Welcome to Portable Car Seats. Our aim is to provide you with information about selecting a proper portable car seat (baby travel car seat). Portable car seats are an economical and easy way for parents to be able to travel with toddlers. No more lugging around and checking-in bulky boosters or car seats or no more renting car seats while away on vacation.
Portable car seats for your child are an important and necessary safety device that should be used regularly – in many parts of the world it is now compulsory that all children be in an appropriate seat for their age and the fines for not doing so and endangering your child can be very stiff.
So if you travel with your children a few times a year and sick of trying to lug full-size car seats around, or renting and paying around $9.99 per day per child for one that may not be too clean, then you should definitely consider buying a portable car seat. It won’t take too many trips before you have more than saved the alternative rental cost.
However, do keep in mind that this is merely an alternative when a full-sized car seat is not an option. They can be especially useful if you have to use a lot of taxis at your travel destination
Some of the points you need to consider when selecting a travel car seat:
- Front facing or rear facing – with rear facing being a much safer alignment, especially with smaller children or babies. Some models can be used facing in both directions.
- Weight limits or height limits for baby/toddler – most sizing will be based on either weight or height as these can vary greatly if based on ages
- Side protection with wings to provide lateral protection, as found in mainstream child car seats is definitely desirable
- Headrest adjustability could also be an advantage, as you don’t want your child to be outgrowing the portable car seat in six months time.
- Comfort – an important aspect if you want your child to actually sit in it for any length of time, ie. longer than taxi rides to and from the airport.
- Weight and size is also important as you would most likely want it to fit easily into a totes, suitcases or backpacks
- You also want the portable car seat to be quick and easy to install – you don’t want to be fiddling around for ages trying to get the seat installed especially when using it in taxis.
- Some travel car seats have also been approved by the FAA for use in aircraft, which could be a very handy extra.
- Compatibility with strollers – it’s one thing to get your child to their destination safely, but then you may need to settle them into a stroller, so some compatibility with a travel stroller could be a definite advantage.
There is a lot to consider when selecting between the range of portable car seats, but you definitely want to have the best possible protection available for your child.