‎you to take a short class to learn about car seat safety and usage and in return, you get a voucher that ‎can be used to buy a car seat.

If your local WIC doesn’t have such a program, you can ask them about ‎other local programs/charities/places that can help you.

If you are eligible for Medicaid , a free car seat might be covered by it. Check whether you are ‎eligible for receiving Medicaid, especially a car seat – by filling out an online application  through the ‎Health Insurance Marketplace website.

Generally, Medicaid asks you to enroll in a short car seat safety ‎course before sanctioning a free car seat.

Courses are typically structured to foster cognizance of car seat usage and their proper installation techniques. Many insurance companies offer free car seats to insured expectant or already new mothers. By reaching out to your insurance provider (via the contact number on your card), they often cover the cost or directly supply the car seat. Other prolific sources of free car seats include local police stations or fire departments, frequently involved in after-accident free car seat giveaways, installation programs and providing referrals to charities. For low-income families, local churches and hospitals also facilitate the no-cost acquisition of car seats.

Buckle up for life  has  donated 61,858 car seats so far to low-income families.

They work at a national level and collaborate with different organizations at a local level to provide resources, education, and training to parents all over the country.

Families in need, who participate in their child passenger safety classes, qualify to get a free car seat.

Alaska Free Car Seats

Center for Safe Alaskans’ Child Passenger Safety (CPS) Program supports state laws in keeping children safely secured each time they travel in a motor vehicle by promoting car seat and booster seat use.

They also provide car seats to families in financial needs by providing car seats for a small donation.

Mat-Su Services for Children and Adults hold monthly car seat safety checks for the public.

These events are free of charge and provide information about choosing the proper car seat or booster seat for your child along with hands-on instruction about proper installation, correct use, and other factors important to safe car seat usage.

Limited car seats are also available that you can get after completing the training.

At Juneau Police Department, free car seat inspections by Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians are available by appointment during weekdays. This comprehensive service includes free assistance and evaluation to ensure proper car seat usage, safety and installation. Replacement seats are potentially available for minimum expense, subject to qualification.

The Juneau Police Department is the Southeast Alaska Agency for child booster seats. For more information, please contact 907-586-0600, Officers Kathy Underwood, Jennifer Adams, or Blain Hatch.

Alabama Free Car Seats

Children of Alabama  is an amazing organization that strives to provide people with health services choices.

Multiple free outreach programs, including bike helmets ($10 each) and car seats, are at the ready for low-income individuals. Children's of Alabama offer free car seats at the discharge point to the patients lacking them, post basic education acquisition. Huntsville Hospital services AL-Madison County with their free car seat program for Medicaid, WIC, or food stamp beneficiaries. Expecting parents may contact 256-265-7296 to obtain further details.

People living in the area of Decatur, Alabama, can call Committee on Church Cooperation on (256) 355-8893. They help with diapers, clothing, car seats, and much more!

Broad Street Church of Christ is located in Scottsboro, Alabama, and they accept donations of clothes and car seats. They surely will be able to help you with a free new car seat. Talk to them today at 256-574-2489.

Arizona   Free Car Seats

Phoenix Union High School District is one of the five district schools in Phoenix, Arizona. They have a wonderful program  to distribute free car seats and you can take advantage of it if you live in that part of the Arizona state.

There are some conditions to be met before you can become qualified for the seat. These requirements include being pregnant, Low-income, the legal guardian of the child and get basic safety education.

Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) is working hard to make every kid safe in Arizona as more than 12000 kids, among those 0 to 19 years of age, die from unintentional injuries every year.

Through Child Safety Seat Donation Centers, ADHS is distributing car seats from these points .

In Phoenix, you can be on the right side of safety, even if you are on a budget. Some of the resources you can follow include Dear Valley school unified school district’s Child Safety Seats program .

TMC HealthCare serves more than 4,000 children annually. In 2018, TMC and SKPC educated more than 32,000 families and provided free car seats or booster seats to over 2,800 families in Southern Arizona.

In 2019, $30,000 funding from Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety enabled the provision of 600 seats to low-income households.

Arkansas   Free Car Seats

Farm Bureau is a union of farmers of Arkansas, and this organization represents more than 19,000 families.

If you are into the farming business, you can become a member of the Farm Bureau and get a car seat for $15 as they have an infant car seat program  for low-income members of the bureau.

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences' Child Passenger Safety Education Program  (CPSE) is aimed at reducing car injuries in the state of Arkansas.

They not only provide free education, installation, and training but also loan out car seats to low-income families.

Arkansas Children’ is another similar organization that loans out car seats to low-income families.

They have a comprehensive program for injury prevention. You can call them at 501-364-3400 and get more information about the program.

California   Free Car Seats

There are a lot of great options in California if you are looking for a free car seat for your sweet kiddo:

Check out this  comprehensive guide that has information on almost a hundred counties. You can find your area and see if someone has seats available at a free or reduced cost.

Keen ‘Em safe  is one of such options, and it is run by Pacific Safety Center. For you to become eligible, you have to have proper identification, proof of low-income, and proof of relationship with your child.

Los Angeles County Public health department has a ton of programs for parents who can’t afford a car seat for their kids.

You can find information about all those programs here .

Venice Family Clinic also provides free car seats. The details of their program are as follow:

Santa Monica: Venice Family Clinic Simms/Mann Health & Wellness Center Two-hour training for parents on child passenger safety. Contact Perso n : Camillia Villate, Prenatal Educator Contact Details : 310/664-7857  [email protected] Address : 2509 Pico Blvd. Santa Monica 90405

Venice: Venice Family Clinic Levine Family Health Center Two-hour training for parents on child passenger safety. Contact Person : Luz Casillas, Prenatal Health Educator Contact Details : 310/664-7864 [email protected] Address : 905 Venice Blvd. Venice 90291

Both programs require you to show proof of low-income status and you have to reside in Los Angeles County.

San Bernardino county’s public health department also provides car seats at reduced cost to parents who are in need of a car seat for their child and can’t afford one.

You have to complete a free small course to understand the working of the car seat before you become qualified. You can call them at 1(800) 782-4264.

Yolo County residents who qualify for low-income programs such as AFDC, CHDP, Medi-Cal, or WIC can get a low-cost seat from Yolo County Car Seat Safety Program .

In Colusa County, classes are currently being held at the local Family Action Centers and First 5 Colusa by a certified car seat technician.

Classes are held monthly in English and Spanish.

As part of the class, the technician will assist in the proper installation of your car seat. The cost of the class is $20.00 and families may qualify for a free car seat.

Family Health Centers of San Diego’s Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians will teach you the five key points to safely installing your car seat as well as explain California safety laws and perform car seat installation.

Individuals enrolled in FHCSD’s Prenatal Program may be able to earn a free car seat!

To schedule an appointment, please call (619) 515-2428.

For Butte County residents, a car seat distribution program is available.

Low-income families can call 1-‎‎800-339-2941 to pre-register or for more information.‎

Plumas county provides free car seats for eligible families per their policy and procedure.

This program requires a Certified Car Seat Technician to provide training and installation for families.

For more information, please feel free to contact the Public Health Agency Clinic: (530) 283-6330

For free car seats in the Sacramento Area please refer to this resource .

Upon completion of a 3-hour class, families in Fresno County may be able to get a new car seat for $25.00. Call (559) 432-2223.

In Solano County, Solano Car Seat Connection is a family-oriented education program led and coordinated by the Health Promotion and Community Wellness Bureau. Gift certificates are provided to assist low-income families with the purchase of car seats.

Shasta County Health and Human Services agency offers a free car seat to expecting mothers who attend a child safety seat class!

To earn a free coupon for the class, participants must be seen by a participating doctor, receive Medi-Cal, and attend three Comprehensive Perinatal Services Program (CPSP) classes.

Find out if you qualify by calling (530) 225-5168.

Colorado   Free Car Seats

Child-related car accident injuries, which are preventable, are addressed by Montezuma County's public health department’s Children's Car Safety Seat and Bike Helmet Program, apt for low-income families residing in Montezuma County.

Car seats may be available for families at a reduced cost. You can find more information about this program here .

2.1.1 Colorado is a very good place to find free car seats. Search for ‘car seat’ on their homepage . The results will include places that provide inspections as well as places that provide free car seats.

Safe Kids Larimer County and partners are pleased to offer classes for families in financial need of a car seat/booster seat for their child.

Registration is REQUIRED and distribution is limited to one (1) seat per family, per year. (a $30 donation per seat is required) Classes are offered in both English and Spanish.

Inner City health center extends its program statewide and offers free car seats and gift baskets to families in need.

Custer County provides car seats at no charge, they do not rent them any longer. The contact information for Custer County is as below:

Elisa R. Livengood BSN RN Director of Public Health Custer County Public Health Agency 10 Hermit Ln #5 Silver Cliff, Co 81252 Office : 719-783-3369 Cell : 719-458-9211 Fax : 719-783-0959

Connecticut   Free Car Seats

Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center in Pawcatuck, Connecticut, is known for keeping babies warm and well.

They give vouchers for almost everything, and that include free car seats too. You can contact them at (860) 599-3285.

Hope pregnancy is focused on providing support to people who are dealing with unplanned pregnancies.

They also accept donations of baby equipment like cribs and car seats.

They have a program where you can earn points for completing courses and these points can be redeemed for free car seats and other resources.

Delaware   Free Car Seats

Delaware Opportunities Inc. is a private, not-for-profit organization, and they have a car seat donation program that provides free car seats to low-income families.

More information on the program can be found here .

Delaware general health district has collaborated with safe kids worldwide to provide seat installation, seat checks, and distribution of seats to qualifying residents of Delaware.

Florida   Free Car Seats

The Florida Farm Bureau Federation is looking after the farmers of Florida.

Their mission is “to increase the net income of farmers and ranchers, and to improve the quality of rural life.” Childsource Child Safety Seat  is a program to improve the quality and safety of the kids of the Bureau’s members.

Through this program, the members can get a high-quality car seat for one-third of the retail price! 

Florida health Pinellas county is providing installation training and free education to all the children hospitals throughout the Tampa Bay area.

They have a professional staff that is certified by National highway traffic and safety administration. They also provide free seats to families in financial difficulties.

Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital is a prestigious institute and a well-respected name in the world of research and medicine.

Reduced-price car seats priced at $20 are accessible to families enrolled in government-subsidized programs through St. Johns County Buckle Up Program which offers reduced price car seats to qualifying St. Johns County residents, where WIC, food stamps, Medicaid, Florida KidCare or Head Start assistance receivers qualify. Clay County Sheriff’s Office and its Car Seat Hotline (904.213.5927) can also avail you a free car seat.

Can’t afford a car seat? Sign up for one of Wolfson Children's monthly workshops by calling 904.202.4302.

Georgia   Free Car Seats

Georgia department of public health has a comprehensive guide  on kids’ safety in the cars. This resource includes videos, tips, and safety programs.

They will also help you get a free car seat through your local counties. You can contact  your local country to inquire about the availability of the car seat.

Children’s Hospital of Georgia  will charge you $10 for an extensive course on how to keep your kids safe in the car.

As 4 out of 5 car seats are used incorrectly, this is a great place to learn how to make sure you are using the seat properly and not putting your kid’s life in danger. They will also provide free car seats to deserving people.

You can contact them at 706-721-7606.

South Health District of Georgia Department of Public Health also has a car seat program that aims at facilitating low-income families by providing them free car seats.

The seats are distributed through local counties, and you have to complete a small course before getting the seat.

SAFE KIDS Cobb & SAFE KIDS Douglas Counties  is a collaboration between Cobb, Douglas Counties, and safe kids worldwide.

In addition to education and training provision on children's safety, they proffer car seat safety inspections at their stations. Free car seats, albeit limited in number, are available. It is advised to schedule a visit with them first.

Idaho   Free Car Seats

According to World health organization, each year, nearly 10 million kids suffer disablement and injuries from car accidents.

Idaho department of health and welfare is trying to change that through a statewide program  that distributes free car seats.

You have to check with your local authority to make sure the availability.

St. Luke’s Car Seat Program  in the Boise area is available at (208) 381-1719. They provide car seats at a discounted price depending on your budget .

You can get a seat for free too. Give them a call first to get an appointment which only takes five minutes.

Canyon County Paramedics Alice and Middleton Fire Department are two great places to get a car seat for free.

They serve the Canyon County, and you can contact them at (208) 795-6930 and (208) 585-6650 respectively.

Illinois   Free Car Seats

In 2018, 675 kids under the age of 12 died in car crashes, and you can prevent that happening to your kid by using a car seat.

And If you are living in Chicago, you are in luck as low-cost car seats are available at Stroger Hospital . This program is open to all community members, and you can call them at 312-864-2016.

Grant A wish, Inc, run by Vital Thomas , is a donation-based program, and it helps families with basic needs of their kids.

They provide necessities like baby food, diapers, milk, baby bottles and, of course, car seats. If you are in need of such items, you can contact them here .

They are also in need of free car seat donations; if you want to donate or know anyone who wants to donate car seats, please guide them to their organization.

All donations are tax deductible, and everything they provide to economically disadvantaged families is given away free of charge.

People donate car seats to them, and they recycle them to those who need them or apply for their program.

Lurie Children's is a well-known hospital, and the Buckle Up Program aims at reducing car accident fatalities by providing free or reduced-priced car seats. So far, they have distributed more than 1000 car seats.

Indiana   Free Car Seats

The Decatur Township Fire Department has partnered with Indiana Criminal Justice Institute to provide free car seats.

You can fill out this  registration form, and a representative of the fire department will contact you with the availability and schedule.

You have to be on government assistance to get a free car seat, but even if you aren’t, you can still get a car seat for $25.

Community Health Network is a statewide organization, and they are helping families who are struggling financially. Car Seat Program  provides free car seats to all the community’s hospitals. You can contact them at toll-free number 800-777-7775 or chat with an agent here .

The Spencer County Health Department offers free child safety seats for children that meet low income financial eligibility.

Since the child safety seat program began, in April 2004, the health department has provided more than 3,000 car seats to protect the children.

The car seats are available to children from newborn through 8 years old.

