Whether the airplane or the automobile is your preferred form of transportation, when exploring the world with young children, car seats are a must for safety. Travel car seats are a little different from your typical car seats which can stay stationary in the car. Because you’re going to be moving it around a lot, you really want to make sure you’re comfortable with setting up, transporting, and securing your child in the seat.
What To Look For In A Lightweight Travel Car Seat
When you are looking for a travel car seat, here are a few things to consider:
Convertibility
A convertible car seat is one that can accommodate your newborn baby until he or she Convertible car seats generally work for infants from around three pounds and may be able to hold a child up to ‘to be around 65 lbs, The advantage of buying a convertible car seat is that you will be able to save money in the long run, as you won’t have to buy another when they will overtake their infant car seat.
FAA approval
If you plan to fly with your car seat at all, then FAA approval is a must. You are not allowed to fly with a car seat that is not approved by the FAA. If the car seat is FAA approved, you should see a sticker on the side of the car seat that reads, “This restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft.,”
Characteristics
Some car seats come with tons of features and others only have a few. Consider what will work best for you and your family. Some of the more popular features include: five point safety harness, safety rating, canopy shade, cup holders, and removable and washable parts.
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Seat size/width
This will be a more important consideration if you are going to fly with the car seat, but it can also be important when traveling in a car if there will be several small ones in the back seat., The width of the airplane seats tends to vary between 16 ”to 22”. Keep in mind that just because an Auto Seat is FAA Approved doesn’t mean it will fit in an airplane seat. As a general rule, car seats that are about 17 ”or less in width will fit an airplane seat, but you can always call the airline to make sure.
Style
Consider whether you need a car seat or a booster seat for your child when you are traveling. Car seats are created with what is called a five point harness. These harnesses make contact at five points – both shoulders, both hips and the crotch., When the harness is properly tightened, it does not allow the child to move. Infants and toddlers can use car seats.
On the other hand, booster seats are used when toddlers overtake their car seats. The job of booster seats is to make sure that the seat belt rests in the correct place on the child’s body to retain them. There isn’t necessarily a specific time to move a child in a booster seat, but just make sure they are mature enough that they don’t move around and shift around too much,
Weight
If you are on the move a lot, the weight is going to be very important. You don’t want to be weighed down by the car seat or have a hard time transporting it through the airport. A lightweight car seat generally weighs around ten pounds. It should be a manageable weight to haul it through the airport, on the plane, and to your hotel.
Best Travel Car Seat Reviews
Now that you know what to look for, it’s up to you to choose what will suit you best from the best car seats, read our best travel booster seat for toddlers buying guide review before buying one.