Instead, pick one up that you use specifically for travel. We recommend not checking any super-expensive and potentially bulky car seat from home if you can avoid it. Unless the car seat bag is ridiculously heavy, chances are you won’t even be asked to open it to show what’s inside. This is also a savvy trick that will help free up some space - and save a little weight - in your other checked bags. Some parents have been known to pack extra diapers, beach towels or anything else light and soft in the bag to help keep it cushioned a bit. When it comes to checking a car seat, I strongly recommend placing it inside a large bag (you can shop for a dedicated car seat bag, but a few garbage bags or even a large duffel do just as well) to keep it from being soiled and to ensure parts don’t get lost or catch on aircraft-loading equipment. This even applies to low-cost carriers like Spirit and Frontier. Car seats travel for freeĪll airlines I have ever run across will accept child safety seats and strollers as checked baggage for no additional charge.

That extra seat can make their lives a little easier - and give everyone a break from removing and installing car seats when it’s time to switch caregivers. If you do decide to add a lighter or cheaper travel car seat to your fleet (the Cosco Scenera Next and Pico Travel Car Seat by WAYB come to mind), you could also consider leaving it with the grandparents, a babysitter or other helper when you aren’t traveling. There is a time and place for both options, but make sure you think through which car seat is right for your trip, assuming you have access to more than one in the first place.

I’ve also flown with our travel car seat that is lighter, cheaper and totally adequate. We’ve flown with our heftiest car seat that seems to be very comfortable for my daughter to sit in, but which is also huge, heavy and expensive. Here are some basic facts about traveling with a car seat or stroller, and a few of our favorite strategies.įor more TPG news delivered each morning to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter. Thankfully, there are ways that savvy parents can minimize both the hassle and expense of transporting this gear. Towing child car seats and strollers through airports and around the world isn’t the most glamorous part of family travel. Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information.

Car seat check bag