Purchasing a car seat for kids is no piece of the cake. As a parent, you need to consider many things, starting from the car seat quality, build, safety, to comfort. Additionally, a kid’s age is crucial when buying a seat because no car seat fits all.
Reviewing multiple car seats to find the right one for your kid can be overwhelming. That’s why I have done detailed research and have found the best car seats to travel with at each stage.
Keep reading!
Best Car Seat by Age
#1 Best Travel Infant Car Seat –Doona Infant Car Seat & Latch Base
Do you want to purchase a car seat that can also be used as a stroller? If so, Doona Infant Car Seat should be your pick. It is an all-in-one travel system that doesn’t require any additional attachments.
This infant seat gets an overall rating of 4.9/5
- One can transform the infant car seat into a stroller in seconds.
- It is a rear-facing car seat.
- This infant car seat offers better robust impact protection.
Doona Infant is one of the best car seats designed to offer maximum safety. It is a great pick for city life as one can transform it into a stroller without requiring additional parts.
Why buy Doona Infant Seat?
- The infant car seat features easy installation.
- This rear-facing can be used for children with height and weight limits of 32 inches and 28.6 pounds, respectively.
- It has built-in stroller wheels.
With its characteristic 2-in-1 design and anti-rebound bar, the Doona Baby car seat may be installed without using a separate base. This sleek and simple baby car seat is perfect for active parents who are frequently on the go.
This rear-facing car seat features a five-point harness, 3 layer side impact protection, and an adjustable handlebar for better safety. The handlebar can be doubled as a rebound in the car seat position.
This rear-facing infant seat has removable and washable fabric. It features baby-safe materials like bamboo and memory foam. It’s an ideal infant seat with FAA certification.
Most infant car seats are easy to travel with, and so is the Doona seat. It is better than most infant seats and is available in stunning colors.
What You Will Love About This Product
- This rear-facing comes with a 2 years warranty.
- It has an anti-rebound bar.
- It is easy to carry.
What You Won’t Love About This Product
- This rear-facing is a bit pricey but worth it.
- Its stroller mode is not suitable for everyone.
#2 Best Travel Car Seat for 1 Year Old: Safety 1st Grow and Go All-in-One Convertible Car Seat
Are you looking for a car seat for a 1-year-old built to grow with kids? If so, you should get Safety 1st Grow and Go. It is an affordable and reliable car seat.
This convertible car seat gets an overall rating of 4.7/5
- It comes in three different styles.
- Easy to use.
- Offers better comfort.
Safety 1st Grow and Go an impressive convertible car seat with the best safety protection. It can keep your kid safe throughout the journey.
Why buy Safety 1st Grow and Go Convertible Car Seat?
- It is a front and rear-facing car seat.
- It’s a convertible car seat that grows with your kid.
- It is durable.
Safety 1st Grow and Go one of the best convertible car seats. It is pocket-friendly and offers the best safety features. In the rear-facing position, this convertible car seat can handle 5 to 40 pounds, while in the forward position, it can handle 22 to 65 pounds.
Kids can easily get in and quickly get out of this convertible car seat. The quick-fit harness allows parents to adjust the headrest and harness quickly. Hurry and purchase this rear-facing seat to enjoy long rides with your kid.
What You Will Love About This Product
- This rear-facing convertible seat is made with high-quality materials.
- It is machine washable and dryer safe.
- It offers side impact protection.
What You Won’t Love About This Product
- This convertible car seat is difficult to install.
- It is heavy.
#3 Best Travel Car Seat for 2 Year Old: Century Drive On 3-in-1 Car Seat
Do you want a versatile car seat for a 2-year-old? You should purchase Century Drive on a 3-in-1 car seat. It has a pretty easy installation and working system.
This rear-facing car seat gets an overall rating of 4.5/5
- It is a good fit in all modes.
- It looks stylish.
- It has cup holders.
Century Drive on 3-in-1 car seats can be used in extended rear-facing mode.
Why buy Century Drive on 3-in-1?
- It comes in fun colors.
- Easy usability.
- Lightweight.
Century Drive on a 3-in-1 car seat is a wonderful choice for families always on the go. It can be used in forward and rear-facing modes. It has a slim and space-saving design.
For better usability, this car seat has a no-rethread harness system. Additionally, it allows six-position headrests and harness adjustment together. It has a six-position recline, i.e., 3 rear and 3 forward positions.
What You Will Love About This Product
- It comes with side impact protection.
- It has a built-in five-point harness system.
- It meets and exceeds the safety requirements.
What You Won’t Love About This Product
- This car seat has low-top harness slots.
- It is not durable.
