When shopping for a travel system or car seat stroller combo, safety is a primary concern. All car seats on the market have to meet federal car seat standards so they’re safe when used correctly. However, “that ‘when used correctly’ part is the key,” says Pratt. She recommends looking for features that help you use the car seat component correctly every time. “For some families, this means prioritizing the easiest base install. For others, it’s more important to choose a car seat that offers super-simple harness adjustments to accommodate a growing baby,” she says. Car seat straps are used to attach your car seat to your carry on luggage. It’s the cheapest way to transport your car seat. Key specs – Group: 0+; Item weight: 10kg; Attachment method: Isofix; Additional features: Washable cover, 2yr guarantee, pushchair attachment available, carry handle

One of our favourite design features with this travel system is the built-in buggy board; it’s a lifesaver if you have older children. It will also save you money in the long run, as you won’t have to buy an additional buggy board or a double buggy, depending on the age of your other children. Good news: nearly every seat sold in the US is an FAA-approved car seat! Just remember that you can’t use a booster seat (or the Ride Safer Delight vest) on an airplane. We did need to watch a tutorial to figure out how to fold the stroller, but once we did, it was easy. The stroller is ultra-compact when folded, measuring just under a foot tall, so you can toss it into your trunk alongside other gear. In addition to a sleek appearance, this travel system has a vegan leather handlebar and bumper bar, an adjustable canopy, and there is plenty of padding on the seats. Phoebe Sklansky is Verywell Family’s Associate Commerce Editor. As a commerce writer and avid shopper herself, she enjoys helping readers find the best products for their unique needs. After personally testing more than 20 car seats and strollers in our lab and through the streets of New York City, she has become quite an expert on the subject. Her favorite strollers so far are the stylish Uppababy Vista V2 (it has tons of conversion options!) and the lightweight Bugaboo Butterfly for travel. For this article, Phoebe also spoke with Michelle Pratt, Certified Child Passenger Technician and founder of Safe in the Seat, in addition to carefully reviewing guidance from the AAP on car seat safety and stroller safety.We’ve traveled with nearly a dozen different car seats over the years, and these are our favorites. The only one we haven’t personally used is the Doona, which sadly came out after our kids had outgrown infant car seats. Birth – 1yo Cybex Talos S Lux Stroller & Aton 2 Car Seat Travel System: Across the board, this travel system does not feel sturdy and is difficult to use, and the materials feel surprisingly low-quality for the price. Key specs – Group: 0-4; Item weight: 14.5kg; Attachment method: Isofix; Additional features: Rear facing, 180-degree rotation

Think about what you’d like out of the product to help you narrow down your best options. If you plan to have another baby close in age, a double travel system that can fit an infant and a toddler is a useful choice. Evenflo Pivot Xpand Modular Travel System: While assembling the stroller is a dream, the travel system as a whole isn't easy to use. Getting the various parts into the proper alignment is challenging, and folding the stroller is not intuitive and requires a good bit of elbow grease. The seat comes with a 180-degree swivel, which you engage by pressing the button on the base, making getting your baby or toddler out of the car seat super easy. It also features multiple reclining positions with a headrest that can be adjusted in 12 different ways as your baby grows. Your car must have Isofix connectors for you to be able to use an i-Size car seat. At the moment there are only a few i-Size seats on the market in the UK and not all cars have Isofix connectors. It goes without saying that all car seats should be fitted in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and guidance. This includes making sure you don’t use a seat for longer than you should. It may say it’s suitable up to the age of four, but all car seats are based on weight so if you have a chunky toddler, they may outgrow their seat long before this upper limit.Key specs – Age range: Suitable from birth to 25kg; Wheels: Interchangeable and removable (1 x rural wheel set and 1 x urban wheel set); Folded dimensions: L69 x W61 x H24; Unfolded dimensions: L68 x W61 x H105; Weight: 12.6kg Weight: 24.9 pounds | Dimensions: 35.2 x 22.8 x 42.7 inches (unfolded) | Weight Limit: Up to 50 pounds A nappy bag with removable changing mat, a rain cover, cup holder, footmuff, extendable canopy and a height-adjustable handle are just some of the XMoov’s features, and the reclinable car seat has adjustable shoulder straps with protectors for the baby’s optimal safety and comfort. group 1 – rear or forward-facing seats suitable for children who weigh 9-18kg (20-40lb) or who are aged from about 9 months to 4 years

If you have a lightweight car seat and there’s no child in it, you can probably carry it one-handed since it shouldn’t be more than about 10 pounds. to 3.9 stars: These best car seat and stroller travel systems are just average. Travel Systems We Also Tested Key specs – Group: 0/0+; Item weight: 1.7kg; Attachment method: Isofix; Additional features: Pushchair attachment available, 360-degree rotationThink about how you will be using the car seat. If you'll be lifting your baby in and out of the car a lot, for example, you may be better off getting a lightweight seat with a base that stays in the car.