travel booster seat for 9 year old

5 Absolute Best Travel Booster Seats for 2024 (+Helpful Tips)

By Author Jurga

Posted on Last updated: August 9, 2024

One of the most asked questions when it comes to road-tripping with kids is what kind of travel car seat is the best. The answer depends on so many different factors – how and where you travel, how old are your kids, and how light you want to travel. In my opinion, packing a high-back car seat on a plane is really not worth the hassle, so in this article, I will only focus on the best booster seats for travel – portable booster seats . Here’s why.

In my opinion, if you are traveling with a baby or a young child, you better just rent an appropriate car seat when you rent a car abroad.

Car seats for that age group cost a lot of money and are bulky to pack, while the price to rent one isn’t that high compared to what it costs.

Whereas if you travel with older kids who can use a booster car seat, it’s exactly the opposite. Travel booster seats are cheap to buy, easy to take with you, and renting one would often mean paying more.

TIP: At the moment of the last update, BubbleBum booster is the most popular travel booster seat choice among our readers in the USA. If I’m not mistaken, at the moment, you can use this promo code GK3HUGQJ for a 10% discount on these boosters on Amazon .

Ride Safer Vest is a distant second, on a much higher budget but also quite incomparable to any others safety-wise.

And now back to the best portable booster car seats . Below, you can see an overview of the information you can find in this article, including all the best travel boosters in our selection.

You can jump straight to the product information, but I strongly recommend that you also read practical tips and advice that should help you choose the right child booster seat for travel.

Update: We have done our best to update this article through the years. But there are so many changes all the time! Regulations change, products and companies disappear and new ones emerge. With the last update, we had to remove several products completely since they are not available anymore and there are no similar alternatives. So use this just as a guide to see what kind of different types of travel boosters there are, and be sure to always double-check the requirements and product specifications that are important to you!

Travel booster seats – overview:

• Our Experience with Travel Booster Seats

Booster Seat Requirements

• Other Things to Consider when Choosing Travel Booster Seat

1. The BubbleBum Booster Seat

2. ridesafer travel vest, 3. trunki boostapak, 4. hiccapop uberboost inflatable booster car seat, 5. belt-positioning backless booster, travel car seats & booster seats – our experience.

We have three kids and have traveled with them overseas ever since they were born. We always rented car seats for our kids when they were young. I just couldn’t imagine adding a big car seat to our travel luggage , not even to mention having to take two or three of them.

To us, traveling light is the best way to survive traveling with young kids.

LEARN MORE: Tips for Traveling with Kids

When our oldest was almost 5, we made a 5-week road trip in Australia . Twins were just 3 years old at that time. With three young children and multiple flights, there was just no way we would pack portable car seats for all of them. So we reserved car seats for the twins when we booked our rental car. With multiple rental cars at 4 different destinations in Australia, we spent a small fortune on those two car seats.

We, therefore, decided to at least look for an alternative solution for our 5-year-old. That’s when we started researching all available booster seats and realized that buying one would save us several hundreds of dollars.

But even a regular booster seat is not easy to pack with you. So we looked for the best travel booster seats – something that would fit all the safety requirements and at the same time would be easy to pack.

This was years ago and in the meantime, we have bought two more travel boosters for our twins as well. I am happy to say that we are still using the same travel booster seats today. We have used them on every single trip ever since and also on a daily basis at home. Buying a quality travel booster car seat was one of the best investments ever.

But before we talk about the specific travel booster seats, we should first cover some things you have to consider before buying a booster seat for your trip. Read on!

Booster seats are generally suitable for kids from around 4 years of age when children are no longer required to use a car seat with a 5-point harness. A portable travel booster seat ensures your child’s safety whenever you rent a car or use a taxi away from home.

However, the rules for the use of car seats and booster seats vary significantly from one country to another. So it’s essential to consult an official source for the country that you are traveling to in order to make sure that you have the right car seat for your child. More information about this below.

In some parts of the world – particularly much of Asia and northern Africa, there are hardly any laws requiring car seats or boosters of any kind. However, I’d still advise to rent one or bring your own. After all, you should be more concerned with your child’s safety than the (lack of) local laws.

We have rented car seats in South Africa and in Namibia for our kids and most of the time they looked completely ok to us. If in doubt, ask to change a car seat – quality car rental agencies usually have plenty of them available.

As I said before, the moment our kids were old enough for a booster car seat, we just bought our own and never had to worry about it again. Bringing your own booster seat gives you complete peace of mind and ensures that your children can travel safely wherever you go.

If you are traveling abroad, make sure to check the laws for booster seats in the country you are visiting.

Below you can find some links to the car seat and booster seat rules for a variety of destinations. Please note, however, that laws around car seat requirements change all the time , so it’s your responsibility to do proper research for the most up-to-date situation for the country you’re visiting.

Some countries require travel booster seats to carry specific labels in order to be legal for use, so it’s very important to read these regulations carefully.

• Children’s car seat rules in the USA (please note that the laws vary from state to state).
• Car seat rules in the UK .
• Car seat regulations in Canada .
• Car seat rules in Australia .
• While the rules about car seats and boosters for children are very relaxed across much of Asia , there are some countries that do have regulations. Our advice is to look up your specific destination and check the rules before you travel.
• Car seat requirements are now a bit different all over Europe . While in the past you could use a booster car seat for kids from around 4 years, the new law requires a minimum height of 125 cm (4ft1) and weight of at least 22 kg (49 lbs) in order to use a backless booster seat. In most European countries, kids can use a regular adult seat from 135 cm (4ft4) height (e.g. France, UK, Denmark, Sweden, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg…). However, some other countries require that kids under 150 cm (4ft 9) or under 12 years use a booster seat as well (e.g. Germany, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Portugal, Poland, Slovenia,…).

Since car seat requirements are different in every country and the situation might change again, I encourage you to research the laws of the specific country you’re planning to visit . You may also want to check if the booster you have is approved for use in the country you’re traveling to.

Other Things to Consider When Choosing Travel Booster Seat

In addition to local laws and regulations, there are a few other important things to consider when choosing the most suitable booster car seat for travel. Find out!

High-backed booster seats with ‘wings’ are the safest type, as they provide the best protection for your child’s head and neck in a side-impact crash. Unfortunately, though, it’s not always possible to carry this type of seat with you if you are traveling long distances.

The important thing to remember is that any approved booster seat is better than none at all.

Weight and Size

After safety, weight and size are probably the most important considerations when choosing the right (booster) car seat. Whilst some travel booster seats are ideal for local trips and days out and about, others are more suited to longer journeys where you are restricted on how much you can carry.

That being said, you might find that any extra baggage charges you incur from taking your own booster seat would be less than the cost of hiring a booster seat at your destination. Plus, of course, you will then have a portable booster seat for future use!

If you are traveling with 2-3 kids, consider if you can fit all the travel boosters next to each other (and hope they don’t fight all the time 😉 – see also our tips for how to handle long car rides with kids .

Versatility

Some seats are designed to serve more than one purpose, which is great if you have limited luggage space and want to get the most ‘bang for your buck’.

Important Tips

Wherever possible, we recommend sitting with your child and keeping an eye on them if using a backless booster, as it is a little easier for them to wriggle into an unsafe position.

Try to place your travel booster seat in the middle back seat if appropriate. Experts say that this is the safest position in the car.

Practice fitting the booster seat before you travel. While most boosters are pretty straightforward, some may need a little more expertise!

Best Travel Booster Seats: Comparison & Review

There are several good options when it comes to booster car seats for travel. So in order to give you the most complete guide to the best travel booster seats available at this moment , I not only based it on our experience, but also consulted other family travelers, and did extended research.

In the end, I selected portable booster seats that I think are the best options for those looking for a lightweight travel booster that doesn’t compromise on safety. In addition, I also included one high-back foldable booster seat. It’s obviously not as easy to pack as the backless boosters, but if you are traveling with a smaller child and still rather pack a car seat of your own, it might be a good option.

Below is our selection of the best travel booster seats. You can find a short review of each booster seat and a list of the main features that we think make them so useful. Of course, we also included our personal favorite – the travel booster seat that our kids have been using for years. Find out!

Here are the best travel booster seats:

The award-winning BubbleBum Booster Seat is described as an inflatable booster seat. However, it actually contains more memory foam than air, meaning that it will protect your child even if punctured in an accident.

BubbleBum Booster Seat takes just 20 seconds to inflate for use, then deflates quickly and folds to a small size, perfect for popping into your hand luggage or backpack.

The booster is designed for use with a 3-point adult seat belt (not a lap belt). The shoulder belt positioning clip and side lap belt clips help keep your child safe and comfortable.

At just 1.2 lbs it is the lightest travel booster seat we reviewed and it’s also the cheapest. But because it is a little smaller than some other travel boosters, we feel it’s more suited to shorter journeys than long road trips.

BubbleBum booster seat features:

• Suitable for children age 4-11 years, weighing from 40-100 lbs (18-45 kg).
• Inflates and deflates quickly.
• Lightweight and folds to a compact size and easy to store anywhere.
• Comes with its own bag.
• Made of a durable material.
• Narrow design allows you to use 3 across the back seat.

The compact and lightweight RideSafer Travel Vest is a brilliant alternative to a travel booster seat, but it comes with a much steeper price card. Weighing only 1.5 lbs (800 gr), it takes up very little luggage space and is particularly ideal for small cars, where bulkier car seats and boosters can be a tight fit. Fitting three of these vests in a row on the back seat is no problem whatsoever!

While the RideSafer may seem to offer less protection than booster seats at first glance, it’s actually the opposite. This is one of the safest solutions available!

Its clever design means that it maintains the car’s seatbelt in the proper position at all times. The shoulder belt is held in place, but away from your child’s neck, making him feel much more comfortable. It also positions the lap belt below your child’s abdomen, which best protects the internal organs.

This is the most expensive of the travel boosters we have reviewed in this article, but for the convenience and safety of your child, the RideSafer Travel Vest is invaluable!

RideSafer travel vest features:

• Available in 2 sizes, to fit children from 3-10 years, weighing from 30 to 80 lbs (15 to 36 kg).
• Certified for use in cars in the US.
• Small, lightweight, and easy to pack in hand luggage or backpack.
• Maintains proper seatbelt positioning at all times.

Trunki BoostApak is the travel booster seat that we chose for our kids. We bought one for our oldest son when he was 4 and used it till he didn’t need it anymore (around the age of 8-9). Our twins got the same Trunki boosters when they were 4 and used them until the age of 10.

I can’t even start to count the number of flights and road trips we have taken them on. The kids also used Trunki BoostApak boosters for their daily commute to school. Our high-back booster seats were only in use when we traveled big distances with our own car here in Europe. Since the new law in some European countries requires that booster seats are used till the kids are 150 cm tall, we used Trunki BoostAPak for our twins until the age of 10.

When we mentioned versatility earlier in this article, Trunki BoostApak is the booster seat we had in mind! The Trunki BoostApak is not just a booster seat, it’s also a hand-luggage approved child’s bag, with padded straps for comfort and a generous 8-liter capacity.

This means that you can use it to easily pack your child’s toys, books, games, and snacks for them to carry, then quickly convert it into an EU-certified travel booster seat whenever needed. You don’t need to unpack the Trunki before using it as a seat, as its hard plastic internal shell protects the bag’s contents. The shell is also designed to provide maximum strength in an accident.

It’s very easy to convert Trunki from a backpack to a booster seat, but if you (like many of us!) find some kids’ accessories a little challenging, be sure to practice with it before leaving home!

In addition to using it as a backpack and a car booster seat, the Trunki Boostapak with its wipe-clean cover makes a great booster seat for the movies too! We once even took our kids’ Trunkis to a theater.

The only minor issue we’ve had with this booster seat/backpack is that it’s slightly too heavy for younger children to carry – an empty Trunki BoostApak weighs 3.8 pounds (1,7 kg). So when our kids were just 4-5 years old, we usually had to help them with it at the airport. It’s not a big deal since the Trunki usually stays in the car for the entire duration of our trip.

Trunki BoostAPak travel booster features:

• Suitable for children age 4-11 years, weighing from 30 to 80 lbs (15 to 36 kg).
• Converts from a backpack to a booster seat in seconds.
• The fold-out seatbelt guides and seat belt adjuster help you ensure a perfect and safe fit.
• Approved as hand luggage by most airlines.
• EU certified for everyday car use.

Where to buy Trunki BoostApak. For some reason, Trunki BoostApak has always been a ‘European’ travel booster. Probably because it’s only been approved to be used in the EU and is not (yet) on the market in the USA. You can buy it on Amazon UK , but unfortunately, not on Amazon in the US.

Similar in principle to the Bubblebum, the Hiccapop Uberboost travel booster seat inflates and deflates quickly, so you can simply roll it up and pop it in your hand luggage, backpack, etc.

It’s cheaper than the BubbleBum, is made of a very thick, durable material and is comparable in weight.

The biggest difference is that – unlike the BubbleBum – there is no foam in the air bladder. Nevertheless, it feels as sturdy as a regular booster seat when inflated.

Hiccapop Uberboost features:

• Very compact and lightweight.
• Positions seat belt over the lap, not the stomach.
• Lifetime guarantee.

Update: The model reviewed below is not available during our last update, so check out these popular alternatives that offer pretty much the same functionality. Since this is the most popular portable booster design, there are so many brands selling similar models and they change the colors and the looks all the time.

Chicco GoFit Belt-Positioning Backless Booster is the only backless booster seat we reviewed that has dual cup holders, which are a huge plus on long journeys. The cup holders fold away, which is handy if you need to fit several car seats across the back seat. They can easily be removed and are dishwasher safe.

A little more expensive than other backless boosters, the Chicco GoFit feels very robust and well-made, whilst providing a lot more padding for your child’s comfort than many other seats of this type.

The seat has lap belt guides and a shoulder clip, which is attached to the back of the seat by a fabric strap. In some cars, you can fit three of these seats in the back – but you should only do this if you have a 3-point seat belt in the center seat, not a lap belt.

At 5 lbs it is heavier than the other travel booster seats in this selection and would also take up more luggage space. Nevertheless, it is still light enough to carry around and easy to move from one vehicle to another.

The only downside to this seat is that it doesn’t have latch connectors. Whilst this is a bonus in terms of travel, as it can quickly be moved to any vehicle, it does mean that it may shift a little during your journey and will also need to be stowed safely away when not in use.

Chicco GoFit booster seat features:

• Suitable for children age 4 and up, weighing from 40-110 lbs (18-45 kg).
• Double foam padding.
• Armrest covers and seat pad are machine-washable.
• Built-in carry handle.
• Smooth underside to protect vehicle seats.

So this is our complete guide to the best lightweight portable travel booster seats. I hope it helps you to find the best-suitable travel car seat for your kids.

Have you used any of these lightweight booster seats or have a favorite portable travel booster? Feel free to share your experience – you can leave a reply below.

READ ALSO : Best travel bags for kids

More tips for traveling with kids:

• Family travel: Tips for Travelling with Kids & Benefits of Family Travel
• Gear & luggage: Best Travel Gear for Kids & Best Kids Luggage
• Gift ideas: Travel Gifts for Kids (That They’ll Actually Use)
• Footwear: Best Travel Shoes for Kids
• Books: Travel Books and Destination Guides for Kids

If you found this post useful, don’t forget to bookmark it and share it with your friends who might be looking for a travel booster seat for their children. Are you on Pinterest? Pin this image!

Some travel inspiration for families:

• Best Family Travel Destinations
• Best USA National Parks to Visit with Kids
• Lesser-known US National Parks for Families
• Top USA Spring Break Destinations
• Top Spring Break Destinations in Europe
• Yellowstone with Kids
• Arches National Park with Kids

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Saturday 27th of April 2024

Hi! Thanks for this helpful article! I'm from Spain and we are travelling to California this summer. Do you think that we could use trunki there with our 4 and 8 years old children?

Sunday 28th of April 2024

Hi Anna, we took and used Trunki BoostAPak to the USA for all three kids, but that was a few years ago when they were also sold in the US. It seems that they are not certified there at the moment and I really don't know what the implications would be. Here in Europe, you can usually use whatever car seats you use in your home country and they are deemed ok in other EU countries, even if the rules in regards to age/weight are different between those countries. But the USA is a different story. My reasoning with our kids was that we wanted them to be safe, so we bought products that were certified in the EU and approved for their age/weight. In our view, if it's safe here, it's just as safe anywhere. But whether it's legally ok, that's another question. I think that nobody will care what you use unless something happens. So it's really your decision. If you are not sure, just rent car seats. The irony is that the car seats/boosters you rent are usually of much lesser quality. But then you are legally ok.

Wednesday 24th of January 2024

Hi Jurga, I really appreciate your blog - it's been so helpful! I was looking to buy the Trunki BoostApak for our trip to Portugal and Spain later this year as our kids will be 6.5 and 4.5 years old. I noticed that the boosters are no longer available to ship via Amazon to the USA when logged under Amazon UK. I also tried their website which doesn't ship to the USA. It's not urgent since we don't travel until the Fall, but I was hoping to to buy the boosters ahead of time instead of trying to buy something when we arrive. Do you know if something has recently changed or if this is just a temporary thing with Amazon shipping? Thanks much! Kaylee

Thursday 25th of January 2024

Hi Kaylee, unfortunately, I don't know which products Amazon ships where and there might be tons of reasons why a specific product isn't shipped internationally. It might also depend on who the seller is - Amazon itself or some third party. Here in Europe, we use various Amazon websites from all different countries and it's very random what we can buy from which website, and what can be sent to one country is often not possible to another, plus, it changes all the time too. Indeed, the official USA website of Trunki doesn't even show this product, and the ones from Europe don't seem to ship to the USA. It's likely because they never asked for an official approval of this car seat in the US. So I really don't know what to tell you. Maybe try an alternative booster, or rent with a car. You may also want to check what the current rules in Portugal and Spain are depending on your kids' height/weight. I think that they might still be required to use a booster with back/head support at that age (depending on how tall they are and also on the country).

Tuesday 2nd of January 2024

Hi Jurga, happy New Year! I know from your blog your family has been to Portugal a few times including the islands and mainland but don't recall reading specifically on boosters for kids. We will be going to mainland Portugal this July and have 2 kids (both turns 7 & 9 this August). We are not sure what the best options on regarding booster seats for them and wanted to hear your insights. We are debating on renting the boosters with the car rental company but they seem to cost anwhere from $80 to $110 per booster seat which we can save. If we bring our own (backless boosters from the U.S.), we might not be able to use them right? Any suggestions? Thanks!

@Jurga, thanks so much for taking the time to reply to my inquiry! Yes the booster we use in the U.S. is sturdy (Chicco KitFit 2-in-1 Belt Positioning Booster Car Seat). We would bring just the bottom section w/o the back support and that's why I asked if that would meeting Portugal's guideline or law? You rented a car for ONLY 144 euro for 12 days?!?!?! I'm assuming it's manual? Unfortunately we need an automatic and the price seems to just a lot due to that. Thanks for the car rental site. Will check it out using your link!

Hi Athan, indeed, kids that age are officially required to use a booster in Portugal. And yes, some car rental companies charge ridiculous amounts for them - that's also why we always packed our own when our kids needed them... You have several options. Buy a booster at a local store once you get to Portugal (you should be able to find them at all major supermarkets) or bring one with you. Depending on the booster that you use at home, it might be EU certified - just check online. Also, if it's a sturdy, quality booster, it's likely going to be better quality than what you get from some car rental agencies... And normally nobody will care what you use - it's your kids and you want to make sure that they are safe. The only issue is if something happens and police checks car seats. But I can't imagine anyone would make an issue about them not being certified in the EU if they are safe and certified in the USA. But it's your decision. Yet another option is to order a EU-certified booster from Amazon UK or Amazon Germany/France/Spain... (if they deliver in the US) and bring it with you. Just check if it's not going to become more expensive that way. If you want to avoid all the hassle, renting one together with your car is the safest option. Just a thought - car rental is usually so cheap in Portugal that it may not be such a big deal to pay extra for the boosters.

Wednesday 31st of May 2023

I love this post! I actually read it years ago, then when I was looking at booster seats recently, I was so happy to find it back. I saw that it now has the comfiGO booster-type seat by ClypX. I was very interested in that seat, but when I started doing more research on it I found that US child passenger safety news site called Safe Ride News had an article stating that the booster is not actually classified as a booster in the US, so safety regulations don’t apply to it. Since it claims it complies with the regulations (deceptive), and because of how it is designed, I would be hesitant to use it or recommend it to anyone, whether or not they are in the US.

Tuesday 6th of June 2023

Hi Nanika, based on everything I find online, this seat is certified in the US at this moment, but they were asked not to call it a 'booster' anymore.

Saturday 27th of May 2023

Do you have any information on when and why mifold went out of business? Have their booster seats been recalled? When I purchased our mifold years ago, it was considered very safe, approved for use in the UK (which is where we mostly need to use it) and we have loved it, but I know that ratings can change with more information. Thanks!

Hi Lindsey, it happened rather recently and I haven't heard anything about recalls. The company just stopped from one day to the other; I don't think it had anything to do with the product safety. Maybe try searching online - I wasn't able to find much info when I checked when updating this article last time.

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• Baby and kid

The Best Booster Car Seats

By Rebecca Gale

It’s not hard to find a satisfactory booster seat. But a booster that’s well engineered, with thoughtful features, can help provide a safer fit, a comfier ride, and a more pleasant overall experience for you and your kids.

