Do not buy a secondhand car seat. It could have been damaged in an accident, and may not have all its parts, including the instructions. It may also not be the safest and most user-friendly model, plus it may not fit your car properly. While it does have a higher price point, the Uppababy Cruz V2 and Mesa V2 provide long-term value and can grow with your child, since the stroller has a reversible toddler seat. The travel system as a whole has a top-tier design, and the parts are simple to attach, detach, and install, making it a clear choice for our top spot.

Phoebe Sklansky is Verywell Family’s Associate Commerce Editor. As a commerce writer and avid shopper herself, she enjoys helping readers find the best products for their unique needs. After personally testing more than 20 car seats and strollers in our lab and through the streets of New York City, she has become quite an expert on the subject. Her favorite strollers so far are the stylish Uppababy Vista V2 (it has tons of conversion options!) and the lightweight Bugaboo Butterfly for travel. For this article, Phoebe also spoke with Michelle Pratt, Certified Child Passenger Technician and founder of Safe in the Seat, in addition to carefully reviewing guidance from the AAP on car seat safety and stroller safety. Carrying your car seat through airport is the most straightforward (though least genius) approach and we do this pretty often now that we’re post-stroller and want to travel light. It’s much easier with a lightweight travel car seat than with a heavy beast! Weight: 25.5 pounds | Dimensions: 37.5 x 22.75 x 40 inches (unfolded) | Weight Limit: 10 to 50 pounds Ok, so you’ve decided to bring a car seat on your trip. Which one should you bring? Here are my top choices for the best portable car seat for travel at each stage: This real-life testing means we can highlight any areas that could prove problematic, or where a product truly shines. In addition, such testing allows us to more accurately categorise each travel system according to people’s different needs, such as storing in a small space, carrying up a flight of stairs, or navigating a muddy sports field. Finally, we include details such as the age range for which each travel system is suitable, the type of wheels it has, and its dimensions.They are foldable so you can store them in the overhead compartment of the aiplane. 3. Car seat straps This sensor pairs with an app and warns you if your child isn’t strapped in correctly, monitors the seat’s ambient temperature to make sure they don’t get too hot or cold and will send a notification when they’ve been sat in the seat too long. It's also a legal requirement for a child to be in an appropriate seat until 12 years old, or 135cm in height, whichever comes first. Key specs – Age range: Suitable from birth to 25kg; Wheels: Interchangeable and removable (1 x rural wheel set and 1 x urban wheel set); Folded dimensions: L69 x W61 x H24; Unfolded dimensions: L68 x W61 x H105; Weight: 12.6kg

Chicco Keyfit in the basket and Combi Coccoro on the seat of our Baby Jogger Versa Car seat transporter accessories This modular design allows you to either lift the car seat out in one go or take your little one ergonomically out in the soft carrier, leaving the safety shell in the car. This makes moving your baby – especially if they’re sleeping – to and from your car easy. This car seat is compatible with all Maxi-Cosi stroller frames, too. Cybex Talos S Lux Stroller & Aton 2 Car Seat Travel System: Across the board, this travel system does not feel sturdy and is difficult to use, and the materials feel surprisingly low-quality for the price. If your stroller has a big basket ( like this one), slide a compact car seat inside (you can also remove the seat to put the car seat underneath)When it comes to design, we love the luxurious fabrics on the Willow car seat and the Brook stroller because they feel soft to the touch and are free of flame-retardant chemicals. The car seat also has an infant insert for extra padding (which is washer and dryer-friendly) and is appropriate for babies 4 pounds and up. You’ll find multiple adjustment points on the car seat (little slits where you can thread through the harness) at the shoulders, hip, and between the legs that can be pulled for a snug or looser fit as your baby grows to the weight limit of 30 pounds. Only accept a car seat from friends or family if you know its history, it's not too old and it comes with instructions. You can even use a bungee cord to accomplish the same thing. This great reader-contributed photo shows the travel-friendly Evenflo Sonus (fits newborn to age 5-6) MacGyver’ed to a carry-on bag. Due to the lightweight materials and design, you will have no problem transporting this product. When not in use it folds up flat and can be assembled without any difficulties. The telescopic handle is suitable for all kinds of different heights, and it also allows for seriously compact storage. It also has a storage basket which you can use to place extra bags or items when walking through the airport to free up your hands. Every travel system has height and weight limitations for both the car seat and the stroller. It’s important to make sure your baby fits within these limits for their safety. Plus, keep the limits for the car seat in mind so you’ll know to transition your baby into a larger rear-facing seat when the time comes.

Weight: 24.4 pounds | Dimensions: 31.4 x 23.2 x 40.5 inches (unfolded) | Weight Limit: Up to 50 poundsWeight: 24.9 pounds | Dimensions: 35.2 x 22.8 x 42.7 inches (unfolded) | Weight Limit: Up to 50 pounds Key specs – Group: 0-4; Item weight: 14.5kg; Attachment method: Isofix; Additional features: Rear facing, 180-degree rotation Key specs – Age range: Suitable from birth to 22kg; Wheels: Four-wheel suspension; Folded dimensions: 76 x 59 x 38cm (LWH); Unfolded dimensions: 72 x 59 x 89-105cm (LWH); Weight: 10.8kg If you’re thinking ahead for your epic travels with a baby, you might want to consider a car seat with wheels built in! There used to be a convertible carseat with wheels, the Lily Gold Sit n Stroll. To be honest… it wasn’t that great as a car seat and it’s been discontinued.