At Safe in the Seat, car seat safety is always our top priority. Whether it’s knowing how to travel with a booster seat or learning about car seat rentals, our goal is to ensure every caregiver feels well-informed and properly prepared. It’s easy to make the safest choices in our everyday routines, but when we travel, sometimes convenience clouds our judgment. If your child uses a booster seat, you might be tempted to skip it on your next trip.
Leaving this last piece of “baby gear” at home while you fly to your destination may seem enticing. After all, there's a risk of damage, they tend to be pretty bulky, you may be limited on space, and you can’t use a booster seat on an airplane. Ultimately, though, bringing it along is essential for a safe vacation especially when you need to get around after you land.
Long story short, add that booster seat to your packing list.
What Are Travel Booster Seats? Safety Made Convenient
In this post, we’re diving into travel booster seats: how to use them, whether they’re safe, and which ones are our top picks. We’ll also share tips on how to make traveling with a booster seat as easy and safe as possible.
Here’s what you need to know:
Are Travel Booster Seats Safe?
Yes! All car seats sold in the U.S. must meet federal safety requirements outlined in FMVSS 213. That means each one is tested for a variety of crash scenarios to ensure it offers reliable protection.
Below, you’ll find some travel-friendly car seats and boosters that are foldable, inflatable, or ultra-lightweight. Their designs may be a little unconventional, but rest assured, they are all crash-tested perfectly safe when used correctly.
For more on what safety-tested car seats mean, check out “Car Seat Crash Testing: To the Regulations and Beyond!”
What Are the Best Travel Booster Seats?
High-Back Travel Booster Seat Options
Cybex Solution G2 Folding High-Back Booster
When you need a high-back booster seat, it can be tough to find one that’s practical for travel. They tend to be tall and made for bigger kids, so naturally, highback boosters are bulky. However, some companies have solved this by creating foldable boosters.
The Cybex Solution G2 folds up and comes with a convenient carrying handle. It also uses rigid LATCH anchors for easy and secure installation.
Peg Perego Viaggio Flex
Here’s another folding high-back booster that’s great for travel. It’s compact and lightweight, and designed to provide a perfect fit. The headrest, upper backrest, side wings, and seat recline are all adjustable, and the seat accommodates kids up to 63 inches tall.
With rigid LATCH connectors, installation is easy, and the narrow frame helps it fit comfortably in any vehicle or rideshare. Additionally, it weighs just about 15 pounds, so you won’t feel like you’re lugging around another heavy suitcase.
Mifold Hifold
Of all the booster seats designed for travel, the Mifold Hifold folds the smallest. Unlike other boosters that fold down to carry-on size, the Mifold can easily fit inside your carry-on or personal bag. When folded, it measures just about 11 inches by 14 inches.
It also includes a carrying strap, making it easier to take your booster with you wherever you go. Despite its small size, the Mifold offers over 200 adjustment options to ensure the perfect fit for your child.
Backless Travel Booster Seat Options
KidsEmbrace Backless Booster
If your child uses a backless booster seat, you can’t go wrong with the KidsEmbrace booster. It’s simple, compact, lightweight, and budget-friendly. Plus, it comes with a removable cup holder and plenty of popular design options that kids will love.
Aside from the simplicity of this booster, it also only weighs about 2.5 pounds. This makes bringing it during travel both safe and convenient.
Joie Basil Backless
We recommend boosters with LATCH connectors because they help keep the seat securely in place. This is yet another safety feature, as loose objects can become projectiles in a crash. We talk more about this in our posts “Road Trip Essentials for Toddlers” and “What Happens in a Car Crash?”
With this in mind, the Joie Basil Backless booster seat comes equipped with LATCH. It’s also comfortable, with plenty of extra padding, two retractable cup holders, and machine-washable fabric.
BubbleBum Inflatable Booster
All the backless boosters we’ve mentioned so far will fit in the overhead bin. But if you want one that fits inside your carry-on or personal bag, so it doesn’t count as luggage, an inflatable booster is a great option.
The BubbleBum Inflatable Booster weighs less than a pound and completely compresses and rolls up when not in use. When you need it, just blow it up, and you have an instant, budget-friendly backless booster. And yes, it’s completely safe, having passed the same crash tests as any other booster.
Hiccapop Uberboost
Here’s another inflatable option! It’s similar to the BubbleBum but offers more comfort for bigger children. It also features a no-skid bottom, a metal seatbelt anchor, and a machine-washable cover. With all these extra features, it still comes at a competitive price. And of course, it’s just as lightweight and portable as you’d expect.