Iowa   Free Car Seats

EveryStep Care and Support Service is a non-profit organization. Its goal is to provide comfort to people in difficult circumstances.

Some of its services include Hospice, Community health and wellness, and home care. Stork’s nest  is an educational program of EveryStep that awards points for healthy behavior. These points can be redeemed for car seats and other resources.

The University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital  Safety Store stocks a variety of car seats and brands that are sold at prices that won’t be a barrier for families.

They can also process special order car seats from a variety of vendors.

They also provide free education and training by certified child passenger safety technicians on how to use the seats whether you purchase the seat through them or not. 

The Hannah Geneser Learning Center & Safety Store doesn’t provide free car seats but instead, they partner with manufacturers to provide car seats at a very low cost.

The bright side is you get free one-on-one education on how to use the safety devices. By buying a car seat from them, you will also contribute towards the Center for Advocacy and Outreach.

J ohnson County Empowerment receives a grant from HOPE for Johnson County and can help you with car seats, pack-n-plays, and/or baby sleep boxes.

Variety helps children with special needs gain mobility, confidence, freedom, and independence.

It’s hard to find specialized free car seats and Variety Iowa provides just that. If you are interested in receiving a piece of mobility equipment or know of a child in need, please fill the application Microsoft Word l PDF .

Kansas   Free Car Seats

Car seats can reduce the risk of injury in case of a car accident by up-to 80%. Why not make sure that your kid is safe in the car by taking advantage of the Car Seat program  from Swap Health Services.

They provide education, training, and car seats to eligible families for just $15. You can apply for the program by calling at 816-599-5409.

Baby Talk Pregnancy and Newborn Education is offering a free educational course where you can get a free car seat after completing the course.

To be able to get a Graco infant carrier from the Baby Talk program you need to attend all 6 of our FREE prenatal education program sessions.

Their program consists of 6 classes taught by labor and delivery nurses where moms get to learn about safe sleep, breastfeeding, smoking cessation, signs of preterm labor, nutrition, physical activity during pregnancy, and much more. 

Injury-free Coalition for kids provides car seats to hospitalized patients regardless of their financial situation. The goal is to promote safe travel and increase the safety of newborns.

Kentucky   Free Car Seats

If you are enrolled in Anthem Medicaid, you should check this  manual out. According to it, the prenatal program makes people eligible for free car seats when “when you go to your PCP or OB/GYN at least seven times while you are pregnant”.

You can contact them at 1-855-690-7784.

Cornell Police has a government-funded program that is aimed at providing free car seats to members of the Cornell community.

Although the availability is limited, but you should still check out with them by calling (607) 255-7305.

They will only provide free child safety seats to the Cornell community and you must be below a certain income level which they verify by requiring you be enrolled in specific public assistance programs such as food stamps, Medicaid, DSS, SS and/or WIC.  

They will provide checks of child safety seats for anyone who makes an appointment, and you do NOT need to be a member of the Cornell community.

They currently have approximately half a dozen certified child safety seat technicians within their Department alone. 

Ashland County Health Department also has a free car seat program.

You have to provide documentation like an income statement to qualify for this program, and you can Call 419-282-4357 for an appointment.

Maine   Free Car Seats

If you are enrolled in government programs like WIC, Medicaid, TANF, or SNAP, you are eligible for a free car seat. In Maine, the Bureau of highway safety distributes car seats through these locations .

Maryland   Free Car Seats

Baltimore Pregnancy Center located at 7311 Harford Road provides many resources to low-income families. These include bassinets, car seats, strollers, furniture, beds, and more. You can give them a call at 410-426-9992.

In Maryland, Holy Cross Health offers a Kids in Safety Seats car seat rental program . These car seats are rented for 9 months.

This is a great resource if you have a temporary financial difficulty and you don’t want that to get in the way of your kid’s safety.

You have to make an appointment one month before the delivery, and you can contact them at 301-754-7158.

Maryland department of health is also running a Kids in Safety seat program . The goal of this program is to assist eligible families with the purchase of low-cost seats. They also have a loner program for special needs.

You can call them at 800-370-SEAT or email them at [email protected]  

M assachusetts   Free Car Seats

It is required by law in Massachusetts that all kids under 8 years old are fastened in car seats.

Boston Medical Center is helping with that, and they have a great free car seat  program.  Mothers should contact the center one month before the delivery date.

You can call them at 888-566-0010 to request your free car or booster seat.

According to a study, 4 out of 5 car seats are used wrong and Injury prevention program at Boston Children’s hospital is aimed at changing that.

They provide free training, tips, instructions, and free car seats to people earning low-income. You can call the Injury Prevention program at 617-355-7332 for more information.

M ichigan   Free Car Seats

Among kids aged 4 to 8, booster seats reduce the risk of serious injury by 45%. Michigan state police have a car distribution program to do exactly that. You can get more information about that program here .  

Let’s be honest, car seats are not cheap. In the state of Michigan, you have many great resources to get a car seat at a reduced cost.

For example, through Kids Always Ride Safe program by Health system Portage, you can get a car seat for a reduced cost.

This program is an education-based program where you will have the opportunity to learn how to use the car seat and keep your kids safe.

Safe kids west Michigan’s Injury Prevention Programs , Wayne Metro community action agency’s reoccurring free car seat distribution program are some other examples of great resources that can help you in the hard times.

M innesota   Free Car Seats

Car Accidents is and will remain a Top Child Killer; Belts and car seats will always provide reliable solutions.

If you are in need of a free car seat and you live in Minnesota, you can use this  directory by Office of Traffic Safety to find out who has free car seats available and exactly whom to contact in your area.

Everyday Miracles  is a great resource to get a car seat for free if you are on a shoestring budget.

Having a government-funded program through Health Partners, Blue Plus, or UCare makes you eligible for a free car seat and you can request that through this link .

SEATS by UCare, car seat program  by Baby Blanket, and car seat program by the  Vadnais Heights fire department are some other examples of great resources you can use to get a free car seat for your kids.

Having these awesome options means you have no excuse but to get a car seat for your kid and make sure of their safety. Please refer to the individual programs for contact information and eligibility criteria.

You can also get a free car seat from Wakota Life Care Center . To become eligible for a free car seat, you need to attend 2 classes, and the car seat safety seminar. 

In Beltrami County, Bemidji Police Department provides free car seats. They receive a grant from the Minnesota Child Passenger Safety Program through the Office of Traffic Safety.

Their program gets a limited number of seats. Detective Leffelman and Officer Carrigan are the two points of contact at the department.

There are requirements of the grant that you must meet including financial eligibility, and you are also required to complete the educational portion before you can get a child safety seat,

Mille Lacs County also has a car seat program where you can get free car seats. Please contact Nikki Herr at ( [email protected] ) or (320) 983-8208.

Meeker County Public Health offers free child passenger safety checks for pregnant women, or families and caregivers with children of all ages. Call MCPH at 320-693-5370.

Carver County Public Health has car seats available free of charge for families that meet specific income requirements. Call Carver County Public Health at (952) 361-1329 to learn more.

Sherburne County also has a reduced cost car seat program.

You will have to attend a 90-minute class ‎to receive a new child safety seat and receive instruction on proper use and installation. Distribution ‎classes are scheduled twice a month. Call 800-433-5237 or 763-765-4112 to find out if you are eligible ‎and to enroll in the next class. ‎

M issouri   Free Car Seats

You might be surprised to hear that injuries related to car accidents are the biggest cause of death among the kids.

SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Safety Program  is aimed at reducing such fatalities because they are preventable.

They provide resources like CPR classes, Baby Safety 101 classes, and seats at no cost to eligible families.

Lincoln county health department is also working towards making people more educated about child passenger safety.

Their program is carefully carved to educate new parents on using car seats.

A free car seat distribution program  is also a part of this amazing educational course.

Car seats are limited and only provided to families that are really in need. You call them at (636) 528-6117 to make an appointment.

Safe kids Missouri has collaborated with Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital and their goal is to provide education, training and safety tips to parents and caregivers.

 A reduced-cost car seat program lets you get a brand-new car seat for only $25.

You can call Cathy at 314-612-5770 or email [email protected] for more information.

Safety and Health Council: Offers carseats with a $20 donation.  Troost Ave, Kansas City, MO 64110, 816-842-5223 ext. 233, 5829

M ontana   Free Car Seats

City County Health Department is a place worth checking out if you need a seat at a reduced cost.

The car seat’s availability is not sure but you can call Mary Kay at 454-6750 or Davida at 791-9298 to inquire. 

The health department will also help you with instructions on how to use the car seat.

SafeSeat for Baby , a program under Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies- The Montana Coalition , provides car seats at no cost to families in need.

Upon a family's need being recognized, health departments or early childhood specialists refer them to this program. Safe car seat acquisition is ensured for Montana children through this program in tandem with parent education and car seat installation training by certified Car Seat Technicians. Reach out to local health departments to express the need; the processing time stands at 1-2 weeks.

Nebraska   Free Car Seats

Children's Hospital & Medical Center provide great training and educational material  but they are not  currently providing a free car seat. In such a case, you are encouraged to contact the injury prevention team at [email protected] .

The always dependable safe kids have collaborated  with non-profit childhood injury prevention organization in Hastings, Nebraska.  

They provide education to families on how to use car seats without any cost. They also have free car seats available but you have to be registered with WIC, Medicaid or Kids Connection. You can call them at 402-460-5884 for more information.

Three river’s public health department also have car seats available at no cost for families that are in need and low-income.

Not only will they assist in the car seat installation process but the technicians also function as educators during this installation, ensuring you are competent in installing the car seats by yourself.

Nevada   Free Car Seats

Baby's Bounty is a nonprofit focusing on endorsing education and interventions for susceptible families while simultaneously furnishing required essentials to ensure a good start for every infant. Upon the completion of their Safe Sleep & Baby Basics class, new parents are offered clothing & accessories, diapers & wipes, a convertible car seat, a portable crib, amongst others!

You can reach them via phone (702.485.2229) or email ( [email protected] )."

Free Car Seat for Low-Income Families is a blog that will direct you towards a resource where you can find a free car seat. You can check out this blog here .

The Car Seats for Christy Foundation provides car seats and boosters to those in need and raises awareness about child passenger safety through outreach events and social media. 

New Hampshire   Free Car Seats

If you are covered by Well Sense Health Plan you are eligible for a car seat at no cost.

All you have to do is Call the Well Sense Member Services Department at 877-957-1300 and request a free infant car seat or booster seat for your kiddo.

Pregnancy centers are situated all across the NH. They meet the physical and emotional needs of ‎women facing unplanned pregnancies.

Among other services, these centers provide free car seats. ‎You have to check with the center in your area if they do provide car seats. The list of centers can be ‎found here . ‎

At Albuquerque Public School , the student-run store located inside the renovated New Futures High School, sells very inexpensive baby and toddler clothing, accessories and furniture; a car seat is available for $15.

New Mexico   Free Car Seats

The New Mexico Child Safety Seat Distribution Program is a program funded by the New Mexico Department of Transportation. 

The state of New Mexico has a contract with Lovelace health plan for the distribution of free car seats.

You have to be a member of the Lovelace health plan to benefit from this opportunity.

There is a form available here  that you can fill. It is available in English and Spanish. And if you have any questions or you need help filling the form, you can contact the Lovelace customer service at 505.727.LOVE.

Trumbull Family Resource Center is also having a program where they can help you with a free car seat. You can call them at (505) 256-2005.

Los Alamos Medical Center has partnered with the New Mexico Child Safety Seat Distribution Program. Families who qualify for the free or reduced-cost seat can contact the OB Department at 1-505-662-4201.

Crossroad for Women provides comprehensive, integrated services to empower women emerging from incarceration to achieve safe, healthy, and fulfilling lives in the community, for themselves and their children. They can help you with the purchase of a new car seat.

New York   Free Car Seats

There is no shortage of programs in New York that can help you with a free or reduced-cost car seat:

Ardent Solutions has a long-term Car Seat Distribution Program. It caters to the need of newborn kids until they can ride without a car seat.

There is an eligibility criterion to qualify for the car seat – you have to be a low-income, legal guardian of the kid, and someone must have a car in the house. You can find more information about this program here .

Washington County Public Health  is also working towards providing every community member with a car seat.

The goal is to give access to low-income families to safety devices. They don’t have very strict criteria too, as you only have to be the resident of Washington County. They can be contacted at (518)746-2400.  

Little Essential’s donation program , Wayne County’s Child Car Seat Inspections & Distribution Program  and Delaware county Public Health Service’s Delaware County Car Seat Safety Program are also great resources and worth checking out.

New Hope Family Services Provides maternity clothing, baby formula, diapers, and baby clothing. Offers car seats, strollers, pack and play, and some other baby furniture/accessories, when available.

Carthage Area Hospital offers car seat inspections by a Certified Car Seat Technician. Provides new car seats if the current one is outdated. Eligibility: Jefferson County residents needing assistance having their car seat installed properly Application Process: Fill out online form to register Required Documentation: None

Livingston County parents and caregivers who have limited financial resources (receive/meet the income requirements to receive SNAP/Food Stamps or WIC benefits) can receive a free car seat along with information and hands-on assistance on how to properly install and use child safety restraint systems and safety belts.

North Carolina   Free Car Seats

More than 200 kids die every year in North Carolina alone from accidental injuries. It’s a shame because these deaths are entirely preventable.

Henderson County’s Child Passenger Safety program ’s goal is to reduce that. They not only provide car seats to residents of Henderson County who do not already have an appropriate car seat for the child in the family, but also provide education on how to use those car seats.

Alleghany Partnership for Children at 61 Wee Care Ave. in Sparta.

They do charge a fee for the service just so they can keep a running supply of seats going, but it is very minimal. $5 for a low back booster, $15 for a high back booster and $25 for all the other seats. 

B.E.A.R closet has multiple locations across NC. They help struggling families provide some of the basic supplies needed to care for their newborns and small children. Some locations offer car seats for a nominal donation. Availability varies.

North Dakota   Free Car Seats

According to a study, 96% of the parents think they are using the car seat the right way and the research shows 73% of parents are using them incorrectly.

Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health is running The Child Passenger Safety program  that aims to teach parents how to use car seats.

Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health (contact: 701-355-1540) offer free car seats to qualifying families. Safe Kids is a global organization, collaborating with local bodies to run numerous schemes facilitating parents with education, training, and seat safety Check-up Events.

In Grand Forks, some of the collaborations include Safe Kids Grand Forks and Altru Health System, Safe Kids Grand Forks with Walsh County Public Health and Safe Kids Grand Forks with Altru Clinic Crookston and Polk County Public Health. There are free car seats available too through the programs run by these partnerships.

Ohio   Free Car Seats

The Ohio Department of Health's child passenger safety (CPS) program, Ohio Buckles Buckeyes (OBB), has provided over 17,000 child safety seats and booster seats to Ohio's low-income families over the past five years. To receive an OBB seat, families must attend a class hosted by trained local CPS staff, subject to income eligibility and availability.

The OBB Program works in close collaboration with a network of regional CPS coordinators who provide technical assistance, training and educational resources to the local OBB sites in their regions.

The Rainbow Injury Prevention Center is able to assist low income families by providing car seats at a cost significantly discounted from retail prices, together with education in installing and using the seats. To access this program call 216-844-2277.

In partnership with University Hospitals and Ohio Buckles Buckeyes (OBB), the Lake County General Health District provides car seats to income-eligible families. Call (216)308-3664 or email Helga Nicastro .

The Union County Health Department also participates in the Ohio Buckles Buckeyes program sponsored by the Ohio Department of Health.

Call the Union County Health Department at 937-642-2053 to schedule an appointment with a certified technician.

Another participant in OBB is Cambridge-Guernsey County Health Department and provides free car seats to low-income families in Guernsey County.

In Wood County, Wood County Hospital's Family Birthing Center offers free car seats through Ohio Buckles Buckeyes Program. For more information, call 419-354-8932.

Columbus Public Health Childhood Injury Prevention Program : This program provides reduced-cost car seats to low-income families.

Expectant mothers at 35 weeks and caregivers interested in the reduced cost car seat program are required to attend a one-hour class to receive a car seat for around $30 to $40 or a booster seat for $10. 

Vineyard Columbus: "Program is offered to support women who are experiencing an unplanned pregnancy.

The resource center operates on donations from the community to provide baby items for infants up to 18 months for those in need.

There are no qualifications to receive assistance but a 30 minute intake meeting is required. Items are provided 4 weeks before the mother’s due date and after the baby is born.

Items may include baby clothing, bottles, diapers, blankets, pacifiers, formula, baby food, car seats, bouncers and swings. 6000 Cooper Road Westerville, Ohio 43081, 614-259-5467 or 614-259-5318.

Oklahoma   Free Car Seats

Located in Oklahoma City, Infant Crisis Services is an amazing organization that helps babies and toddlers with basic needs.

You can get diapers, formula, food, toys, diapers, clothing, books, sleepers and much more. They also have 6 car seat distribution events each year that operate on a first-come, first-serve basis.

There are some requirements to get the reduced-priced car seat – you have to be enrolled in WIC, Sooner Care, food stamps or any other government assistance program. You also have to be the legal guardian of the child and if you are an expecting mother, you have to be within 6 weeks of delivery.

If the child is born, they need to be present. They also ask for a donation of $10 per seat, but it is optional if you can’t afford it. Call 405-528-3663 for upcoming event dates.

If you happen to live in the Chickasaw nation, there is a program that provides free inspections of child ‎passenger seats and parent education regarding the proper fit of car seats, laws and regulations and ‎vehicle safety.

Car seats are available for Chickasaw citizens who have recalled, outdated or wrong-‎sized seats. Call (580) 421-7711 to schedule a free car seat safety check.‎

Anna's House Foundation is a faith-based organization whose mission is to provide immediate, stable and loving homes for Oklahoma County's children in state custody.

They provide foster families with cribs, car seats, high chairs, clothing, diapers, formula and other much needed baby essentials in order to relieve some of the financial burden when caring for foster children.

Here is a list of agencies that might be able to help you with a free car seat. Availability varies, so you have to confirm with the agency in your area if they have car seat available.

Oregon   Free Car Seats

Josephine County in Oregon is doing its part in making the kids of Oregon safe through the Child Passenger Safety Program .

Grants Pass Fire / Rescue (GPFR) operates a child Passenger Safety Program. Having undergone extensive training, numerous police officers and firefighters are now certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians. This program offers car seats for as low as $10 for guardians enrolled in government-assisted programs like WIC. Moreover, this scheme encourages responsible car seat usage by restraining the number of car seats to one per child.

Please contact program coordinator Travis Marsh at 541-450-6200 for more information.

Similar to Josephine County’s Child Passenger Safety Program, Umatilla Morrow County Head Start are running their own The Car Seat Program   with the goal of providing low-cost seats to the people who are dealing with financial restrictions.

The car seats are provided to low income families at a reduced cost. The price of the seats range from $10-$30 depending on the seat needed.

The Albany Area Child Passenger Safety Program , in partnership with the Albany Firefighters Community Assistance Fund (AFFCAF), has been awarded a grant from the Oregon Department of Transportation to provide low cost seats to income eligible families.

 If your child is in need of a car seat, a referral may be obtained from Love, Inc, or from WIC for families who are currently eligible for and receiving WIC benefits.

A limited supply of free car seats/boosters available for those unable to pay by the PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center . Call Heather Gray, CPST, at 541.484.5316 ext. 319 for appointment.

Pennsylvania   Free Car Seats

 A prescription from a healthcare provider is needed if you want to receive a free car seat from Children hospital of Philadelphia’s Child Safety Seat Program .

Their program requires participants be enrolled in PA's SNAP and/or cash benefits program. If you can afford a small donation, it will be appreciated by the hospital.

To get more information or appointment, call Safety Center at 267-426-5000.

Traffic Injury Prevention Project is another organization that can help you with a free car seat.

TIPP works closely with PENNDOT to provide information and child safety seats throughout Pennsylvania through the state-wide network of loaner programs. Find a place near you here .

Life Line offers free assistance to pregnant women, parents, and infants in need. Brand new Evenflo car seats are available with a donation of $15.

Life Line also offers supportive counseling, workshops on prenatal and child care, and educational materials.

Rhode Island   Free Car Seats

Hasbro Children's Hospital has a vision of a boundless future for the kids of Rhode Island and they are pursuing this vision through collaboration and research.

Through their injury prevention center at the hospital, they are trying to save the future of our kids by providing safety training, education, and resources that enables families to take good care of their kids while on the road.

Seats 4 Safety Program is an extension of that vision and it provides low-income families with free car seats and training.

South Dakota   Free Car Seats

It is estimated that from 1975 to 2011, 10,000 lives were saved by using restraints for children under the age of 5 on the road. (Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration).

We all want our kids to be in those 10,000 and If you live anywhere in South Dakota and can't afford a car seat, there is nothing to worry as you are covered by Strong Families’ SD Child safety seat distribution program.

They have divided the whole South Dakota in 6 regions and you can find out which region you come under and who to contact by clicking here .

Tennessee  Free Car Seats

Shelby county health department’s Child Car Seat Program . Shelby county’s health department is giving away car seats for $10 each!

But you have to provide Baby’s Birth Certificate, Driver’s License or State I.D., Legal Guardian or Foster Parents—Court papers and you have to be Enrolled in TN Care, Food Stamp or WIC program.

Tennessee Department of Health has a great seat distribution program where the fines collected from the non-complying drives are distributed back to local authorities and these authorities then distribute car seats to low-income families.

You can call the Department of Health for at 615-741-7353 for more information.

Mother To Mother is a nonprofit that provides vital health, safety and wellness items for infants and children in need by working with a special network of social workers, nurses, social service agencies and local hospitals.

They distribute diapers, car seats, clothes, cribs, strollers, and other essential baby items to low-income children from newborns to age 10.

Texas   Free Car Seats

Texas Health and Human Services have a statewide program that is aimed at making parents more aware of the safety of their kids, giving them education, and car seats to all the families.

It is required that you are low income and you have a vehicle to qualify for a free car seat. You also have to take an hour's class to get familiar with how car seat works. You can call the Texas Health and Human Service department at 800-252-8255; you will be redirected to a local resource.

In Austin, Neighborhood centers ’ free services help low- and moderate-income families stay safe by providing car seats for children.

There are 4 Neighborhood centers across Austin. Call to make an appointment with a neighborhood center that is convenient for you.

Superior HealthPlan commits to improving the health of the community one individual at a time through affordable and reliable healthcare plans.

They offer Baby Showers at no cost. Led by a Start Smart care team member, these educational classes teach you how to care for yourself and your baby during your pregnancy.

If you stay for an entire baby shower, or download a pregnancy program mobile app and engage for 30 days, you can get extra benefits like diapers and a car seat.

University Medical Center Foundation’s El Paso Health Car Seat Safety Program has provided 2,153 car seats since 2014. UMCF holds El Paso Health Car Seat Safety clinics monthly throughout parts of the El Paso area and rotates between east, west and central El Paso.

During these clinics, certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians (CPST) evaluate the child’s car seat for safety and proper fit.

If the car seat does not meet current safety guidelines, or if it is an incorrect car seat for the child’s age, height, and weight, it is replaced with a new car seat free of charge.

The goal of Simply Safety is to connect families to safety equipment they might otherwise be unable to afford.

Everything is priced at cost, or at a low-cost, with tax included. If Simply Safety’s discounted price is still too high for a family, they may be eligible for additional financial assistance on select car seats.

If a family qualifies for that extra help, the store will offer the car seat on a sliding scale.

Families to Freedom accept donations of used car seats and thoroughly inspect them. After the seats are deemed fit to use, they are provided to people who can’t afford them.

Utah  Free Car Seats

Car seats are available for a reduced cost at Salt Lake county’s health department . You have to prove that you are low income and you also have to take a class of one hour to become qualified for the seat. Phone: (385) 468-4100 .

Car seat prices will be within the range indicated below, based on family income and the type of car seat: Convertible car seat: $30 to $59 High-back booster seat: $15 to $35 Backless booster seat: $13 to $28 Specialty weight seat 50: $46 to $90 Specialty weight seat 65: $76 to $148

Primary Children’s Hospital too offer discounted car seats for low income families—you just have to schedule an appointment so they can educate you and assist with install.  Their phone is 801-662-2277

Vermont   Free Car Seats

Vermont Safety Seat Voucher Program ’s goal is to provide free car seats to low-income families.

Essex Police Department is professionally trained in installing the car seats and providing education and training and if you have received a voucher, you will be eligible for a free car seat too.

BeSeatSmart doesn’t provide free car seats, however, they have a lot of free material available for free.

Material includes 1 hour Child Passenger Safety Program overview as well as informational rack cards. They can also provide an educational display for an event.

Virginia  Free Car Seats

The Virginia Department of Health Low Income Safety Seat Distribution and Education Program  is providing free car seats to low-income families who can’t afford car seats otherwise.

You can contact the people responsible for the program at 540-381-7100.

The city of Norfolk also has a Child Passenger Safety Program that enables families to have a better child safety by giving them free car seats and education.

You can contact the good people at the department of health by calling at 757-683-2301.

Washington  Free Car Seats

Safe Kids is a worldwide organization working for providing better safety for the kids. Their local organization safe kids Clark county is running a safety class and clinic . Car seats at reduced-cost of $20 are available for eligible families.

Babies in Need  is a not-for-profit organization and they are helping families fight tough times by providing them essential resources.

You can also get a free car seat by contacting  them.

PeaceHealth Southwest Health Education Center organize s classes to educate parents regarding the safety of their kids and how to use car seats to make sure they are safe on the road. Car seats at reduced-cost are also available for low-income families.

You can contact [email protected] or call 360-608-4136 for more information.

EBC accepts donations of used car seats, however, they only accept clean car seats and within at least 1 full calendar year of expiration; the expiration date can be found in your owner's manual.  

EBC staff will confirm usability/expiration upon donation. If you are looking for a free car seat, they can help you immediately.

As an EBC partner, Afghan Health Initiative is also able to provide children ages 0 to 12 years old with important items such as carseats, strollers, diapers, wipes, baby pack-n-plays, bassinets, clothing, toys, books, and more.

Swedish Health Services doesn’t provide car seats but they offer free WHALE kits. WHALE stands for “We Have A Little Emergency.”

It’s an identification program that started in the 1990s by a child caregiver on the East Coast who wondered what would happen to the children in her care in the event of a car accident.

Emergency personnel in 34 states now recognize and use the program. WHALE uses stickers on a vehicle’s windows and car seat to alert rescue workers to look on the back of the car seat for the child’s:

• Date of birth

• Medical history

• Emergency contacts

Two Hearts Pregnancy Aid provides brand new car seats free to any child in need. All Snohomish county residents in need qualify for a new car seat for each child ages newborn through 2 years old.

The West Seattle Food Bank partners with Westside Baby to provide baby and toddler accessories such as car seats to families in need.

West Virginia  Free Car Seats

The Gabriel Project of West Virginia is mainly focused on needy pregnant women and families with infants. They provide necessary necessities like cribs, car seats, clothing, baby items and diapers at low or no cost. 

Christian Help provides support to everyone; no matter their background or identity, each person who walks through the door deserves and receives the same respect and dignity.

In addition to Housewares Closet and Linens Closet, they operate a Maternity/Child Closet that provides clothing, furniture, equipment (e.g. high chairs, strollers, car seats, bassinets) and related items such as diapers, receiving blankets, bottles and nursing pads.

Wisconsin  Free Car Seats

Injury Free Coalition for Kids of Milwaukee  couple of different programs for kids. These programs involve collaboration with different departments and organizations and ultimately make the way towards safer and injury-free future for the kids of Milwaukee.

Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Safe Kids Wisconsin and Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin have joined hands  to provide resources and training to parents, caregivers and child passenger safety technician.

Safe Kids Oconto County will do a free installation. Car seats are also available for people who are living on government support and have a child with them.

The Brown County Car Seat Program partners with the Center for Childhood Safety. Brown County offers assistance to families who are unable to purchase a car seat at market price.