After evaluating more than 50 booster seats, we recommend the versatile, easy-to-use Chicco KidFit ClearTex Plus high-back booster. We also recommend other high-back and backless boosters that will fit a range of budgets and circumstances.

As the name implies, a booster raises a child up so that the car’s seat belt can be positioned properly. These seats are for school-age kids who are generally at least around 40 pounds and 40 inches tall, as well as for those who are ready —both physically and developmentally—to graduate from a five-point harness seat.

Everything we recommend

Chicco KidFit ClearTex Plus

The best high-back booster car seat.

This attractive booster is safe, easy to use, and comfortable. It’s a hit with caregivers and kids alike.

Buying Options

(deal on gray)

Graco TurboBooster LX

This seat lacks some of the conveniences (and pizzazz) of our top pick, but it’s a really good booster at a reasonable price.

You save $20 (24%)

Diono Monterey 2XT Latch

A bigger, adjustable high-back booster.

This attractive, comfortable booster seat has a unique backrest that adjusts in width as your kid grows. It’s wider and heavier than our other picks, though.

Chicco GoFit Plus

The best backless booster.

In a sea of similar models, this seat stands out for its superior LATCH and other convenient features.

How we picked

A good booster seat should be simple to install and convenient to use.

We researched seats to find out which models have received the highest independent ratings for providing a proper belt fit.

Safety experts encouraged us to focus on how the seats perform in the real world, rather than conducting our own crash testing.

We made sure that our picks would work well in a wide variety of vehicles and circumstances.

The Chicco KidFit ClearTex Plus weighs about 10 pounds and is easy to install and remove, thanks to a cleverly designed LATCH system. ( LATCH stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children; this system allows you to install a car seat by attaching a pair of metal hooks or clips, which are built into the seat, to a set of anchors, which are built into the car.) The KidFit ClearTex Plus’s LATCH system, which Chicco calls SuperCinch, can be tightened and released with one hand. And the seat features environmentally conscious, Greenguard Gold–certified fabric, two collapsible cupholders, and the best seat-belt threader of any high-back booster we tested. The seat’s relatively narrow footprint may allow for three across in the back row, depending on the vehicle. The top portion of the seat can be disconnected, converting it from a high-back to a backless booster.

• Weight of seat: 10 pounds
• Width of seat base (at widest point): 17 inches
• Passenger weight and height limits for high-back mode: 40 to 100 pounds; 38 to 57 inches
• Passenger weight and height limits for backless mode: 40 to 110 pounds; 38 to 57 inches

Less expensive than our top pick, the Graco TurboBooster LX has many of the same key features. Like the Chicco KidFit ClearTex Plus, the TurboBooster LX has two cupholders, and it can be converted from being a high-back to a backless seat. Our main gripe is that it has hook-style LATCH connectors, which can be more difficult to get on and off the car’s anchors. This seat weighs just slightly less than our top pick. And, like our top pick, this model has a relatively narrow footprint (it may be possible to fit three seats across, depending on the vehicle). Graco recently released the TurboBooster 2.0 LX . It’s the same seat as the TurboBooster LX, in a new color scheme. The TurboBooster LX will continue to be sold while supplies last.

• Weight of seat: 9.8 pounds
• Passenger weight and height limits for high-back mode: 40 to 100 pounds; 43 to 57 inches
• Passenger weight and height limits for backless mode: 40 to 100 pounds; 43 to 57 inches

The Diono Monterey 2XT Latch is similar to our top pick in terms of function, but it’s covered in a plusher fabric, and it has the option of extending the sides through the shoulders. So this seat is a good choice for kids who have a wider frame. It’s also good for parents who want bigger kids to stay in a high-back booster longer (compared with the height and weight limits of our top and runner-up picks, this seat fits kids who are 20 pounds heavier and 6 inches taller). Like our other picks, the Diono Monterey converts from a high-back to a backless booster. And it uses hook-style LATCH. The seat weighs 4 pounds more than our top pick, and it’s one of the widest models we looked at.

• Weight of seat: 14.3 pounds
• Width of seat base (at widest point): 19 inches
• Passenger weight and height limits for high-back mode: 40 to 120 pounds; 38 to 63 inches
• Passenger weight and height limits for backless mode: 40 to 120 pounds; 38 to 63 inches

We recommend high-back boosters over backless ones for daily use because of the additional head and neck protection they offer. And many models—including our other picks—convert from high-back to backless for carpooling, traveling, or when a kid has outgrown the high-back limits. But backless boosters cost less, and having one on hand can be convenient. The Chicco GoFit Plus has the same SuperCinch LATCH mechanism as the Chicco KidFit ClearTex Plus, making it easy to install, tighten, and release with one hand. It also has expandable cupholders and a built-in handle on one end. We also like that this seat is relatively slender—making it possible to fit three across, depending on the vehicle. The GoFit Plus weighs 6 pounds, so it’s not the lightest option, but it’s about average for boosters with LATCH.

• Weight of seat: 6 pounds
• Passenger weight and height limits: 40 to 110 pounds; 38 to 57 inches

The research

Why you should trust us, who this is for, understanding the different kinds of booster seats, how we picked and tested, what about crash testing, our pick: chicco kidfit cleartex plus, runner-up: graco turbobooster lx, also great: diono monterey 2xt latch, also great: chicco gofit plus, other good high-back booster seats, other good backless booster seats, when can a child sit without a booster seat, the role your car plays in booster safety, the competition, care, use, and maintenance.

When I worked on the first version of this guide, in 2018, I became certified as a Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST). I completed a 40-hour training program through the Safe Kids Worldwide organization, which teaches the proper installation and use of car seats. Since that time, I’ve interviewed over a dozen experts on car seat safety, policy, and installation. I’ve spoken with representatives from 10 car seat manufacturers and talked to dozens of parents about their car seat experiences. And I've scanned hundreds of reviews and read articles from reputable media outlets, including Car Seats for the Littles and BabyGearLab .

To help steer our decisions on which seats to test, we also relied on rankings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), which independently ranks booster seats based on their ability to provide a good seat-belt fit.

Different types of car seats are designed for different stages of a child’s development. The good news: Boosters are, by design, typically the most straightforward to install and to use. But their cargo is no less precious.

Although the specifics can vary, boosters are generally intended for school-age kids who are at least about 40 pounds and 38 to 40 inches tall, and for those who are ready to graduate from a five-point harness. (Regulations on when a child is eligible to ride in a booster also vary from state to state and seat to seat.) Unlike infant car seats and convertible car seats , which provide protection using their own five-point harnesses, a booster seat relies on the vehicle’s seat belt to restrain a child. Younger kids have small frames that are not well matched to adult seat belts, so a booster’s job is to raise and position a child so that the lap and shoulder belts fit properly across their body. In the event of a crash, the vehicle’s safety belt is what holds the kid in place.

The shoulder belt must fit diagonally across a kid’s chest. And the lap belt must fit over a kid’s thighs, not their abdomen; otherwise the abdomen could be injured by the seat belt in the event of a crash. (The chest and thighs are stronger parts of the body and are better able to absorb the pressure of a seat belt.) A 2003 study of children ages 4 to 7 found that booster seats are more than twice as effective in reducing risk of injury than seat belts alone. Note that booster seats are not intended for use with lap-only seat belts, which can still be found in some cars manufactured before 2007. And boosters cannot be used on airplanes.

Parents often look forward to transitioning their kids from one stage to the next. But, as the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has pointed out , car seats are one area where delaying a transition is the better thing to celebrate. Each transition—from rear-facing to forward-facing, from forward-facing to booster seat, and from booster to seat belt alone—reduces the degree of protection to the child.

Some of us who have worked on Wirecutter’s car seat guides have opted to keep our own kids in a convertible car seat with a five-point harness through kindergarten and beyond. However, there comes a time when a child outgrows the height or weight capacity of a five-point harness seat and develops the emotional maturity to shift to a booster seat.

In addition to meeting the minimum size requirements, to safely ride in a booster, a child must be able to sit still in the seat without slouching or leaning over. Otherwise, the seat belt can’t do its job properly. Kids with special needs who have outgrown convertible seat size limits, but who are not able to maintain proper posture in a booster, will require a special harness seat. (We have not tested any of those for this guide, so please consult with a health-care professional or CPST trained to handle special needs.)

High-back vs. backless booster seats

There are two types of booster seats: backless boosters, which simply raise a kid up so they’re in the correct position for the vehicle’s seat belt, and high-back boosters, which both raise the kid up and offer some support and protection to the head, neck, and upper back. High-back boosters can also help with correctly positioning the shoulder belt, and they are potentially comfier for naps in the car. Because of the additional protection that high-back boosters provide, we recommend them for regular use until a kid outgrows the height limits of the backrest.

Despite the safety advantages of high-back boosters, they may not be ideal for every situation. Since backless boosters are smaller and lighter, many caregivers find them to be more convenient, especially when a seat needs to be moved frequently. And some kids outgrow the height limits of a high-back booster before they’re ready to be out of a booster entirely. That’s why we’re big fans of seats that can convert from high-back to backless, as our picks can.

What about LATCH?

LATCH stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children. This system allows you to install a car seat by attaching a pair of metal hooks or clips, which are built into the seat, to a set of anchors, which are built into the car. With infant, convertible, and forward-facing five-point harness seats, to use LATCH as the sole method of installation, a child must weigh less than 40 pounds; once a child is over 40 pounds, the car seat must be secured using a seat belt. But for booster seats, it’s a different story.

Plenty of booster seats offer LATCH—including our top picks. But LATCH is not required for a booster seat to function safely. (And the 40-pound weight limit doesn’t apply, either, since it’s the seat belt that’s restraining a child.) Booster seats work by enabling your vehicle’s seat belts to do their job. So rest assured, a LATCH-less booster seat is fully equipped to do the task at hand.

With that said, there are potential advantages to getting a booster with LATCH. Attaching the booster to the car will help prevent the seat from shifting around when a child is getting in or out; this will also keep the seat securely in place when it’s unoccupied and prevent it from becoming a projectile in the event of a crash or sudden stop.

There are valid reasons to forego LATCH, too. You may need to use the booster in an area of the car that doesn’t have LATCH anchors (like the middle seat or in a third row). Also, the addition of LATCH to a booster almost always translates to a higher price tag.

We’ve tested boosters both with and without LATCH; you’ll find multiple non-LATCH recommendations in the Other good booster seats section of this guide.

All of our research led us to conclude that the ideal booster seat should be:

Easy to use safely: A booster’s ability to deliver a proper belt fit is what makes it safe, and several factors contribute to achieving that fit. A booster should promote correct posture; a kid should sit up straight and not slouch. If a high-back seat has side wings, they should allow for good sight lines and peripheral vision, so that a kid won’t be tempted to lean forward to see around them. It should be easy for a kid (or the adult who’s helping them) to pull the seat belt through the belt-positioning mechanism and get buckled in. The belt should rest flat against the shoulder and chest, and low on the hips or upper thighs, and it should stay there. If a kid leans forward and then leans back, the seat belt should be routed so that it moves with them. (A belt that does not retract would be too loose in the event of a crash.) The belt should also easily retract when unbuckled, readying it for the next use.

Versatile: Seats that are narrower or have a more-streamlined design will fit better in a wider range of cars. We looked for seats that, though narrow, have generous height and weight limits, as well as for those that can be adjusted or expanded to accommodate older and larger kids. We give preference to high-back boosters because of their added safety advantages, but to meet different needs, we included options that convert from high-back to backless as well as ones that are backless only.

Appealing to kids: Kids in boosters are likely to have strong opinions about how they ride (as well as everything else). So it’s important to have a booster that appeals to them. We gave extra points to seats that were notably comfy and had qualities that kids would find cool or features that would improve their overall experience, such as cupholders and high-quality fabric.

Equipped with a LATCH option: LATCH is a system that allows you to install a car seat with metal clips or hooks, which attach to anchors built into the car. As we explain above, LATCH is optional for booster seats. However, LATCH has some perks, such as helping to keep the seat in position and preventing it from becoming a projectile.

Convenient for adults: A booster seat that’s lighter in weight and designed with handling in mind will be less annoying to move in and out of a car. Intuitive installation is also a big boon. And maintenance matters: The headrest should be easy to adjust, and if a seat converts from high-back to backless, that process shouldn’t be a headache. Finally, the seat should be easy to keep clean.

A good value: We considered seats that cost well over $200. But given how many high-quality options are available for less than that, we couldn’t find a valid reason to spend any more. So we focused on models that were $200 or, in many cases, far less.

Based on these criteria, we’ve tested close to 20 models over the past five years.

I tried out each booster seat with two of my children over the course of six months. We also asked three other families and Wirecutter editors to compare some of the booster seats with kids ranging in age from 4 to 9 years old. We looked at the pros and cons of every seat, including install, fit, child preference, aesthetics, and ease of use.

When we were working on the original version of this guide, in 2018, we hired an independent lab to conduct crash testing on the booster seats that we considered as our top contenders. The results were factored into our final recommendations, which included earlier models of the Chicco, Graco, and Diono high-back seats that we recommend now.

We later decided not to commission further crash testing. Multiple experts told us that as advanced as today’s crash-testing tools are, they aren’t advanced enough to reliably differentiate among a set of well-engineered seats or to tease out an A+ from an A-. Jessica Jermakian, VP of vehicle research at the IIHS said, “I’m not sure that crash testing would give you meaningful results. If you’ve already picked the four best seats from all the other perspectives, then you can feel confident that engineers have spent a lot of time designing those seats for a good and safe user experience.”

After careful consideration and consultation with experts, we decided that field testing alone should dictate our picks within this guide. The most effective strategy for keeping your kids safe on the road is to choose a car seat that works well for your family and then to use it correctly. “The best car seat is the one that fits your kid, fits your car, and is used properly on every trip.” said Matt Maltese , an engineer and crash-testing expert who’s worked for both the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia .

The Chicco KidFit ClearTex Plus has the best combination of features we’ve found in a high-back booster. It’s user-friendly, our kid testers thought it was comfortable, and the fabric cover is easy to keep clean. We also like that it converts from high-back to backless, requires minimal assembly, and has a sporty, modern look. The KidFit ClearTex Plus is an updated (and improved) version of the Chicco KidFit, our previous runner-up pick in this guide. The old KidFit received a Best Bet rating from the IIHS for its ability to provide proper seat-belt positioning; the new model has not yet received a rating.

It’s a cinch to install. The 10-pound KidFit ClearTex Plus is easy to install and remove, thanks to its alligator-style LATCH connectors, which are equipped with a clever tightening and release mechanism. Chicco calls its installation system SuperCinch; you clip the latches to the vehicle’s anchors; then you pull on a center strap at the front of the seat to tighten and snug the seat into place with one tug. The seat’s quick-release feature detaches the LATCH connectors with a single (one-handed) pull of a front handle—no need to jam your hand between the vehicle’s seat cushions, fishing for a clip to unhook.

The seat-belt threader has been improved. The KidFit ClearTex Plus has an updated seat-belt threader, which is clearly labeled and functions exceptionally well. On the previous KidFit model, the belt threaded into the loop from top to bottom, but now it threads from bottom to top; this configuration is easier to use. The threader also keeps the belt from getting twisted. The KidFit ClearTex Plus was better than any other seat we tested at securely and comfortably positioning the strap on the correct part of a kid’s shoulder.

Kids say it’s comfy. The seat is well padded (according to Chicco, it has two layers of foam and ergonomic support), and kids found it comfortable to sit in. As one kid put it, “It feels fine. Like a regular seat.” Our kid testers enjoyed the removable double cupholders, which are dishwasher-safe and made from a flexible material that can be pushed in and out. The headrest adjusts to 10 positions; the side wings are ample and comfortable, but they aren’t so big that they block kids’ sight lines. The backrest can be adjusted between two positions, to better fit the angle of the vehicle seat. The fabric feels smooth and substantial. And it has Greenguard Gold Certification , which promises low levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs); the textiles used to make the seat are manufactured without any added chemicals.

It’s easy to put together and to take apart. The KidFit ClearTex Plus is quick and simple to assemble out of the box; you need only to attach the back and armrests to the base. To convert it to a backless booster, you detach the top half from the bottom part by pulling on a lever and lifting up. (When it’s in backless mode, it has a small carrying handle for easy transport, but there are no storage slots for the LATCH connectors.)

Cleaning it is simple. The fabric is easy to wipe down, and crumbs shake off easily enough. For a more-thorough wash, follow the manual instructions for machine washing. It can take a few tries to master putting the cover back on. But once you get the hang of it, it should take only a few minutes.

It’s narrow and will fit a child for years. In high-back mode, the KitFit ClearTex Plus has a narrow, space-saving frame, at 17 inches across at the base and 19 inches at the widest part of the backrest; this should allow for fitting three seats across in many vehicles. The narrow frame also allows kids to easily access the seat-belt buckle, which can be tougher with wider booster seats. The high-back mode fits kids from 40 to 100 pounds and 38 to 57 inches tall; the backless configuration has the same height range but a weight range of 40 to 110 pounds.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

It’s not the best for bigger kids. Although we believe most kids will fit comfortably in the KidFit ClearTex Plus, its slender frame may be less appealing to bigger kids who prefer a wider seat.

You can’t store the LATCH connectors. Our only design complaint is that there’s nowhere to store the LATCH connectors when they’re detached. So if you’re carrying the seat around, they’ll flap, which could be annoying.

It’s a little pricey. We do think this booster seat’s price is reasonable, considering the quality. But you don’t need to pay this much to get a safe booster seat that works well.

The Graco TurboBooster LX is a solid—if slightly basic—high-back booster seat. It has the main features that matter in a high-back booster, and it costs a bit less than our top pick, the Chicco KidFit ClearTex Plus . But you do sacrifice some conveniences for the lower price. The TurboBooster LX is lightweight, at 9.8 pounds (slightly lighter than the KidFit ClearTex Plus), and it has a Best Bet rating from the IIHS for its ability to provide a proper seat-belt fit. Graco recently released the TurboBooster 2.0 LX . It’s the same seat as the TurboBooster LX, in a new color scheme. The TurboBooster LX will continue to be sold while supplies last. We will test the TurboBooster 2.0 LX soon.

The install is a bit annoying . The biggest compromise with the TurboBooster LX is that it has hook-style LATCH connectors; they’re the least-user-friendly type of LATCH. It’s often tough to see what you’re doing and to maneuver around in the tight space behind the seat, and the TurboBooster LX’s LATCH hooks can be particularly tricky to get on and off your car’s anchors. This could get frustrating if you’re intending to rely on the LATCH and to frequently move the seat to different locations.

Once you’ve clipped the hooks to the anchors, you can snug the seat into position by pulling on the front strap. But unlike the Chicco KidFit ClearTex Plus, which allows you to release the LATCH hooks with a simple lever, the LATCH connectors on the TurboBooster LX must be manually loosened and detached. (Note: The Graco TurboBooster 2.0 is essentially the same seat but without LATCH; it costs less than the TurboBooster LX and the TurboBooster 2.0 LX.)

But the seat-belt threader is simple. The seat belt threader on the TurboBooster LX is well designed; the belt slides into the opening smoothly from bottom to top, easily enough for most kids to manage it on their own. The seat-belt threader on the Chicco KidFit ClearTex Plus is similar, but it has more of a diagonal at the entry point, which we prefer.

It fits most kids well. The kids who tested this seat were happy with how it felt. The TurboBooster LX has a standard stationary plastic cupholder on one side, and on the other there’s a cupholder that slides in and out of the seat base. These cupholders cannot be removed for cleaning (as the Chicco’s cupholders can). The TurboBooster LX’s side wings aren’t so big that they block kids from being able to see around them, and the headrest is easily adjustable up and down to six different positions (fewer than the 10 on our top pick).

One tester noted that the headrest had a tendency to slide down after being adjusted; we also saw the same complaint in several online reviews. We reached out to Graco, and a company spokesperson acknowledged that the headrest can slide downward if not properly locked into place. Graco has since included instructions on how to lock the headrest into position, in the user manual and on the seat for all TurboBooster LX models manufactured after March 9, 2022.

It takes a little time to set up. The TurboBooster LX requires a few more minutes of setup out of the box than the Chicco KidFit ClearTex Plus. The armrests, cupholder, and seat pads need to be attached, and it takes a moment to connect the top and bottom half of the seat.

It’s easy to clean. The seat is covered in a 100% polyester fabric that’s simple to spot-clean. For bigger messes, the entire cover can be removed in two parts for machine washing on the delicate cycle; it must be air-dried.

It has a narrow footprint. The seat is 17 inches across, same as the top pick, and the TurboBooster LX’s backrest is 21 inches across at its widest point; it may be possible to fit three seats across. The seat should accommodate most older kids, but a kid who needs a wider seat may outgrow this early. The narrow footprint makes it fairly easy for most kids to buckle themselves in.

It converts to backless and fits kids up to 100 pounds. In high-back mode, the TurboBooster LX has a weight range of 40 to 100 pounds (the same as the Chicco KidFit ClearTex Plus) and a height range of 43 to 57 inches (the Chicco seat’s height range is 38 to 57 inches); the backless range is also 40 to 100 pounds (for the Chicco seat it’s 40 to 110 pounds) and 43 to 57 inches (for the Chicco seat it’s 38 to 57 inches).

