Infant Car Seat For Travel
You can cut down on time and effort by having an infant car seat when you travel. You can use it in taxis and rental cars and a lot of countries require you to bring car seats for infant children.
A popular option is the Doona, which combines a car seat and stroller in one product. It's compact enough to fit in airline seats, and FAA-approved.
1. Doona
Doona is the latest car seat/travel system to hit the market. It's the first car seat that converts into a stroller with the touch of one button, and comes in a variety of colors and with tons of accessories. It's an excellent choice for families who frequently travel since it's a TUV and FAA certified aircraft (though you may need to verify the base).
Doona is a top car seat. The double-wall structure of the Doona car seat encloses the wheels, and EPS foam is included to provide extra protection. Additionally the handle acts as an anti-rebound bar to protect your baby's head in the event of a collision. The Doona also comes with a 5-point harness that holds your child at the hips and shoulders which are the strongest parts of their bodies, shielding them from the force of a collision.
When you're considering using Doona as stroller, you'll discover it light and easy to move around. Its slim frame allows it to fit into most airplane aisles and can be used in forward or rear-facing positions. Plus, car seats newborn to connect to the Doona LATCH base in your vehicle to ensure secure installation.
It's important to know that your child will eventually outgrow Doona. When there is less than 1 inch between their head and the canopy, you'll know your baby is ready to upgrade. In the meantime you'll be able make use of Doona as a stroller or car seat for all trips or vacations you plan to take.
If you're considering buying a Doona we suggest shopping around for the best price. You can find Doona in stores such as Nordstrom, Target and Pottery Barn. You can purchase gift cards and loyalty points/perks from these retailers to lower the cost.
2. Chicco KeyFit 35
Chicco (pronounced "KEY-ko") is a well-known name that makes baby car seats, strollers and a lot of parents' favourite diaper bags. The company is among the biggest manufacturers of infant car seats around the world, and they offer some amazing products that have impressed us throughout the testing process. They have high crash test ratings, are easy to install and use in a variety car configurations and pair well with many of the top strollers available when used with the appropriate adapters (available separately).
This model is our second choice. It is a great option for families looking for an easy-to-install seat. to set up and can be used with many strollers. The KeyFit 35 is a good option for families that want seats that can be installed in a variety of ways and works well with many of the most popular strollers.
The original Keyfit, KeyFit 30 and KeyFit 35 are all available in a "ClearTex", which is a model that doesn't have any added chemicals to retard fire (a trend that has emerged recently for juvenile products as parents are becoming more aware of the toxic chemicals required by certain car seats to meet federal standards for flammability). It's a great choice for families that want to limit exposure to potentially hazardous chemicals in their child's surroundings.
All KeyFit models feature a number of other excellent features that help them stand out in our testing. The base/carrier locking mechanism uses both audible and visual signals to ensure that the carrier has been correctly secured to the base. A "click" is heard when the system is a good match and a simple pull of the handle confirms that it is in the correct upright position to drive.
The KeyFit 35 has a removable newborn body and head support for babies weighing between 4-11 lbs. It adjusts to the size of the seat and can provide more legroom and headrest height as your child grows. This will improve the safety and comfort of rear-facing babies. The base has two stages to ensure secure installation in your vehicle and to allow for a smooth transition from toddlerhood to your child once they are ready.
3. Graco SnugRide Stroller
This Graco travel system includes a stroller and car seats in one package. It's extremely compact and user-friendly. This is a great choice for trips on the road or on vacation. It's an excellent option for moms who are on the move who don't want to spend a lot of their time setting up or learning new equipment.
The car seat can be attached easily to the stroller frame, and you can choose whether you want baby to face you or the world once connected. The car seat is rated with excellent crash test ratings. If your budget is tight this is a good option however we suggest you invest in another model if you have wiggle room.
The car seat is fantastic because it comes with the front wheel that rotates, and the base locks into place to block unintentional stroller movements. It's also nice to observe the LATCH clips being tucked away on the front of the base instead of in a place that is hard to access underneath the base, where they could be knocked off accidentally when you set down the car seat.
This infant seat is suitable for babies who weigh between 4 and 35 pounds. and up to 32". The Lite LATCH system is simple to install by following the instructions. The seat is slim and light, meaning it can be used in most vehicles, even when facing the opposite direction of the vehicle's seat belt path. This seat has a headrest that expands with your child and includes a built-in harness adjuster. The shoulder straps can be adjusted to four different height positions. The crotch strap can be adjustable in two different height positions. When your child weighs 12lbs it is crucial to take off all body and head inserts.
This model's rethreading method of adjusting the crotch and shoulder straps isn't one of our favorites. It's not a huge hassle, but more complicated than other seats which do not require rethreading. The crotch and head belts aren't quite as deep as on some other models. This could put your child at the danger of a gap in their crotch during an accident.
4. Baby Trend Trooper
The baby car seat is popular with families with young infants who are looking for lightweight, easy-to-transport infant car seat. It's also compatible with a variety of strollers, making it much easier for parents to travel with their kids. It's a great choice for parents who frequently take taxis or rideshares.
This infant car seat was designed to be simple to install using either the vehicle's seat belt or LATCH system. It has push-on LATCH connectors with clear-to-read indicators as well as harness indicators that are not twistable. The seat also has deep side wing protection that provides added crash protection for your child. The seat comes with a Delta carry handle which can be used as an anti-rebound bar.
It is crucial to ensure that when putting the seat in place with the seat belt that the shoulder strap is at least the same height as your child's shoulders, and that the lap belt is low enough to wrap your child's legs. If the shoulder belt is too low, it could be a risk for infants. If the lapbelt is too high, your child may shift uncomfortably in the car.
The seat comes with specific rules regarding the routing of the crotch straps for infants. In particular, the manual states that you should not route the webbing for the crotch buckle through any slot other than the one closest to the outside for the children with the smallest size. This can be challenging for some parents and could result in a crotch buckle that doesn't fit correctly.
Overall, the Trooper is a good choice for parents seeking an infant car seat that is of high-quality that is easy to transport and can be used in the majority of vehicles. It's heavier than other options, but offers excellent safety features and stroller compatibility.
Evenflo Pivot LiteMax Stroller & Car Seat Combo is a fantastic option for parents seeking a more affordable infant car seat. This combination is less expensive than other similar options and provides superior safety and convenience for parents on a limited budget.