The Center for Childhood Safety has appointments available to get all children's car seats checked by certified Car Seat Technicians. For Brown County Car Seat questions call 448-6400 and press “6” to schedule an appointment

Wyoming  Free Car Seats

Cheyenne Regional is a reputable hospital that is providing top-notch services in the medical field for years.

They an amazing 222-bed register hospital. Cheyenne Regional is giving back to the community through their Kohl’s Car Seat Distribution Program .

It is a huge collaboration of Kohl’s with 160 hospitals around the country.  Hundreds of distributed car seats make it a big option for people who are struggling to get a car seat for their kids. You can contact them at (307) 634-2273.

The Teton County Car Seat Program also provides car seats to low-income families. You can find more about the program here .

Free Car Seat Education for Parents

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Best Convertible Car Seats for Newborns: Our 4 Top Picks (2023)

Best Convertible Car Seat (2023): 19 Top Rated Convertible Car Seats for Your Precious Cargo!

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Growing up I was a carefree male going about life like there was no tomorrow. Naturally, I ‘grew’ up, settled down and started a family.

Going from an independent carefree male to a family man was somewhat of a U-turn and required a lot of learning. Luckily for me, my wife works in education and has always been the shining light always ahead of me on all factors kids related.

Initially, my wife didn’t have a driving license (luckily this has now changed and it does make life easier), and all things car related were my task. Child locks were the obvious starting point which lead me down a rabbit hole.

So far we have personally tested dozens of convertible car seats and have owned five despite neither of our kids having reached the age of 5! Simply put, a car seat can be great on paper, work great on trying out but can fail on you in real life.

This is why I have put together this website – to help inform and educate you!

Of course, as I mentioned above, at the end of the day your experience will be the best test so I’d love to hear your experiences and feedback in the comments.

To contact me personally, please do so through my  contact page .

I look forward to hearing from you!

P.S. If you click a link on my site and end up buying a car seat on Amazon, I’ll get paid a small commission (or as the Amazon lawyers put it: “As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases”)

Reader Interactions

March 12, 2020 at 5:35 pm

It appears that Alaska has no free car seats. This is not true. If you contact any of the “Help with Car Seats sites under state section this will help direct you. In Alaska it is area by area

March 13, 2020 at 1:37 pm

Thanks for pointing that out, Diane!

May 23, 2020 at 4:42 pm

So there are no resources for South Carolina?

November 13, 2020 at 2:15 pm

Working on that, Betsy!

July 28, 2020 at 2:28 am

Is the above statement true for Hawaii?

June 14, 2020 at 5:37 pm

Are there any free car seat registries Available for the state of Mississippi?

November 13, 2020 at 2:13 pm

Great question, Keyina – there’s nothing that I know of, but I’ll do a little digging and add it to the guide if I find anything.

July 15, 2020 at 1:32 pm

My daughter needs a special needs car seat. She is paralyzed from mid stomach down. She has a trache as well. Her fingers stay bent up. My handicap vehicle is falling apart and is going to stop working soon. I’m looking for her a car seat. Can you help?

September 23, 2020 at 9:23 pm

Hi I need help with chicco viaro

Free Infant Car Seats in All 50 States

Welcome to our comprehensive guide on obtaining Free Car Seats for your little ones. We will first delve into the general types of organizations that offer Free Car Seats or assistance programs. These include state or local health departments, non-profit organizations, WIC programs, Medicaid, insurance companies, state car seat inspection stations, local churches, hospitals, health care systems, and pregnancy life centers. Some of these operate at a national level, ensuring wide reach and accessibility.

Following this overview, we will provide a state-by-state guide with specific information and links to resources in your area. This comprehensive approach ensures that no matter where you’re located, you’ll be able to find the assistance you need. Use the Table of Contents to quickly access information.

• Connecticut
• Massachusetts
• Mississippi
• New Hampshire
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Washington DC
• West Virginia

Where to Find Free Car Seats

State or local health departments.

State or local health departments are government-run organizations that oversee public health issues at a state or local level. Examples include the Texas Department of State Health Services, the California Department of Public Health, the New York State Department of Health, among others.

You can find these departments by searching for your specific state or local health department’s official website or contacting them through their official phone number.

They often serve low-income families or those who demonstrate a specific need, but some programs may serve all residents.

It’s important to note that the availability of programs and eligibility criteria can vary by state or even by county. Contacting the department directly provides the most accurate information.

Many of these departments’ programs require you to take a short safety course before receiving a car seat.

Non-Profit Organizations

Non-profit organizations operate independently from the government and are dedicated to addressing a particular social issue or advocating for a specific cause. Examples include Safe Kids Worldwide, United Way, Baby2Baby, and Buckle Up for Life.

The latter has donated tens of thousands of car seats to low-income families and often requires participation in safety classes.

You can find them through an online search. Websites like Charity Navigator can help determine their legitimacy.

They may serve a wide range of individuals, but usually those who demonstrate a specific need or fall within a certain income bracket.

Non-profit organizations often rely on funding and donations, so the availability of Free Car Seats can be contingent on these factors.

WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) Programs

WIC is a federal assistance program providing nutrition education, healthy food, breastfeeding support, and other services for low-income women and children.

You can search for your local WIC agency online or through local government resources.

WIC generally serves low-income women who are pregnant, breastfeeding, postpartum, or have children under the age of five. If you’re already enrolled in WIC, you may have access to a car seat program.

Similar to other programs, WIC often requires you to take a safety course before receiving a car seat.

Medicaid is a state and federal program that provides health coverage to people with low income, including some low-income adults, children, pregnant women, elderly adults, and people with disabilities.

You can apply for Medicaid through the Health Insurance Marketplace website or your state’s Medicaid website.

Medicaid generally serves low-income individuals and families. Those eligible for Medicaid might also be eligible to receive a free car seat.

Similar to other programs, Medicaid often requires you to take a short safety course before receiving a car seat.

Insurance Companies

Insurance companies are organizations that provide insurance policies to individuals or entities, covering a range of risks. Examples include State Farm, Allstate, Geico, etc.

If you’re looking for your current insurance provider, you can visit their official website or contact their customer service. If you’re searching for new insurance providers, online comparison tools can be useful.

Insurance companies generally serve their policyholders, but it can depend on the specifics of the policy and the provider. Many insurance companies provide car seats free of charge to insured new mothers or pregnant women.

The availability of Free Car Seats can be a part of specific insurance benefits. It’s crucial to read your policy carefully or speak directly to an agent for accurate information.

State Car Seat Inspection Stations

State Car Seat Inspection Stations, including firehouses and sheriff departments, are locations where certified technicians can inspect car seat installations for safety. Examples could include your local fire station, police department, or sheriff’s department.

You can locate these stations using the NHTSA’s Child Car Seat Inspection Station Locator or through an online search of your local city or county’s resources.

They serve the general public, providing safety services and occasionally Free Car Seats to families in need.

Not all inspection stations offer Free Car Seats, so it’s advisable to call and ask in advance. They often have programs for the free installation of car seats and can help you find new car seats for free as they are familiar with various charities.

Local Churches

Local churches are religious institutions that often have community outreach programs.

You can search for local churches online or through a directory.

They typically serve community members. Churches may be able to connect you with charities or institutes that provide resources to low-income families.

Availability of resources may vary widely, so it’s best to reach out directly.

Pregnancy Life Centers

Pregnancy Life Centers are often non-profit organizations that offer various resources, support, and education for women during pregnancy and early parenthood. They can provide important aid such as maternity items, baby supplies, and even Free Car Seats.

To locate a Pregnancy Life Center, you can do an online search specifying your local area. Some well-known national networks of pregnancy centers include Care Net and Heartbeat International, but there are also many independent centers that may be local to your area.

Pregnancy Life Centers primarily serve women who are pregnant or recently became mothers. They aim to support these women through their pregnancy journey and beyond, often extending their services to the early years of child-rearing.

Most Pregnancy Life Centers offer their resources and aid as part of a wider program, often involving parenting or childbirth classes. Expectant mothers who enroll in these classes may be eligible to receive items like car seats free of charge. The specifics of what’s provided and the requirements for receiving these items can vary by center, so it’s best to contact them directly for detailed information.

Do remember that these centers are often funded through donations and community support, so the availability of specific items may fluctuate. They strive to provide as much assistance as they can to support mothers and their children.

Hospitals and Health Care Systems

Hospitals and Health Care Systems are medical institutions that provide patient treatment with specialized staff and equipment. Examples include Kaiser Permanente, Mayo Clinic, Johns Hopkins Hospital, etc.

You can locate these through a local directory or online search.

They typically serve pregnant women, new parents, or families with young children who are patients within their system. Hospitals may provide car seats without any cost or direct you toward some great local resources.

Not all hospitals or healthcare systems offer this service. It’s best to directly contact the hospital or health care system for information on any available programs.

Free Car Seats by State

Alabama free car seats.

Alabama Department of Public Health (Statewide): May offer car seat assistance to expectant mothers or parents who are receiving federal benefits like WIC, AllKids, Food Stamps, or Medicaid. The Injury Prevention Branch in Montgomery hosts monthly car seat clinics, which are occasionally booked two months in advance and are by appointment only. The car seat program is active in Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, and Huntsville. More details can be found on their website .

Alabama Farmers Federation (Statewide): Members can avail of low-cost car seats for children and can acquire certain car seats and booster seats by picking up an order form at their nearby Alfa office. Available seats prices, which include shipping and handling, are: $40 for Cosco Scenera NEXT Convertible Seat, $40 for Cosco Finale 2-in-1 Booster, $30 for Cosco Pronto Belt-Positioning Booster. Check out their website for more information.

Children’s of Alabama, (Birmingham): Children’s of Alabama provides a free car seat program for patients who don’t have a car seat at the time of their discharge. Before receiving the seat, families must watch a short educational video about its correct usage.  Learn more about the Children’s of Alabama car seat safety program

Baby’s Bounty (Montgomery):  Baby’s Bounty serves the Montgomery area, providing essential items for newborns, including car seats, for families in need.  Find out more about Baby’s Bounty

ALASKA Free Car Seats

Safe Alaskans (Anchorage): Provides car seats for families in need, with a suggested $10 donation for booster seats and $35 for car seats. Check out their website for more information.

Community Pregnancy Center (Anchorage): Offers Life Lessons classes, where participants can earn Baby Bucks to spend in the Mini Depot on car seats or other essential items. More details are available on their website .

Mat-Su Services for Children and Adults (Wasilla): Offers car seats for all families at a reduced cost based on a sliding scale. You can find more information on their website .

Alaska Injury Prevention Center (Anchorage): Has a limited number of car seats and booster seats available for a small donation. Visit their website for more details.

Alaska Child Passenger Safety Coalition (Statewide): Lists several events on their calendar where Free Car Seats and booster seats are available. Check their event calendar for more information.

Fairbanks Safe Rider Program (Fairbanks): May have car seats or booster seats available for families, contact them to find out more on their website .

Juneau Police (Juneau): Offers inspections by appointment and will provide a replacement seat for a minimum fee if necessary. Find out more on their website .

Alaska DOT (Statewide): Maintains a page with potential resources you can contact for free car seat information. Check out their website for more details.

ARIZONA Free Car Seats

Children Are Priceless Passengers (Statewide): Operates in nine locations across the state. A $35 fee is required for a safety class. Those lacking a safe and effective car seat can receive a new one for free. For more information, visit their website .

Phoenix Children’s Hospital (Phoenix): Offers car seat distribution. Detailed information can be found on their road safety programs page .

Yavapai Regional Medical Center (Prescott): Provides free or discounted car seats in conjunction with a safety class. For more information, call (928) 771-5651 or visit their website .

Deer Valley Unified School District Child Car Seat Safety Program (Phoenix): Offers limited Free Car Seats alongside an education class. Visit their website for more details.

Tuscon Medical Center Car Seat Loaner Program (Tucson): Allows you to pay $40 and get a car seat for one month. They also have car seat giveaway events sponsored by Safe Kids Pima County. Register on their website or call for more information.

HealthLinks Car Seat Program (Phoenix): Offers a free car seat to those who meet the qualifications and take a two-hour class. Further details can be found here .

ARKANSAS Free Car Seats

Farm Bureau Federation (Statewide): Membership entitles you to advantages like the Infant Car Seat Program when you have auto, home, life, farm, or other insurance with Farm Bureau Insurance of Arkansas. A car safety seat costs as little as $15 when you participate in this program. The price of this order includes shipping and handling. Visit their website for more details.

Rogers Police Department Car Seat Loan Program (Rogers):  The Rogers Police Department runs a car seat loan program for families experiencing financial hardship. They can loan one car seat per family. Car seats are distributed every Wednesday from 9 am to 3 pm. The department also offers a car seat installation service.  Find out more about Rogers Police Department’s car seat program

CALIFORNIA Free Car Seats

Related Reading : Free Car Seats in California  (by county, bigger list)

California Office of Traffic Safety (Statewide): This organization has a county-based directory that provides resource information for car seat education and distribution. You can visit their website for more information.

Police Departments & California Highway Patrol Offices (Statewide): Most locations offer a free exchange for an expired car seat. More information can be found here .

OC Health (Orange County): This resource provides a list of area organizations that offer car seat education and free/low-cost car seats. Detailed information can be found here .

First 5 LA (Los Angeles County): The New Economics for Women’s Child Passenger Safety Program offers a free car seat if you complete their safety class and qualify. Visit their website for more information.

Clinic in the Park’s Boosters in a Bag (Orange County): After completing an online course, you can receive a booster seat for free. More details can be found here .

Pacific Safety Center (San Diego County): This organization offers Free Car Seats to low/median income families, as well as Native American and military families. More information is available on their website .

Solano County Public Health (Solano County): Vibe Solano offers car seat safety classes and low-income families can receive vouchers toward the purchase of a low-cost car seat. Visit their website for more details.

Safe Kids Sacramento (Sacramento County): Low-income families may qualify for a low or no-cost car seat upon completion of an online class. More information is available on their website .

River to Coast Children’s Centers (Sonoma County): This organization offers a low-cost car seat program and safety education for low-income families. Visit their website for more information.