Baby Trend Protect
This backless booster has a unique shape that lets kids quickly access and use a vehicle’s belt system, while still being streamlined enough for tight spaces. It also features a removable, machine-washable seat pad, integrated cup holders, and flip-up armrests.
In comparison to other options, the flip-up armrests make getting in and out of the vehicle easier and more independent.
Clek Olli
This practical backless booster is compact and weighs under 5 pounds, but still provides all the comfort your little one needs for everyday use or long trips. We especially like it for travel because it includes a built-in strap for easy carrying to the airplane or rideshare.
The rigid LATCH connectors make installation quick and secure, holding the seat firmly in place. This booster also features cup holders, machine-washable fabric, and is flame-retardant free for parents and kids to enjoy.
Cosco Rise LX
This seat is simple and lightweight. It does what it needs to without any bells and whistles, which is why it’s the most affordable option on the list. The Cosco Rise LX works well for travel because it’s narrow, lightweight, and has a machine-washable seat pad.
Other Travel Booster Options
RideSafer Travel Vest
Booster seats lift your child to ensure the seat belt fits properly, but the RideSafer Travel Vest does the opposite. It brings the seat belt down and repositions it to fit correctly on your child. This makes it a popular travel option because it can easily fit inside a bag, and your child can already be wearing it before the rideshare arrives. As a result, installation is much quicker and easier (once you get past the initial learning curve).
The RideSafer Vest is safe and has passed the required crash tests. However, we recommend it only for older kids. While the vest is made for kids as light as 26.5 pounds, it offers little support. To ensure complete safety, the child needs to sit upright on their own, which is a tough task for younger passengers. That said, if your child has outgrown their forward-facing car seat and is ready to move to a booster, the RideSafer Travel Vest is a great choice.
How to Travel with Booster Seats
Practice using the booster before you leave.
Make sure you know how the shoulder belt guide works and try it out with your child before traveling. No one wants to read a manual while climbing into an Uber!
Make a plan for where you’ll put the booster when flying.
Some boosters on this list will fit in the overhead bin, while others will need to go in your luggage. Decide how you plan to take it on the plane and adjust your carry-on accordingly. Be sure to double-check the airline’s carry-on and personal bag size limits before finalizing your travel plans with a booster. If your seat is too large, you may need to shop for a different one.
Check for headrest safety before you take off.
The headrest of the vehicle seat should always at least clear your child’s ears. After you’ve installed the booster, gotten your child seated, and buckled them in, make sure the headrest is adjusted properly. You may need to raise it to fit your child correctly while they’re in their booster.
Always use your booster in a car, even if not legally required to.
Did you know most states don’t require child restraints in taxis? Even though that’s the law, it’s definitely not the safest choice. Always use your booster in any vehicle with a standard lap and shoulder belt, like rideshares, rental cars, taxis, passenger vans, minibuses, and more.
However, you don’t need to use a booster or child restraint in vehicles without those seat belts. For example, in buses and shuttles, you can rest assured your child is still safe without using a booster. (Here’s more on why buses are safe!). And as mentioned earlier, there are no FAA-approved boosters, so you won’t need them on the plane.
Avoid transitioning to a new type of seat while traveling.
Thinking about trying a RideSafer Vest or moving to a new type of car seat for the first time? As long as your child has outgrown the weight and height limits of their previous seat, making the transition is fine. Just don’t surprise them with the change during your trip. Test out the new seat beforehand to make sure they’re mature enough to handle it and comfortable with the move.
Consider buying a dedicated travel booster seat.
Having a dedicated booster seat just for travel is a smart move for many families. Whether your everyday booster isn’t compact enough for air travel or you simply travel often, a travel booster can give you all the practical benefits you need.
Browse our recommended boosters above or check out our Car Seat Finder Tool. The tool helps you find all types of car seats. This includes infant carriers, rear-facing seats, front-facing seats, high-back boosters, backless boosters, travel systems, strollers, and everything in between.
Travel booster seats are a smart choice for adventurous families.
Family trips are priceless but don’t let improper safety precautions get in the way and interrupt the experience. Travel car seats aren’t just convenient, they ensure your child stays safe no matter where your journey takes you. With so many compact, convenient, and easy-to-install options, there’s no reason to let safety be an afterthought. Pack smart, plan ahead, and travel confidently, booster seat included.
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