The Diono Monterey 2XT Latch is similar to our top pick in terms of function, but it’s covered in a plusher fabric and has the option of extending the sides through the shoulders. This makes it a good choice for kids who have a wider frame and parents who want bigger children to stay in a high-back booster seat longer. This seat received a Best Bet rating from the IIHS for its ability to provide a proper seat-belt fit.

The install is easy. The Monterey 2XT is a cinch to put together. Simply attach the seat to the back and then slide in the headrest. Our testers found the install fairly simple. Similar to the Graco TurboBooster LX , the Monterey 2XT comes with simple, hook-style LATCH anchors (unlike the Chicco seat’s alligator-style LATCH system). The Monterey 2XT seat’s anchors are initially challenging to fish out from the seat, but they make the seat easy to install (though it can be a bit tricky to disconnect them). As with our other picks, the Monterey 2XT’s seat-tightening pulls are through the front of the seat, not the side, which makes tightening the LATCH straightforward. And as with our top pick, the seat belt slides into the threader from the bottom up (though one tester found Chicco’s version to be more intuitive).

It expands at the shoulders, which bigger kids may find especially comfy. Unlike our other picks, the Monterey 2XT has shoulder wings that can expand via a knob on the back of the seat, to allow more room widthwise; this is unusual among booster seats. As with our other picks, the Monterey 2XT headrest adjusts easily by notching up to grow with the kid; this seat has an 11-position headrest, compared with the KidFit ClearTex Plus’s 10.

It’s larger than our other picks. The Monterey 2XT is bigger, wider, and heavier than our top and runner-up picks (the Monterey 2XT is 14.3 pounds, versus the KidFit ClearTex Plus’s 10 pounds). So this model is not an ideal choice for those who want a booster seat they can quickly swap in and out of the car. And you may not be able to install three car seats across. One tester found that her 5-year-old couldn’t buckle herself into the seat (which she could do in our top-pick Chicco seat); this was due to the Monterey 2XT’s large armrests and seat base, which partially covered the seat-belt buckle slot.

The add-ons are appealing. Our young testers enjoyed the double cupholders, which push in and out (they are not removable, unlike those on our top pick). And the easy-to-wipe-down, machine-washable, colorful fabric comes in red, blue, yellow, plum, as well as traditional black. One of our testers said her kids all vied to sit in the “fancy blue seat,” as they described the Monterey 2XT.

It should last a long time. Like all of our other high-back picks, this seat converts to a backless booster. Both the high-back and backless modes fit kids between 40 and 120 pounds and 38 to 63 inches; this seat better accommodates heavier and taller kids than our other picks.

The Chicco GoFit Plus backless booster is the best of all the backless-only boosters we tested, thanks to a winning combination of essential features and thoughtful touches. Our top-pick high-back booster, Chicco’s KidFit ClearTex Plus , does convert to a backless version that’s very similar to the GoFit Plus. But for families that want to purchase a standalone backless booster, the GoFit Plus is a quality option. This seat weighs 6 pounds and has a Best Bet rating from the IIHS for its ability to provide a proper seat-belt fit.

The LATCH makes for an effortless install. The GoFit Plus has the same user-friendly SuperCinch LATCH system as our high-back Chicco booster pick. The alligator-style LATCH hooks easily attach to, and detach from, the car’s anchors with a one-pull mechanism for tightening and releasing. (The Chicco GoFit is identical to the GoFit Plus, but without LATCH; it normally costs about $15 less.)

Little extras are appreciated. The seat has plenty of padding and feels cushy for the rider. Like the KidFit ClearTex Plus, the GoFit Plus has removable, dishwasher-safe cupholders that expand and collapse. There’s a handle built into the side of the seat that lets you carry the GoFit Plus like a briefcase. (The Chicco KidFit ClearTex also has a handle, which can be used when the seat is in backless mode.) However, there’s no dedicated storage spot to stow the seat’s LATCH connectors when they’re not in use, so when you’re carrying the GoFit Plus around, they flap about.

The basic fabric is washable. The cover on the GoFit Plus is made from a polyester knit fabric that’s different from the material on the KidFit ClearTex Plus (the latter has Greenguard Gold Certification , ensuring low VOCs; the GoFit Plus does not); the fabric still has a nice feel to it. The seat cover can be removed; it’s machine-washable on the delicate cycle and must be air-dried.

Most kids can buckle themselves in. The seat is the same width at the base (17 inches) as our Chicco high-back pick, so it’s possible to fit three across in most cars. This seat is narrow enough for most kids to be able to buckle themselves in. The GoFit Plus weighs 6 pounds, which is more than some of the ultra-lightweight boosters we tested (such as the Cosco Rise , at 2.2 pounds), but its weight is similar to that of other backless boosters with LATCH. It has a weight range of 40 to 110 pounds and a height range of 38 to 57 inches (the same as for our top-pick Chicco in backless mode).

If you want our top-pick high-back booster but with upgrades: The Chicco KidFit Adapt Plus is the same seat as our top pick , except it’s covered in a high-performance fabric that claims to draw away moisture, helping the passenger maintain a comfortable temperature. The Chicco KidFit Zip Plus is also the same seat as our top pick, but it has extra seat and backrest cushions (which zip on and off) and a detachable console compartment (where kids can stash small toys and other treasures). The Chicco KidFit Zip Air Plus also has the extra zip-on and zip-off padding and the console compartment, plus an extended leg rest (which makes it look kind of like a lawn chair); our testers didn’t find this useful when they tried out a previous generation of the seat, but some kids might like it. The KidFit Zip Plus and KidFit Zip Air Plus have a Best Bet rating from the IIHS for their ability to provide a proper seat-belt fit.

If you like our runner-up high-back booster, but you don’t want LATCH: The Graco TurboBooster 2.0 high-back booster is almost identical to our runner-up pick, the Graco TurboBooster LX , as well as the new Graco TurboBooster 2.0 LX, but without a LATCH option, and it usually costs about $30 less. This Graco TurboBoosterhas a Best Bet rating from the IIHS for its ability to provide a proper seat-belt fit.

If you want an inexpensive high-back booster without LATCH: The Evenflo GoTime Sport booster is the lowest-priced high-back booster of the models we tested. It’s lightweight (6 pounds), and it’s a good option for caregivers who want to keep an extra high-back booster on hand. The GoTime Sport converts easily from high-back to backless, and has a Best Bet rating from the IIHS for its ability to provide a proper seat-belt fit.

If your kid tends to fall asleep in the car: The UPPAbaby Alta is an expensive high-back booster seat that has a “lap belt positioner” (aka a crotch buckle), which helps keep the lap belt and passenger securely in place. That can be helpful for kids who need additional support to keep the belt in position, as well as for those who are prone to dozing off and then creeping downward in their seat, creating an unsafe posture. But if those cases don’t apply, then the crotch buckle is likely to be a drawback; several older children found it annoying. The Alta weighs 16.6 pounds, has a wide (19-inch) base, and cannot be converted to backless mode. It has a Best Bet rating from the IIHS for its ability to provide a proper seat-belt fit.

If aesthetics are a top priority: The Nuna Aace is a beautiful, expensive high-back booster. The Aace has rigid LATCH connectors, the easiest and most secure type of LATCH connectors, and they allow the seat to have a recline feature. The Aace comes with one removable cupholder, which falls off easily. This seat converts from high-back to backless mode and has a Best Bet rating from the IIHS for its ability to provide a proper seat-belt fit.

If you want a lightweight five-point harness seat that converts to a booster: The Cosco Finale 2-in-1 , a pick in our guide to the best travel car seats , is a good choice. The forward-facing seat has a five-point harness that holds kids from 30 to 65 pounds and up to 49 inches; you can also remove the harness and switch to a high-back booster (this mode works for kids who are 40 to 100 pounds and 43 to 52 inches). It does not convert to a backless booster, and has a Best Bet rating from the IIHS for its ability to provide a proper seat-belt fit.

If you like our favorite backless booster, but you don’t want LATCH: The Chicco GoFit is identical to our backless pick, the Chicco GoFit Plus , but without the LATCH. (Because of that, it weighs 5 pounds instead of 6.) This seat has a Best Bet rating from the IIHS for its ability to provide a proper seat-belt fit.

If you want a backless version of our runner-up pick without LATCH: The Graco TurboBooster Backless is the backless-only version of our runner-up Graco high-back booster , minus the LATCH. The TurboBooster Backless weighs just over 5 pounds and has two cupholders; it has a Best Bet rating from the IIHS for its ability to provide a proper seat-belt fit. Graco recently released the TurboBooster 2.0 Backless , which is the same seat with updated fabrics.

If you want a cheap, light, zero-frills backless booster without LATCH: The Cosco Rise , our pick for the best backless booster seat for travel , is usually under $20, weighs just 2.2 pounds, and doesn’t have cupholders. It comes with a Best Bet rating from the IIHS for its ability to provide a proper seat-belt fit. Cosco is phasing out the Rise for the Rise LX , which costs about $6 more and has fabric-covered arm rests. We plan to test this seat soon.

If you want an extra-wide backless booster with LATCH: The Diono Solana 2 is a high-end, wide booster that could work well for kids who want or need more space. Just be sure that your vehicle seat is large enough to accommodate its footprint, with room on the side to access the buckle. The hook-style LATCH system can be difficult to maneuver; Diono recently added a rigid LATCH version of the seat as well. The Solana 2 has a Best Bet rating from the IIHS for its ability to provide a proper seat-belt fit.

Most booster seats have an upper size limit for kids—often 100 pounds (or more) and 57 inches in height. The AAP recommends that kids stay in a belt-positioning booster seat until they are at least 4 feet 9 inches in height and are 8 to 12 years old. For specific criteria, see our guide on when to switch car seats .

No matter what type of restraint a kid is in, experts recommend that they sit in the back seat of the car (PDF) until they are at least 13 years old.

Boosters are positioning devices, meaning the car’s seat belt is responsible for restraining the child. In recent years, there has been a growing emphasis on how a car’s seat belt can impact the risk of injury; in particular, the focus is on the presence or absence of seat-belt pretensioners and force limiters, which are built-in devices that enable seat belts to function more effectively in a crash.

In the first milliseconds of a crash, pretensioners remove several inches of slack from the belt—reducing how far forward the occupant moves, as well as the likelihood of the occupant falling sideways and out of the shoulder belt. The pretensioner activates after the belt is already locked, to take even more slack out of the harness. While pretensioners and force limiters have been standard in the front seats of vehicles since 2008, they are not standard in the back seats of most cars.

Cars either have pretensioners and/or force limiters or they don’t; they can’t be added on. So when considering where to place the booster within your car, find out whether the car has these features and where they’re located. The Car Seat Lady website has a helpful tool that allows you to search for this information by make, model, and year.

The Britax Highpoint is another high-back booster seat with push-button alligator LATCH connectors that can be converted to backless. This pricey seat has an optional crotch buckle, which can help with correct posture and positioning but can also be a nuisance. We were unable to test the Highpoint due to availability issues.

The Britax Skyline is a high-back booster seat with push-button alligator LATCH connectors that can convert to backless. It worked fine, but one of our 8-year-old testers had a hard time getting a proper seat-belt fit.

The Clek Oobr is an astonishingly expensive high-back booster seat. And at 20 pounds, it’s heavy! It has a Best Bet rating for the high-back mode from the IIHS for its ability to provide a proper seat-belt fit. The Oobr features rigid LATCH connectors that quick-release with the pull of a strap. The seat can recline, and it converts from high-back to backless. It has one dishwasher-safe cupholder and a well-designed seat-belt threader. In backless mode, the Oobr has a Check Fit rating from the IIHS, which means the seat-belt fit varied in testing, depending on the child’s size and the vehicle. Because the Oobr is three times as expensive and twice as heavy as other seats that are just as safe and easy to use, we did not test it. But a Wirecutter editor who has had it for nearly three years can attest to its overall quality and that it was easy to use.

The Peg Perego Viaggio HBB 120 is an expensive high-back booster seat with rigid LATCH; it can be converted to backless mode. In 2018, a spokesperson for Peg Perego told us that the company was planning to phase the model out of the product line, so we did not test it. As of this publication, it is still available.

The Clek Olli is a backless booster seat with rigid LATCH that weighs 5 pounds. The LATCH connectors release easily with the pull of a strap. This seat comes in a range of stylish, premium fabrics, and it has a removable carrying strap and dishwasher-safe cupholder. But it costs way too much for a backless booster. Clek makes a less-expensive version called the Ozzi , which does not have the quick-release feature, carrying strap, or cupholder, but it’s still pricey. Both seats were subject to a 2022 safety recall notice related to labeling, which is correct on newer seats.

Maximize your kid’s safety on an ongoing basis by being sure to do the following things:

Observe the seat’s size and weight limits. It is essential that your child ride in the type of car seat that is appropriate for their size and developmental stage . Most kids will hit a high-back seat’s height limit before they reach its weight limit. A child has outgrown a high-back booster when the tops of their ears are at or above the top of the seat’s head restraint at the highest setting. Read the seat’s manual for additional guidance.

Follow the cleaning instructions. The correct method for cleaning your booster seat is detailed in the car seat’s manual. As we explain in this post on how to clean a car seat , it’s important to follow the instructions; failing to do so can compromise the safety of the seat and/or its textiles.

Dispose of your seat when the time comes. Car seats expire; booster seats generally last around 10 years. If your seat has reached its expiration date—or has been the subject of a recall—you should dispose of it . Any car seat that has been involved in a moderate or serious accident should also be thrown away, since the damage or structural changes incurred may compromise its ability to perform safely. You can continue to use a seat after a minor crash if all of the following criteria are met: You’re able to drive away from the crash site; airbags did not deploy; the passengers are uninjured; the car seat has no visible damage; and the vehicle door nearest the car seat is undamaged.

This article was edited by Amy Miller Kravetz and Kalee Thompson.

Julie Mansfield, research engineer with the Injury Biomechanics Research Center, The Ohio State University College of Medicine , phone interview , July 23, 2018

Aditya Belwadi, PhD, biomechanics research scientist, Child Passenger Safety Research team at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia , phone interview , May 1, 2018

Lani Harrison, Child Passenger Safety Technician, Car Seats for the Littles , phone interview , May 1, 2018

Mike Kulig, business unit director, and Bill Horn, SLED head engineer and operational manager, Calspan , phone interview , April 24, 2018

Monica Mikan, Graco product development, Casey Anthony, senior manager of Graco product development, William Conway, Graco research and development , phone interview , May 21, 2018

Joshua Dilts, marketing product manager, Chicco USA , phone interview , May 1, 2018

Allana Pinkerton, Child Passenger Safety Technician, Diono , phone interview , April 26, 2018

Alisa Baer, MD, pediatrician and co-founder of car seat safety website The Car Seat Lady , phone interview , February 28, 2022

Kerry Chausmer, program and member services director, the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) , phone interview , December 15, 2021

Jessica Jermakian, PhD, vice president for vehicle research at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) , phone interview , January 31, 2022

Meet your guide

Rebecca Gale

Further reading

The Best Convertible and All-in-One Car Seats

After researching dozens of seats and testing 17, we’ve concluded that the Graco Extend2Fit Convertible is the best convertible car seat for most families.

Are Rotating Car Seats Worth It?

Rotating car seats are gaining popularity—but for the typical family, they’re not better than simpler options. Here’s what to know before buying one.

The Best Travel Car Seats

After testing 17 lightweight, portable car seats, we have five good options for infants, toddlers, and big kids to recommend.

When to Switch Car Seats

Car seats and booster seats are most effective when they’re used for the correct age, stage, and size of kids. We break down when it’s safe to make the switch.

Best Travel Booster Seats: For Kids Of All Ages

Are you planning a trip with your child, and need a good booster seat? Preferably one that’s portable and that doesn’t weigh 25 lbs? Lucky for you, you’re in the right place! You’ll only see the best travel booster seats here.

Ones that are used for travel by hundreds of parents just like yourself. All of the booster seats featured in this review are lightweight, portable, and most importantly, safe for your child.

At A Glance: Our Top 3 Picks for Travel Booster Car Seats

• Best With Harness Cosco Scenera Next Convertible Car Seat Jump To Review
• Best With High-Back Evenflo Big Kid High Back Booster Car Seat Jump To Review
• Best With Backless BubbleBum Inflatable Backless Booster Car Seat Jump To Review

I found several different types of boosters, which are suitable for children of different ages. Including travel harness seats that are perfectly safe for babies and young toddlers. So, I am pretty sure you will be able to find something that’s a good fit for your child in our detailed review!

Top Product Overview

The best travel booster seats for kids of all ages, best harness booster seats.

Harness booster seats are best suitable for babies and young toddlers. If you’re traveling with a child that is 2 or younger, we recommend one of these travel booster seats.

Cosco Scenera Next Convertible Car Seat

This Cosco Scenera Next Convertible Car Seat  is definitely one of our favorite harness boosters. It is very lightweight, so it’s fairly easy to carry around the airport. Also , it’s FAA-approved, so you won’t have any issues using it on the plane  – so long as you purchased a booster seat for your child. If you didn’t, you can just check it with the rest of your luggage.

This car seat  comes with a cup holder, which is pretty convenient for a bottle . But it is also removable, in case you don’t need it, or if it takes up too much space.

You can use this as both a forward-facing and a rear-facing booster car seat. However, if you use it as a rear-facing seat on an airplane, the seat in front of it won’t be able to recline, which might be an issue. But if your child weighs less than 22 lbs, the manufacturer strongly recommends that you use this as a rear-facing booster car seat.

Another thing I have to mention is  the price point – this is without a doubt one of the more affordable harness boosters you can find.  Because of that, even if you only use it 2 times, you will pretty much get your money’s worth.

We wouldn’t really recommend this as an everyday booster seat – the harness is nowhere near as elaborate as it should be, and the booster car seat is not too comfortable. There’s not a lot of padding on the seat, and that could be an issue with prolonged use. But it is a really good option as a lightweight and portable seat.

• Very affordable
• Lightweight and small
• FAA approved
• Not a lot of padding in the seat
• Doesn’t restrict movement as well as a regular car seat

Product Information

• Recommended Age Range: Less than 18 months
• Min/Max Weight Recommended: Up to 40 lbs
• Product Weight: 10.4 lbs

Evenflo Tribute LX Convertible Car Seat

The Evenflo car seat is a good choice for traveling with babies and young toddlers. It is FAA-approved, so you can use it in an airplane if you have purchased a seat for your child. It can be used both as a rear-facing and forward-facing seat. But, if your child weighs less than 30 lbs, it can only be used as a rear-facing seat.

This is one of the lightest high back seats in our review, at only 9.29 lbs. It is also one of the more affordable options, so it’s great for parents on a budget. You’ll get good value for your money, but don’t expect too much for some $55.

The straps on this booster seat are not the best, and that’s one downside. They don’t feature any pads, and there’s a good chance they’ll cut into your child’s skin – not the most comfortable feature of the chair. However, you can contact the manufacturer and ask them to send you shoulder pads – several customers did this.

This booster car seat is suitable for children that weigh 5-40 lbs, which is about 4 years old max. And it is a very safe booster seat – it meets all applicable Federal Safety Standards, which is one of the main reasons why we recommend it in the first place. Plus, it has a detachable cup holder, which is always convenient in a travel booster seat.

• Lightweight and affordable
• Detachable cup holder
• Harness doesn’t have pads
• Plastic edges are somewhat harsh
• Min/Max Weight Recommended: 5-40 lbs
• Product Weight: Approximately 9.29 lbs

Chicco MyFit Harness + Booster Car Seat

This Chicco car seat is definitely one of the best options out there. It is extremely versatile – it is a harness seat that transforms into a regular high-back booster car seat, so your child shouldn’t outgrow it for several years. And it’s also a really good option for an everyday seat, and not just for travels.

There is a slight issue of weight – this is one of the heavier travel car seats. But not by too much –  it weighs 12 lbs , which I think is still lightweight enough that you can use it for family travel. And the extra weight means extra features and more ways to use the booster seat. Perhaps the main reason for the extra weight is the steel frame inside the side, which significantly improves its impact resistance.

The harness mode is suitable for children that are at least 2 years old or weigh at least 25 lbs. This travel booster seat is also FAA-approved, but only in harness mode. As your child grows, you can easily transform the booster car seat to accommodate them.

Chicco MyFit features two dishwasher-safe cup holders, EPS energy foam around the head and torso, latches, dual-density padding, and a contoured design. It is comfortable, safe, easy to install, easy to clean, and pretty lightweight for everything it has to offer. But all of that Chicco goodness comes at a price – and it’s the highest one in this entire review.

• Very comfortable and secure
• Versatile – harness mode and booster mode
• FAA approved (in harness mode)
• Pretty expensive
• On the heavier side
• Recommended Age Range: 2y+ (harness) / 4y+ (booster)
• Min/Max Weight Recommended: 25-100 lbs
• Product Weight: 12.1 lbs

Best High Back Boosters (No Harness)

One thing to keep in mind about these boosters is that they are not FAA-approved. They don’t have a harness and airplane seats don’t have lap-shoulder straps that will keep your child safe. These boosters are a good option if you plan to check them at an airport, and not use them during the flight.

Chicco KidFit 2-in-1 Belt-Positioning Booster

One thing that’s pretty cool about this travel booster seat is that it transforms into a backless booster easily. So, maybe you can use it as a full booster at home, and as a backless booster when you travel.