City of Santa Cruz (Santa Cruz County): The city provides Free Car Seats for low-income families, but an appointment is needed. More details can be found here .

CHOC Child Safety Seat Distribution Program (Orange County): For CHOC patients, a seat is available for $30 after completion of a safety class. More information is available on their website .

Camarena Health (Madera County): This organization offers classes on car seat safety, and if you can prove and show what you learned, you get a free car seat. More information can be found here .

Family Health Centers of San Diego (San Diego County): Patients enrolled in the Prenatal program may be eligible for a free car seat. Visit their website for more details.

Venice Family Clinic (Los Angeles County): The clinic offers monthly car seat safety classes including Free Car Seats for low-income families in several locations. Visit their website for more information.

St. Mary’s Medical Center (Los Angeles County): The Welcome Baby program has referrals to free or low-cost baby essentials, including car seats. Visit their website for more information.

Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (Los Angeles County): This hospital offers car seat safety classes twice monthly and a free car seat for families receiving public assistance. More information can be found here .

St Francis Medical Center (Los Angeles County): The center offers a free car seat to eligible families upon completion of a class. More information can be found here .

East Valley Community Health Center (Los Angeles County): This organization offers a free virtual car seat safety class with a free car seat for families that qualify and complete the class. More details can be found here .

Whittier Hospital (Los Angeles County): The hospital provides a complimentary rear-facing car seat and diaper bag for moms delivering at the hospital. More details can be found here .

Butte County Public Health (Butte County): The county provides a free car seat class with low-cost car seats for qualifying low-income families. Visit their website for more information.

San Diego County Public Health (San Diego County): The Keep Em Safe program provides Free Car Seats for low-income, active military, or refugee women who are at least 8 months pregnant and families with children up to the age of 9. More information can be found here .

Shasta County Health and Human Services (Shasta County): This organization offers a free car seat for pregnant moms that attend 3 classes and meet other qualifications. More information can be found here .

Plumas County Public Health Agency (Plumas County): The agency offers a free car seat to eligible families upon education and installation by a certified car seat technician. More information can be found here .

Colusa County Family Action Centers (Colusa County): The center has classes for $20 and families may qualify for a free car seat. More information can be found here .

Merced County Public Health (Merced County): The county charges $25 for a car seat class,

COLORADO Free Car Seats

Safe Kids Larimer County (Larimer County): Safe Kids Larimer County provides a car seat resource program. Though not explicitly free, they do request a $30 donation for each car seat distributed. More information can be found on their website . Further details about the county can be found here .

Morgan County Public Health (Morgan County): Morgan County offers car seat vouchers worth $50 for low-income families. These can be redeemed at the local Walmart. If the car seat costs more than $50, the family will need to pay the balance. Further information about Morgan County can be found here . Contact them directly for more details on the car seat voucher program.

Custer County Program (Custer County): For Custer County, you can contact Terra Raye who may provide car seat resources. You can reach her at 719-783-9451 or via cell at 719-371-3046. Alternatively, you can email her at [email protected] . The selection criteria are not well-defined, but it’s suspected that she prioritizes county residents who qualify. More information about Custer County is available here .

Montezuma County Car Seat Program : Located in Montezuma County, this program is committed to child safety in vehicles. Certified car seat technicians are on-hand to ensure that children are correctly fitted to age- and weight-appropriate car seats. Parents are also taught how to use and install the car seats properly. Last year, this program supplied over 200 car seats to families at a reduced cost.  Learn more about Montezuma County’s Car Seat Program

CONNECTICUT Free Car Seats

St. Gianna Pregnancy Resource Center: This center provides a range of maternity and baby items to those in need. For more information, please visit their website .

Hope Pregnancy Center: Hope Pregnancy Center offers the “Earn While You Learn” program, providing educational and material assistance to expecting parents. This continues after the baby is born, offering vital support for growing families. More information can be found on their website .

Southington Police Department: For those in need of a child passenger seat, Southington Police Department offers consideration for this essential item. Please contact their community relations division by sending an email to [email protected] with a brief narrative explaining your child passenger seat request. You can visit the Southington Police Department’s Facebook page using this link .

Carolyn’s Place Pregnancy Care Center: This center offers “Earn While You Learn Classes” for first-time parents. These consist of childbirth and parenting classes, and upon completion of the course, clients may be eligible to receive items needed for baby’s care, which may include a crib, car seat, clothing, diapers, etc. Visit their website for more details.

DELAWARE Free Car Seats

Delaware Opportunities Inc. (Statewide): Income-qualified families living in Delaware are eligible for a free car seat and instruction on appropriate installation through Delaware Opportunities Inc.’s car seat safety program. More information can be found on their website .

Delaware Division of Public Health (Statewide): The Delaware Division of Public Health collaborates with local organizations to set up car seat inspection stations around the state. Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians perform the inspections and provide Free Car Seats. Dates for these events are posted on the calendar .

FLORIDA Free Car Seats

Florida Department of Transportation Safety Office (Statewide): This office sponsors the purchase and distribution of car seats to trained/qualified Child Passenger Safety (CPS) instructors and technicians. More information can be found here .

Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital (St. Petersburg): This hospital offers low-cost car seats for families in need. More information can be found here .

Florida Farm Bureau (Statewide, Members Only): Florida Farm Bureau provides up to three (3) car seats for $25 and booster seats for $15 via forms on their website under Member Benefits. More details can be found here .

Tampa Police Department (Tampa): The Tampa Police Department employs Child Passenger Safety Technicians (CPSTs) who can provide and/or install child safety seats for residents in need. Check their website for more information.

Safety Council of Palm Beach County, Inc. (Palm Beach County): Their Childsaver Car Seat Program provides child safety seats at a reduced cost to those in need in Palm Beach County. More details can be found here .

Florida Health Pinellas (Pinellas County): Offers workshops on proper safety seat usage. Additionally, those who meet certain financial requirements can obtain low-cost safety seats. Check their website for more details.

Mothers Helping Mothers (Sarasota, Manatee, and surrounding counties): This non-profit organization provides basic necessities such as clothing and baby items (including cribs, car seats, strollers, formula, breast pumps, and more) to families in need. More information can be found on their website .

St. Johns County Tax Collector – Project Buckle Up : This Florida-based program provides Free Car Seats to families in need. It also offers education on the correct installation and usage of car seats.  Project Buckle Up

Wolfson Children’s Hospital Car Safety Program : This Jacksonville, Florida-based program offers a low-cost car seat workshop. Participants can receive a car seat at a reduced cost while also gaining knowledge on car seat safety and correct installation.  Low-cost Car Seat Workshop

GEORGIA Free Car Seats

Child Occupant Safety Project (Statewide): Offers child safety seats and information on correct installation and use through the Mini Grant Program. This program collaborates with local community partners to deliver best practice education and services. More information can be found here .

South Health District Car Seat Program (Valdosta, Lowndes County): Provides a child safety seat to low-income families in need. More details can be found on their website .

District 4 Public Health (Troup County and eight other counties): Offers complimentary booster seats and safety training to financially eligible families through a Child Passenger Safety Mini-Grant. More details can be found here .

Safe Kids Cherokee County (Cherokee County): Provides up to ten car seats and education to financially qualified Cherokee County families through the mini-grant. More information can be found here .

Safe Kids North Fulton (North Fulton County): Offers qualifying families a child seat education as well as a free child seat through the Safe Kids North Fulton Child Passenger Safety Mini Grant. More details can be found here .

Northeast Georgia Health System (Northeast Georgia): Offers Car Seat Safety Class with Car Seat Distribution. In exchange for attending the lesson, you will receive a discounted car seat. Check their website for more information.

Women’s Enrichment Center of Dalton (Calhoun, Gordon County): Will be giving a Car Seat Education Class. Each child will receive a free car seat. More details can be found [here](https://www.wecnorthga.org/gordoncounty-carseats).

Bartow County Fire & Emergency Services (Bartow County): Provides car seat checks and installations and assists low-income Bartow County families in obtaining car seats. More information can be found here .

Safe Kids Program at Children’s Hospital of Georgia : Safe Kids, hosted by the Children’s Hospital of Georgia, provides a range of services to promote child safety, including a program for car seat safety. Contact the hospital for more information on potential assistance with car seats.  Safe Kids Program

Safe Kids Cobb County : This coalition hosted by Cobb & Douglas Public Health, works on injury prevention among children, including car seat safety. Please contact them directly for more information about potential car seat assistance.  Safe Kids Cobb County

HAWAII Free Car Seats

Statewide: Hawaii State offers a tax credit of $25 per year for the purchase of a booster or child safety seat. More information about this can be found here .

Kapi’olani Medical Center for Women & Children (Oahu): In previous years, Farmers Insurance Hawaii has partnered with the Child Passenger Safety Program at Kapi’olani Medical Center for Women & Children to offer Free Car Seats and education to families in financial need. The continuation of this program into 2023 is not explicitly stated on their website, but you can contact the Car Seat Check office to schedule a free car seat check and inquire about the availability of Free Car Seats. More information can be found on their website and here .

Oahu Pregnancy Center (Oahu): This center provides baby supply assistance and may be able to provide families with a free car seat. You can find more details on their website .

Aloha Pregnancy Center (Oahu): The center’s Baby & Me Boutique is stocked with big-ticket baby items, including car seats and high chairs, and is open to families in need. You can find more details on their website .

Keiki Closet (Oahu): This organization partners with LIV, a pregnancy and women’s center, to help provide baby essentials to moms in need. You can call them and request a car seat specifically and they can either provide one or direct you to other resources. More information can be found on their website .

Malama Pregnancy Center of Maui (Maui): This center provides material assistance to clients. While it’s not explicitly stated that they have Free Car Seats, this could be a great resource for finding a free car seat on the island of Maui. You can find more details on their website .

IDAHO Free Car Seats

St. Luke’s Children’s and Kohl’s – Right Seat 4 Kids 4 Care (Statewide): Offers Free Car Seats to families in need. Contact St. Luke’s Children’s Car Seat Program at (208) 381-3033. More information can be found here .

Kootenai Health (Kootenai County): Provides car seat education, installation, and limited free seats available for those who qualify on a donation basis. More details can be found here .

Safe Kids USA (Statewide): You can contact the following districts for free or discounted car seats:

• DISTRICT 1: Kootenai Health, (208) 666-2030
• DISTRICT 2: Moscow Police Department, (208) 883-7054 (ask for Kirstin); Success by 6 of the Palouse, (208) 882-7387; St Joseph Regional Medical Center-Family Beginnings, (208) 799-5430 (ask for Linda Rosetti)
• DISTRICT 3: Canyon County Paramedics, (208) 466-8800 (Car seats available based on income guidelines)
• DISTRICT 4: Safe Kids Treasure Valley, (208) 381-3033; Meridian Fire Department, (208) 884-0597
• DISTRICT 5: Safe Kids of Magic Valley, (208) 814-7640 (Also has low-cost car seats and booster seats)
• DISTRICT 6: Southeast District Health, (208) 478-6315
• DISTRICT 7: Madison Memorial Hospital, (208) 359-6710

Medical Home Portal – Idaho Car Seat Safety : The portal provides a directory of Idaho resources for car seat safety, including various organizations that offer car seat inspection, assistance, and education. Check the link below for detailed contact information for each organization.  Medical Home Portal – Idaho Car Seat Safety

ILLINOIS Free Car Seats

DuPage County Health Department’s Child Car Seat Program (DuPage County): In collaboration with the Carelink Foundation, provides Free Car Seats to low-income families. Parents must complete safety training provided in both English and Spanish. More details can be found here .

Buckle Up Child Passenger Safety (CPS) Program (Chicago, Cook County): Provides car seat information, installation assistance, and reduced-cost car seats to at-risk families through monthly car seat seminars, car seat inspection stations, and a network of over 15 community partners. More information can be found here .

CountyCare (Cook County): Provides Free Car Seats to expectant parents. More details can be found here .

Fair Hope (Vermilion County): Supplies car seats to families that DO NOT OWN A VEHICLE. The car seats are designed for children weighing 5 to 40 pounds. More details can be found here .

Safe Kids Coalition (Statewide): Hosts safe car seat events to provide instruction on safe use and inspect car seat installation. Many also provide free or low-cost car seats and other safety products. More information can be found here .

OSF Children’s Hospital (Peoria, Peoria County): Offers a low-cost car seat program that provides families in need with low-cost car seats. More information can be found here .

Auxiliary Stroger Hospital : Through their community outreach programs, the Auxiliary Stroger Hospital offers assistance to families in need. Their efforts include providing necessary items like car seats to those in need. You can find more information about their services on their website.  Auxiliary Stroger Hospital Community Programs

Grant A Wish Inc. Chicago : This organization runs a Baby Program which aims to provide a range of essentials to parents who are unable to afford them. Car seats are among the items provided. Visit their website for more information and eligibility criteria.  Grant A Wish Inc. Baby Program

INDIANA Free Car Seats

Community Health Network (Marion County): This Indianapolis-based organization provides Free Car Seats to parents who need them. More details can be found here .

Gear-Up for Safety Program (Statewide): Families receive the essential safety equipment they need to make their homes child-safe, including car seats. More details can be found here .

Project L.O.V.E. (Statewide): A program for law enforcement that educates families on the correct use and installation of child safety seats. Only parents or caregivers who are Indiana citizens and meet low income financial qualifying requirements are eligible to receive free child safety seats. More information can be found here .

Franciscan Health Car Seat Safety Clinics (Tippecanoe County): Installed more than 100 Free Car Seats for families in need. Reservations are necessary and eligibility restrictions must be met in order to receive a free car seat. More details can be found here .

Indiana University School of Medicine (Marion County): In partnership with a San Francisco-based auto insurance firm, Go Insurance, they have a project that provides Free Car Seats as a part of its recently introduced nationwide kid passenger safety initiative. More details can be found here .

