It’s holiday season and you want to get away from it all on a lovely break. You want to take your baby with you. What’s the best way to travel?
While many mums and dads struggle to get their pushchair to the airplane door, not knowing if it will come back minus its wheels or if they’ll ever see it again, savvier parents know that there’s an easier way – taking their baby’s car seat right onto the plane with them.
Choosing your infant car seat is usually something you do when considering the type of pushchair or travel system you are going to buy and the make and model of your car.
Many parents choose a travel system: the car seat clips onto the pushchair chassis, allowing you to take your baby from the car to the shop or a meeting with ease. With a little more thought and planning, you can also buy a car seat that means a fuss-free holiday too.
Can you take a baby car seat onto the plane?
As long as you have an approved car seat and have double-checked with your airline, you can leave your baby in their car seat and it will be with them for the whole flight.
This does mean you will have to buy an extra seat for your baby – usually, infants travel free on their parent’s lap – but if you have a long flight, it will be worth the extra money. Don’t forget to book adjoining seats and bear in mind that airlines put infant seats next to the window and never in an emergency exit row, so it will not block the doors.
Some airlines provide a bassinet or sky cot and may not allow car seats on the flight. While a bassinet is a great place for your baby to sleep, it can’t be used for take-off and landing, nor when there’s turbulence. If this applies, you can still take your car seat but check it into the hold.
What are the advantages of taking your car seat on the plane?
If you are a family that usually travels to the airport by car, leaving it in the car park, then flies to your destination and hires a car when you get there, having your baby’s car seat with you is great for several reasons:
- You can take your baby onto the plane with no need for a pushchair, sling or other baby gear
- Your baby has a safe and comfortable place to sit and sleep for the flight
- You can travel with your baby at your holiday destination knowing they are in a safe, clean car seat that you know how to use
- It’s much safer to have your child strapped into their car seat than riding on your lap in the plane
Safety note: Newborn and young babies should not be left in the car seat for extended periods. Make sure you take your baby out after every 20 minutes for those under four weeks or two hours for those over, for a stretch, feed and a nappy change.
Which car seats are suitable for use on planes?
Any car seat that goes with you into the plane must be an airline-approved seat that is ratified by the FAA or TÜV.
What to look for in an airline-approved infant car seat
- Suitable from birth
- Maximum width of 44 cm
- Rearward facing
- The option of fitting it in your car using either a base or the car’s lap seat belt – you can use the latter option on the plane and at your holiday destination
- A lie-flat facility is a bonus, as this is the safest way for your baby to sleep
- It can be used as a travel system with your pushchair, so check which models will fit
- A removable, washable cover so you can always keep it clean
- An easy-to-use harness with one-pull tightening
- Check your car seat fits the safety regulations in the country to which you are travelling
- Airlines publish the dimensions of their seats, so check your car seat will fit – it’s usually between 41 and 45 cm
This feature looks at rearward-facing car seats suitable from newborn up to around 12 to 15 months. Some car seats for older children can also be taken on the plane, so do check with your airline.
Best airline infant car seats at a glance:
- Best for a lightweight option: Bugaboo Turtle Air by Nuna - £209, John Lewis
- Best for lasting longer than some seats: Cybex Aton M i-Size - £105, Mamas & Papas
- Best for soft-to-touch fabrics: Nuna Pipa Next - £240, John Lewis
- Best for fitting onto multiple pushchairs Maxi-Cosi Pebble Pro i-Size - £209.99, John Lewis
- Best lie-flat seat: Kiddy Evolution Pro 2 - £149, Smart Kid Store
- Best for creating a smart travel system: UPPAbaby MESA - £199.99, John Lewis
- Best for easy fitting: Joie i-Jemini- £160, John Lewis
- Best for value for money: Graco SnugEssentials i-Size - £100, Amazon
- Best for multifunction: Doona Convertible Cat Seat - £339, Doona
- Best for side impact protection: Britax Baby-Safe 3 i-Size - £199.20, Mamas & Papas
For a more in-depth analysis of each option, read on
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Bugaboo Turtle Air by Nuna i-Size Baby Car Seat
Best for: a lightweight option
Suitable for: babies 40 - 85cm in height
Travel system compatible? Yes
Type of fitting: i-Size base or car’s seatbelt
Weight: 3kg
The best thing about this car seat, created by a collaboration between pushchair makers Bugaboo and nursery supplier Nuna, is its weight – or lack of it! At just three kilos, it’s easy to lift even with a hefty baby in it and its generous sun canopy and drape protect your baby from the weather and sun.
Inside the wings is super safe premium foam padding for side impact protection and your baby has a Merino wool insert that helps them control their temperature to avoid overheating.
The Turtle, which comes in black and grey, is compatible with several of Bugaboo’s pushchairs too, so if you want a smart travel system, choose the Bee5, Fox2, Donkey3, or Cameleon.
Buy now £209.00, John Lewis
Cybex Aton M i-Size
Best for: lasting longer than some seats
Suitable for: birth to approx. 24 months (45-87 cm)
Travel system compatible? Yes
Type of fitting: i-Size or belt
Weight: 4.2 kg
Cybex is a premium pushchair and car seat manufacturer and those who love its beautifully design strollers with stunning fabrics will often choose their car seats to match. The Atom M i-Size forms part of a modular system that can be used both with the Cybex and GB brand pushchairs and with the M-Line car seat base – this base can be used with the next size car seat, the Sirona, which is suitable up to around four years.
The headrest and harness are highly adjustable and grow with your child does. It has an impressive 11 positions, so there is always one that’s the safest for your little one. Side impact protection is achieved with an energy-absorbing shell and a system that absorbs force through the head and shoulder protectors, while the baby’s head is held safely.
