Traveling with kids is stressful enough on its own – throw in a bulky car seat to carry around and you will regret your decision to ever leave the house!
The days of only having large, heavy car seats to travel with are over. There are now some incredible folding car seats available on the market to make traveling with your child a breeze.
From foldable car seats to foldable booster seats, there is a portable car seat to suit your child. There is a travel car seat for each age, and some that will last your child many years!
This article covers the best folding car seats for traveling, and how to make sure you are picking the right one.
Table of Contents
How To Choose The Best Folding Car Seat For Traveling
What you would look for in a foldable car seat is slightly different from what you would look for in a normal car seat, but you still need to choose one which offers safety to your child when traveling.
The first thing you should consider when choosing a portable car seat for travel is the stage of the car seat, and if it is the right one for your child’s age. There is no point in purchasing a portable car seat for a 2-year-old if your child has already turned 4.
Make sure the car seat accommodates your child currently, and that they will still get a few years of use out of it.
As you are wanting a foldable car seat for travel, you will need to choose one which is portable and easy to move around with. The lighter the car seat, the easier it will be to lug around the airport or the city when you are away from home.
While it is important to choose a light car seat, you might have to settle for something a little heavier if it folds up small. Small folding car seats are able to fit in overhead bins, and just make traveling around the city easier as well.
The Best Folding Car Seats Per Age
There is a foldable car seat to suit your child’s needs and age, and to make finding the right one easier, we have listed the best folding car seats to travel with for each age.
The Best Foldable Car Seat For Infants
Doona Infant Car Seat & Latch Base
For infants, the Doona Infant Car Seat & Latch Base is ideal to travel with. It can be taken to the city, be used as a portable car seat in a taxi, or used to keep your baby safe on a plane.
One simple motion transforms it from a car seat to a stroller in just seconds, so instead of having to carry the car seat around, you can push your baby around in it!
The car seat and stroller features a 5-point harness, an adjustable handlebar, 3-layer side-impact protection, as well as removable and washable fabric which is breathable and soft on your baby’s skin.
The Doona Infant Car Seat is suitable from 4lbs and can be used up to 35lbs, so it is suited for infants and very small toddlers. The car seat itself weighs 16.5lbs, which isn’t too much to carry around if you aren’t pushing it as a stroller.
For a more permanent feature in your own car, there is the Doona Latch Base, which can be used as a clip-and-go feature for when you don’t want to have to strap and unstrap the car seat daily in your own vehicle.
This really is the ultimate travel car seat for your infant. It not only folds up into a compact car seat, but it folds out to a convenient stroller as well!
Click here to check it out on Amazon.
The Best Foldable Car Seat For 2-Year-Olds
Baby Trend Yumi Folding Booster Car Seat
The Baby Trend Yumi Folding Booster Car Seat is ideal for when your toddler needs a bigger chair. It has a minimum weight of 30 pounds, so it is perfect for toddlers aged 2-years-old and up.
With 8-position headrest options, the folding car seat will grow with your child and will be suitable for them to use until they weigh 100lbs. There are 3-position shoulder belt adjustments as well, keeping real sizing in mind to ensure your child is kept comfortable.
It has been engineered with patented side impact head control, to offer the best protection when traveling. The deep contoured energy-absorbing headrest and no-gap back offers superior body protection.
For comfort while traveling, there are dual cup holders and flip-up armrests. When folded, the Yumi Folding Booster Seat fits into overhead luggage and only weighs just under 12 pounds, to be easy to carry around.
To view the latest prices on Amazon, click here.
The Best Foldable Car Seat For 3-Year-Olds
WayB Pico Travel Car Seat
The WayB Pico has made waves as the ideal car seat to travel with. It folds up to a compact size and can be paired with the WayB Pico Travel Bag, which allows you to carry the folded car seat as a backpack or to attach it to the handle of your rolling luggage.
Whether you choose to use it as a portable car seat for a taxi or to keep your little one in their chair on a plane trip, the WayB Pico will ensure your little one is kept safe and comfortable.
You would need to get the WayB Pico for when your child is 3 years and older, and it should last them a good few years of traveling.