Spencer County Car Seat Program : This Indiana-based program offers car seat inspections and provides car seats for families who meet the income eligibility criteria. Visit their website for more information and how to participate.  Spencer County Car Seat Program

IOWA Free Car Seats

Unitypoint Health – Des Moines, Statewide : Offers Child Passenger Safety Technicians that may assist in instructing caregivers on how to properly utilize car seats. Families in need may be able to receive Free Car Seats through this program, but it does not give out baby carriers. Convertible, combination, and booster seats are provided under this program. A newborn weighing as little as 5 pounds can fit in the convertible seat. More information can be found on their website .

Johnson County Empowerment/ECIA, Johnson County : Periodic Car Seat Events are held to check that car seats are securely fastened and to give away free seats to kids in need who don’t have them or whose seats are damaged or have expired. The generous donations from HOPE for Johnson County and the Johnson County Empowerment/ECIA board monies enable the provision of free seats. More information can be found on their website .

Jones County Public Health, Jones County : Car seats and booster seats are available for families who might require one to transport their children safely. A single family may use this program. More information can be found on their website .

Stork’s Nest in Polk County, Iowa : An incentive-based program providing necessary baby items like diapers, strollers, cribs, and car seats to new and expecting mothers with low income. Participants earn points through healthy behaviors and can also avail parenting and prenatal classes. For more details, call (515) 558-9950 or visit here .

University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital Safety Store : Provides car seats and other safety products to families at a discount. The store is designed to teach caregivers about injury prevention, and each purchase includes education on the proper use of the product. Visit their website for more information.

Variety – the Children’s Charity of Iowa : Provides Free Car Seats to families in need as a part of their “Kids on the Go!” program. More details can be found in their document .

KANSAS Free Car Seats

Kansas Traffic Safety Resource Office, Statewide : Will distribute program seats to eligible families that can show visual proof any of the following (we do not need copies):

• KanCare Health Plans
• Vision Card
• Kansas Farm Worker Health Program This program will provide a car seat to pregnant women 30 days before their due date, anything sooner is at the technician’s discretion. It will also provide another car seat to the same child if the child has outgrown the initial car seat issued, and the family can provide proof they are still eligible, or if the family has been in a car crash and can provide a police report. More information can be found on their website .

Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) and North Kansas City Fire Department, North Kansas City : MARC has received a federal grant to provide car seats to low income families and has partnered with the North Kansas City Fire Department. This program has income restrictions and to find out if you qualify for a car seat through the MARC and the Head Start program. More information can be found on their website .

Swope Health (Kansas City) : Celebrates moms and healthy babies with their event that includes a free car seat giveaway. More information can be found on their website .

Baby Talk ICT (Wichita) : Offers various classes, including car seat safety. Families in need may qualify for a free car seat. Find more information on their website .

Injury Free Coalition for Kids (Kansas City) : This organization provides a program for car seat safety, potentially offering car seats for families in need. For more details, visit their website .

KENTUCKY Free Car Seats

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Statewide : They provide child safety seat and booster seat inspections, and sometimes even Free Car Seats, to families in need. They aim to ensure all children have access to safe, reliable child safety seats. You can learn more about their program and how to participate by visiting their official website .

Hardin County Health Department, Hardin County : This health department has a car seat program where they provide a car seat to families in need. They require you to watch an educational video and have the seat installed by a certified technician at their facility. Explore their website for more details .

Louisville Metro Public Health and Wellness, Louisville : Offers child safety seat checkups where Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians teach parents and caregivers how to install their car seats correctly. They also provide Free Car Seats to individuals who are in need and meet certain criteria. Discover more on their website .

Jessamine County Health Department, Jessamine County : The Health Department’s HANDS program provides education, resources, and even Free Car Seats to parents in need. Parents must participate in the HANDS program and complete a car seat safety class. You can gather more details by visiting the Jessamine County Health Department’s website .

Lexington-Fayette County Health Department, Lexington-Fayette County : They provide car seats to eligible families and also conduct car seat inspections. They want to ensure that every child travels safely. If you want to learn more about their initiative, you can do so on their website .

LOUISIANA Free Car Seats

Councilman Free Car Seat Program, Baton Rouge : A local councilman provides Free Car Seats to qualifying parents who receive WIC and/or SNAP assistance. Interested parents must preregister for the giveaway. Check out more details at the official news page .

University Medical Center New Orleans, Statewide : Families in need throughout Louisiana can sign up for Free Car Seats at this hospital’s injury prevention program. You can sign up for a free car seat on their website .

MAINE Free Car Seats

Maine Bureau of Highway Safety, Statewide : This bureau offers Free Car Seats to qualifying families in Maine. Parents or guardians should contact them directly to see if their child qualifies. More details available here .

KVCAP Child & Family Services Department, Statewide : This department operates two distribution stations for the Maine Bureau of Highway Safety’s car seat program, which provides car seats to low-income families. Find out more about their service from the official website .

Maine Families Washington County, Washington County : They provide free convertible and booster car seats for income-eligible families through a program sponsored by the Maine Bureau of Highway Safety. Certain conditions apply. More about their services can be found here .

Southern Kennebec Child Development Corporation, Kennebec County : This corporation collaborates with the Bureau of Highway Safety to provide car seat education and distribution. Eligible families can schedule an appointment with their certified car seat technician to receive a car seat. You can access more information from their official website .

MARYLAND Free Car Seats

Safe Kids Frederick County, Frederick County : Safe Kids Frederick County, a program of the Frederick County Health Department, offers Free Car Seats to residents. They aim to prevent unintentional injuries to children under the age of 19 in Frederick County. Additional details can be found on their official webpage .

Maryland Department of Health’s Kids In Safety Seats, Statewide : This program offers car and booster seats at a low cost to families who cannot afford to buy them. They also have short-term special needs loaner programs for children with certain medical issues. Seat availability varies by location. Learn more about their initiative on this webpage .

Holy Cross Health (Silver Spring, MD) : Offers a Car Seat Rental Program for newborns and children. To learn more, visit their website .

MASSACHUSETTS Free Car Seats

Massachusetts Car Seat Distribution Program, Statewide : This initiative provides car seats to qualifying entities for distribution to needy families. They aim to prevent child passenger injuries and fatalities. More information about their program is available on their official website .

Boston Children’s Primary Care, Boston : This health care provider offers car seats and booster seats to low-income families that come for care. You can find out more on their website .

Injury Free Coalition for Kids, Worcester : They host child passenger safety car seat check-up events twice a month. Families are taught how to properly install and utilize booster seats and car seats. Families in need are given access to car seats and booster seats. Get more details from their official webpage .

UMass Amherst Police Department, Amherst : The Police Department was awarded a grant to help parents who need car seats. CPS trained installers can check to see if it has any recalls and is installed correctly. If you or someone you know requires a seat, contact Officer Brian Kellogg. You can find out more here .

Boston Public Health Commission’s Childhood Injury Prevention Program, Boston : This program provides a valuable resource for Boston’s low-income families who require a child safety seat. Recipients should meet MassHealth eligibility requirements or be below the poverty line in Massachusetts. More about their program can be found on this webpage .

Boston Medical Center (Boston) : They offer a car seat program for patients. For more details, refer to their program PDF .

MICHIGAN Free Car Seats

Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning, Statewide : This office supports neighborhood car seat distribution initiatives by providing car seats at regional seat check events and fitting stations for low-income families. Explore more details here .

Family Futures, Kent County : Parents residing in Kent County who are enrolled in Medicaid are eligible. However, people with a specific level of income may still be eligible. More information can be found on their website .

Kids Always Ride Safe (KARS), Houghton and Keweenaw Counties : KARS is a program for car seat education and a cheap car seat alternative made to last your kids through the years in the car seat/booster seat. This program is available to families living in Houghton and Keweenaw Counties, including WIC families. Find out more on their website .

Maternal Infant Health Program, Statewide : Families who receive Medicaid are eligible to receive Free Car Seats from this program, while discounted car seats are provided for families with economic hardships. Read more about their service here .

Trinity Health Michigan (Michigan) : They provide a child injury prevention program which includes car seat safety. Learn more about their program and how to avail of these services from their website .

MINNESOTA Free Car Seats

Child Passenger Safety Program, Statewide : This program in Minnesota offers Free Car Seats to families in need. The program is funded by a number of sources. Learn more about their initiative here .

The Baby Blanket (Michigan) : They offer a Crib & Car Seat Program to support families in need. They provide car seats among other necessities for your baby. Learn more and apply for assistance on their website .

Sherburne County Public Health, Sherburne County : Car seats are available to Sherburne County residents who meet income requirements. Sherburne County children on WIC, Medical aid, or the Medica PMAP program are automatically qualified. Find out more about their initiative here .

Every Day Miracles, Statewide: This organization donates car seats to families with Medical Assistance health coverage. Visit their website to reserve a spot here .

Scott County Sheriff’s Office, Scott County : The Sheriff’s Office provides car seats to uninsured and low-income families when they are available. More information can be found here .

Renville County Public Health, Renville County : They offer a free car seat class to all residents of Renville County. Members of PrimeWest, Blue Plus, and other groups that may be eligible can access car seats. Read more about their service on their webpage .

Norman-Mahnomen Public Health Department, Norman-Mahnomen Counties : This department offers Free Car Seats to MinnesotaCare and Medical Assistance participants who qualify. They also provide guidance on selecting the best kid safety restraint and details on how to use it properly. Explore more details on their webpage .

Vadnais Heights City (Statewide) : Their Car Seat Program offers car seat safety checks and provides car seats to families in need. Visit the city’s website for more information.

Mille Lacs County Community Health (Minnesota) : This community health center offers car seat safety checks and assistance in obtaining car seats. For more information, visit their website or contact them at:

Public Health: 635 2nd St SE Milaca, MN 56353 Phone: 320-983-8208 Toll-Free: 888-270-8208 Fax: 320-983-8352

Carver County Public Health (Minnesota) : Carver County provides a Child Passenger Safety Program that offers services to help ensure your child’s car seat is installed correctly. It also offers low-cost car seats to eligible families who are unable to afford one. Learn more about their program on their website .

MISSISSIPPI Free Car Seats

Mississippi State Department of Health, Statewide : The state department of health offers free infant or convertible child safety seats to all eligible Mississippi children. To find out if you qualify, use their assessment form found here .

Farm Bureau Mississippi, Statewide : Farm Bureau Mississippi provides members with the chance to order car seats and booster seats at a reduced cost through the Child Saver Program. Find out more about this service on their webpage .

MISSOURI Free Car Seats

Platte County Buckle Up Kids Car Seat Program, Platte County : This program provides Free Car Seats to residents of Platte County who may be eligible and meet income requirements. Find more about this service here .

SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Safety Program, Statewide : Children under the age of one can get a free car seat through this program along with parent instruction from a highly qualified specialist. Local Child Passenger Safety Partners can help you find car seats for kids over one. More information is available here .

Cass County Health Department, Cass County : The Health Department is pleased to offer free car seat safety workshops for families in need of a car seat or booster seat for their child. Find out more on their website .

Henry County Health Center, Henry County : Car seats for low-income families can be offered here. Explore more on their official website .

Lebanon Missouri Child Seat Safety Program, Lebanon : This program gives away car seats to those in need. Find out more about their initiative here .

Lawrence County Health Department (Lawrence County) : The Lawrence County Health Department runs a car seat program providing education, installation assistance, and low-cost or Free Car Seats for eligible families in need. For more information, visit their website .

Safe Kids Columbia, Columbia : The Safe Kids Columbia initiative brings together community people, educators, businesses, foundations, volunteers, and local health and safety professionals and provides those in need with Free Car Seats. Read more about their service here .

Callaway County Ambulance District, Callaway County : In order to help individuals in need, the Ambulance District has teamed up with SERVE, Inc. and Safe Kids Columbia. You must submit an application for a voucher at SERVE, Inc., in order to be eligible for a free car seat. Learn more about their initiative here .

MONTANA Free Car Seats

Missoula County, Missoula County : They provide car seat vouchers for those receiving public assistance on a first-come, first-serve basis. Get more details from their website .

Greater Gallatin Safety Commission, Bozeman area : They offer Free Car Seats to families in need. Find more about their service here .

SafeSeat for Baby, Statewide : Referrals for Free Car Seats and training must come from the public health department or another social service organization. Explore more on their webpage .

Safer Start Montana, Statewide : They offer car seats to families in need who apply online. More information can be found on their website .

Ravalli County, Ravalli County : They provide car seats to families in need by appointment only. Find out more about their initiative here .

Safe Kids Yellowstone County, Yellowstone County : Safe Kids Yellowstone County is able to help with car seats when available. They have a reduced-cost program and some people may be able to get one for free if they qualify under one of the grants they have put in for. To receive this help, scheduling an appointment for one of their car seat checks is required. Events are listed on their website, where there is also a link to the pick time calendar so people can schedule the appointment. More details can be found here .

NEBRASKA Free Car Seats

Safe Kids South Central at Mary Lanning Healthcare, Hastings : For those who have Medicaid, Kids Connection, or WIC, car seats can be purchased from Mary Lanning Healthcare for a lower price. Get more information from their website .

Three Rivers Public Health Department (Dodge, Saunders, and Washington counties) : In partnership with Safe Kids, the Three Rivers Public Health Department offers various services to promote child safety. This includes providing child car seats for eligible families who can’t afford to buy new ones. Visit their website for more details.

NEVADA Free Car Seats

Ron Wood Family Resource Center, Carson City : This center offers discounted car seats when available. Find more information about this resource here .

NyECC Child Car Seat Inspections & Installation, Nye County : The coalition has a number of certified technicians that can properly inspect all child safety seats and install no-cost seats to those that qualify. Contact NyECC at 775-727-9970 to learn how to schedule an inspection or installation. Get more details from their website .

Car Seats for Christy, Statewide : This is a non-profit that gives car seats out to those in need. Learn more about their mission here .

Baby’s Bounty, Statewide : Baby’s Bounty gives car seats along with other baby essentials to families that adhere to the 130% of the 2020 US Federal Poverty Guidelines. Find more about their program requirements here .

