Traveling with a little one can be really difficult - especially if you will be catching a flight! Running through the airport with a toddler, a travel car seat, and your luggage all at once is no easy feat. This is why car seat travel carts and carriers exist.
These fantastic products allow you to turn your car seat into either a backpack or a stroller. This makes traveling so much easier. With a good car seat travel cart, you can pull your child and their car seat in one hand while carrying your luggage with the other. Or go hands-free by purchasing a good-quality backpack carrier.
If you will be flying with your toddler in tow, we think that a car seat transporter is absolutely essential. You just need to figure out what works best for you, a backpack-style carrier, a cart, or a belt that adheres the car seat to your luggage.
Here are our top picks for car seat travel carts and car seat transporters to make your airport experience run a whole lot smoother.
Click here to see our pick for the best backpack car seat travel transporter Click here to see our pick for the best car seat travel cartOur Best Car Seat Travel Bag Reviews
Before we get started, I'm assuming that you have already purchased your car seat to take with you, but if you haven't, here is our list of best travel car seats.
Car seat bags for air travel are fabulous options as they will leave you hands-free to deal with other things such as pushing a stroller or pulling luggage along.
Car seat backpacks can get heavy though, so we typically only recommend this product if you will be checking in your car seat, or if your airport walk from the parking lot to the plane gate is small. Otherwise, it might be best to check out the car seat carts in the next section below.
Here's our list of the best car seat travel bags available for purchase. We share the positives and negatives in our review to help you find the best car seat travel bag.
Overall the J.L. Childress car seat travel bag is our general favorite choice.
The backpack is fully padded with padded interior wings to help protect your car seat. It also has ergonomic, padded harness-style backpack straps that are fully adjustable to help you carry the seat comfortably.
It is important to get a backpack carrier that allows you to carry the backpack higher on your back, to help protect your posture.
The backpack is made from durable, heavy-duty fabric, which means that it should last throughout your child's car seat years. The water-resistant fabric is easy-to-clean and comes with an anti-microbial inner lining.
We also love the dual, lockable zipper opening, that allows you to lock up your seat when you check it as luggage.
This carrier is perfect to check your travel car seat as luggage, take the seat with you onto the plane, or even use it on cruises or trains. Whilst the backpack might be a bit heavy to carry around, it does mean that you can have your hands free to push your little one in the stroller or to pull along luggage.
We also love that you can use the extra space in the bag to fill up with diapers, wipes, and baby blankets (you can check your car seat for free, so good idea to use the 'free' weight as best you can).
It is our favorite if you can handle the weight on your back. If however, you are traveling solo as a mum (I don't like carrying the weight on my back, but my husband is fine to do so) or if you have a bad back, you might prefer one of the carts mentioned below. You can also check out the J.L Childress car seat travel bag with wheels as well.
Pros
- Really compact
- Comfortable to carry around due to padded straps
- Easily fits most car seats
- It is cheap
- It has space for extra baby items
- It has a lockable zipper
- It is made from a super durable material
- Padded car seat travel bag
Cons
- The weight on your back can get tiresome (if you aren't checking it in at the counter, but carrying it all the way to the plane at a large airport).
Another fabulous padded car seat travel bag. This bag is really well designed with padding to protect both your car seat as well as protective features protect the bag.
The fabric of the bag is heavy-duty and waterproof in design. It has a lockable double zipper opening for durability and ease of use.
The backpack carrier has multiple options for carrying, from padded backpack straps, or to the built-in rubber handle. We also love the additional feature of the waist strap so that you can carry the weight of your bag on your waist rather than your shoulders.
They also have a 1-year manufacturer's warranty and a 14-day-full refund satisfaction guarantee.
Here is a list of compatible car seats.
Pros
- Really compact
- Comfortable to carry around due to padded straps
- Easily fits most car seats
- It is cheap
- It has space for extra baby items
- It has a lockable zipper
- It is made from a super durable material
- Padded car seat travel bag
Cons
- The weight on your back can get tiresome (if you aren't checking it in at the counter, but carrying it all the way to the plane at a large airport).
If you are traveling with an infant and using a car seat that has a base, you will like this car seat bag. The bag is large enough to fit both the seat and the base or even a small stroller.
The fabric is water-resistant and is lovely and thick and durable. The backpack straps are padded and adjustable. There are also multiple carry handles so you can pick it up or carry it however you like. The car seat travel bag also has 360-degree spinner wheels, so you can roll the travel bag in a multi-directional upright position without needing to tilt. Although it may be slightly uncomfortable to use this feature, it does give you many options for getting it from point A to B.
There is also a luggage ID holder and a double zipper opening.
Dimensions 28 H x 18 W x 18 D inches.