Weighing only 8lbs, it is an absolute breeze to transport this folding car seat, especially if you have purchased the travel bag to help.
The WayB Pico meets all Federal Motor Vehicle Safety and Federal Aviation Administration Standards for both cars and planes. It fits onto plane seats easily, being able to be strapped in securely using the lap belts.
When not in use, the folded car seat can be stored in overhead luggage as well. Made with AstroKnit material, the car seat is breathable and comfortable, and even easy to clean!
You and your child will love the convenience and comfort the WayB Pico offers, but it is only really worth it if you plan to travel often.
Click here to view this product on Amazon.
The Best Foldable Car Seat For 4-Year-Olds
MiFold Comfort Grab-And-Go Booster Seat
The MiFold Comfort Grab-And-Go Booster Seat is the most compact backless booster seat available. It folds up to a tiny carry case that can fit into your handbag or luggage.
It is a booster seat only suited for children aged 4 and up, but they can use it for many years after this. The booster seat was made for travel and has all the features you could possibly want.
The new version of the MiFold Grab-And-Go features a comfortable seat cushion, which creates a padded seat and anti-slip pads to make traveling more enjoyable for your child.
It includes an optimal seat belt fit which adjusts the adult seat belt by pulling it down to fit your child safely and securely, while not being uncomfortable for them.
There really is no comparison between the MiFold and other travel car seat boosters when it comes to folded size. The small pad can easily be stored away when not in use and is ideal to pack away in your child’s bag for ridesharing as well.
Click here to check it out on Amazon.
The Best Foldable Car Seats For 5-Year-Olds
Graco Turbo Go Folding Backless Booster Seat
The Graco Turbo Go Folding Backless Booster Seat is available in a range of different colours, so your child can choose their favourite.
The booster seat folds down compactly to allow it to be easy to carry around, store away, or keep in the car if you need a spare. It is ideal for older children who weigh between 40 and 100lbs.
With a removable seat pad, you can clean the booster seat in the machine and finish it off in the dryer as well.
A steel-reinforced belt guide helps to properly position the vehicle seat belt safely across your child, and it can be used with the lap belts on an airplane as well.
Weighing in at a tiny 4lbs, it is an ideal foldable booster seat for older children that will keep them safe on their travels.
Check out this product on Amazon by clicking here.
The Best Foldable Car Seat For Older Children
Safe Traffic System Ride Travel Vest
The Safe Traffic System Ride Travel Vest was created for older children who weigh up to 110lbs. The vest helps to reposition the seat belt to below the abdomen to protect internal organs and helps to relocate the shoulder belt away from your child’s neck.
There are two different ways to use the Travel Vest. The first is to use it with a vehicle lap belt and top tether or to use it without a top tether belt and with a lap and shoulder belt only.
It is certified safe to use on all motor vehicles and can be folded into a small size to be convenient to travel with. When folded, it fits into your child’s suitcase or backpack, and you can have three kids sitting in a row using them in the car without them feeling squashed.
It is the ideal car seat harness for carpooling and really helps when traveling by plane with your children as well.
Click here to check out this product on Amazon.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to use a foldable car seat?
Yes, it is safe for your child to use a foldable car seat as long as it has passed all the necessary regulated safety standards.
In order to ensure that the car seat is able to keep your child safe, it should be the right car seat for their age. You should also educate yourself on how to use it properly.
Do I need a separate car seat for traveling?
If you travel often with your child and your normal car seat is too heavy and bulky to carry around, then it is worth purchasing a foldable travel car seat.
It really does just make life easier on the go while still keeping your child safe and protected.
The Best Folding Car Seats For Traveling
There is a folding car seat to suit your child and your family, and the above are all great options depending on your child’s age.
Keeping a folding car seat on hand for when you need to travel, carpool, or run errands really does make life that much easier as a parent. You won’t regret the purchase!
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Rebecca Brown
Rebecca Brown is a mom to two and writer on all things parenting. She has been focussed on content creation and article writing for the last four years, drawing on the inspiration she gets from her own experience as a mother, and the expansive research the job requires.
When not writing, you can find Rebecca outside with the kids, or hidden away enjoying a good cup of coffee!