But because of its lightweight, it’s also perfectly fine as a high-back booster for travel. It is a bit bulky, so we recommend it only if you’re renting a car, and not hopping in and out of taxis and Ubers.

This booster features DuoZone side impact protection (head and shoulder) and latches attachment for the safety of your children. It can also be adjusted in 10 different positions, to accommodate for the growth of your child. The booster car seat is Ergo Boost with double foam padding, and it is actually very soft and comfortable.

There are two cup holders on the booster seat, which are removable, flexible, and dishwasher safe – just like on the Chicco backless booster I’ll show you a bit later. This booster seat is very easy to maintain since both the arm covers and the seat pad are machine washable.

The manufacturer recommends this booster car seat for children that are at least 4 years old. But, we don’t recommend this for younger children that move around a lot, because this type of booster doesn’t restrict their movement, as well as a harness, does. If you’ve only used harness car seats so far, consider whether or not your child is ready to graduate to this type of booster.

• Comfortable and safe
• Can be used as both a high back and a backless booster
• Machine washable
• Not FAA approved – no harness
• On the pricier side
• Recommended Age Range: 4y+
• Min/Max Weight 30/40-110 lbs
• Product Weight 10.2 lbs (high back mode)

Evenflo Big Kid High Back Booster Car Seat

If you’re looking for a budget high-back booster,  consider getting this one . It costs less than $40, and it weighs about 8.5 lbs. This is why it’s a good booster for travels – you will easily get your money’s worth even if you only use this on one trip. And it is light enough that you can carry it for hours without dislocating your shoulder.

This is not an FAA-approved high back booster, because it does not have a harness. So, you cannot use this during the flight, and you will need to check it at the airport because it is pretty bulky.

The height of this booster car seat is adjustable to 6 positions – as your child grows, the booster adjusts to accommodate them. And when they get really big, you can remove the back and transform this into a backless booster.

This booster seat has two elastic cup holders, but they don’t make it too wide. In fact, this is a pretty narrow seat (about 15”), and it is a great option for smaller cars. The booster also features seat belt guides on both sides, to ensure the safety of your children.

But the padding in this seat is pretty disappointing. Also, there’s no padding in the armrests – they’re just plastic. The booster is not comfortable enough for really long rides, and that’s why we don’t recommend this as an everyday car seat.

• Very lightweight and affordable
• Transforms into a backless booster
• Height adjustable to 6 positions
• Not FAA approved
• No padding in armrests
• Seat has little padding
• Min/Max Weight Recommended: 30-110 lbs
• Product Weight: 8.45 lbs

Graco Highback Turbobooster Car Seat

If you want a reliable brand, Graco is always a great option . The Graco Highback Turbobooster Car Seat features seat belt guides on each side, for the safety of your kids. It doesn’t have a latch system – the seat belt keeps it in place.

And that makes it super portable – there’s no messing around with buckles and latches. Just grab the seat and go. Which will be pretty easy, since the seat weighs only 9 lbs.

The booster seat is not padded too thickly, but it’s still pretty soft. And it should be comfortable for your kids even on longer rides. The adjustable headrest also helps keep your kids comfy.

There are dual cup holders on the booster seat, and they are great for regular bottles. Not so much for water bottles – the cup holders are a little shallow, and the water bottle might fall out when you’re turning.

The seat converts into a backless booster seat for longer use. But also for better portability and versatility. Actually, this is one of the few booster seats that is suitable both for traveling and for daily use. And it’s also pretty cheap, so you will get great value for money with this car seat.

But it’s not FAA approved, so you won’t be able to use the high back version inside an actual airplane. You can use the backless version though, provided that your child is old enough for it.

• Comfortable for the kids
• Lightweight and portable
• No latch system
• Recommended Age Range: 3-10 years old
• Min/Max Weight Recommended: 30-100 lbs
• Product Weight: 9 lbs

Trunki BoostAPak

Surely there’s a way to trick your child into being delighted to carry around their booster seat? Yes, there is, and it is called the Trunki BoostAPak .

It is a children’s backpack that doubles as a booster seat. So, even though it’s not FAA-approved as a travel car seat, you can still bring it on a plane as personal luggage. The backpack part of it has a capacity of 8 liters, which is enough to hold some of your kid’s favorite in-flight toys!

Just remember to take out any snacks or toys your child will need during transport. Once you strap them in this travel car seat, you don’t have access to the backpack.

The internal shell of the BoostAPak is hard, for maximum safety. It also protects the contents of the backpack part, and it is light enough that children can comfortably carry it. Trunki also has armrests and backrests, as well as seat belt guides. In terms of functionality, it does the exact same thing that a regular booster seat does. But it’s about 10 times more fun for the kids.

A downside to the Trunki booster seat is that it is not padded too much, so it won’t be comfortable on long rides. Also, it’s a little bit when it is in backpack mode. Consider the dimensions of the pack, to see whether or not it will be too big for your child.

• It can be your kid’s personal item on an airplane
• Fun for the children
• Versatile and portable
• A bit big in backpack mode
• Not heavily padded
• Recommended Age Range: 4-11 years
• Dimensions: 15.75” x 14.17” x 6.3”
• Product Weight: 3.75 lbs

Best Backless Booster Seats

A backless booster seat is without a doubt the most portable option. They’re a lot smaller than high-back car seats, and a lot lighter. But they only work with kids who are a bit older – at least 4-5 years.

Backless booster seats don’t do a lot, in terms of restricting the movement of your children, so they are not a good option for kids that move around a lot. But if your child is able to sit still, then this might be the best travel car seat option for you.

Chicco GoFit Belt-Positioning Backless Booster

This Chicco backless booster is  a very comfortable option.  The seat is very padded, and your children will stay comfortable even on longer rides. Actually, it features an Ergo Boost countered seat with double padding. Therefore, I think that this is a decent option not just as a travel seat, but also as an everyday seat.

This travel car seat is suitable for children that are older than 4, and weigh between 40 and 110 lbs. At least, that is what the manufacturer recommends.

It features armrests with pop-out armrest covers. The covers are machine washable, as are all the other fabrics on the car seat. And the cup holders are also dishwasher safe, so the entire booster seat is very easy to maintain.

One thing I really like about this portable booster seat is that the cup holders are flexible and removable. So, in case you’re a little bit tight on space, you don’t have to stress about the cups poking out.

As for portability, I’m a little bit torn. On the one hand, it’s definitely more portable than a high-back booster. It is lighter, it has a carry handle and it is fairly small. But then again it’s still a little bulky, and it’s nowhere near as portable as the inflatable booster I’ll show you a bit later. So, this one is up to you.

• Double foam padding
• Flexible and removable cup holders
• Easy to maintain (machine washable)
• Not the most portable option
• No latch connectors
• Min/Max Weight Recommended: 40-110 lbs
• Product Weight: 5 lbs

BubbleBum Inflatable Backless Booster Car Seat

As far as portability goes, this is a great booster car seat .  When deflated, this can easily fit into your purse or backpack, and that’s pretty great . That’s why  we recommend this for taxi rides and Uber – you don’t have to carry a booster seat in your hand when you’re walking around the town with your little one . Just deflate it and put it in your purse!

This inflatable booster seat is suitable for children that are 4-11 years old and weighs from 40 to 100 lbs. However, we do not recommend this booster seat if your child moves around a lot even in a high back booster seat – there is the issue of safety.

Another thing worth mentioning is that you can easily fit three of these in the back seat of pretty much any car. They don’t have plastic edges, so that makes it easy to fit three travel car seats even in some really narrow cars.

The booster seat has a valve that’s covered with plastic, and it inflates somewhat when you unscrew the valve. You only need a few breaths to fully inflate it, which is great. And when you are not using the travel car seat, you should always close the valve – unless you want it to partially inflate inside your bag.

This booster seat is great for short uses, or as a backup seat for impromptu playdates. But it’s not something your child will want to sit in every day, because it’s not too comfortable. It is lightweight, portable, and very affordable, so it’s worth trying out for your upcoming trip.

• Exceptionally portable – fits in your purse
• Fits in small and narrow spaces
• Easy to inflate and install
• Not comfortable for long car rides
• Some safety concerns
• Min/Max Weight Recommended: 40-100 lbs
• Product Weight: 1.2 lbs

mifold Grab-and-Go Car Booster Seat

Curiosity won me over with this one –  a car seat that folds into a wallet-sized pouch? And that fits into your kid’s backpack?  Sign me up!

Seriously though, the mifold seat is so  innovative and practical  that everyone should try it out. Because, if it turns out your child likes this, it could actually change your life.

In terms of portability, this is the best booster seat available . It’s  lightweight, small, and fits into every carry-on bag . This is also a great seat for narrow spaces since you can easily fit three of them on the back seat of a car. It is also good as an extra seat to have in your car, just in case.

But how does it work, since it is so thin and small? Well, a regular booster seat lifts your child to the position of an adult, so that the seat belt is safe for them. The mifold does the opposite – it lowers the seat belt with the belt guides on each side so that it accommodates the size of your child. And it’s just as safe as a regular booster.

There’s one downside to that – a plain booster seat allows your child to see out the window. This one does not. Also, this is a very thin seat, so it’s not too comfortable. Because of that, I wouldn’t really recommend it for longer rides. But for running around the town on a trip, in and out of taxis and Uber’s with your little one, this is one of the best things you can spend your money on.

• Innovative design
• Extremely portable and practical
• Just as safe as a regular booster
• No lift – kids can’t see out the window
• Recommended Age Range: 4-12 years
• Min/Max Weight Recommended: 40-120 lbs
• Product Weight: 1.7 lbs

Finding The Right Travel Booster Car Seat

If this is your first trip with your child, you probably need some guidance. And we some tips on how to choose the right booster car seat for travel!

Why Not Your Everyday Booster?

Because they are heavy. When you have to manage your child, a stroller, a diaper bag, your own bag, and a booster seat, weight plays a big part.

That’s why you want to get a booster seat designed specifically for travel. It is much easier to move around the airport with a 10lb booster than one that weighs two or three times more.

Backless booster seats would be the obvious choice if we were concerned only about the weight. But, we are also concerned about your child’s comfort, safety and age – you can’t really put a 3-year-old in a backless booster seat.

So, we found some lightweight high-back booster seats that you’ll love. Most of them are pretty affordable, weigh 10 lbs or less and you can bring them on an airplane without any issues.

And then we’ll also show you several backless, foldable, and even inflatable booster seats that can pretty much fit in your carry-on.

How Will You Use The Booster Seat?

Do you need a seat just for the airplane ride, or do you plan to use it multiple times a day while you’re traveling? While you are in and out of taxis or do you plan to rent a car? Do you expect your kid to carry their booster seat, or will you do that?

Those are all questions you need to consider if you’re not sure which type is right for you. If you’re renting a car and you’ll be driving around a lot, then I think you will be fine with a high-back booster seat. But if you’re going to take taxis, then definitely consider a backless booster seat – think of going sightseeing with your little one, and lugging around a high-back booster seat while trying to take cute photos.

Obviously,  that only applies to children that are actually ready for backless boosters. And that is really an individual thing – most manufacturers recommend their backless booster seats for children that are at least 4 years old.

But is your 4-year-old really capable of sitting still and not fidgeting around while you drive? That’s another question that should help you choose between high back and backless travel car seats.

Car Safety Laws

Most countries have pretty different car safety laws. That’s something you should always check before you travel.  Maybe the country you are going to requires a specific type of car seat, and maybe they don’t require children your age to be in car seats at all.

Did you know that the European Union prohibits rear-facing car seats in the passenger seat unless the airbag is deactivated? While only two US states have the same law. Anyway, here are som e useful links that could help you prepare yourself for your next trip:

• UK Car Seats Laws
• European Union Car Seats Laws
• USA Car Seats Laws (For Different States)
• Australia Car Seats Laws

And if you’re traveling to a completely different country, Google is your best friend! :>

Travel Booster Car Seats: Our Favorite Choices

All of the car seats featured in this review have very high ratings and are highly recommended. You’ll be okay whichever one you get. But, I still loved some more than the others, so here are my top three recommendations – one in each booster category.

For a booster seat  with a harness, it was either the Chicco MyFit or the Cosco . I decided to go with the Cosco Scenera because it is the lighter and more affordable option . And ultimately, better for travel. This car seat is FAA-approved, meaning you can use it inside the cabin.

It is suitable for children that weigh up to 40 lbs, so you could get several years of use out of it. Especially because you can use it with babies as a rear-facing seat as well .

When you’re considering if an object is portable, its weight is one of the first things you look at. The Evenflo Booster Car Seat is the lightest high-back booster we featured, and so it is our favorite . It’s also the cheapest one, and it actually costs less than some backless travel car seats .

The affordability, portability, and ease of use are definitely reasons enough to get this car seat for your upcoming trip. And it will keep your child safe in case of a crash, which is more important than everything else .

• 2 seats in 1 removable back for easy transition to a no-back booster
• One-hand, 6 position height adjustment to accommodate growing children longer

For me, it was a close call between the mifold and the BubbleBum boosters . But I think the BubbleBum is the better option because it is much more comfortable to sit on. It is an inflatable booster, so it’s super portable.

When you deflate it, it can easily fit in your purse, and you can carry it everywhere. And it inflates super quickly when you want to use it. It is definitely one of the best options for children that are old enough for backless booster seats.

• The Ultimate Travel Booster Car Seat - Unlock the convenience of the USA’s Original backless inflatable booster seat. BubbleBum is the only inflatable childrens booster seat for your car with a patented system to guarantee stability and comfort on every journey.
• Safety You Can Count On – BubbleBums patented ComfortMax technology exceeds all US federal car safety standards (FMVSS213) for booster car seats 40 lbs and up to 100 lbs. Your car booster seat comes with a seat belt positioning clip for optimal seat belt fit and comfort.

Head over to Amazon to see what other traveling parents are saying about these booster car seats, and check out their prices!

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bubblebum Inflatable Backless Booster Car Seat, Portable Travel Booster Seat, Booster Seats for Cars 40-100 lbs, Kids & Child 4-10 years old - Black

( $36.98 / Count )

( $39.99 / Count )

( $37.98 / Count )

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About this item.

• The Ultimate Travel Booster Car Seat - Unlock the convenience of the USA’s Original backless inflatable booster seat. BubbleBum is the only inflatable childrens booster seat for your car with a patented system to guarantee stability and comfort on every journey.
• Safety You Can Count On – BubbleBums patented ComfortMax technology exceeds all US federal car safety standards (FMVSS213) for booster car seats 40 lbs and up to 100 lbs. Your car booster seat comes with a seat belt positioning clip for optimal seat belt fit and comfort.
• Take Anywhere Travel Car Seat – Your inflatable carseat is perfect for everyday use, car rentals, taxis, vacations and carpooling. Take your new backless booster seat on all your school trips and adventures. Perfect for your little toddlers, girls and boys aged 4 to 11 years old.
• Practical Dimensions Fits a Car Load of Kids – The narrow, compact and slim BubbleBum booster seat is perfect for the middle seat, even small cars. It fits between 2 full-size car seats, allowing 3 kids across the back of almost any car.
• Global Award Winner - BubbleBum has won the ‘Mom's Best Award,’ and the ‘Parent Tested Parent Approved' award, plus dozens more. Ask our millions of happy car seat customers how much they trust the BubbleBum name. Your Bubblebum Car Booster Seat also comes with a lifetime guarantee.

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Optimum Seat Belt Position

Keeps seatbelt on the strongest parts of the body, preventing injury.

Federal Safety Standard

Meets & exceeds the standard. Crash tested under rigorous conditions to help protect your child in frontal, rear, and rollover crashes.

Product Description

*Won Mom's Best Award, and the Parent Tested Parent Approved award on May 2022

Safety Information

Product information, warranty & support, product guides and documents, compare with similar items, videos for this product.

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Bubblebum The Portable Backless Booster Car Seat

BubbleBum USA LLC

Perfect for travel!

Scrantonmom

Important information

Legal disclaimer.

This product meets all safety requirements for a booster seat by the standards of the United States Safety Administration.

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Customer reviews.

• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 5 star 68% 15% 8% 4% 5% 68%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 4 star 68% 15% 8% 4% 5% 15%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 3 star 68% 15% 8% 4% 5% 8%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 2 star 68% 15% 8% 4% 5% 4%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 1 star 68% 15% 8% 4% 5% 5%

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 portable, compactness, and ease of use of the infant toddler car seat. They mention it's easy to take on trips, great for quick trips in city traffic speeds, and doesn't take up a lot of space. Some appreciate that it works well and is comfortable. However, some customers have mixed opinions on the ease of inflation, value for money, and build quality.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Customers like the portable infant toddler car seat. They mention it's easy to take on trips, great for quick trips in city traffic speeds, and a great option for travel. It's easy to pack and fold up easily, and is light enough for the kids to carry.

"This product is awesome, portable , easy to use, and comfy. it literally saved our vacation in LA, since no uber has child seats. Recommend" Read more

"... Comes with a little bag to easily store when deflated. Used it this weekend and it was even better than I expected. Highly recommend!!" Read more

"...because this seems like it would last longer and it would be great for traveling . It is easy to setup and use in the car...." Read more

"...It's the perfect solution for families on the go , providing convenience, safety, and comfort for our child without the hassle of a heavy, bulky..." Read more

Customers like the compactness of the infant toddler car seat. They mention it's convenient and fits in a small car. The narrow and slim fit makes it easy to install in any vehicle, even. Customers like that they can easily move it to fit another older kid in the car. It keeps their 6-year-old snug in the vehicle with good seatbelt positioning. It fits perfectly in between two car seats and positions the seatbelt perfectly where it should.

"...The system allows for good custom fit for every size child...." Read more

"...Plus, the narrow and slim fit makes it easy to install in any vehicle, even those with limited space...." Read more

"Super easy to inflate and use! We loved how compact this is when deflated and how simple it was to inflate!..." Read more

"...The Bubble Bum's are very portable, wide enough to fit the kids , but a little narrower than the super wide plastic boosters, which is a big deal for..." Read more

Customers find the infant toddler car seat easy to use. They mention it's convenient for a trip that involved flights and taxis. It's great for difficult three-across installations, travel, and carpooling. The designs allow you to slip the user manual inside the cover for storage on the go.

"This product is awesome, portable , easy to use , and comfy. it literally saved our vacation in LA, since no uber has child seats. Recommend" Read more

"...has been an absolute game-changer for our family travel needs, providing convenience , safety, and comfort for our 5-year-old without the hassle of..." Read more

"...Also, both designs allow you to slip the user manual inside the cover for storage on the go.Comfort: hiccapop..." Read more

"...This booster seat is incredibly lightweight, it's easy and fast to inflate/deflate, it's very compact when deflated (folded or rolled up), it's..." Read more

Customers like the comfort of the product. They mention it has memory foam and padding.

"This product is awesome, portable , easy to use, and comfy . it literally saved our vacation in LA, since no uber has child seats. Recommend" Read more

"...for our family travel needs, providing convenience, safety, and comfort for our 5-year-old without the hassle of carting around a bulky booster..." Read more

"...The kids all agree they are also more comfortable than the traditional plastic booster seats...." Read more

"...So the child can get into some uncomfortable positions while strapped in." Read more

Customers like the product. They mention it works well for their 6-year-old, would work well in trucks, and is great for vacations where there may be a long car ride. Customers also say it works wonderful moving in and out of cabs on their recent trip. Overall, customers are satisfied with the product.

"... Worked wonderful moving in and out of cabs on our recent trip! Kept my 4 year old son secure and safe." Read more

"This worked well for traveling . Easy to inflate & stays inflated (used for 4 days in the heat)...." Read more

"...with some arrangement for your car and 3 kiddos back there - this works perfectly . We have an infant (with kind of a bulky seat) and two small kids...." Read more

"...These worked absolutely perfectly for the couple of times we needed to grab a Lyft...." Read more

Customers have mixed opinions about the ease of inflation of the infant toddler car seat. Some mention it's quick to inflate and deflate, while others say it's difficult to use and pretty hard to inflate fully.

"...It’s PERFECT! So easy to inflate by mouth , with plenty of safety buckles to make sure it’s sturdy...." Read more

"...Second, the booster is inflatable so it has this slippery balloon like quality to it and it does move a little when in use...." Read more

"...The inflatable feature allows us to easily inflate the booster seat whenever and wherever we need it, making it perfect for travel, carpooling, and..." Read more

"...We loved how compact this is when deflated and how simple it was to inflate ! Worked wonderful moving in and out of cabs on our recent trip!..." Read more

Customers have mixed opinions about the value for money of the infant toddler car seat. Some mention it's worth the money, while others say it's not ideal for long-term use.

"This product is awesome , portable , easy to use, and comfy. it literally saved our vacation in LA, since no uber has child seats. Recommend" Read more

"...was hoping they would inflate more but it was still a great and convenient purchase ." Read more

"...It's not perhaps the most ideal item , but when traveling, you sometimes have to make due, and that's what this is...." Read more

"Used this on a trip where we planned to Uber. It was perfect and folded up nicely. Made getting around our destination city a breeze." Read more

Customers have mixed opinions about the build quality of the infant toddler car seat. Some mention it feels robust, sturdy, and reliable. However, others say it's not very stable unless installed carefully and starts to come apart as a powder.