NEW HAMPSHIRE Free Car Seats

Amerihealth New Hampshire : This program is available for Amerihealth NH members and provides car seats and booster seats at no cost for child members, up to a $129 value.  Learn about the Amerihealth NH benefits here

WellSense : As a WellSense NH MassHealth ACO or MCO member, you may qualify for additional benefits. Car seats play an important part in keeping children safe while riding in a vehicle. Each child member between 5-65 lbs. can receive an infant seat once per lifetime, and children between the ages of 4-8 years old are eligible for a booster seat to replace the infant seat, once requested. Pregnant mothers can request a car seat 45 days prior to their due date. Members should call WellSense Member Services to request a free car or booster seat.  Get more information about the WellSense program here

New Hampshire Right to Life (Statewide) : Committed to supporting pregnancy centers around New Hampshire, they provide necessary baby items including car seats. For more information on how you can benefit, visit their Support Pregnancy Centers page .

NEW JERSEY Free Car Seats

Burlington County Child Safety Seat Inspection Program : Burlington County offers this program for families who are expecting or have an infant and cannot afford a child safety seat. The Burlington County Sheriff’s Department may be able to provide a seat through the Child Safety Seat program. An application and proof of income are required.  Find the Burlington County program details here

Ride of My Life : This charity is dedicated to ensuring the safety of every car ride a baby takes. For mothers who can’t afford the government-required car seat to bring their newborns home from the hospital, Ride of My Life steps in to provide the necessary aid. Hospitals across New Jersey are encouraged to reach out to the organization for their maternity patients in need of a car seat.

Learn about the Ride of My Life initiative here Explore more about the charity’s outreach here

NEW MEXICO Free Car Seats

New Mexico Child Safety Seat Distribution Program, Statewide : The state program features 40 distribution stations across New Mexico. Each station has its own application criteria, most require proof of qualification for WIC, Medicaid, or New Mexi-Kids. Most families only pay $25, cash only. Visit their website for more details .

NEW YORK Free Car Seats

Ardent Solutions Car Seat Distribution Program, Allegany County : This program helps low-income families and others find the best car seat for their child at every age. From the time a kid is born until they are old enough to ride without a seat, parents and legal guardians of those children are provided with Free Car Seats. There are booster seats available for older children. Assistance is only intended to be given once. Learn more here .

Wayne County Public Health Child Safety Programs’ Car Seat Distribution Class, Wayne County : If you don’t already have one and can’t afford one, this program may be able to help. The course provides a thorough examination of all available car seat models, their applications, and methods for choosing the best one for your child. Free Car Seats are contingent on attending the class, having a valid photo ID and proof of ongoing participation in public assistance programs, and being a permanent resident of Wayne County. Details can be found here .

Onondaga County Car Seat Program, Onondaga County : Sponsored by Catholic Charities of Onondaga County, this program provides Free Car Seats (call for details on eligibility requirements based on poverty). Check their website .

Tremont Neighborhood Health Action Center, Bronx, NYC : Families are given access to newborn car seats or safe sleeping surfaces. More information can be found here .

New York Connects (Washington County) : Offers a car seat distribution program across the state of New York, ensuring the safety of children in transit. Learn more about the program for Washington County residents on their Car Seat Distribution Program page .

New Hope Family Services (Syracuse) : Provides a variety of pregnancy-related services, including help with obtaining car seats. More information about the services provided can be found on their website .

Cornell Cooperative Extension (Livingston County) : Offers a Traffic Safety Education program that includes child safety seats education. More information can be found on their website .

NORTH CAROLINA Free Car Seats

Child Passenger Safety program, Henderson County : Child passenger safety specialists in Henderson County, North Carolina, educate caregivers on the use and correct installation of car seats. If they don’t already have a suitable car seat for the family’s child, Henderson County homeowners may also be eligible for a free car seat. Learn more on their website .

Alleghany Council on Children, Youth, and Families (Alleghany County) : Provides the “Buckle Up Car Seat Distribution Program” to assist families with car seat needs. Find more details on their website .

The Bear Closet (Asheville) : Offers assistance including car seats to families in need. Visit their website for more information.

NORTH DAKOTA Free Car Seats

North Dakota Car Seat Distribution, Statewide : This state program is sponsored by the North Dakota Department of Health and the North Dakota Department of Transportation. There are over 25 car seat distribution locations across the state, and you can call each location for more information. Find a location here .

First District Health Unit Car Seat Distribution Program, Ward County : This program offers discounted car seats to all families. The cost is $61 for car seats and $5 for backless boosters. Families receiving any kind of public assistance (like WIC, SNAP, Medicaid, etc) are eligible for a further discount, with car seats costing only $30 and backless boosters still at $5. This service is available by appointment only. More details here .

Bismarck Child Safety Program (Bismarck) : Provides car seat safety education and may have resources for families in need of car seats. More information is available on their website .

Safe Kids Grand Forks (Grand Forks) : Offers car seat checkup events, educational presentations, and may provide car seats for families in need. Learn more on their website .

OHIO Free Car Seats

Ohio Buckles Buckeyes (OBB) Child Passenger Safety Program, Statewide : This program offers Free Car Seats and booster seats to qualified low-income families in all Ohio counties. Individuals who qualify based on income must attend an instructional session led by a licensed technician in order to obtain a free OBB seat. The program provides two types of kid safety seats: Convertible Seat ($20 donation) & Booster Seat ($10 donation). Learn more about the program here .

Columbus Public Health Car Seat Program, Columbus : Families in need can benefit from this program by receiving discounted car seats and booster seats. Families need to be referred by their WIC clinic or by a Columbus Public Health Home Visiting program in order to be given a seat. The cost is $30 for a convertible car seat and $10 for a booster seat. Families are required to attend a 60–90 minute long lesson. More details here .

Akron Children’s Hospital Car Seat Program, Akron : This program offers brand new car seats at a reduced cost to low-income families. This discount is available to families who receive government assistance (e.g., WIC, Medicaid, etc.). Caregivers are educated on how to correctly utilize the seat and install it in a vehicle. The hospital occasionally obtains complimentary seats from ODH throughout the year. Read more here .

Lorain County Car Seat Program, Lorain County : This program educates parents and guardians on child passenger safety and gives car seats and booster seats to qualifying people. Eligibility criteria include living in Lorain County, having a qualifying income (eligible for WIC or SNAP), and attending a 30-minute information session. Find more details here .

Tuscarawas County Health Department Car Seat Program, Tuscarawas County : This department has numerous nationally certified car seat technicians (CPST) on staff who can assist you with your car seat. WIC Income Eligible children may receive one car seat every three years if their parents or legal guardians attend a class and pass a quiz. More details here .

Putnam County Health Department Car Seat Program, Putnam County : This program offers Free Car Seats to a resident of Putnam County who also meets WIC Income Guidelines or is income eligible for WIC. Learn more here .

Warren County Health District Car Seat Program, Warren County : This program provides Free Car Seats. To qualify, a parent/caregiver must meet WIC income limits, though the beneficiary does not need to be registered in WIC. The family must have a child who meets the requirements for a car/booster seat and must attend an educational class. More details here .

Knox Public Health Car Seat Program, Knox County : This program offers convertible and booster seats to low-income families in collaboration with the Ohio Department of Health’s Ohio Buckles Buckeyes. A $10 charge is suggested at the time of the class. Find more details here .

Belmont County Health Department Car Seat Program, Belmont County : This department offers Free Car Seats to eligible families. To confirm WIC eligibility, the family must submit one of the following documents: paystubs for the previous 30 days, WIC card, Medicaid card, W2s/most recent tax transcript, or unemployment benefits/award letter. More details here .

Lake County General Health District (LCGHD) Car Seat Program, Lake County : This program provides car seats to income-eligible families in collaboration with University Hospitals and the Ohio Buckles Buckeyes (OBB). To get a car seat, the parent/legal caregiver must attend an instructional class. Learn more here .

Perry County Health Department Car Seat Program, Perry County : This department offers Free Car Seats. A parent or guardian is eligible for a convertible car seat or booster seat if they live in Perry County, are a WIC customer, or meet current WIC income limits. Infant car seats are offered to families receiving assistance from Job and Family Services. More details here .

OKLAHOMA Free Car Seats

SPARC Car Seats: Single Parent Academic Resources Collaborative, Oklahoma City : This program uses a first-come, first-served policy to distribute car seats. Local car seat events are listed on the website. Check the event details because some car seats are provided for free or at a low fee. Details here

Oklahoma Highway Safety Office, Injury Prevention Service, Safe Kids Oklahoma, Statewide : These entities collaborate to launch a car/booster seat program through county health departments. Free Car Seats and booster seats are available to families that qualify for WIC benefits or receive Medicaid, SNAP, or TANF. Details here

Bethany Children’s Health Center, Bethany : For individuals who are eligible, the center offers inexpensive car seats. Details here

Infant Crisis Services, Oklahoma City : A local group offers supplies like diapers, blankets, baby clothes, formula, car seats, and other essentials to those in need. Details here

Muskogee County Emergency Medical Service, Muskogee County : The Kirschner Trusts awarded a grant to Muskogee County Emergency Medical Service to help cover the cost of car seats for low-income families in the county. Details here

OREGON Free Car Seats

Grants Pass Fire and Rescue, Grants Pass : This program offers reduced-cost seats for individuals on OHP or families working with WIC. Convertible and combination seats are available for $30 and booster seats for $10. Additional discounts are available for some individuals working with WIC, but they must learn how to use the car seat correctly. Details here

Oregon Building Healthy Families, Wallowa County : The organization offers car seats in conjunction with a class on a sliding scale payment basis. Details here

Bambinos Oregon, Polk County : If you are a current Bambinos client living in Polk County, a seat is available for a $15 deposit and education is given. Details here

Care Inc, Tillamook County : The organization offers low-cost car seats, determined on a case-by-case basis, along with other essentials for Tillamook County residents. Details here

Legacy Health, Portland : The organization offers a car seat safety class with no/low-cost car seat on availability. Details here

Multnomah County Healthy Birth Initiative, Multnomah County : For Black or African American families in Multnomah County, discounted car seats are available. Details here

Doernbacher Children’s Hospital, Portland : This hospital works with ODOT to see if families are eligible for the car seat distribution program. Details here

Safe Kids Lower Columbia, Columbia County : This program provides an interactive car seat program with one-on-one instruction, a $50 visa gift card just for keeping your appointment, and a free car seat if needed. Details here

Salem Right to Life Center, Salem : By taking five parenting classes, you can earn Baby Bucks that can be redeemed for a new car seat. Details here

Umatilla-Morrow Head Start, Inc, Umatilla & Morrow Counties : Families in/near Hermiston and Pendleton can get car seats for low-income families at a reduced cost. Convertible seats are available for $30, high-back boosters for $20, and no-back boosters for $10. Details here

Vine Medical Pregnancy Health Clinic : A new car seat can be obtained by participating in the educational programs. Details here , Educational Resources

City of Albany, Albany : The Albany Area Child Passenger Safety Program can provide low-cost seats to income-eligible families residing in Linn and Benton counties. A referral may be obtained from Love, Inc, or from WIC for families who are currently eligible for and receiving WIC benefits.

PENNSYLVANIA Free Car Seats

Tri-County Community Action, Dauphin County : This organization collaborates with SAFE KIDS in Dauphin County through Penn State Children’s Hospital to provide a discounted car seat program for families referred to them or other public assistance organizations. Safety checks can be performed by their professionals if required. The program aims to inform the public about the importance of using car seats correctly for safety and legal reasons. Details here

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia : Through the CHOP Child Safety Seat Program, the hospital provides child car seats free of charge. A healthcare professional may refer anyone who cannot afford to buy a child safety seat to this program. To qualify, you must be actively receiving public assistance and have a green EBT Access card. Details here

Pennsylvania Traffic Injury Prevention Project’s Car Seat Loan Program, Statewide : Free Car Seats are available at locations throughout the county through this program. Details here

Central Pennsylvania Community Action, Central Pennsylvania : This organization has set up a car seat loaner program for people who can’t afford to buy the right car seat for their infants or toddlers. In collaboration with PennDOT and the PA Traffic Injury Prevention Project, this program lends out the appropriate car seats to those who meet the required income levels, set at 150% of the poverty line or less. Details here

RHODE ISLAND Free Car Seats

Injury Prevention Center’s 4-Safety Program, Statewide : Certified child passenger safety technicians (CPSTs) from the Injury Prevention Center teach car seat installation to parents. Qualified low-income families may be provided a car seat for their child. Details here

The organization also lists the sites for car seat checks in Rhode Island. Details here

Seats 4 Safety Program at Lifespan (Statewide) : This program offers car seat inspections and may provide Free Car Seats for eligible families who are unable to afford them. More details can be found on their website .

SOUTH CAROLINA Free Car Seats

Palmetto Health Children’s Hospital, Midlands : The hospital and its Buckle Buddies program offer new and safe car seats to families in the Midlands via their Medicaid discount program. Car seats can be purchased at a discount at Palmetto Health Baptist’s Birthplace. The discount is $10 per car seat, making the total cost $65 for a regular car seat and $35 for a convertible car seat. To access this service, contact:

• Prisma Health Baptist Hospital Women’s Services, Taylor at Marion St. Columbia, SC 29220
• Call: 803-296-2578

More details here

Molina Healthcare of South Carolina : Provides a free car seat program for eligible members who complete 6 prenatal visits. Members must email their details to [email protected] with “Car Seat” as the email subject. The email must include the member’s full name, physical mailing address, phone number, and Molina ID number. Please note that car seat types may vary.  More details here

SOUTH DAKOTA Free Car Seats

South Dakota Department of Social Services, Statewide : This department offers the Child Safety Seat Distribution Program which aims to ensure children are in the most suitable child seat for their height and weight until they are at least 4’9″. It provides child safety seats at no cost to families that meet income eligibility requirements. Details here

Sanford Children’s CHILD Services, Statewide : This service offers the Child Safety Seat Distribution Program, which aims to keep children safe by providing child safety seats at no cost to families who meet the income eligibility requirements. The goal is to ensure children ride in the best car seat for their size and weight until they reach a minimum height of 4 feet 9 inches. Details here

Prairie Lakes Healthcare System, Statewide : In collaboration with the South Dakota Department of Social Services, this organization offers Free Car Seats to parents who meet the requirements. Parents must live in South Dakota and be enrolled in a program that qualifies them for financial assistance, such as Medicaid, WIC, SNAP, CHIP, Child Care Assistance, or Head Start. Details here

TENNESSEE Free Car Seats

Shelby County Health Department Child Car Seat Program, Shelby County : This program offers free convertible car seats to Shelby County residents with children under the age of 2 who meet the program’s eligibility requirements. Details here

Mother To Mother (Nashville) : A non-profit organization that provides vital health, safety, and wellness items for infants and children in need. They have programs that may help families acquire car seats. For more information, visit their website .

TEXAS Free Car Seats

Texas Health and Human Services, Statewide : The Safe Riders initiative forms alliances with Texas stakeholders to educate about child passenger safety and manage the distribution of child safety seats to low-income families. Safe Riders refer families to established distribution stations in their neighborhood. Details here

Denton County Public Health, Denton County : The Safe Riders initiative also provides child safety seat distribution and education here. Families that meet the eligibility requirements and attend the course will be provided with a car seat. Families must self-certify their financial need, have a vehicle with a working safety belt, and attend a one-hour session to learn how to properly use the car seat. Car seat classes are held monthly. Details here

St. John’s Community Center, Travis County : This center offers a variety of services to low-income families, including a free car seat program. To obtain a car seat, you must first complete a car seat safety course. Details here

Living Alternatives of Jacksonville, Jacksonville : This organization may provide free child car seats to low-income mothers who are pregnant or have small children. Living Alternatives is approved annually to distribute new car seats for free through the State of Texas Safe-Riders Program. Details here

UMC Foundation El Paso (El Paso) : The UMC Foundation’s Car Seat Safety Program helps ensure child passenger safety by providing car seats to families who might otherwise be unable to afford them. Visit their website for more details.

Families to Freedom (Dallas) : This organization offers a program providing car seats for families in need. They ensure that families on their way to a safer life have the necessary equipment for transporting children safely. More information is available on their website .

UTAH Free Car Seats

Salt Lake County Health Department, Salt Lake County : The department sells new car seats to qualifying families on a sliding fee scale. Eligible families must attend a car seat class and provide proof of income, which must be at or below 195% of the federal poverty level. Details here

Tooele County Health Department, Tooele County : Offers low-cost car seats to qualifying families. The department also provides free car seat education classes on the first Wednesday of every month. Details here

Weber-Morgan Health Department, Weber County : Sells new car seats on a sliding fee scale to families who qualify. Similar to the program in Salt Lake County, qualifying families must attend a car seat class and provide proof of income, which must be at or below 195% of the federal poverty level. Details here

Southwest Utah Public Health Department, Southern Utah : Offers car seats for free or for a discount after a car seat installation course. Details here

VERMONT Free Car Seats

Vermont Safety Seat Voucher Program, Statewide : This program provides Free Car Seats and booster seats to low-income families who meet program qualifications, primarily determined by receipt of state or federal funds. Details here

Rescue Inc., Statewide : This is a Pediatric Safe Organization designated by the state of Vermont. They provide Free Car Seats to qualified low-income families and free car seat inspections to anyone who wants one. Details here

Lyndon Rescue, Statewide : As part of Vermont’s Child Passenger Safety Program, Lyndon Rescue provides free child safety seat inspections and installation. They also offer low-cost car seats and booster seats to income-eligible families who meet the program’s qualifications. Details here

Springfield Hospital, Springfield : This hospital provides a Nationally Certified Passenger Safety Technician to help families with the installation and use of their child’s car seat. They collaborate with the Vermont Department of Health and the Vermont Governor’s Highway Safety Program to supply car seats to individuals in need. Details here

Colchester Police Department, Colchester : Employs nationally qualified child passenger safety technicians who can inspect your child’s seat installation. Also, if you have a free seat voucher from the Vermont Department of Health, they can assist you. Details here

VIRGINIA Free Car Seats

Virginia Department of Health Low Income Safety Seat Distribution and Education Program, Statewide : This program promotes, acquires, and distributes free child safety seats to low-income families. Details here

Fairfax County Health Department, Fairfax County : Provides income-eligible parents, foster parents, and legal guardians of a child aged 7 or younger, and pregnant women in their third trimester with car seat instruction and a free car seat. Details here 

City of Norfolk’s Child Passenger Safety Program, Norfolk : This program provides low-income families with instruction as well as free child safety seats and booster seats from the third trimester of pregnancy through the age of seven. Details here

City of Lynchburg, Lynchburg : Employs Child Safety Seat Technicians who have completed the National Standardized Child Passenger Safety Training Program. They also provide a program for low-income children. Details here

Louisa County, Louisa County : The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) Division of Injury and Violence Prevention maintains a statewide Child Safety Seat Program that provides low-income families with seat distribution and instruction. Details here

WASHINGTON Free Car Seats

Seattle Children’s Car Seat Program, Seattle : Provides car seats for patients or ER patients, asking families to pay what they can towards the wholesale cost of the car seat. Details here

Benton Franklin Health District, Benton Franklin : Safe Kids Benton Franklin offers free car seat checks and also has car seats available for low-income families who meet the qualifications. Details here

Babies In Need, Southwest WA : Works with social workers to help families get car seats and other essentials. Details here

PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center, Southwest WA : Offers a one-hour car seat education class and there are a limited number of car seats available for low income families. Details here

Eastside Baby Corner, Seattle and Surrounding Areas : A community organization that serves families in need in and around Seattle. They can provide car seats and other baby essentials, partnering with various organizations, including Afghan Health Initiative. Details here and here

Two Hearts Pregnancy Aid, Washington : Will provide a car seat to any family in need as long as they qualify. Details here

West Seattle Food Bank, Seattle : In a partnership with Westside Baby, car seats can be ordered for qualifying families. Details here and here

WASHINGTON D.C. Free Car Seats

The District Department of Transportation, Washington D.C .: Runs a federally sponsored Child Safety Seat Program, which educates parents and caregivers on the need of using child safety seats every time a child travels in a car. The program gives an infant or toddler seat, a free booster seat, and information on correctly fitting and strapping children into their safety seats to District households. This project is a collaboration between DDOT, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), the DC Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), and Safe Kids Washington DC. Details here

WEST VIRGINIA Free Car Seats

The Gabriel Project of West Virginia, Statewide : Assists families that lack the financial means to meet the physical demands of a new infant. They supply their clients with infant essentials such as new cribs, new car seats, diapers, formula, clothing, hygiene products, and other items at no or low cost. Details here

Motown Christian Help (Morgantown) : Offers a variety of programs to support families, including a program that provides car seats to those in need. Their mission is to provide help and hope to individuals and families in the Houston area. For more details, visit their website .

WISCONSIN Free Car Seats

West Allis Health Department, West Allis : The health department offers a variety of car seat services, including providing low-cost car or booster seats to low-income families.  More details here

Injury Free Coalition for Kids (Milwaukee) : This organization is dedicated to preventing injury to children. As part of their mission, they provide a car seat safety program that offers car seats to families in need in the Waco area. Learn more by visiting their website .

Clark County Health Department, Clark County : The health department runs a program called “Car Seats for Kids,” offering free car seat checks to all parents or guardians with children in car seats or booster seats. Some parents may even be eligible for a free car seat! The department also provides educational materials to ensure the safest travel for your child.  More details here

Brown County Public Health (Brown County) : They offer a Car Seat Program that provides car seats at a discounted price to families who qualify. This program aims to increase the number of children who are safely restrained in vehicles. More details can be found on their website .

WYOMING Free Car Seats

Cheyenne Regional Medical Center, Cheyenne : Partners with Kohls, Walmart, and other local retailers to offer free or discounted car seats. Interested parties should call the Injury Prevention Department at (307) 432-2679. Details here

Teton County Car Seat Program, Teton County : This program is supported by generous donations from the local Kiwanis Club. It provides affordable car seats, though it cannot provide seats for second vehicles from this program. The suggested donation is $25. Details here

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The Car Seat Finder is an easy-to-use tool that helps you find the right car seat for your child. Just fill out your child’s age, height and weight above, and you’ll be provided car seat types that fit your child. Make sure you're familiar with the four types of car seats and NHTSA’s recommendations for choosing the right type of seat for your child.

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Certified technicians are available across the country to help you install and use your child’s car seat correctly – often at no cost to you. Many communities also offer virtual seat checks. Our  Car Seat Inspection Finder helps you locate an inspection station or virtual inspector.

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Older kids need the right seat, too.

For their safety, many kids 8 to 12 years old still need to use a booster seat. Make sure they ride in a booster seat until they outgrow the size limits of their booster, or until they are big enough for an adult seat belt to fit them properly. A properly fitting seat belt means:

• The shoulder belt lies snugly across the shoulder and chest, not crossing the neck or face.
• The lap belt lies snugly across the upper thighs, not the stomach.

Make sure your child is buckled up properly on every trip and remember to keep them in the back seat at least through age 12. Learn more about the proper fit .

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Now that you know whether your child is in the right seat, we'll guide you through making sure it's installed correctly or finding a new seat.

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Product description.

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High Quality Padded Car Seat Bag with Wheels

My favorite travel car seat bag- my must see review!

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It fit my bulky britax car seat! Honest review

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Looking for specific info, customer reviews.

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• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 4 star 87% 3% 3% 3% 4% 3%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 3 star 87% 3% 3% 3% 4% 3%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 2 star 87% 3% 3% 3% 4% 3%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 1 star 87% 3% 3% 3% 4% 4%

Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.

To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.

Customers say

Customers like the versatility, quality and value of the backpack. For example, they mention it's easy to travel with, well designed and worth the price. They appreciate the rolling ability and sturdiness of the bag. That said, opinions are mixed on fit and storage space.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Customers like the rolling of the backpack. They mention that the wheels roll smoothly, it can be worn on the back, and that it wheels around in all directions. Customers also say that the bag is sturdy and glides easily.

"...It's durable, padded, sturdy wheels that are easy to roll . Worth the price...." Read more

"This car seat bag checks all the boxes! The design is perfection. Wheels , backpack straps, pockets for storage, padding, and even it own bag to..." Read more

"...] First time trip and it worked really well . Price made me a bit hesitant yet it was worth it...." Read more

"...I rolled it around our kitchen to try out the wheels, and they work great . Also, if someone were to use the backpack, it looks & feels pretty plush...." Read more

Customers are satisfied with the sturdiness of the backpack. They mention that the material is high quality, durable, and well-padded. Some say that it doesn't fall apart like traditional rollers and that the padding is so similar there really isn't a difference.

"This product is exactly what I was looking for! It's durable, padded , sturdy wheels that are easy to roll. Worth the price...." Read more

"...Wheels, backpack straps, pockets for storage, padding , and even it own bag to place inside while not using...." Read more

"...Not a cheaply made zippers or handles. Shoulder straps sturdy but we did not need to use - hung the buckle straps to the stroller handle bar and let..." Read more

"...I like how it has a little padding (more so than a cheap car seat cover), and it looks to be of good quality...." Read more

Customers are satisfied with the quality of the backpack. They mention that it is well designed, good quality, and functional. Some say that it folds up nicely.

"...It's nice and padded...." Read more

"This car seat bag checks all the boxes! The design is perfection ...." Read more

"...padding (more so than a cheap car seat cover), and it looks to be of good quality . Our car seat fits in there nicely, not too tight or anything...." Read more

"...It’s so nice and sturdy, we will have it for years...." Read more

Customers like the storage of the backpack. They say it has extra room to pack extras, an inside storage compartment, and pockets. Some mention that it stores the infant car seat and most of their items needed for travel.

"...The design is perfection. Wheels, backpack straps, pockets for storage , padding, and even it own bag to place inside while not using...." Read more

"...It came with a storage case and I appreciate the small additional pocket in the front...." Read more

"...The bag is nicely padded with an inside storage compartment and a strap to keep the car seat in place...." Read more

"...Also a good way to carry stuff through the airport that you won’t need until you get on the plane or to stuff extra diapers in the bag with the car..." Read more

Customers like the value of the backpack. They mention that the material is high quality and worth the price.

"...It's durable, padded, sturdy wheels that are easy to roll. Worth the price ...." Read more

"...In my opinion it’s a great bag for a reasonable price ...." Read more

"...This experience highlights the unreliable quality of the product . Extremely disappointed." Read more

"...It seemed pricey in my opinion, yet I found it to be worth every penny ...." Read more

Customers find the backpack versatile. They say it's easy to travel with, makes traveling a lot easier, and is easy to maneuver through an airport. The materials feel sturdy yet light to maneuver around. It has wheels so you can roll it like a suitcase, or carry it on your back like.

"...Overall materials feel sturdy yet light to maneuver around . Collapses close to square shape. Padding was sufficient...." Read more

"...SO incredibly easy to maneuver through an airport and we really appreciated the ease as well as being able to shove some extras in the seat for a..." Read more

"...Otherwise, we loved the traveler - rolled great, made it easy to walk through the airport with suitcases...." Read more

"...It has wheels so you can roll it like a suitcase , or carry it on your back like a backpack. It zips closed so it can be checked in under the plane...." Read more

Customers are mixed about the fit of the backpack. Some mention that it rolls really easily and fits their huge maxi-cosi carseat, while others say that it barely fits and is very hard to close.

"...we have the Graco extend2fit and it fits in the bag with no issues but you do have to make sure it isn't reclined and sitting all the way up...." Read more

"...I took one star off because the space is tight after putting an infant car seat and base...." Read more

"...Price made me a bit hesitant yet it was worth it. Fits Graco Contender Slim perfectly as shown in the video. Some spaces in the corners...." Read more

"...Our car seat fits in there nicely , not too tight or anything...." Read more

Customers are mixed about the storage space of the backpack. Some mention that it has a zippered storage compartment and two side handles that you can use. However, others say that the zipper broke after the first use.

"... Not a cheaply made zippers or handles...." Read more

"...We bought ours and traveled with it twice and the zipper broke ...." Read more

"...for additional items on top of the seat, and there’s a zippered pocket on the inside as well (I put the cover for it in there for now!)...." Read more

"...We made it work for 4 trips, until the zipper finally broke ...." Read more

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Fits Graco contender slim

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