#4 Best Travel Car Seat for 3-Year-Old: Graco Tranzitions 3-in-1 Harness Booster Seat
Do you want to purchase a booster seat that can also be used in backless orientation? If so, get your hands on Graco Tranzitions 3 in 1 Harness. It comes in a forward-facing orientation.
This backless booster seat gets an overall rating of 4.4/5
- It is designed to keep kids safe from toddler to youth.
- It is extremely narrow.
- It is portable.
Graco Tranzitions 3-in-1 harness is the perfect backless booster for kids in their growing period. It feels comfortable and offers the right protection.
Why buy Graco Tranzitions 3 in 1?
- It is durable.
- Easy usability.
- Lightweight.
Graco Tranzitions 3 in 1 is a must-have backless booster that grows with your kid. It has a simple harness system for quick harness adjustment.
This car seat has 8-position adjustable headrests and 2 cup holders. Its seat pad, harness cover, and body support are easy to wash. It can grow from a forward-facing harness to a highback or backless booster. It is one of the best booster seats.
The car seat has undergone rigorous crash testing to protect the kid while traveling. It has extra padding, so your kid feels comfortable throughout the journey.
What You Will Love About This Product
- This car seat comes with an open-loop belt guide.
- Reasonable price for longevity.
- Meets and exceeds the safety requirements.
What You Won’t Love About This Product
- It is heavy.
- The base and back of this car seat can click apart easily.
#5 Best Travel Car Seat for 4 Year Old: Cosco Finale DX 2-in-1 Booster Car Seat
Are you looking for a booster seat for a 4-year-old? You can purchase Cosco Final DX 2-in-1. It can be easily transformed from a forward position to a belt-positioning booster seat in a few seconds.
This booster seat gets an overall rating of 4.6/5
- This car seat model meets and exceeds the safety standards.
- Lightweight.
- Offers a comfortable ride.
Cosco Finale DX 2-in-1 booster seat is designed to fit 3 across in most vehicles. It is made of sturdy material.
Why buy a Cosco Finale car seat?
- It is washable.
- It has IIHS’s best rating for booster mode.
- Easy to use
The Cosco Finale booster car seat has a five-point safety harness. Its deluxe fabric is comfortable and easy to wash. It can be easily transported.
The seat pad of this car seat can be easily removed. It meets the IIHS safety requirements and is pocket-friendly.
What You Will Love About This Product
- Machine washable seat pad
- It includes a reversible cup holder
- Suitable for four to eight years old.
What You Won’t Love About This Product
- In booster mode, the LATCH system cannot be used.
- The padding is not soft enough.
#6 Best Travel Car Seat for 5 Year Old: Evenflo Maestro Sport Harness Booster Car Seat
Evenflo Maestro Sports is a durable car seat available in a forward-facing orientation. It is a 2-in-1 seat with a nice height limit and sufficient leg space in high-back booster mode.
This forward-facing seat gets an overall rating of 4.6/5
- It comes with a shoulder belt guide.
- It has two cup holders.
- It offers sufficient leg space.
Evenflo Maestro Sport is a one-of-a-kind car seat designed to keep kids comfortable. It has an upfront harness for better safety.
Why buy Evenflo Maestro Sport?
- This forward-facing seat is easy to install.
- One can quickly clean it.
- It is pocket-friendly.
Regarding safety, durability, and comfort Evenflo Maestro Sport is a true hero. You can use it in high-back booster and forward-facing mode. For a snug fit, simply adjust the upfront harness.
The forward-facing car seat has thick padding, which can be easily removed and cleaned. Additionally, the seat is easy to carry. Its strong and durable frame keeps it in shape for a long time.
It’s easy to use this child car seat for growing kids because the shoulder belt guide helps correctly position vehicle belts. Lastly, the car seat has been tested for side impact and dynamic rollovers.
What You Will Love About This Product
- This forward-facing car seat can be used for kids till 8 years.
- Comfortable.
- Easy usability.
What You Won’t Love About This Product
- It requires a top rope.
- Harness straps have no cover.
#7 Best Travel Car Seat for 6 Year Old: Ride Safer Travel Vest with Zipped Backpack
Rider Safe Travel Vest is known for its unconventional and innovative design, unlike regular car seats. It perfectly blends a booster seat and a traditional forward-facing car seat.
This car seat gets an overall rating of 4.3/5
- It is safe and comfortable.
- It comes with an optional crotch strap.
- It is perfect for taxi rides.
Rider Safe Travel Vest is a must-have because it adds more comfort to longer drives than a traditional car seat. Kids can even recline and travel with ease.
Why buy Rider Safe Travel Vest?
- Comes in multiple sizes.
- It is designed to fit three across in the same row of vehicles.
- It is a lightweight car seat.
Rider Safe Travel uses revolutionary technology to enhance the car seat safety features. It feels comfortable and is legally certified for use by motor vehicles.