"...to inflate by mouth, with plenty of safety buckles to make sure it’s sturdy . Comes with a little bag to easily store when deflated...." Read more

"...It starts to come apart as a powder ...." Read more

"...It provides ample support and stability for our child, ensuring a secure and comfortable ride every time...." Read more

"...Apparently this stabilizes movement and keeps its structural integrity, and there is probably some validity to those claims...." Read more

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Best Car Seats

Most Popular

Best Booster Seats for Kids

Our experts test dozens of models for safety, belt fit, and much more.

When you shop through retailer links on our site, we may earn affiliate commissions. 100% of the fees we collect are used to support our nonprofit mission. Learn more .

Children pass many milestones on their road to adulthood, including going from an infant car seat to sitting independently with a seat belt. A key step on that journey is a booster seat, which gives the child enough height to position the car’s seat belt most effectively.

All booster seats might seem alike, but our extensive testing of nearly 40 models shows there are significant differences among models and types.

Proper seat belt fit is crucial. We check belt fit in five vehicles with different seating and belt geometries. (The shoulder belt should cross the middle of the collarbone and sternum, and the lap belt should sit across the upper thighs.) In our fit-to-vehicle evaluations, we also simulate typical child movement by moving the dummy around to determine whether the belt remains in place.

We also rate each booster for how easy it is to use, which includes an evaluation of its labels and instructions. 

Below, we present our top booster seat picks in each category. For more options, check out our full booster seat ratings , and consult our car seat buying guide to learn more about the different types of car seats we test.

Best Highback-to-Backless Booster Seats

Highback-to-backless booster seats feature bolsters around the head and the torso, which provides additional comfort and side impact protection for kids. With these models you can also remove the back, turning the seat into a backless booster perfect for travel or storage.

Best Highback-Only Booster Seats

Highback booster seats are great if any of the seating positions in the backseat of your car don’t have a head restraint, as they provide head and neck support in case of a rear collision.

Best Backless-Only Booster Seats

Backless boosters are good options for travel, or if your vehicle has rear head restraints that can’t be adjusted or cause interference with a highback booster. You can use these booster seats for children who surpass the weight or height limits allowed by their harnessed car seat. 

Emily A. Thomas, PhD

Emily A. Thomas is the auto safety manager at the Consumer Reports Auto Test Center, leading the child car seat and rear-seat safety programs. She joined CR in 2015 after earning her doctorate in pediatric injury biomechanics from Drexel University and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, focusing on the biomechanical differences between kids and adults in far-side low-speed crashes. Involved in automotive safety since 2008, Emily has been a certified child passenger safety technician (CPST) since 2015.

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Graco Premier SnugRide SnugFit 35 XT featuring Load Leg Technology

Chicco keyfit, maxi-cosi mico luxe +, nuna pipa aire rx, cybex cloud g lux, graco premier snugride snugfit 35 xt, chicco fit2, chicco keyfit 30, chicco keyfit 35, graco snugride snugfit 35 lx, graco snugride snugfit 35 elite, graco snugride snugfit 35 dlx, uppababy mesa max, evenflo shyft dualride, peg perego primo viaggio 4-35, peg perego primo viaggio 4-35 lounge, peg perego primo viaggio 4-35 nido.

See All Infant Car Seats

Graco Nautilus SnugLock Grow

Chicco nextfit zip, chicco nextfit max, britax advocate clicktight, britax boulevard clicktight, britax marathon clicktight, graco trio grow snuglock lx 3-in-1, baby jogger city turn, britax grow with you clicktight, graco milestone, chicco fit4 4-in-1, graco extend2fit 3-in-1, graco slimfit 3 in 1, graco turn2me, graco nautilus 65 lx, cosco scenera next, century drive on, evenflo maestro sport, britax emblem, britax allegiance, graco extend2fit, evenflo evolve, evenflo symphony (with surelatch), graco contender 65, chicco myfit.

See All Harnessed Car Seats

Diono Everett NXT

Maxi-cosi rodifix, peg perego viaggio shuttle plus 120, chicco kidfit zip, chicco kidfit, peg perego viaggio shuttle 120, chicco gofit.

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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

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

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

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

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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9 Best Car Seats and Boosters for Air Travel

By: Author Leslie Harvey

Posted on Published: December 22, 2022

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

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

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

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

Best Car Seats for Air Travel for Infants

Chicco keyfit 30.

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

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

Important Specs for the Chicco Keyfit 30

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

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

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

Important Specs for the Doona

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

Best Car Seats for Air Travel for Toddlers & Preschoolers

Cosco scenera next.

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

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

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

Important Specs for the Cosco Scenera NEXT

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

WAYB Pico Car Seat

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

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

Important Specs for the WAYB Pico

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

Ride Safer Travel Vest

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

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

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

Important Specs for the Ride Safer Travel Vest

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

Best Boosters for Air Travel for Older Kids

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

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

Important Specs for the BubbleBum

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

UberBoost Inflatable Booster Car Seat from Hiccapop

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

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

Important Specs for the Hiccapop UberBoost

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

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

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

Important Specs for the mifold

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

hifold Highback Booster

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

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

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

Important Specs for the hifold

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

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

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Wednesday 10th of May 2023

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

Leslie Harvey

Friday 12th of May 2023

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

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Best Booster Car Seats of 2024

When your child has outgrown their rear-facing and forward-facing car seats, it’s time to move them to a booster car seat. They’re ideal for older kids, as they provide a step in between a typical car seat and only using a seat belt. Just like there is a range of car seats, there are plenty of booster models to consider, which is where we come in.

To help you choose the best booster car seat for your child, we considered safety features, weight and height limits, ease of installation, and price. Plus, with the input from experts in the field, you can count on these options as the best of the best.

Table of Contents

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

Chicco KidFit ClearTex Plus 2-in-1 Belt-Positioning Booster Car Seat  »

Converts from high-back to backless

10-position adjustable headrest

Kids can use up to 110 pounds

ErgoBoost seat with double-foam padding

GreenGuard Gold Certified

Removable, machine-washable fabrics

Only two recline positions

Removable cup holders may pop out

The Chicco KidFit ClearTex Plus 2-in-1 Booster Car Seat has just about everything you need to keep your kid safe in the back seat. Approved by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA), this model converts from high-back to backless mode, depending on your child’s weight and comfort. It features Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) connectors to make installation quick and secure. It also has a one-handed quick-release function so it’s easy to switch to another vehicle.

The Chicco works to grow with your child, boasting 10 height positions. It only has two recline positions, however, with the contoured ErgoBoost seat with double-layer foam padding, your kid will be plenty comfortable. The fabrics are machine washable and GreenGuard Gold Certified, meaning they’ve been tested for over 10,000 chemicals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

With the two built-in cup holders, your little one will feel independent while you feel safe knowing you picked a solid option. This best booster car seat weighs just 10 pounds – and even less when in backless mode – so it can be used as a travel unit, too.

Graco TurboBooster 2.0 Backless Booster  »

Very affordable

Height-adjustable armrests

Machine-washable seat pad

Two built-in cup holders

Only weighs 5.1 pounds

Crash tested

No LATCH connectors

Backless design not for everyone

For an easy booster car seat that’s been thoroughly crash tested and won’t break the bank, go with the Graco TurboBooster 2.0 Backless Booster. A noteworthy detail is that it doesn’t have LATCH connectors. On one hand, that means it’s simple to use with just a seat belt and can be moved between vehicles quickly. But on the other hand, this affordable option might not sit as securely in place as you’d hope.

This backless model was designed to use with children who weigh 40 to 100 pounds, so it’s in it for the long haul. It features adjustable armrests, two built-in cup holders, and a machine-washable seat pad, making it a breeze to clean when a juice spill happens. Plus, at just 5.1 pounds, it is a smart choice for people who see the unit moving between cars on the regular.

This best booster car seat is Graco ProtectPlus Engineered, meaning it was tested to protect your child in the occurrence of frontal, rear, and rollover crashes. At a wallet-friendly price, you can’t beat this option.

Diono Solana 2 with LATCH  »

Backless with padded armrests

Only weighs 6.1 pounds

Kids can use up to 120 pounds

Machine-washable fabrics

Two built-in, retractable cup holders/snack trays

Quick-release LATCH

Pricey for a backless model

Too wide to fit three in the back seat

Set on a backless booster car seat? We recommend the Diono Solana 2 with LATCH. As the name suggests, it features durable steel LATCH connectors to offer a secure installation. The shoulder belt positioner ensures it’s set up correctly and allows your kid to hook themselves up on their own. This portable model also has a quick-release feature that allows you to remove the seat from the vehicle in no time.

Comfort is a prominent priority with the Diono, as it features layered foam padding and contoured soft fabrics. Better yet, they can be tossed in the washing machine for an easy clean. There are two cup holders that double as snack trays on each side of the unit, which makes road-tripping easier. They’re also retractable if you find they’re getting in the way of other back seat riders.

While on the pricier side for a backless car seat, we think that the LATCH connectors, washable fabrics, and additional features make it worth the investment. Also, when you consider that it’ll stay with your child up to 120 pounds, it’s a smart choice.

Chicco KidFit Zip Air Plus 2-in-1 Belt-Positioning Booster Car Seat  »

Detachable console is flimsy

Seat belt may slide out of shoulder guide when unbuckling

Your kid will live the life of comfort and luxury with the Chicco KidFit Zip Air Plus 2-in-1 Booster Car Seat. Unlike most car seats, this one has an extended leg rest that hangs over the seat to offer even more support. If for some reason you don’t want the leg rest, you can zip it right off. This model also boasts three layers of foam padding that, along with the cushions and armrests, are machine washable, thanks to the zip-off design.

This best booster car seat was designed to begin using at age 4 and converts from high-back to backless mode, so comfort is top of mind at Chicco. This JPMA-approved unit features LATCH connectors for secure installation. It’s also a quick-release LATCH, so it won’t be a headache to remove it from the back of your car.

There are two built-in cup holders, as well as one detachable console where they can store snacks or other close must-haves. Some reviewers say the console is flimsy, but it’s still a useful feature, especially on long car rides.

Maxi-Cosi RodiSport Booster Car Seat  »

LATCH connectors for quick installation

Shoulder and lap belt guides for ease of use

Seven height positions

Detachable cup holder

Machine-washable and dryer-safe removable padding

Seat belt may slip out of guide

The frustrations that can come with installing a new car seat are real, but that won’t be the case with the Maxi-Cosi RodiSport Booster Car Seat. This model offers several features that make installation a painless experience. It has LATCH connectors, as well as shoulder and lap belt guides to make it easy for your little one to strap themselves in from the beginning.

Approved by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), the RodiSport converts from high-back to backless mode. To ensure your child is comfortable and properly using the unit, it has seven height positions – and the headrest takes just one hand to adjust – along with multiple recline positions.

Accommodating kids up to 100 pounds, this best booster car seat goes one step further by not just being machine washable, but dryer safe, too. That means you don’t have to worry about the removable padding not being dry in time for your next day trip. Maxi-Cosi is known for its sleek designs, as we’ve seen in its baby swing and high chair , and that’s just what you get with this booster.

Nuna Aace  »

3D growth system grows in height, width, and depth

Eight recline positions and nine headrest/shoulder positions

Sleek design

GreenGuard Gold Certified and fire retardant-free

Small cup holder

The best baby gear products last for more than just a few months, and that’s the case with the Nuna Aace. This best booster car seat was designed to work with your child as they grow, which is one of the reasons why it’s worth the price tag. It adapts with a child from 40 to 120 pounds and converts from a high-back to a backless model.

Other ways that it keeps kids comfortable and safe as they grow are with its eight recline positions and nine headrest positions. When you adjust the headrest position, the unit automatically expands the width of the shoulder areas, meaning it grows both in height and width. It also has three depth positions to accommodate growing legs. Nuna refers to this as its 3D growth system.

Available in four colors, the Nuna AACE has an attractive design that won’t be an eyesore in the back of your car. And with its GreenGuard Gold Certified and fire retardant-free fabrics, it’s an environmentally friendly pick, too. The dishwasher-safe cup holder is just the cherry on top.

The Bottom Line

When shopping for the best booster car seat, the first thing you need to decide is if you want a high-back or backless model. If you’re not sure which style you want, our Best Overall pick, the Chicco KidFit ClearTex Plus 2-in-1 Belt-Positioning Booster Car Seat, converts between the modes. It also has 10 headrest positions and machine-washable fabrics, making it a smart option. Once you decide on the design, decide which features, such as LATCH connectors for secure installation and built-in cup holders for convenience, are most important to you. Once you narrow down what you want, you can find a quality model within your price range. But remember, safety is the top priority, so being confident that your child is safe while riding in a vehicle should be the main consideration.

Things To Consider When Buying Booster Car Seats

Safety Certifications and Crash Test Results

According to Joe Colella, JPMA director of Child Passenger Safety and 2020 Child Passenger Safety Hall of Fame Inductee, all car seats sold in the United States follow the requirements set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). If a booster car seat meets those standards, it must be labeled with, “This child restraint system conforms to all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards.”

“Booster seats reduce the risk of nonfatal injuries by 45% among 4- to 8-year-old children when compared to the seat belt alone,” says Colella, citing a study in the Pediatrics journal . “The raised seating surface of a booster seat allows a child to bend their knees naturally over the front edge of the booster seat, belt guides position the lap belt snugly across the child’s hips and upper thighs, and either the child elevation or shoulder belt adjuster position the shoulder belt across the child’s chest and collar bone. Since booster seats do not provide restraint directly, but instead position the child to take full advantage of the vehicle seat belts and other safety features, these fit assessments are crucial.”

Weight and Height Limits

Don’t make the mistake of assuming every booster seat has the same weight and height limits. A child should use a booster until the vehicle’s seat belt fits properly on its own, which is typically between 8 and 12 years old. Proper seat belt fit can vary between vehicles, too.

“The latest booster seats require a minimum child weight of 40 pounds, and all booster seats will be required to have that same minimum child weight by late 2024,” says Colella. “Most booster seats have an upper child weight limit of 100 pounds, and some allow use until the child weighs 120 pounds. Because of design differences, it is crucial that families always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for height, weight, and age limits.”

Legally, children less than 57 inches tall must use a booster seat when traveling, says Samora Coles, founder and executive director of The Alex House Project , an organization that supports low-income families and young mothers with their transition to parenthood.

Ease of Installation and Compatibility

“Forward-facing booster seats should be placed in the back seat, ideally in the middle,” says Coles. Many of the best booster car seats come with LATCH connectors, but that’s not always the case. The good news is that most models work with most vehicles, but if you’re concerned, you can contact the manufacturer.

“For backless booster seats, ensure the vehicle's lap belt is flat, low, and tight across your child's hips while the shoulder belt is flat and snug across their shoulder, not touching their neck or face,” advises Coles. “For high-back booster seats, refer to the manufacturer's instructions to learn how to install the booster seat using your vehicle's LATCH system or seat belt.”

Adjustability and Growth Adaptability

All the booster car seats we included on this list accommodate up to 100 pounds, with many reaching a 110- or 120-pound limit. They’re designed to last through the years until your child can safely travel without it. So, booster seats are generally made to grow with your child.

Backless booster seats, however, tend to be for slightly older kids, so it’s smart to invest in a model that converts from high-back to backless mode. “If a child has outgrown a high-back booster seat harness, a backless booster seat can be used safely and will still provide the necessary support,” says Coles.

How We Chose the Best Booster Car Seats

At U.S. News 360 Reviews, we keep safety the top priority when reviewing baby gear. In addition to safety features, we considered style, growth adaptability, installation, comfort, and price. We didn’t just rely on our own expertise, though. The director of Child Passenger Safety at JPMA and the founder and executive director of an organization that helps young mothers with their transition to parenthood weighed in on what parents need to know when shopping for the best booster car seats. When it comes down to it, boosters are typically budget-friendly, lightweight, and support kids through years of their adolescence. So, it’s a matter of choosing one that meets your style and expectations for extra features.

WHY SHOULD YOU TRUST US?

As a mom herself, Caitlyn Fitzpatrick , the author of this piece, understands the importance of finding the safest baby gear products for your little one. While her daughter is too young for a booster car seat, Fitzpatrick has been professionally researching, testing, writing about, and editing content about the best products, including ones that parents buy for their children, since 2017. She knows what factors take a car seat from a fine pick to one of the top options you can choose.

Although there are several kinds of booster car seats, they all have the same goal.

“Booster seats take various forms, including those that have high backs, those that utilize the vehicle seat back for upper body support, and those that are part of a more comprehensive car seat (booster mode of combination harness booster seats or all-in-one car seats),” explains Colella. “All of these types must be used with a vehicle lap and shoulder belt. Their shared objective is to elevate the child, guide the lap and shoulder belt onto strong bony body structures, and ensure that the child can remain in a safe position for the duration of the ride.”

This heavily depends on your child’s specific age, weight, and height. Limits vary from brand to brand and seat to seat, so check what yours recommends.

“When a child becomes too big for a front-facing car seat, it's time for them to switch to a booster seat,” says Coles. “This transition usually occurs around age 4 but can go up to age 12, depending on the child's height and weight. Most children no longer need a booster seat once they reach the age of 8, but if they cannot safely fit in a vehicle seatbelt, they need to keep using the booster seat.”

The names kind of say it all, but here’s a deeper dive.

“The main difference between the two is that a high-back booster seat provides more support to the child's upper body. It offers extra head, neck, and side support to protect the child during sudden stops or impacts,” says Coles. “High-back booster seats also come with a harness seat belt in the front and can be installed with the vehicle's seat belt or latch system. In essence, a high-back booster seat is a longer, but slimmer, version of a forward-facing car seat designed for older children.”

About Our Team

Caitlyn Fitzpatrick

Contributor

Senior Editor, 360 Reviews

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

The Best Car Seats for Traveling With Babies, Toddlers, and Kids

All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Talk to parents about traveling with young kids and one topic dominates the conversation. Is it which hotel in Santorini has the best Mediterranean views? Not quite. Where you can get the freshest lobster rolls in Maine ? Unfortunately, no.

The answer is car seats. Heavy, unwieldy car seats. They’re impossible to pack and even worse to wrestle onto an airplane. They’re big, they’re bulky, and they have irritating names that are hard to Google when you’re searching for, say, “how to install a massive American car seat in a tiny Italian Fiat.”

Not every country or city requires car seats, but you’ll probably still want to pack one for your family trip to Mexico or Thailand—or from LaGuardia Airport to Manhattan in a yellow cab. Why? As exasperating as car seats are, they save lives. A lot of lives. In fact, they’ve helped bring down motor vehicle-related deaths in the U.S. by 58 percent since 1975.

Most car rental agencies offer child seats, but this option is often fraught with problems. To start, they cost a chunk of change. “Major car rental companies charge between $10 to $14 per day to rent a child seat,” says Jonathan Weinberg, CEO of car rental savings site AutoSlash . “These fees add up quickly, especially if you have more than one kid.” The quality of the car seat can also be questionable. Personally, I’ve been dealt dirty seats, incorrect models, and, in one case, a seat with a safety strap that looked like it had been slashed by a machete. And while every major American car rental’s child seat policy notes that they take car seats out of circulation after an accident, this practice is not federally enforced . Finally, and perhaps most vexing after a long flight with kids, agency staff members aren’t authorized to install the seats, leaving you to the task. “After navigating an enormous car rental garage with toddlers and luggage for four—looking at you, Orlando International—it’s no fun to install unfamiliar car seats,” says Lexington-based attorney (and dad of twins) Lucas Braun.

Here’s the good news: Car seats have also annoyed a slew of smart, savvy travelers, so much so that they’ve decided to do something about it. Now a handful of light and portable child seats make it easier to keep your kiddos safe on the go. Read on for our road-tested recs of the best car seats for travel right now. Skipping the flight and just traveling by car these days? We’ve included our favorites for highway long-hauls as well.

This article was originally published in April 2019. It has been updated with new information.

Infant Car Seats

For babies and infants Talk to a mom who has lost circulation in her arm after swinging a bucket seat around the airport, or a dad who has woken a sleeping baby from a car seat at the check-in counter, and you’ll see why we seriously love the options below.

It took car seat creator Yoav Mazar close to a decade to design the Doona and bring it to market. It was worth the wait. This genius car seat, developed for babies from birth up to 35 pounds, is essentially a transformer, shape shifting from a car seat to a stroller and back again with a few button clicks. This means you always have your car seat with you, whether you need to jump into a cab in London or a Lyft in San Francisco. And when it’s in stroller mode, it beautifully navigates sidewalks and park paths. This just in: The Doona now comes in a sleek midnight black model as well as its first edition green.

Trusted car seat brand Chicco has a new car seat for babies that’s lighter than previous versions (about nine pounds without the base) and puts a premium on comfort. An extended headrest means the car seat lasts you longer, and a genius rebound bar, which pushes against the back seat, provides extra foot room for leggy littles. And while you can swing it through the airport as easily as a canvas tote through a farmers’ market, it’s also a choice option for road trips thanks to its cocoon-like coziness and large sunshade.

If you’re not up for a $500 investment, opt for an infant seat that clicks easily into a lightweight stroller base. The latest snap-and-go option from Chicco is the Shuttle, which pairs with all Chicco Fit2 and KeyFit car seats. It’s an improvement on previous stroller base models thanks to its quick fold handle, sleek black frame, and a console for essentials (your phone, a large coffee, and likely some sort of wipe). It also has one advantage on its competitors: under-carriage storage, ideal for all that stuff you can't believe you’re schlepping through the airport.