Pros
- Really compact
- Padded shoulder straps
- Fits both a car seat and a base
- Multiple carry handles
- Has wheels
Cons
- Uncomfortable to wheel around
- The base of the bag tends to dig into your back a bit
- Little padding to protect car seat
Best Car Seat Travel Cart Reviews
Here's our list of the best car seat travel carts available for purchase.
This product by Kedsum has got to be our overall best car seat travel cart.
You will love how this travel cart can be folded up easily in a few seconds. When folded up, the size is 17.7 x 12.2'', and the weight is about 6.2 lbs, you can easy to put it into the car or locker, perfect for moving or shopping.
The handle has 3 different positions, and it can telescope into a really convenient size when you need it to.
The travel cart comes with bungee cords which are perfect for securing the cart seat to the travel cart tightly and securely, making your life in the airport much more enjoyable.
Overall the Kedsum car seat travel roller is our general favorite choice if you prefer a system on wheels rather than on your back.
Pros
- Really compact
- Easy to push around
- Can be left on when on the plane seat
- Easily fits most car seats
Cons
- Doesn't stand very well without your support
If you are going to be on the move and in the airport with your little one, then the Britax travel cart will make life a whole lot easier.
The trolley is super simple to fold up and store away. You can pack it up into a conveniently small size - perfect for fitting into aircraft overhead bins and other small spaces. You also don't need to do any kind of difficult assembly or break-down with the Britax car seat cart.
Car seats attach easily using LATCH connectors. This product is compatible with basically all car seats that use LATCH, as well as any Britax car or booster seat. Your seat will be fixed onto durable steel in order to keep your child safe and sturdy.
We love that the handle is adjustable and can suit different heights. We also like how easy the trolley is to maneuver. This travel cart is a fabulous choice, especially if you are using a Britax travel car seat.
Pros
- Best overall car seat travel cart
- Easy to set up and pack away
- Folds into a very compact size
- Easy to maneuver
- Adjustable handle height
Cons
>>> Click here to purchase the Britax Car Seat Travel CartThis is a well-designed car seat trolley that is as functional as it is practical. Easy to use, easy to assemble, and fantastic for making traveling with a toddler a much smoother experience.
This transporter fits most major brands of convertible and forward-facing car seats. The design allows for quick and easy attachment of the seat.
The handle is adjustable and can become really compact when stored.
This car seat travel cart does everything one would want, and it does it well. This is a great choice for any parent on the move.
Pros
- Compact flat-fold design
- Telescopic handle
- Compatible with most car seat brands
- No assembly required
Cons
- The strap could be tighter
- The plastic base is not as strong as metal versions
When traveling with a little one, this car seat luggage cart offers you relief from all the walking at the airport. It is one of our best choices for compact use and can be easily utilized on different car seats and brands.
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.
This trolley has a safe-sit angle design to keep the seat stable and secure. No need to worry about your car seat rolling away or tipping over.
We highly recommend this product and brand, you can happily use it for any trip on a plane!
Pros
- Compact design
- Offers great support
- Lightweight
- Easy to manage
Cons
- The plastic base is not as strong as metal versions
The Holm stroller will make any journey through the airport much easier and more relaxing. This car seat trolley is designed with travel and convenience in mind.
All you need to do is strap your child's car seat into this stroller, and you can easily wheel them around - no need to struggle to carry a car seat and a child. The silicone gel wheels roll super smoothly, and the travel cart as a whole is very easy to maneuver.
It folds up to a really convenient size at the push of a button. You can easily store this stroller under a seat or in an overhead luggage compartment.
This product by Holm works really well, and we highly recommend it to anyone traveling with a small child.
Pros
- Easy to collapse
- Compact folding
- Simple to use
- Works well with different heights
Cons
- Not compatible with all car seats
- Straps could tighten better
Best Car Seat Travel Belts
Another great option is to purchase a travel car seat belt. You can use the belt to adhere your car seat to your luggage.
It is obviously important though that you have some strong and sturdy luggage that has durable wheels. Also important to note that this might not be the best solution if you travel frequently as it will wear your expenses down much quicker than usual.
Our recommended travel car seat straps are:Best Car Seat Travel Covers
Another option is to simply grab a car seat cover for travel purposes. These covers typically don't offer much protection, as the car seat travel cover is generally thin. It is a great cheap way to keep your car seat clean.
A lot of airlines do offer plastic car seat covers for traveling by air, but not all of them do, so it might be best to purchase your own baby car seat travel bag to ensure that you are all set for the trip.
Our recommended baby car seat covers for travel are:Remember that your child's safety is just as important on a plane as it is in a car.
Whilst it is definitely a challenge and hassle to arrive at an airport with a car seat, it is definitely a sure way to ensure you travel as safely as you can with your baby. You can grab some tips on how to fly with a car seat in our post here.
Leave us a comment and let us know which car seat travel carrier you settled with.
Further Reading:
If you are interested, you can check out our best car seat on plane for 3 year old guide here and the children's luggage guide here.
