Traveling with young children presents unique challenges, and ensuring their safety while on the move is paramount for any parent. While it might seem convenient to check your regular car seat when flying or rely on rental options at your destination, investing in the Best Travel Car Seat can significantly ease your journey and provide peace of mind. This guide explores why a dedicated travel car seat is a worthwhile investment, and what types are available to suit different ages and travel needs.
Infant Car Seats Designed for Travel
For families traveling with infants, the familiar infant car seat often serves as the best travel car seat solution. The key is to utilize your existing infant car seat without its base to minimize bulk and weight during transit. Notably, our recommended infant car seat, the Graco SnugRide SnugFit 35 DLX, is designed to be lightweight and securely installed using just the vehicle’s seatbelt, eliminating the need for its base.
There are established methods for safely installing an infant car seat without its base. The “American routing” method involves threading the lap belt across the top of the car seat. Alternatively, “European routing,” often considered more secure, incorporates the shoulder belt wrapped around the back of the seat in addition to the top belt path. Several highly-rated infant car seats, including the Chicco KeyFit 35, Uppababy Aria, and Clek Liing, are specifically engineered to facilitate this European-style installation. For frequent flyers with infants, selecting one of these models as your primary car seat can streamline travel experiences.
To further enhance travel convenience, many infant car seats are designed to be compatible with lightweight, foldable stroller frames, such as the Chicco KeyFit Caddy. This combination effectively transforms your infant car seat into a travel-friendly stroller system. Importantly, most infant car seats are FAA-approved, allowing for in-cabin use during flights if you choose to purchase a separate seat for your infant.
Convertible Car Seats: Travel-Friendly Choices for Toddlers and Older Infants
As your child grows out of their infant car seat, selecting the best travel car seat becomes a more nuanced decision. Car seat safety expert Alisa Baer from The Car Seat Lady suggests that bringing your regular convertible car seat, coupled with a travel cart, can be a practical approach. This ensures you are using a car seat you are already familiar with installing correctly. However, for those prioritizing portability, dedicated travel convertible car seats offer a compelling alternative. These seats are engineered to be significantly lighter than standard models, sometimes weighing as little as 7 pounds compared to the 20 to 30 pounds of typical convertible seats.
Opting for a dedicated travel car seat necessitates preparation. It is strongly recommended to practice installing the travel seat before your trip. Familiarizing yourself with the installation process beforehand can prevent frustration and ensure correct usage when you are potentially tired from travel and dealing with a less-than-patient child. Correct installation is crucial for car seat safety, and the installation process, particularly for convertible seats, is often a point where errors occur. The good news is that the majority of convertible car seats are FAA-approved for use on airplanes.
Booster Seats: Streamlined and Lightweight for Older Children
For older children who have transitioned to booster seats, finding the best travel car seat often means prioritizing minimal bulk and weight. If your child’s everyday booster seat has a detachable back, like the popular Chicco KidFit ClearTex Plus and Graco TurboBooster LX, you have the option of detaching the back and bringing only the backless booster portion for travel. Similar to convertible seats, dedicated travel booster seats are available and designed to be considerably lighter and more compact than everyday models.
Jessica Jermakian, a vehicle safety expert at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, offers practical advice for traveling with backless boosters, especially larger ones. She suggests using bungee cords to attach the booster to your luggage while navigating airports. On many flights, backless boosters can fit under the airplane seat, freeing up overhead bin space. Alternatively, a tote bag can be used for overhead storage if under-seat space is limited.
Alternatives to Bringing Your Own Travel Car Seat
In certain travel scenarios, alternatives to bringing your own best travel car seat might be viable. If you are traveling to a familiar location, borrowing a car seat from friends or family at your destination is a possibility. Baby equipment rental services also offer car seat rentals.
Renting a car seat directly from car rental companies is another option, but it comes with potential drawbacks. Daily rental fees can accumulate quickly, often exceeding the cost of purchasing a dedicated travel car seat in just a few days. While reservations are possible, car seat availability is not guaranteed upon arrival. Furthermore, the condition and ease of installation of rental car seats can be unpredictable, potentially leading to improper use in an unfamiliar vehicle. However, programs like AAA offer benefits such as free car seat rentals when booking through Hertz, Dollar, or Thrifty for their members. Finally, ridesharing services and town car companies sometimes provide car seats with advance notice.
Choosing the best travel car seat depends on your child’s age, how frequently you travel, and your tolerance for lugging heavier items. Whether you opt for a lightweight dedicated travel seat or utilize your everyday car seat strategically, prioritizing your child’s safety and your own travel convenience is key.
