Best Car Seat Alternatives for Travel

Wondering about safe alternatives to car seats for travel? I hear you!

It isn’t always practical–or possible to bring along your child’s car seat or safety booster when traveling (see How to Travel with a Car Seat [Without Losing Your Mind] for loads of help on the topic!).

But there are safer alternatives than traveling without the car seat at all, whether by taxi or ride share, rental car, and/or by airplane.

I’ve used each of the following car seat alternatives myself in travels with my own three children, and encourage you to consider if they’re right for your trip.

Scroll down to read about each of the best car seat alternatives available. But first … be sure to pin this to your travel board for future reference and to help others find it!

This page contains affiliate links to help fund my independent website at no cost to you.

CARES Flight Harness for Airplane Seats

Why Shelly recommends it:

Turns the airplane seat belt into a 4-point harness for children over 1 year old and weighing 22 lbs. to 44 lbs. CARES (Child Aviation Restraint System) is ideal when children will be flying in their own airplane seats, but won’t need their own car seat at the destination.

For example, the CARES harness may be perfect when you’ll be renting a car seat at your destination or using another car seat alternative for your ground transportation (see Worldwide Directory of Baby Gear Rentals).

For very light travels, consider pairing the CARES with the RideSafer Vest (see below on this page) for car seat alternatives in motor vehicles. CARES is FAA-approved for use during all phases of a flight, including taxiing, take-off, and landing.

First adjust the straps to fit around the airplane seat, then use the harness to secure your child to both the seat back and airplane seat belt. Please note that CARES is approved for use in aircraft, but not in automobiles.

If you’re bringing along your car seat, but don’t want to use it on the aircraft, I recommend you always gate-check your car seat rather than subject it to possible damage–which may or may not be visible–from the airport baggage system, or use one of the other car seat alternatives for your ground transportation.

CARES weighs only 1 lb. and packs into a 6″ stuff sack. Find out more:  Read the Travels with Baby feature review of CARES with more photos and tips. Buy the CARES harness at: Amazon.com

Baby B’Air Flight Safety Vest *

Why Shelly recommends it:

Turbulence is by far the leading cause of injuries in flight. And no one on board seems quite so vulnerable to injuries from turbulence than the little lightweight people riding as “lap children.” (Don’t miss the whole section on flying with babies and toddlers on laps on the Flying with a Baby or Toddler Ultimate Advice page!)

This handy little vest slips over your lap child and attaches to your safety belt with a loop, therefore securing babies and toddlers against unexpected bumps. Made of machine-washable, soft 100% cotton with fully adjustable side and crotch straps. Allows for shifting around as needed, even for breastfeeding.

The Baby B’air is permitted for use in-flight by the FAA as noted on its tag, though not for taxiing, take-off, or landing. It slips into the side of your diaper bag or carry on with ease.

Available in two sizes: Infant, recommended for newborns up to 8 months, and Toddler for up to 2 years. Buy the Baby B’Air at:   Amazon.com

* Of course there’s no safer position for a flying infant than in his car seat behind a 5-point harness (especially in the case of an unplanned landing). But I know that in the real world many parents will continue to fly with a lap child as long as it’s allowed, and even children flying with their car seats often need to spend some amount of time out of them (nursing, burping, etc.). In either of those cases, the Baby B’Air is far preferable to no restraint at all. – Shelly

The Ride Safer Travel Vest for Taxis and Other Cars

Why Shelly recommends it:

With the Ride Safer Vest your child can travel safely without a car seat or booster from 3 years and 30 lbs. Think of it as a “wearable belt-positioning booster seat” you can pack in the outside pocket of your carry-on.

After your flight, have your child put it on outside baggage claim while you wait in line for your taxi. She can wear it like a normal vest, or add the optional crotch strap for the safety of a 5-point harness–something you won’t get from a regular booster, and the comfy removable head rest.

Like booster seats, however, it is not approved for use in aircraft (where there is no shoulder belt). A removable head rest offers extra comfort when desired. Weighs 2.5 lbs. without head rest or optional tether, under 5 lbs. with it.

The RideSafer 2 Delight Travel Vest meets or exceeds all crash test requirements and Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards for harness restraints (FMVSS213) model.* Find out more: Read the Travels with Baby feature review of the RideSafer Vest for more details and photos.

Buy the RideSafer Travel Vest at:    Amazon.com

You might also like: