Check out our list of the best lightweight car seats for easy traveling are essential for keeping your child safe on the road but can be cumbersome to carry through airports and around town. Thankfully, new products have emerged that are designed to be lighter and easier to transport. Whether you’re flying with an infant, a toddler or a booster, we’ve got recommendations for the best lightweight car seats for travel.

For infants, the safest option is to use an FAA-approved convertible car seat with a built-in base. The Cosco Scenera NEXT is a great choice for this purpose. It can be used in rear-facing mode for babies up to 40 lbs and forward-facing with a wight limit of up to 65 lbs. It’s a slim seat that fits three across the back of airplane seats and is one of the lightest travel car seats on the market.

Traveling with Kids Made Easy: The Best Lightweight Car Seats of 2023

Another option is the Britax Pico, which can be installed on its own without a base and can be converted into a stroller. It weighs less than 10 lbs and is very compact when folded. It’s expensive, though, so it might only make sense if you frequently travel or plan to use ridesharing services and taxis.

For boosters, we recommend the high-backed booster seats that have wings to provide extra support in a side impact crash. The Graco Snugride SnugLock 35 LX and the Evenflo Tribute LX are both top-rated and highly rated by parents and safety experts. Both are easy to carry down the plane aisles and can be installed with a regular car seat belt at your destination.