The car safety vest is lightweight and compact, perfect for easy family transfer. It is easy to install and use. It has a 5-point safety harness. It keeps the child seat in one place throughout the journey.
What You Will Love About This Product
- It comes with a lower seat belt for accurate fit.
- You can fold it to the size of a 2l bottle.
- It has a 10-year base expiration.
What You Won’t Love About This Product
- It is not FAA approved.
- Does not offer side impact protection.
#8 Best High Back Booster Seat for Travel: Peg Perego Viaggio Shuttle Plus
Do you think your kid is grown up and mature enough to use a highback booster seat? You can purchase Peg Perego Viaggio Shuttle Plus. It is one of the most expensive car seats with the best safety features.
This child car seat gets an overall rating of 4.8/5
- It has a steel-reinforced frame.
- It has a rigid LATCH for better installation.
- It is extremely narrow.
Peg Perego Viaggio is a must-have car seat because it uniquely accommodates kids’ requirements.
Why buy Peg Perego Viaggio?
- This booster seat can be adjusted in four locations.
- It comes with a blind lock attaching system.
- It is easy to use.
Peg Perego Viaggio is an amazing booster seat with impressive safety features. The rigid LATCH system makes the seat easy to install and keeps it in one position throughout the journey. For better safety, the back of the seat has steel reinforcement.
The car seat has thick padding, which keeps the kid comfortable. You get a cup holder for keeping drinks. The seat can quickly be converted into a backless booster.
What You Will Love About This Product
- It has a wide curving headrest and board backrest.
- It reclines for sleep.
- It offers tons of size adjustments.
What You Won’t Love About This Product
- It is heavy.
- It does not include armrests.
#9 Best Backless Booster Seat for Travel: Bubblebum Inflatable Booster Seat
Bubblebum backless is the best booster seat for short trips and tight spaces. It is built using double foam padding and high-quality plastic to resemble a life jacket.
This car seat gets an overall rating of 4.4/5
- It is a lightweight car seat.
- It is easy to carry.
- It is narrow.
The Bubblebum car seat looks smaller but does well for many kids. It offers a snug belt fit, which keeps the kid in one place throughout the trip.
Why buy Bubblebum Inflatable Booster?
- It is easy to use.
- It can last up to 4 years.
- It is affordable.
Bubblebum Inflatable Booster is an amazing car seat that can be deflated to the size of a soda bottle. To deflate this car seat, press it hard and squeeze.
This seat has a shoulder belt guide to offer a great fit for kids. It meets and exceeds the safety features. It has a seat belt positioning clip for optimal fit and comfort.
What You Will Love About This Product
- It can fit in tiny spaces.
- It is pocket-friendly.
- It is easy to carry.
What You Won’t Love About This Product
- It can slide around.
- It is not suitable for large kids.
Things to Consider When Buying the Best Car Seats
When buying a car seat for your kid, don’t forget to consider these things:
Safety
Most of the car seats are packed with safety features. They are designed to offer the ultimate protection, so kids stay safe throughout the journey.
While some car seats have basic safety features, some go above and beyond and exceed the safety requirements. So, before you purchase a car seat, ask yourself: Does the seat offer side impact protection? Is it FAA-approved? Is the car seat reinforced with steel? Does it have an anti-rebound bar? Can it absorb impact during the collision?
Size of Vehicle
Measure the size of your vehicle so you can easily filter the options that won’t fit in the car. You can quickly pick a convertible or other car seat when your options are drastically reduced.
Price
Setting a budget is important because it helps you avoid overspending. The basic rule is the more expensive car seats are, the more features they have. But the affordable car seats also include basic features.
So, before you begin car seat shopping, prioritize some of the features you want in the seat. For instance, side impact protection, steel base, durability, cup holders, thick padding, and more.
Convenience Factors
Ask yourself, is the car seat easy to install? Can you use it without any expert help? Does it have padding on the chest straps? Is there a no-rethread harness? Can it be transformed into a stroller?
The more convenient the car seat is, the better you can use it. Avoid purchasing a complicated car seat because its installation and usage can be overwhelming.
Fabric Quality
Car seats are made with various fabrics, including wool, synthetic, jersey, and polyester. Additionally, check the construction of seats and materials.
A car seat made of plastic only meets the basic safety requirements, but if it is made of high-quality materials, it exceeds the safety collision testing. Lastly, some car seats have chemicals, while others opt for a more natural approach.
Conclusion
When purchasing a car seat, you must consider safety features and comfort. But if finding a car seat sounds overwhelming, select one of the car seats recommended in this post for your kid’s age.
You can contact child passenger safety technicians to know about the car seat’s movement, recline positions, vehicle seat belt, back seat, weight limit, and more.