Rear-Facing Car Seats

For toddlers under two and under 35 pounds The trickiest age when it comes to traveling with car seats is when your child has transitioned from an infant seat—like the Doona—to an upright car seat, but still needs to face backwards (typically kids under two and under 35 pounds). For this short time period, we recommend doing as the car rental agencies do: Go light and go cheap if you’re flying, but invest if you’re sticking to the road.

This is a popular brand among car rental companies (and if you think about it, they make up the cost of a purchase in one four-day rental). The seat is ten pounds, easy to install, and FAA compliant, should you want to strap your kid in during the flight. And while it's bulky, you can secure this seat to rolling luggage with a strap like this one .

While this car seat model is somewhat bulky, it’s also lightweight at just over nine pounds. At under $100, it’s an absolute steal. It’s slimmer than most car seat models, a plus when you’re traveling to places like Europe where rentals are petite in comparison to your suburban SUV.

Did you know that some car seats are built with flame-retardant chemicals that are harmful to inhale? That’s not the case with Nuna, which has committed to engineering its seats without said compounds from foam to fabric. The Exec car seat might as well be a first-class ticket to comfort—even in the less popular back-facing position—thanks to adjustable leg rests, merino wool head cushions, and ventilation panels that maintain a comfortable climate.

Front-Facing Convertible Car Seats

For kids ages two to five Once children have graduated from a rear-facing car seat, they still have several years in a chair. At this stage, we see parents start to forgo car seats when they shouldn’t. These exciting innovations will inspire you to stay safe.

This road trip favorite is slimmer than most—you can fit three across a back seat if you’re hauling a litter—but it also puts a premium on well-being and safety thanks to a steel core topped with interlocking layers of foam and plastic, padded with seat, side, and belt cushions. We also love this Seattle-based company’s seats for their pop colors: cherry red, plum purple, and yellow mineral, among others. Be sure to add the waterproof seat protector —it’s a life saver when kids are snacking on the go.

This, family travelers, is a game changing car seat. Co-developed by a former Patagonia exec and his engineering-savvy team at WayB—a new company that aims to introduce innovative products to the family travel space—the Pico is safe, sleek, and a cinch to install. Its solid frame is made of aluminum, which is not only strong, but also sustainable. And the Pico’s seat folds up on-the-go, making it compact and easy to carry or stow in an overhead bin.

If you’ve requested an Uber equipped with a car seat in a city like Los Angeles, chances are the driver has pulled out this soft-backed and collapsible harness. The chair folds up into an attached bag that’s about half the size of a carry-on suitcase, so you can stow it on the plane or throw it into a duffle with the rest of your things.

For kids five and up Once your half pints have graduated out of convertible car seats, you can move onto a booster, which feels like holding a hamster after years of wrestling an elephant. Still, some boosters are large and inflexible, so opt for one of our picks below. Tend to travel by car? Choose something more substantial, like the Alta.

If you’re skipping the airport and hitting the highway, consider UppaBaby’s model for its additional safety features and headrest that will—if you’re lucky—inspire a long snooze. Unlike the MiFold and Bubble Bum, the Alta clips into a car’s anchor system, better securing it to the vehicle. It also ensures older kiddos (approximately six to ten years old) are comfortable for long stretches thanks to arm rests, a cup holder, and plenty of padding. The rear seat cushion also zips off, making it easy to clean.

Boosters, as you might guess, boost children up so seatbelts strap them in effectively. The MiFold takes the opposite approach, lowering the seatbelt via a series of lap belt clips. It then folds up on-the-go to the size of a large wallet, and can be stashed in a purse, backpack, or glove compartment.

This inflatable booster seat can be easily blown up and deflated on the go. It’s lightweight and fits into a compact travel bag when not in use. Aside from its brilliant name, it also does its part to make boosters fun, with kid-friendly colors like shamrock green and bubble gum pink.

Packing List

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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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The Best Booster Seats for Your Growing Kids, Tested by Ours

Keep your child safe in the car for as long as possible with the right booster seat.

In This Article

Our Favorite Booster Seats

When to switch to a booster seat.

• Our Testing Process
• How to Use Safely

When Can a Child Stop Using a Booster Seat?

As your child gets older (and, well, longer) , they’ll eventually reach a point when they’ve sized out of their forward-facing car seat, and it’s time to transition them into a booster seat . Seats and seat belts in cars are designed with adults in mind, and until your child reaches a certain height (about 4-foot-9), they need these seats to place them in a position where the seat belt does more good than harm. There are a lot of different options on the market, and we tested 18 of them with real kids in real-life situations to find the best booster seats available. 

Not every booster is for every kid: Your child should feel comfortable in their booster seat, so they'll stay buckled in it! You also need to make sure the booster fits properly in your vehicle . You may want to look for certain features (five-point harnesses are the safest option for smaller kids, boosters with footrests are comfortable for taller ones), and keep portability in mind. If you’re planning on moving the seat from car to car, a high-back booster seat may not be as convenient as a backless one . With the help of two certified vehicle safety experts, we looked at all of this when selecting and testing products for this list. 

Most of all, we relied on our favorite experts, the parents on our staff, to test booster seats with their kids for at least two weeks. Their feedback on the installation process, their kids’ comfort, how the seats fit in their cars, how hard it was to clean the boosters, the price of each seat, and any other stand-out design features helped us create this list of the best booster seats you can buy right now.

• Best Overall High-Back: Chicco KidFit Zip Air Plus 2-in-1 Belt-Positioning Booster Car Seat
• Best Overall Backless: Graco TurboBooster 2.0 Backless Booster  
• Best for Travel: Chicco GoFit ClearTex Backless Booster Car Seat
• Best Backless With LATCH: Diono Solana 2 With LATCH
• Best for Long Rides: Peg Perego Viaggio Flex 120
• Best for 3 Across: Graco TurboBooster 2.0 Highback Booster
• Best With Storage: Safety 1st Store 'n Go Sport Booster Car Seat

The longer your child wears a five-point harness, the better, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, so that means you want to keep them in one until they reach their forward-facing car seat’s height or weight limit (whichever comes first). At a minimum, children should be at least 5 years old before transitioning to a booster seat, assuming they haven’t met their car seat’s height or weight limits before then.

The AAP also recommends that children remain in a high back booster seat for as long as possible, as this provides added back and neck support. However, children may be ready to transition to a backless booster seat around age 5 or 6. They should be at least 40 pounds and at least 38 inches tall. Children should be mature enough to be able to sit still without slouching or wiggling around a lot, and the seat belt strap should fit correctly across their shoulder and not on their neck.

Best Overall High-Back

Chicco kidfit zip air plus booster car seat, why we like it.

This high-back booster is versatile, easy to use, and comfortable for kids, making it a great value. We like that this is a multipurpose option: It can be a high-back or a backless seat, so if you need to travel with it or move it from car to car, you can detach parts to make it more portable (assuming your child is ready for this option, so check the AAP recommendations above). It can be attached to the car’s LATCH (lower anchor tethers for children) system, and our tester found the installation process to be straightforward and fast.

We appreciate the comfortable features this one offers, like a snack tray, cup holder, a headrest with 10 different positions, and a footrest that especially comes in handy for taller kids. We also like how easy it is to clean the removable seat cover. We think this one is sturdy and durable, and it will stand up to years of use. A real bonus is the cooling fabric that makes it a great option for warmer climates. Our tester noted that it really kept the air flowing in the backseat. 

What Parents Say

“A removable cover makes it really easy to clean up any messes or accidents. It zips on and off and is very easy to put back on. If you don't wash it too often I think it would hold up for a while.” — Dwyer, mom of a 7-year-old and a 4-year-old

But Take Note

While the footrest is comfortable for the child, it can make it harder for it to fit in a smaller car and also doesn’t leave much room for a taller driver or passenger to recline their seat. We also found that the snack cup didn’t stay in place very firmly, but didn’t feel it was a dealbreaker. 

The Details:

• Type: High-back and backless
• Height range: 38–57 inches 
• Weight range: 40–100 pounds with high-back; 40–110 pounds backless
• Age range: n/a
• PHOTO: Parents

Best Overall Backless

Graco turbobooster 2.0 backless booster.

This Graco booster seat checked all of our boxes throughout testing. At just about 5 pounds, it is super light and portable . Because it sits on the seat (with no LATCH or belt attachment), there’s virtually no installation process, so it’s easy to move this from car to car. We love that this one features a wide, very padded cushion that our tester’s 8-year-old said “feels like my mattress on my bed.” We also appreciate that it comes with two convenient cup holders that can be folded into the sides of the seat when not in use. 

One unusual feature adding comfort for passengers is that you can adjust the armrests on this booster , though you’ll need a screwdriver for the process. Our tester also noted that during a long car ride, an adult sat in the middle seat next to the booster and still had plenty of room. We feel that it is durable and sturdy enough to withstand years of use. Lastly, we love how easy it is to clean. The seat pad is machine washable, and the whole seat was “pristine” even after weeks of use. 

“My daughter loved the seat! She was used to sitting in a booster with a much thinner pad, so this Graco seat was a welcome step up in her comfort level.” — Jason, dad of an 8-year-old

While this has been rigorously tested and meets all safety requirements, note that both experts we spoke to recommended using the LATCH system whenever possible for a sturdy installation and fit in the car, and this seat does not offer that option. 

• Type: Backless  
• Height range: 43–57 inches  
• Weight range: 40–100 pounds 
• Age range: At least 4 years old 

Best for Travel

Chicco backless booster car seat.

We found this Chicco backless booster seat to be incredibly easy to use. We like that it has a belt positioner that makes it feel like the child is more secure in the seatbelt. The positioner stays where it is, even when your child is not in the seat, so you don’t have to readjust it every time. Our tester loved that this seat is flatter than other boosters, saying their children found it more comfortable. It also has some convenient features, like the two cup holders that retract into the seat to create more space around it. It’s a great travel option due to its easy installation, light weight, and ergonomic handle that makes it easy to carry. 

“It understood the assignment,” our tester raved, saying they felt it was more than worth the money and extremely functional. It’s also worth noting that Chicco’s Cleartex models use Greenguard Gold-certified fabric, meaning they are rigorously tested by a third party to prove that they’re not made with harmful chemicals. 

“The built-in handle is so easy to grab, and it really distributes the weight of the booster seat well when you carry it. I'd be happy to carry this through an airport or move it between cars.” — Ashleigh, mom of a 5-year-old

But Take Note 

This seat is a little narrower than some other options out there and is advertised as a good option for using three across the backseat, which is great if you need that, but if your child is a larger size, you might want something wider. Our tester also found that the armrests, which aren’t adjustable, might be confining as kids get older. 

While this backless booster that we tested didn’t use LATCH, you can purchase the Chicco GoFit Plus , which does use LATCH for installation and is about $10 more. 

• Height range: 38–57 inches  
• Weight range: 40–110 pounds 

Best Backless With LATCH

Diono solana 2 with latch.

This Diono booster seat can be installed using LATCH, an extra layer of safety. Even though this requires a little more installation than booster seats without LATCH attachments, we still found it easy and straightforward. Our tester noted that while it seems daunting because of all of the straps, you quickly get used to it, and it becomes simpler the more you do it. We found it to be lightweight, sturdy, and sleek , with upholstery that goes the whole seat, leaving no tiny crumb-catching crevices . This makes it super easy to wipe clean. 

We love the lightweight feel, the two retractable cup holders, and the armrests that double as a carry handle when moving it around. This could be a great option for older or taller kids because while most booster seats accommodate children up to 57 inches tall and 100 or 110 pounds, this one fits kids up to 63 inches and 120 pounds . It also has a seat belt positioner to ensure that your child is always buckled up properly. 

“My daughter constantly drops crumbs all over the car when snacking, and this was a breeze to clean.” — Abby, mom of a 4-year-old

The narrow seat and short armrests might not be as comfortable for a larger child.

• Type: Backless 
• Height range: Up to 63 inches  
• Weight range: 40–120 pounds 

Best for Long Rides

Peg perego viaggio flex 120.

We feel like this Peg Perego booster seat is well-made and sturdy, and found it to be very easy to install. It uses LATCH and took our tester just a few minutes to do. We also really like how portable it feels, especially for a high-back booster. It folds into a compact bundle that is convenient for storage and transport in the travel bag (which you can buy separately). In testing, it wiped clean and looked barely used even after weeks of testing. 

It’s narrow enough to fit nicely in a car but still comfortable. Our tester really appreciated that it has a padded headrest and reclines without moving the seat, which makes it comfortable for longer car rides. The headrest, backrest, side protections, and seat can all be adjusted independently for a more personalized fit. Added safety features like kinetic pods to absorb impact force and a reinforced aluminum back provide a nice sense of security. 

One feature our tester wasn’t thrilled with was the retractable cup holders. “They have no base and instead rely on the bottom of the cup sitting on the cushion of the seat,” our tester explained. This made them less than ideal for smaller cups, and our tester just didn't love the design, especially for this booster's luxury price point. 

• Type: High-back
• Age range: n/a 

Best for 3 Across

Graco turbobooster 2.0 booster, why we like it .

This seat has a sleek, narrow design, making it an optimal choice for caregivers who need to fit multiple car seats or booster seats into one row of their vehicle. It was comfortable enough for our tester’s tall child to sit in (and nap in) happily. Assembly was easy and took only 15 minutes, and we think it is lightweight enough to move from car to car.

It features two hideaway cup holders and adjustable head and armrests . The seat cover was easy to remove and throw in the wash, and then easy to place back on without any shrinkage. During testing, we didn’t notice any change in appearance and found it easy to spot clean too. We think this Graco booster seat is a fairly priced and ideal option for someone on a budget. 

Our tester noted that the car seat material seemed “adequate,” and that it “wasn’t the sturdiest, but got the job done.” We also felt the headrest could have been more padded because it didn’t seem to support our tester’s son's head when he was napping. 

• Type: High-back and converts to backless 
• Height range: 43-57 inches for high-back or booster  
• Weight range: 40-100 pounds for high-back or backless

Best With Storage

Safety 1st store 'n go sport booster car seat.

The storage drawer in this seat makes it an ideal option for families who go on a lot of road trips. It’s a perfect place to stash small toys or books , with open areas on either side for pencils and trinket toys. Our tester noted that her daughter loved this part of the seat. The seat also feels sturdy and well-made, and comes with comfortable features like a padded headrest and a cup holder . 

It’s fairly lightweight and because it doesn’t use LATCH, it’s very portable. It’s easy to clean, with a removable cover that can be machine washed, and the storage compartment can also be removed and cleaned. 

We didn’t love that you had to move the seat out of place to change the position of the headrest. Our tester noted that it was not intuitive, and they always felt like they were going to break it. It’s a bit narrow, so it might not be ideal for larger kids, and we wish it had more than one cup holder. 

• Height range: n/a  
• Product weight: 9.6 pounds 

Other Notable Booster Seats

While these booster seats didn’t make our top picks list, we did still find them worth mentioning. 

• Diono Monterey 2XT : The cool thing about this booster seat is that it folds into a compact size for easy traveling. While we found it to be well-made and sturdy, our testing parent felt that the straps used to carry the seat were in an awkward place, making it less than easy to tote around when folded. We also found installation to be difficult, and our kid struggled to use the seatbelt on their own because of the placement. 
• Maxi-Cosi RodiSport Booster Car Seat : We like that the fabric on this sturdy car seat feels durable and comfortable, and we think it seems really spacious for older kids. The LATCH installation instructions were not very intuitive, and we don’t love that the seat cover doesn’t lay flat against the seat, but neither of these are real deal breakers.
• Cosco Kids Finale 2-in-1 Booster Car Seat : We like that this one has a five-point harness for added safety, and it can grow with your child. And while it was easy to install, our tester felt that this seat felt like it wasn’t as high-quality as more expensive seats. We also wish it had more adjustments available other than the belt heights for the harness. 
• Graco Nautilus 2.0 LX 3-in-1 Harness Booster Car Seat : A pro for this seat is that it doesn’t feel bulky and is narrow enough to use with other car seats in the car. We also like the option of the five-point harness for safety, as well as the recline, two cup holders, and padded headrest. It was easy to install, but we found that removing the back and the harness was difficult, and we felt that the whole harness system could have been better made. 

Our Testing Process 

To find the best booster seats on the market, we spent a total of 13,950 hours testing 18 different products. We had parents and staff members test the booster seats at home in their own cars for at least a two week period of time. Here are the attributes we tested:

• Design : We had parents pay careful attention to the overall design and quality of the booster seat. As testers unboxed the booster seats, they noted the condition they were in and looked for any kinds of flaws or loose threads. They also inspected the booster seats to see how well-made they felt and if they seemed sturdy and durable or cheap and flimsy. Testers also took note of any special features, like a removable and washable cover, cup holders, a recline option, and an adjustable headrest. They also noted whether the booster seat seemed narrow and sleek or wide and bulky. They also evaluated how comfortable their kids were in the seats.
• Ease of installation : Testers were instructed to watch two videos to learn how to install their booster seats correctly before installing them in their cars. Testers set a timer while following manufacturer instructions to see how long it took them to install the booster seat. During the process, they noted how long it took, if it felt simple and intuitive or if it was difficult to figure out or complete, and if it had a LATCH system. 
• Ease of use : Once the booster seat was properly installed, testers had their children sit in the seat, pulling the car’s seat belt across their body and buckling it. They took note of how easy and intuitive this felt, paying attention to how the lap belt and shoulder belt laid across the child. They also tried adjusting the booster seat to accommodate the child, like adjusting the headrest and adding or removing the back. 
• Ease of cleaning : All testers were instructed to clean the booster seat at least once during the testing period, or as often as needed. They followed the manufacturer’s instructions, noting how easy or frustrating it was to clean the seat and how the seat looked after a few days of use. 
• Value : For overall value, testers compared all of the above attributes to the price of the booster and the average price of other boosters to decide whether they would pay that much.

Our Experts

Throughout the testing and research process, we consulted two experts for their insight and advice on booster seats: 

• Jessica Jermakian, DSc , vice president of vehicle research for the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety 
• Jeffrey Mills , an Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) accredited car seat safety and installation consultant and owner of Baby & Co , a baby gear store in Keynsham, Bristol, England 

Types of Booster Seats 

There are several different types of booster seats available. What you choose will depend on your child’s age, height, and weight, as well as your vehicle and your personal preferences. 

• High Back: High-back booster seats provide extra protection because they have shock-absorbing side bolsters (sometimes called “wings”) around the head and neck and sometimes the sides. They come with seat belt guides to correctly position the vehicle’s seat belt and many can be secured to the seat with LATCH. “High back booster seats would almost always be preferable to booster cushions,” Mills says. He points out that because they’re bigger, these don’t fit in all vehicles, like sports cars. 
• Backless: Backless booster seats are probably what many people imagine when they think of a booster seat. These are basically cushions that raise children off the vehicle’s seat to put them in a better seat belt position. Some can be secured to the seat with LATCH, and others just sit on the seat. They should only be used in a car with headrests, because the child’s ears should not reach above the top of the seat.
• Combination: A combination seat is basically a high-back booster with a five-point harness option. There are weight and height limitations on a five-point harness, but it’s recommended that children use them as long as possible. Combination booster seats allow you to remove the harness system so that the seat becomes just a high-back booster when the child gets bigger. 
• Convertible Car Seats: Some convertible car seats can go from forward-facing car seats to booster seats when your child is ready to make the transition. Some can turn into high-back booster seats, while others can also turn into backless booster seats. Some convertible car seats are meant to be used from birth (rear-facing) until your child is done with booster seats altogether, so while they may be more expensive, they are designed to really grow with your child. 

Other Factors to Consider When Shopping for a Booster Seat

“The most important thing is that parents find a booster seat that works for their kid and their vehicle,” Dr. Jermakian says. “Booster seats lift the child up, [steepen] the lap belt angle, and help engage the pelvic bones in a crash. They also shorten the seat cushion length, so the child can sit comfortably, and [they prevent] the child from slouching. Booster seats also position the lap and shoulder belt properly so that it sits snugly across the middle of the shoulder and snugly across the hips.” 

• Age, Weight, and Height Recommendations: According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, booster seats are meant for children ages 4 to 12 who have outgrown a forward-facing car seat and should be used until they are able to fit in a seat belt properly at a height of about 4-foot-9. Height and weight limits vary from seat to seat, but most high-back booster seats are safe for children weighing 40–100 pounds and up to 57 inches, while most backless booster seats are safe for up to 110 or 120 pounds and up to 63 inches. If you want a combination booster seat, ensure your child is at the right age and weight to use the five-point harness, which is meant for younger and smaller children. “Choose a seat that will fit your child comfortably as they grow,” Mills advises. “Check the width of the backrest. Most booster seats have a ‘V’ back, giving more width as the headrest is raised.” 
• Installation Method: Installing your booster seat properly is imperative to keep your child as safe as possible. Make sure the booster seat works for your vehicle, and read through the installation instructions to ensure you feel confident in installing it. Mills recommends looking for a booster seat that uses LATCH for installation. “Although the vehicle’s lap and diagonal seat is taking the load when LATCH is used, this can reduce sideways movement and also the seat loading up against the child in a collision,” he says. He also notes that LATCH can keep the seat in place even when not in use. “If the booster seat doesn’t feature LATCH, you will need to remember to route the lap and diagonal seat belt through the seat to keep it in place,” he says. “Otherwise, the seat could become a projectile in the event of a collision.” 
• Ease of Use: Booster seats should not feel overly complicated. You want one that is easy to use every time you get your child in and out of the car. “The really important thing is that parents are getting the booster that’s going to work for them and getting their child restrained on every trip,” Dr. Jermakian says. Look for things like seat belt positioners that make it easy to keep your child secure and easily adjustable features like headrests or armrests. 
• Extra Safety Features:  Some booster seats are pretty basic, while others may have extra safety features to consider. Mills highly recommends looking for booster seats with side-impact protection. “Many of the premium high back boosters feature three layers of protection at the head and shoulder,” he says. He also recommends an internal harness or a five-point harness for as long as the child is able to wear one (this will depend on their weight and height). 
• Portability: If you know you’re going to be switching your booster seat into different cars often, you may want something that is easier to move around. Backless booster seats are usually easier to swap from car to car, especially for carpools. You may want to opt for a high-back booster seat, combination seat, or convertible car seat to stay in your car for long periods of time and a backless booster seat for travel. 

