Best car seats for travel

Safety note: All seats here meet FMVSS 213. Verify FAA approval on the seat label before flying. Have your installation checked by a CPST when possible.

What makes a real travel car seat

Three criteria:

• FAA approval. Required for use on a plane. Look for the label "This Restraint is Certified for Use in Motor Vehicles and Aircraft."
• Lightweight (under 15 pounds). You will carry this through airports. Above 15 pounds and the trip is harder than it needs to be.
• Seatbelt-only installation friendly. Rental cars vary in LATCH availability and quality. A seat that installs cleanly with a seatbelt is more reliable.

Why your everyday car seat is not the right travel pick

The same car seat that lives in your everyday vehicle might be too heavy to drag through an airport or too bulky to fit in a rental car compactly. A 30-pound all-in-one is fine in the car but a workout at the airport.

Many parents keep their main car seat at home and pack a second travel-specific seat. The cost difference (most travel seats are $80 to $300) is often less than the alternative of checking the main seat and risking damage.

The 4 we recommend

1. Cosco Scenera Next (best budget)

The Scenera Next is the budget travel seat. $50. 7 pounds. FAA-approved. Goes from 5 to 40 pounds. Easy seatbelt installation.

Best for: occasional travelers who do not want to commit serious money to a travel-specific seat.

Trade-offs: the build quality is what you would expect at $50. The fabric is basic, the harness is rethread-only (not no-rethread), and the seat is not comfortable for kids over age 3. For travel use, that is all fine. As a daily-driver, you would want better.

2. Wayb Pico

The Wayb Pico is the premium travel seat. Magnesium-frame, 8 pounds, folds in half to fit in an overhead bin, FAA-approved. Forward-facing only (22 to 50 pounds). $400.

Best for: frequent travelers with kids age 2+. The fold-in-half feature means you can carry it through an airport like a tote bag.

Trade-offs: forward-facing only, so not for kids under 2. Expensive.

3. Doona

The Doona is the car-seat-and-stroller in one. The seat itself becomes a stroller when you unfold the wheels. FAA-approved. 17 pounds total. Goes from 4 to 35 pounds (infant only).

Best for: families with babies under 12 months who want one piece of gear that does everything.

Trade-offs: only works as a stroller until 35 pounds (about 12 to 18 months). After that, you need a different stroller. The seat does not have a no-rethread harness. Heavy for a travel seat.

4. Combi Coccoro

The Coccoro is the narrowest convertible car seat on the market: 15 inches wide. Three Coccoros fit across the back seat of most mid-size cars. FAA-approved. 14 pounds. Goes from 3 to 40 pounds.

Best for: families with multiple kids who need three seats across in a rental car.

Trade-offs: not as light as the Pico or the Scenera. The narrow design means less padding than some competitors. The harness is rethread-only.

FAA approval explained

To use a car seat on a plane, it must be labeled FAA-approved. The label is usually on the side or back of the seat and reads "This Restraint is Certified for Use in Motor Vehicles and Aircraft."

Almost all U.S. car seats are FAA-approved, but a few (mostly imported) are not. Check the label before flying.

Booster seats are not allowed on planes (because there is no shoulder belt on a plane seat). Only harnessed seats and CARES harnesses qualify.

Rental car installation tips

• Pick a car seat that installs cleanly with a seatbelt. LATCH availability varies in rental cars and many rentals have LATCH that is hard to reach.
• Bring your owner's manual or have a digital copy on your phone.
• Inspect the rental car's seat for cleanliness. Wipe down if needed.
• Install in the back seat (always). Many rental cars have airbags that should not be near a rear-facing child.
• Allow 15 to 30 minutes for the first install in a new car.

On the plane

• The car seat must be installed in a window seat (not aisle or middle).
• The seatbelt installs through the same belt path you use in the car.
• Some airlines allow the car seat to be in a center or aisle seat if it does not block the path of other passengers. Confirm with the gate agent.
• Babies under 2 can sit in your lap, but a seat is safer in turbulence and during landing/takeoff.

The alternative: CARES harness

The CARES harness is a 1-pound, $80 alternative to a travel car seat. It is FAA-approved for kids 22 to 44 pounds. It attaches to the existing plane seatbelt and turns it into a 4-point harness.

Best for: toddlers 1+ who can sit upright. Not for infants.

Trade-off: CARES only works on the plane. You will still need a car seat for the rental car. So it pairs well with the Wayb Pico (or a borrowed seat at your destination).

Renting a car seat at your destination

Most major rental car companies offer car seats for $10 to $15/day. They are usually older and may have unknown crash history. Inspect carefully before using:

• Check the expiration date on the label.
• Check for cracks, missing parts, or fabric wear.
• Try to install before driving off the lot.
• If anything looks wrong, request a different seat or skip the rental and bring your own.

For week-long trips with kids, bringing your own travel seat is usually safer and often cheaper than renting.

Gate-checking vs in-cabin use

You can either use your car seat in the plane (in a paid seat) or gate-check it (carry to the gate, hand off to be loaded under the plane). In-cabin use is safer for baby. Gate-checking is free on most airlines.

If gate-checking, use a padded bag (Britax makes one) to protect the seat. Tag the seat with your name and phone number. Take a photo before handing it off in case of damage claims.

When to call a CPST

• You are uncertain how to install a travel seat in a specific rental car.
• The rental car's seatbelt geometry is unusual.
• You are flying with twins or multiples and need to plan multiple seats.