How to Use Booster Seats Safely

• Read the manufacturer’s instructions . While booster seats are generally similar, Mills strongly recommends reading through the instructions to make sure you are installing and using your specific seat properly. 
• Test the booster seat in your car. Before you commit to purchasing or keeping a booster seat, Mills recommends testing it out if you can. “This step is crucial to ensure a proper fit in your vehicle,” he explains. “Occasionally, there may be a belt routing issue in certain vehicles, where the diagonal seat belt doesn’t move freely through the booster seat belt guide. This can lead to problems such as the seat belt not retracting if a child moves forward, causing slack within the seat belt.” Testing it can help you notice that before committing to it. 
• Ensure the seat is narrow or wide enough . Dr. Jermakian says that you should consider whether or not you have to place the booster seat near other car seats. “In that case, you might want to focus on narrower booster seats,” she says. “If your child is proportioned a little differently and needs a wider seat, maybe you’ll want to choose that because that’s more comfortable.” 
• Ensure the seat belt is routed correctly . Always make sure there is no slack. “I know that some parents or some kids have challenges getting the seat belt buckled with the seat belt straps routed properly through the booster,” Dr. Jermakian says. “It’s real quick to look at the owner’s manual to see what the booster manufacturer recommends, for example, to see whether the seat belt gets routed above or below the armrests. Make sure that the shoulder belt is in a good position so that it sits across the shoulder.”
• Ensure your child’s back is always against the seat . 
• Remove bulky clothing before getting in the booster seat . Just like with a car seat, Mills notes that bulky clothing, like a winter jacket, can keep seat belts and booster seats from working as they should. 
• Keep the seatbelt buckled at all times . 
• Keep your child in their booster seat at all times . “The most important thing is to make sure those kids are buckled in for every trip in an appropriate booster for their age and size, and that includes when you’re carpooling to soccer and even when you hop in a taxi,” Dr. Jermakian says. As your child gets older, you might find that they’re embarrassed to be in a high-back booster seat, especially during a carpool situation or in public transportation. If that’s the case, get a backless booster seat for these moments to ensure they’re always in one. 

The AAP recommends children stay in a booster seat until they are big enough for a seat belt to fit them properly and/or once they’ve reached the height or weight limit for the booster. They are big enough when:

• The shoulder belt fits at the point between the middle of their chest and shoulder. If it’s at their neck or throat, keep them in the booster.
• The lap part of the belt fits, well, on their lap. If it’s on their belly, stick to the booster seat.
• Their thighs are long enough that their knees bend over the edge of the seat comfortably while their back is against the seat. If they have to slouch to bend their knees, keep their butt in the booster!

Jessica Booth is a freelance writer who covers parenting, shopping, wellness, entertainment, and wedding content. She has been freelance writing since 2017 and before that, worked as an editor at an online publication for seven years. She has written for sites such as Brides, People, Insider, Bustle, Romper, Refinery 29, Cosmopolitan, Delish, The Daily Beast, Reviewed, SheKnows, Scary Mommy, The Knot, and What to Expect. She also has two young daughters and has been through her fair share of strollers and car seats. 

Car seats: information for families . HealthyChildren.org. 2024.

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• Car Seats /

Best Car Seats for Travel

Our favorite travel-friendly infant, convertible & booster seats for the baby days through the big-kid years., by jen labracio, cpst.

Ever try to lug a 20-pound car seat through an airport while thinking to yourself, “There has to be a better way?”

Traveling with babies and young children can be a great adventure, but it can also be a bit of a logistical nightmare. Should you use your car seat on the plane ? (Yes.) Where will they sleep? (A travel crib or a travel bed usually do the trick.) Can you fly with breastmilk ? (Yes.) How do you keep a toddler entertained on a long flight? (Thoughts and prayers.)

Car seats can be especially confusing when you’re away from home. Most present a bit of a conundrum: you want your to keep your little one safe and secure, but you don’t want to throw out your back lugging a big, bulky car seat around with you wherever you go. The good news is there are plenty of travel-friendly car seat options on the market—you just need to know what features to look for.

Babylist’s Top Picks for the Best Travel Car Seats

Best infant car seats.

• Lightest Infant Car Seat: UPPAbaby Aria Car Seat
• Best Affordable Infant Car Seat: Evenflo Litemax 35 Infant Car Seat
• Best Luxury Infant Car Seat: Nuna Pipa Rx Infant Car Seat with Relx Base
• Best Infant Car Seat + Stroller: Doona Infant Car Seat & Stroller

Best convertible car seats

• Best Convertible: Cosco Scenera NEXT Convertible Car Seat
• Longer Lasting Convertible: Evenflo Sonus 65 Convertible Car Seat
• Most Compact Convertible: WAYB Pico Travel Car Seat

Best booster seats

• Best High-back: Graco TurboBooster 2.0 Highback Booster Car Seat
• Best Backless: Cosco Rise Backless Booster Car Seat

In This Article

• How We Chose the Best Travel Car Seats
• Our Top Picks

What Is a Travel Car Seat?

Do you need a travel car seat, features to look for in a travel car seat, babylist’s picks for the best car seats for travel, infant car seats, lightest infant car seat for travel.

UPPAbaby Aria Infant Car Seat - Jake

The UPPAbaby Aria, one of our top car seats for infants , hit the market in early 2024 and we couldn’t be more excited about it. The brand’s OG car seat, the Mesa , is a popular choice for expecting parents but is a few pounds heavier than many comparable seats. The Aria comes in much lighter, weighing just under six pounds without the canopy and inserts, making it the lightest infant seat currently on the market. This is great if you’re using the seat daily, but even better if you’re using it for travel.

The Aria is GREENGUARD Gold Certified and can be installed with or without its base, another travel plus. (It features something called a European belt path , a routing system that makes installing the seat without its base safer and more secure.) A no-rethread harness makes fit adjustments easy and there’s a load leg and an anti-rebound bar for safety and stability. We also love the XL canopy for shade and darkness and that you won’t need adapters if you’re connecting the seat directly to a Vista or Cruz stroller.

Additional Specs

Best affordable infant car seat for travel.

Evenflo Litemax 35 Infant Car Seat - Knowville Gray

You don’t have to spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars on a travel-friendly infant car seat. Evenflo’s LiteMax (another of our top baby car seats ) costs a bit over $100 and weighs only eight pounds, making it affordable and travel-ready. You can install it without its base—it even has a European belt path. There’s a full-coverage canopy and an ergonomically designed handle for easier carrying.

If you don’t mind spending a bit more and are looking for some extra safety features, check out the LiteMax DLX , which features a load leg. (Just remember that the load led extends from the base, so if you’re using just the seat you won’t have that benefit.) And for another affordable infant car seat for travel, check out Graco’s SnugRide 35 Lite LX Infant Car Seat . It weighs just over seven pounds and can be installed without the base when you don’t feel like bringing it along.

Best Luxury Infant Car Seat for Travel

Nuna Pipa Rx Infant Car Seat with Relx Base - Granite

The Pipa Rx is a stellar combination of safety + convenience and works just as well as an everyday car seat as it does for travel. It’s pricey, but it’s also a sleek, modern seat with two key features that make it ideal for travel: weight and ease of installation. The Pipa weighs just over seven pounds, making it one of the lightest infant car seats on the market—a huge plus when you’re carrying it through the airport or taking it in and out of your car. And like other seats on our list, you can install it without the base using your vehicle’s seat belt and the European belt path.

It’s also packed with high-end features that you’d expect in a higher-priced seat. It’s GREENGUARD Gold Certified and doesn’t contain any added fire-retardant chemicals, and there’s an oversized canopy for shade. Safety-wise, it excels, featuring both a load leg and an anti-rebound panel (both extra safety features that help absorb impact and rebound in the event of a crash).

For another high-end, travel-friendly seat, check out the Clek Liingo . It’s a bit heavier, but it features LATCH anchors built right into the car seat itself, meaning you can skip the base and the seat belt and install it securely in seconds.

Best Infant Car Seat Stroller Hybrid for Travel

Doona Infant Car Seat & Stroller - Nitro Black

There’s nothing quite like the Doona. This one-of-a-kind hybrid stroller + car seat is a favorite of on-the-go parents and is a great item of baby gear to own if you’ll be traveling frequently with your little one during their first year or so.

The Doona transforms from an infant car seat into a stroller with the click of a button. When it’s time to get in the car, the stroller legs and wheels pull up and fold under the car seat. It’s a dream if you’re looking to cut down on the amount of gear you’re lugging around when you’re away from home and if you’re looking for a seat that’s easy to get in and out of ride shares or rental cars. (It’s a great seat for city dwellers too.)

Convertible Car Seats

Best convertible car seat for travel.

Cosco Scenera NEXT Convertible Car Seat

Most convertible seats aren’t designed for travel. Weighing in at an average of about 20 pounds, convertibles don’t snap into strollers and are heavy, bulky and meant to be installed in your car and stay there. For parents who travel frequently or don’t own a car, getting around with a convertible seat poses quite the challenge.

The Next, which is ranked as one of our best convertible car seats , solves for this dilemma. It weighs about 10 pounds—light for any car seat but especially so for a convertible. It’s easy to sling over your shoulder while you’re walking through the airport or install in an airplane seat or a ride share. (It’s FAA-approved for plane travel.) It’s totally no-frills and can be a bit tricky to get a secure install, but it’s slim, safe and affordable and can be used both rear- and forward-facing.

A Longer Lasting Travel-Friendly Convertible Pick

Evenflo Sonus 65 Convertible Car Seat - Rocco Red

The Sonus 65 is a travel-friendly convertible car seat and a good choice if you’re looking for a seat with a higher height and weight maximum than the Cosco Scenera Next. It weighs a bit more, but only by about a pound, and you’ll be able to use it until your little one reaches 65 pounds or 50 inches as opposed to the Next which maxes out at 40 pounds and 43 inches.

In addition to its extended use capabilities, the Sonos is an affordable seat with a few noteworthy features. It’s a fairly narrow seat, so it won’t take up much room across your back seat and can be used three across. There’s also a built-in ventilation system, a reinforced frame, five shoulder strap positions and two integrated cup holders for drinks and snacks.

Most Compact Convertible Car Seat for Travel

WAYB Pico Travel Car Seat

The WAYB Pico is like no other convertible car seat on the market. Designed specifically for families who travel or are frequently on the go, it’s one of the pricer options on our list but is a worthwhile investment if you’re looking for an innovative, safe and incredibly compact convertible car seat option.

The creators of the Pico were inspired to create a completely unique convertible-style seat after watching parents struggle trying to lug car seats through airports and in and out of taxis and ride shares. There’s no feature here that hasn’t been completely (and ingeniously) thought through. The Pico’s frame is made from lightweight, aerospace-grade aluminum; there’s a five-point harness and seat fabric made from a cool, breathable mesh; and the seat installs either via a seat belt or LATCH system. The Pico weighs just eight pounds and folds up for easy transport either by hand or in the brand’s carry bag .

One thing to keep in mind: the seat is forward-facing only, so if you’re looking for a rear-facing convertible for travel, this isn’t a good fit for you.

Booster Seats

Best booster seat for travel.

Graco TurboBooster 2.0 Highback Booster Car Seat

Booster seats use a vehicle’s seat belt as a restraint and were developed to help elevate children in a car’s seat, making adult seat belts fit better on smaller bodies. You’ll have to wait quite a while until you transition your little one from a convertible car seat into a booster; most experts recommend waiting to make the leap until your child maxes out their forward-facing car seat, meets the height and weight requirements of the booster and is mature enough to sit properly upright (no leaning, twisting, moving around etc.).

There are two types of boosters: high-back and backless. Graco’s TurboBooster falls into the first category, with a high back and a seat belt guide to thread your vehicle’s shoulder belt for a proper fit. Due to their height, no high-backs are particularly great for travel, but this one is one of the best you’ll find in terms of price (affordable) and weight (just over eight pounds). It’s also easy to install and fits a wide variety of children well, and transitions to a backless booster for years of use.

Best Backless Booster Seat for Travel

Cosco Rise Backless Booster Car Seat

Most experts recommend using a high-back booster for as long as possible , but once you’re ready to make the switch to a backless model, your life is going to get a whole lot easier (and a lot lighter!). Cosco’s Rise is a no-frills seat that’s affordable, lightweight and compact, making it ideal to toss into a bag or even a tote for travel. The wide base and high armrests make it easy for your child to buckle in themselves and there’s a shoulder belt positioning clip to ensure you’ll get the proper fit.

How We Chose Our Best Car Seats for Travel

• We analyzed results from Babylist’s Best Baby Products survey , which polled 6,000 Babylist users and asked them to share the baby products they love the most and why.
• We utilized insight from the Babylist editorial team, including Gear Editor Jen LaBracio, an expert in the baby space for over six years and a mom of two who has written hundreds of baby gear guides and personally researched and tested hundreds of baby products, including many travel car seats.
• We reviewed customer reviews from hundreds of real Babylist parents.

There’s no specific category or true definition for a “travel” car seat; instead, what defines a travel-friendly car seat is more about its features. Things like a light weight, compact design and ease of portability are all factors to consider when you’re shopping for this type of seat.

Determining if it’s worthwhile to invest in a car seat just for travel depends on your family’s lifestyle. If you’re a family who tends to stay close to home or use your own car when you’re traveling, you can likely skip a travel-friendly seat. But if you’re planning on hitting the road (or the skies) frequently with your little one in tow, then purchasing a car seat specifically for travel can make your life on the go a whole lot easier.

Also keep in mind that you don’t have to use a travel-friendly car seat just for travel. A compact, lightweight car seat is a great choice if you’re an urban family that doesn’t own a car, for example, if you need a seat for a grandparent or other caregiver or if plan to switch your seat frequently between cars.

There are some specific features to keep in mind when you’re shopping for a car seat that’s well-suited for travel.

• Weight. This is a biggie. Lugging around a heavy car seat isn’t a fun way to spend any part of your vacation. Choose the lightest seat you can within your budget—your lower back can thank us later.
• Design. A slim, compact seat is easier to transport than a big, bulky one. Keep this in mind when choosing what type of seat you’ll purchase for traveling.
• Ease of installation. Does spending 40 minutes trying to install a car seat in your rental car sound like fun? Make sure the car seat you choose for travel can be installed quickly and easily in the widest range of car makes and models.
• FAA-approved. This one’s important if you plan on doing a lot of travel via plane. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that kids ride in child safety seats on airplanes —but you’ll need to make sure your seat is approved for airplane use . Look for a label on the seat that reads “certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft” to be sure. This includes infant seats, convertibles, forward-facing seats and some harnessed boosters.

Jen LaBracio,

Senior gear editor, cpst.

Jen LaBracio is Babylist’s Senior Gear Editor and a Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST). When she’s not geeking out over car seats, testing out a new high chair or pushing the latest stroller model around her neighborhood, she likes to run, do all things Peloton, listen to podcasts, read and spend time at the beach. In her past life, she worked for over a decade in children’s publishing. She lives outside of Chicago with her husband and their two boys, Will and Ben.

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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The 16 Very Best Car Seats

Jump to section

• Best for infants
• Best convertibles
• Best all-in-ones
• Best for travel

It’s not easy navigating the complex and ever-growing world of car seats. And while it’s reassuring to know that all car seats sold in the United States are required to meet the same rigorous safety-testing standards — meaning that, at minimum, they are all equipped to protect your child during a crash — you’ll still need to narrow your options somehow.

Ultimately, “the best car seat for any child and family is the car seat that fits the child, fits the car, and that the family will be able to use correctly every time,” says Ben Hoffman, a pediatrician who helped write official American Academy of Pediatrics policies on child-passenger safety .

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) provides a guide to help you figure out which type of seat you need. You’ll want to focus on four main factors: your child’s age, weight, and height; the car you drive; the convenience features that are important to you; and, of course, your budget. (If you have multiple children in car seats, you’ll also need to make sure each seat fits in your car when installed according to manufacturer instructions, as some are not narrow enough to sit side by side.)

To help you get started, I asked experts and parents for their top recommendations in each category of car seat — infant, convertible, and all-in-one — that would fit a variety of vehicles and budgets, plus make installation smoother and safer. If you know what type of car seat you are looking for, you can use the table of contents to jump ahead to that category. Otherwise read on for all of our recommendations.

And for parents of children who have outgrown their forward-facing car seats, but still need a booster to help make sure a regular seatbelt fits them properly, we have a guide to the best booster seat s as well.

Update on August 16, 2024: Updated prices and checked stock for all products.

What we’re looking for

There are three major types of car seats:

Infant (or bucket) seat: As the name suggests, infant seats are designed to be used from birth, with most having a weight limit of 35 pounds. They can only be used in a rear-facing position and typically come with a base that is installed in your car, allowing you to easily click the bucket seat into and out of it. Bucket seats can double as infant carriers, and most can be attached to a stroller or a stroller frame (though you may need a special adapter). For this reason, considering the weight of the actual seat is a good place to start, as it will only get heavier as your baby grows.

Convertible: Convertible car seats are designed for use from birth through toddlerhood. They can be used rear-facing or forward-facing, and the switch is typically made when your child maxes out the height or weight limit of the rear-facing mode. If you don’t care about using your car seat as an infant carrier, you can choose to skip the bucket seat completely. The main trade-off is that you’ll save money on replacing a bucket seat when they outgrow it (around age 1, on average), but you’ll lose the convenience of easily transferring your baby from the car to their stroller or into your home without having to remove them from their seat.

All-in-one: All-in-one car seats are convertible seats that can also be used in booster mode , allowing some kids to use them up to age 10. Their one-and-done quality is their main appeal: Instead of buying two or three separate car seats over the course of your child’s first years, the thinking is that you can buy just one and save money in the process. However, once you get to the booster stage, an all-in-one seat in booster mode will be bulkier in your back seat than a seat designed solely to work as a booster. And if you’re going to use one car seat over the course of ten years or so, you should expect to do some work to keep it clean.

Max weight and height

“From a safety perspective, we recommend that kids stay in the safest car seat until they outgrow it,” says Jennifer Saxton, the founder of Tot Squad and a child passenger safety technician (CPST). “Don’t try to move your kid too quickly to the next car seat.” In other words, children should max out the weight or height limit of their current car seat before moving to the next stage. The exact laws around car seats and when a child must be rear-facing vary by state , but all of the experts I talked to agreed that the longer you can keep your child in a rear-facing position, the safer they will be. I’ve listed the maximum weight and height limit of each seat, below. For car seats that can be used in multiple positions (rear-facing, forward-facing, booster), I listed the weight limits for each.

Size and weight of car seat

Even if it’s going to mostly live in your car, a heavy or overly bulky car seat can make your daily routine more difficult. But it’ll be especially annoying if you are using the car seat to carry an infant from the car into your house, or if you plan to frequently move the car seat between two cars. Pay attention to dimensions, too, as not all car seats will fit in all cars. I’ve called out the car seats that are exceptionally light and slim as well as those that are very heavy and bulky.

Extra safety and specialty features

In the United States, every car seat on the market must pass strict Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) — so as long as a seat fits your child and your car, your choice really comes down to any additional safety features you’re looking for as well as convenience and comfort features. Parents may appreciate simple installation, a rotating feature that makes it easier to get a child into the seat, a no-rethread harness, or an extended rear-facing weight limit. Children may benefit from extra cushioning, cupholders, and extended footrests. I’ve highlighted the notable safety and convenience features of each of the car seats in our list.

Rigid LATCH vs. Flexible LATCH

LATCH is a system that allows you to secure your car seat or car-seat base to your vehicle without using a seat belt — it’s an acronym for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children. All of the seats recommended below have either rigid or flexible LATCH connections. Rigid LATCH uses alligator-like clips that come directly out of the car seat or base without any straps or rotation. They allow for a more secure hookup that is not dependent on your ability to pull the belt strap tightly. Flexible LATCH connectors are attached to a pull strap that can be tightened or loosened, either by hand or, depending on the seat, with some type of tightening mechanism. Both options are safe and meet FMVSS requirements, but rigid LATCH is easier to install and doesn’t require any manual tightening or adjusting, ensuring correct installation. In the event of a crash, rigid LATCH also helps keep the car seat from sliding forward or side to side.

I divided this list into four price categories, with the cost of each car seat denoted as $, $$, $$$, and $$$$ for under $200, under $350, under $500, and $500 and up, respectively.

Infant car seats

Best infant car seat overall.

Max weight and height: 35 pounds, 32 inches | Size and weight of seat: 28 x 16.5 x 24 inches, 10 pounds without base | Features: Anti-rebound bar, full-coverage canopy, quick-remove seat pad, seatbelt routing for use without base | LATCH type: Flexible with SuperCinch installation system | Price: $$

The Chicco KeyFit line of infant seats is an established favorite among the parents and experts I surveyed, including CPST instructor Kecia Healy, who is also a member of the New York State Child Passenger Safety Advisory Board . Healy likes that the seat is easy to install with a spring-loaded recline foot and bubble indicator on the base to help you get it perfectly level. The flexible LATCH connectors have Chicco’s SuperCinch installation system that helps parents tighten it easily, for a secure fit every time. Saxton calls it a solid car-seat choice thanks to its affordable price, GREENGUARD Gold–certified materials, and ease of use, which means parents are more likely to install it correctly. And for people who want to be able to jump in an Uber with their infant, it can be installed without the base by using the seatbelt routing system. Other handy features include a fully extendable canopy, an anti-rebound bar for added stability, a no-rethread harness, an extendable headrest, and a “quick-remove” seat pad for easier cleaning. One drawback of this seat is its weight. At nearly ten pounds without the base or a child in it, carrying the seat is akin to carrying an average-sized vacuum cleaner or a small microwave.

Best (less expensive) infant car seat

Max weight and height: 35 pounds, 32 inches | Size and weight of seat: ‎28 x 17.5 x 26.5 inches, 9 pounds without base | Features: Load leg, cooling mesh fabric | LATCH: Flexible | Price: $$

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly infant car seat, Babylist gear editor Jennifer LaBracio recommends Evenflo’s LiteMax DLX. “It’s consistently a top pick among child-passenger safety technicians,” she says, adding that it has a lot of features that are usually only found in much more expensive seats, like a load leg — which in a seat that’s a couple hundred dollars is a huge bonus. According to Eli Gurock, founder and CEO of the baby-gear and toy-retailer  Magic Beans , load legs offer added safety by stabilizing the car seat to keep it from rotating in the instance of a crash.

Best stroller-compatible infant car seat

Max weight and height: 35 pounds, 32 inches | Size and weight of seat: 17 x 25.8 x 23 inches, 9.9 pounds without base | Features: Load leg, anti-rebound panel, red-to-green installation indicators | LATCH type: Flexible | Price: $$$

Uppababy car seats are another popular choice, especially among those who want a seat that is easily compatible with their Cruz and Vista strollers. (The Uppababy Vista V2 stroller is the top pick in our guide to the best strollers .) It also clicks into the brand’s more compact Minu stroller with adapters. Strategist senior editor Simone Kitchens has been using the Mesa as her main car seat for over a year, and used it as an infant seat on her Uppababy Vista stroller when her daughter was a newborn. Kitchens found the seat really easy to install in the car and says it has lasted her a long time despite her daughter being on the tall side. It has a load leg on the base, an anti-rebound panel, and a red-to-green indicator that lets you know it is installed correctly. Mei Ling Starkey of the blog Family Entourage appreciates the no-rethread harness: “You pull the tabs to tighten it and the harness slides right down. You can put a tall child in it one day and a tiny, tiny child in it the next day and get a perfect fit.”

Best lightweight infant car seat

Max weight and height: 30 pounds, 30 inches | Size and weight of seat: 17.5 x 27.25 x 23, 6.2 pounds without base or canopy | Features: Load leg, anti-rebound panel, push-button recline, full-coverage canopy | LATCH type: Rigid | Price: $$$$

The Nuna Pipa Aire RX is not only a premium choice thanks to its added safety features of a load leg and an anti-rebound panel, but because it’s incredibly light, weighing just 6.2 pounds without the base or canopy. I used the Nuna Pipa Lite Rx infant car seat, which has now been discontinued and replaced in the brand’s lineup with the slightly lighter weight Aire. The two seats are essentially the same except that the Aire weighs a bit less and unfortunately has a 2-pound smaller max weight and 2-inch shorter height limit.

I love how easy the seat is to install and how cushy it is both with and without the newborn insert. It’s also incredibly easy to carry, even as your baby gets older and heavier. And is still going strong with my 14 month old son who weighs around 22 pounds and is about 25 inches tall. Like the Pipa Lite, the Pipa Aire is made of GREENGUARD Gold–certified materials and has upscale touches like an organic merino-wool infant insert, a faux -leather-wrapped handle, and magnets on the side that hold the harness out of your way when you’re getting your baby into or out of the seat. It also has a push-button recline and color-coded locking indicators on the rigid LATCH connectors and load leg that let you know it is tightly and properly installed.

Convertible car seats

Best convertible car seat overall.

Max weight and height: (Rear) 50 pounds, 49 inches (Forward) 65 pounds, 49 inches | Size and weight of seat: 19 x 16 x 25 inches, 27.9 pounds | Features: Extended rear-facing weight limit, push-button leveler, extendable legroom panel | LATCH type: Flexible | Price: $$$$

Gurock says the Nuna Rava is one of the most popular convertible car seats his store sells because it has supreme safety and convenience features — like a reinforced steel frame — plus an overall sleek and stylish look. Designed to make installation easy and straightforward, the seat’s “Simply Secure” system has a bubble-free leveler with a simple push button so you can find the correct angle effortlessly. And if you’re not using LATCH, the color-coded belt paths indicate the proper way to thread your car’s seat belt. The Rava has an extended rear-facing weight limit of 50 pounds and an adjustable legroom panel. It also has a no-rethread harness, crotch strap, and GREENGUARD Gold–certified cover.

Best (less expensive) convertible car seat

Max weight and height: (Rear) 50 pounds, child’s head one inch below handle (Forward) 65 pounds, 49 inches | Size and weight of seat: 19.5 x 21.5 x 23.5 inches, 19.2 pounds | Features: Extended rear-facing weight limit, extendable legroom panel, cupholders | LATCH type: Flexible | Price: $$

Strategist senior editor and mom of two Jen Trolio used different versions of the Graco Extend2Fit for both of her daughters, who are now 6 and 8 years old. She originally chose the seat because it fit well rear-facing in the back seat of her Mazda sedan. Each kid used their Extend2Fit from about one to 5 years old. One of the Extend2Fit models Trolio owned could also be used as a booster, but Trolio ultimately replaced it with a Chicco high-back booster because the Extend2Fit was bulkier and made it difficult for her older daughter to buckle herself in.

LaBracio says this seat is a really good value. She likes that it has a high rear-facing weight limit of 50 pounds (with a forward-facing limit of 65 pounds), plus it’s easy to install, and a good fit for almost any type of car. It has two cupholders and an adjustable extension panel that provides extra legroom to keep taller children comfortable while rear-facing (though you do have to have enough space in your car to use it). The Extend2Fit line also includes a 3-in-1 version that converts to a high-back booster, and an all-in-one version that converts to both a high-back and a backless booster.

Best (even less expensive) convertible car seat

Max weight and height: (Rear) 40 pounds, 50 inches (Forward) 65 pounds, 50 inches | Size and weight of seat: 19.12 x 19.12 x 29.62 inches, 11.28 pound | Features: Compact frame, cupholders | LATCH type: Flexible | Price:  $

Healy’s pick for an affordable (but basic) convertible car seat is the Evenflo Sonus 65, which has a rear-facing weight limit of 40 pounds and a forward-facing weight limit of 65 pounds. It is also lightweight, at just over 11 pounds, and has a compact frame, allowing you to install three of them across the back seat of most midsize vehicles. “It doesn’t have many bells and whistles, but for just a little more than $100, if you are looking for a spare seat for a second vehicle or a seat that you can travel with” it’s a good choice, says Healy. She adds it’s worth noting that Evenflo car seats require children to be at least 2 years old to ride forward-facing.

Best convertible car seat for switching between cars

Max weight and height: (Rear) 40 pounds, 49 inches (Forward) 65 pounds, 49 inches | Size and weight of seat: 23 x 18.5 x 23.5 inches, 28.5 pounds | Features: ClickTight installation system, add-on anti-rebound bar | LATCH type: Flexible | Price: $$

I’ve heard from multiple parents, including Strategist senior editor Winnie Yang, that Britax’s ClickTight system is a hugely convincing reason to buy one of the brand’s car seats. The ClickTight system eliminates needing to pull, tug, and lock your seat belt in place because it has an automatic tension mechanism to help you get a snug fit. Instead of having to thread the seat belt behind the seat, you lift the inner seat up on a hinge, fasten the seatbelt in place, and then “click” the mechanism to tighten the belt. “It takes about 30 seconds to install,” explains Kenny Fried, another parent we spoke to who often swaps his Britax Marathon car seat between two different cars. If you want added protection in a crash, you can invest in an attachable anti-rebound bar from Britax that works with its convertible car seats in rear-facing mode; it’s another feature Hoffman recommends for reducing movement during crashes.

All-in-one car seats

Best all-in-one car seat overall.

Max weight and height: (Rear) 50 pounds, 49 inches (Forward) 65 pounds, 49 inches (Booster) 120 pounds, 63 inches | Size and weight of seat: 20.5 x 19.5 x 25 inches, 30 pounds | Features: ClickTight installation system, extended rear-facing weight limit, cupholders | LATCH type: Flexible | Price: $$$

The Britax One4Life car seat is easy to install thanks to it ClickTight system, and just as easy to use after it’s installed. It has an impressive 15 head and neck positions, and nine recline positions that are easy to adjust for maximum kid comfort. That’s five more positions than the Graco 4Ever car seat below and three more than the Nuna Exec below. It can be used with infants starting at 5 pounds and has the same 50-pound rear-facing weight limit and 66-pound forward-facing harnessed weight limit as the Graco Extend2Fit and the Nuna Rava convertible seats. In booster mode with a regular seat belt, it can accommodate children who weigh between 40 and 120 pounds.

Best (less expensive) all-in-one car seat

Max weight and height: (Rear) 50 pounds, child’s head one inch below handle (Forward) 65 pounds, 49 inches (Booster) 100 to 120 pounds, 47 inches | Size and weight of seat: 21 x 27 x 28 inches, 22.8 pounds | Features: Extended rear-facing weight limit, cupholders | LATCH type: Flexible | Price: $$

Both Saxton and LaBracio suggested the Graco 4Ever DLX all-in-one car seat as an affordable option that can potentially last your child from birth to age 10. It has an extended 50-pound rear-facing weight limit as well as six recline positions, a feature LaBracio especially likes. It can also be used as both a high-back booster (with a 100-pound weight limit) and a backless booster (with a 120-pound weight limit).

Best luxury all-in-one car seat

Max weight and height: (Rear) 50 pounds, 49 inches (Forward) 65 pounds, 49 inches (Booster) 120 pounds, 57 inches | Size and weight of seat: 22.5 x 18.5 x 26–33 inches, 22.8 pounds | Features: Extended rear-facing weight limit, anti-rebound panel, extendable legroom panel, cupholders | LATCH type: Flexible | Price: $$$$

LaBracio and Saxton both told us about Nuna’s “die-hard” fans who love the brand’s luxe feel and features, like added foam for minimizing impact, as well as easy installation. This all-in-one Nuna Exec is the seat that LaBracio purchased for her own baby; she appreciates its 50-pound rear-facing weight limit and extendable legroom panel, all-steel frame, and anti-rebound panel. It can be used from birth (starting at five pounds in rear-facing mode), and as a booster for kids up to 120 pounds. It is also compact enough to fit three across in many midsize vehicles.

Best revolving car seat

Max weight and height: (Rear) 50 pounds, no height provided (Forward) 65 pounds, no height provided (Booster) 120 pounds | Size and weight of seat: 21 x 19.8 x 25.9 inches, 29.6 pounds | Features: 360-degree rotation, single installation required | LATCH type: Flexible | Price: $$

The rotating car seat is the latest innovation in the car-seat world, encouraging parents to keep their kids in the rear-facing position longer by making it easier to buckle them in, says LaBracio. The Evenflo Revolve “swivels 360 degrees, a huge convenience for parents and caregivers who are loading a child in and out of a car seat multiple times a day,” she explains. The Evenflo Gold Revolve360 is an all-in-one convertible option that your child can use from birth (in the rear-facing position) up to 120 pounds (with a seat belt in the booster mode). Stephen Galamb, the father of a two-year-old, says “the ability to rotate the seat to face you while putting your child in is an absolute game changer. I don’t even like taking the baby in my car because the Revolve in my wife’s car has spoiled me so badly.”

While awaiting the birth of her second child, former Strategist writer Latifah Miles tested the Revolve360 by installing it in her Volvo Atlas truck and found the process was very straightforward. It took about 15 minutes from start to finish, with most of the process focused on adjusting the tension of her car’s seat belt, which the Evenflo instructions prefer over using LATCH. The seat belt slips through clearly marked guides under a “LockStrong” belt compartment. There is also a tether strap that gets clipped to your car’s upper anchor.

The base and seat are two different pieces, but unlike with an infant bucket seat, you really only separate them for installation. Once the seat belt was buckled through the base and the tether attached, Miles had to push the base down into her car’s seat and pull the belt taught simultaneously, as there is no automatic tensioning mechanism. There was a bit of a learning curve to do this, but once she tightened the slack of the tether and closed the LockStrong compartment over the seat belt, an indicator turned green to show that the belt was secured in place, and the base was firmly installed on the seat.

As for the rotating feature — you simply click a button on the side of the seat and turn it rear-to-side or side-to-front. It swivels smoothly, making getting the baby in and out of the seat much easier than with a traditional car seat. Evenflo also has a few versions of this seat, the Revolve360 Slim , and the Revolve360 with SensorSafe , so you can choose one that best fits your lifestyle, car, and budget.

Car seats for travel

Best combination car seat and stroller.

Max weight and height: 35 pounds, 32 inches | Size and weight of seat: 17.3 x 32.3 x 40 inches, 10 pounds | Features: Stoller and car seat all-in-one LATCH type: Flexible | Price: $$$$

The Doona is one of the only combination car seat and strollers on the market, and certainly the most popular one. This makes it a convenient option for travel or anyone who rides in Ubers or shared cars on a regular basis. It also fits perfectly into an airplane seat and is lighter than most strollers and car seats. Though it’s expensive for a single piece of baby gear, it functions as two, and for many parents the streamlined traveling experience is well worth the investment: Saxton used it as her everyday car seat and stroller when her baby was an infant, and says its convenience cannot be beat.

The trade-off is that there is no storage basket, and the wheels are more suited to flat sidewalks versus bumpier terrain. I see multiple families using the Doona stroller everyday in my neighborhood in Brooklyn, and my main takeaway is that seat sits low compared to other strollers; I personally don’t love that aspect of the Doona, especially since it makes the baby seem more vulnerable when crossing busy intersections. And at a glance, the handlebar looks short. But even taller parents have no trouble with the height: Saxton says she and her husband, who are five-foot-eight and six-foot-three, respectively, were both able to push it comfortably. One note: Healy says that the popularity of the Doona means there are knockoffs and fakes on the market and recommends doing your due diligence and purchasing your car seat from reputable retailers.

Best toddler car seat for travel

Max weight and height: 50 pounds, 45 inches | Size and weight of seat: 15.2” x 14.5” x 27.8” open; 11.6” x 14.5” x 18.9” closed, 8 pounds | Features: Folds in half for easy storage or to carry in a backpack | LATCH type: Flexible | Price: $$$

Travel writer and parent Berit Baugher first found out about the WAYB Pico car seat from a fellow toddler mom when she was planning a trip to Italy with her then 20-month-old son. At that time he was too small for the seat — it’s designed for kids ages 2 and up and has weight and height minimums of 22 pounds and 30 inches, respectively. But once he had grown big enough to use it, she was thrilled by the seat’s convenience when traveling internationally. Not only is it the lightest of all the car seats on this list, it is the only one that can fold in half to fit inside its own travel backpack (which is sold separately). According to Baugher, the seat is easy to install in Ubers, fits in the airplane overhead compartment, and is light enough that she could chase her son through JFK with it on her back.

Best budget car seat for travel

Max weight and height: (Rear) 40 pounds, 40 inches (Forward) 4o pounds, 43 inches | Size and weight of seat: 29 X 21.25 X 22.5 inches, 9.92 pounds |Features: Lightweight one-piece shell LATCH type: Flexible | Price:  $

While the best and safest car seats are typically sturdier, they’re usually not lightweight, which is why many parents end up buying a separate one for traveling. Though it’s hard to pass up the chance to save money on flights by holding children under 2 on your lap, Saxton and LaBracio agree that it’s always safer for your child to have their own airplane seat with a Federal Aviation Administration–approved car seat. (The American Association of Pediatrics, National Transportation Safety Board, and FAA all recommend this as well, making an extra travel-friendly seat a worthwhile purchase.)

In the convertible category, both Saxton and Renee McCabe, the injury-prevention and Safe Kids coordinator for Safe Kids Greater Augusta , suggested the just-under-10-pounds Cosco Scenera Next. While it is a very no-frills option, it can be still be installed via the LATCH system or your car’s seat belt. And according to LaBracio, it’s easy to install on planes. It’s also one of the most well-known and beloved travel car seats out there, especially if you aren’t concerned about matching it up with a specific stroller. This seat does not have a no-rethread harness, so we recommend adjusting it to fit your child before you leave home. It can be used in the rear-facing position for infants starting at four pounds and up to 40 pounds in both rear- and forward-facing positions.

Best travel system car seat

Max weight and height: 35 pounds, 32 inches | Stroller size and weight: 42.25 x 37 x 22.5 inches, 18.4 pounds | Size and weight of seat: 25 x 17.5 x 22 inches, 7.6 pounds | Features: Stoller and car seat all-in-one LATCH type: Rigid | Price: $$$$

The latest edition to Nuna’s line of infant car seats is the Pipa Urbn, which is sold as part of the brand’s TRIV travel system. What sets it apart is that it doesn’t have a base but can be quickly installed in any car with the PipaFIX rigid LATCH system. “This is great for Ubers and taxis because it has an integrated LATCH system built right into the bottom of the seat itself, so all you have to do is click it into the seat of the car and you’re good to go,” Gurock says. When the seat is not installed, its LATCH connectors fold into the seat so you can tote your baby around without the legs getting caught on anything. Like many of Nuna’s other infant seats, the Urbn is also extremely lightweight, at just over seven pounds.

Despite its convenience, it’s not without drawbacks: It is currently available only as a travel system with the TRIV Next stroller and has a very high price tag. It also has a much lower weight limit — 22 pounds — than most other infant seats, so depending on the size of your baby, you may not be able to use it for very long. However, the stroller can be used without the car seat and has a weight limit of 50 pounds (which should fit many kids until they’re 4 or 5 years old).

Our experts:

• Alisa Baer , pediatrician and co-founder of thecarseatlady.com • Lauren Brown , lead car-seat safety specialist at Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital • Allyson Downey , co-founder of WeeSpring • Kenny Fried , parent • Stephen Galamb, parent • Eli Gurock, founder and CEO of the baby-gear and toy-retailer Magic Beans • Kecia Healy , child-passenger-safety technician instructor and member of the New York State Child Passenger Safety Advisory Board • Ben Hoffman , pediatrician who helped write the American Academy of Pediatrics’ policies on child-passenger safety • Simone Kitchens , Strategist senior editor and parent • Jennifer LaBracio , gear editor at Babylist • Renee McCabe , injury-prevention and Safe Kids coordinator for Safe Kids Greater Augusta • Latifah Miles , senior commerce editor at Babylist • Ashlee Neuman , deputy editor at the Bump • Lauren Ro , Strategist writer and parent • Jennifer Saxton , founder of Tot Squad and child-passenger-safety technician • Mei Ling Starkey , co-founder of Family Entourage • Jen Trolio, Strategist senior editor and parent

Additional reporting by Lauren Ro and Latifah Miles

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• Booster Seat Planning Guide

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At a glance

CDC's Booster Seat Planning Guide can assist states, tribes, localities, and territories with assessing, planning, and implementing improved booster seat laws to reduce crash injuries and deaths among children.

Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death among children in the United States. Many deaths and injuries can be prevented with the proper use of car seats, booster seats, and seat belts appropriate for a child's age and size.

Research shows that proper restraint use decreases as children get older. Booster seat use reduces the risk for serious injury by 45% when compared with seat belt use alone.

Booster seats are an important stage of child passenger safety. They elevate and position a child so that the seat belt's lap and shoulder belts fit properly. Proper seat belt fit occurs when the lap belt is across the upper thighs (not the stomach) and when the shoulder belt is across the center of the shoulder and chest (not across the neck or face, and not off the shoulder). This usually occurs when children are between 9 and 12 years old.

Research shows the most effective strategy to increase booster seat use is through updating, implementing, and enforcing state child restraint laws with booster seat provisions—commonly known as "booster seat laws." Booster seat laws also reduce crash injuries and deaths among children under age 9 who are covered by these laws.

Download the Guide‎

The Booster Seat Planning Guide outlines five steps to assist states, tribes, localities, and territories in developing an action plan to move booster seat safety forward:

• Learning about booster seat laws in your state or community
• Learning about which motor vehicle crash data are available
• Creating and strengthening partnerships
• Forming an action plan
• Developing a communication plan

Additional resources

• Preventing Child Passenger Injury
• What Works: Strategies to Increase Car Seat and Booster Seat Use

Parents and caregivers can make a difference by ensuring that their children are properly buckled on every trip. Learn more.