With a range of eight vibrant colours, there’s a newborn inlay for very small and even premature babies for the perfect fit and your little one is protected with an extra-large sun canopy, too.
Buy now £105.00, Mamas and Papas
Nuna Pipa Next
Best for: soft to touch fabrics
Suitable for: birth to 15 months (40-85 cm)
Travel system compatible? Yes
Type of fitting: i-Size base or car’s seatbelt
Weight: 3.58 kg
This rearward-facing i-Size seat can be used from birth to 85 cm or around 13 kg or 13-15 months – longer than some first-stage car seats - and can be used with a Nuna ISOFIX base in your car, or with the car’s seatbelts (the base can be used with the next size car seat too, allowing you to transport your child up to four years).
It’s very lightweight at just 3.58 kg (without inserts or canopy), so it’s easy to carry your baby around in this safe little seat and it can be fixed onto Nuna’s great pushchairs; it clips straight onto the Mixx and also the Triv and Demi Grow with an adapter. It is TÜV-certified for airlines and is very comfortable for your child, featuring an adjustable seven-position headrest with a no-rethread harness, a full UPF 50+ canopy and a pull-out drape to keep the sun out of your child’s eyes.
The high-strength handle transfers energy away from your child in the event of a crash and its side wings offer good side impact protection. It’s a comfortable seat with plenty of support, especially for your baby’s legs and it has inserts that snugly cocoon small babies – these can be removed later on.
Available in grey or black, its woven fabric contains Merino wool and Tencel.
Buy now £240.00, John Lewis
Maxi-Cosi Pebble Pro i-Size
Best for: fitting onto multiple pushchairs
Suitable for: birth to 12 months (40-75 cm)
Travel system compatible? Yes
Type of fitting: choice of twoi-Size bases or car’s seatbelt
Weight: 4.4 kg
One of the most popular infant car seats thanks to the fact that it fits on so many different pushchairs, the Pebble Pro is a rearward-facing i-Size car seat suitable from birth until your child is 75 cm – that’s around a year. This is quite a short lifespan, so you’ll need to move up to a bigger seat when your baby is over 75 cm but the good news is that you can use both this seat and the next size car seat on the FamilyFix3 base, so you only need to buy one base for travel up to four years.
The Pebble Pro can be used as a travel system on not just Maxi-Cosi’s strollers but many other brands too, using adaptors. It has a snug inlay that will cradle your baby from when they are very tiny; this can be removed as your child grows, so it will continue to fit as well and be just as comfortable no matter what size your baby is. The harness and headrest also adjust as your child grows and the one-pull harness helps you get the safest fit every time you travel. Memory foam in the side wings offers good side impact protection and the cushioned headrest allows for comfort for your baby while travelling.
Buy now £209.99, John Lewis
Kiddy Evolution Pro 2 in lizard green
Best for: lie-flat seat
Suitable for: birth to 12 months
Travel system compatible? Yes
Type of fitting: i-Size or belt
Weight: 4.9 kg
This German-built ISOFIX car seat has one very special feature, which is that you can recline the seat so that your baby lies much flatter than in other car seats, the safest way for a baby to sleep. It has been developed with the help of midwives and paediatricians to be as comfortable as possible and it follows safe sleep guidelines.
The seat can be used, with adapters, on over 50 pushchair brands, which gives you lots of flexibility. Infant inserts help you get the best fit for your baby’s age and size. Though the weight limit for children riding in this seat is 13 kg, it is a generous-sized seat, so taller children will still be comfortable in it. The shell of the seat is cocooning and absorbs shock in an accident but it also helps absorb bumps from the road or pavement whether it’s in the car or on the pushchair.
The sun hood has UPF 80+ protection and all seat and frame elements are made from premium materials.
Buy now £149.00, Smart Kid Store
UPPAbaby MESA
Best for: creating a smart travel system
Suitable for: birth to 14 months (40-78 cm or birth to 13 kg)
Travel system compatible? Yes
Type of fitting: i-Size base or car’s seatbelt
Weight: 4.3 kg
This seat has been created with superior side impact testing standards to protect your baby’s head, neck and body, with the headrest harnessing the absorption and recovery properties of EPP and memory foam. The seat is ventilated to prevent overheating and the covers are also breathable, thanks to mesh and foam with vented channels.
Inside, the adjustable headrest moves together with the three-point harness to prevent re-threading and to offer the perfect fit for your baby whatever their size. The head section is wider than on some car seats for comfort and it comes in four colours, matching with the VISTA and CRUZ pushchairs to create a smart travel system; just one push of a button releases the seat from the pushchair.
A removable newborn infant means that your tiny baby sits comfortably and safely in the seat and it also helps your child manage their airways better, thanks to the flatter lying position. Though the canopy has only an SPF of 25+, it is extra-large to offer better protection, plus it tucks away neatly when you’re not using it.
Buy now £199.99, John Lewis
Joie Baby Signature i-Jemini i-Size Baby Car Seat
Best for: easy-fitting
Suitable for: birth to 12/15 months (40-85 cm)
Travel system compatible? Yes
Type of fitting: i-Size base or car’s seatbelt
Weight: 4.5 kg
A great seat to use from birth to 85 cm, the i-Gemm is an i-Size seat that has extra memory foam padding and softness in the headrest area to keep your child as comfortable and safe as they can be on all rides. i-Gemm can be clipped onto the Joie range of pushchairs, as well as other brands using handy adaptors and the i-Base Encore (which can also be used with the carrycot and the next size car seat).
In one colour, a nice dark grey, the multi-height headrest and harness move together with one touch to help you get the perfect fit for your baby as they grow. The canopy protects up to UPF 50+ and shades your baby against wind, sun and rain and when it’s warm, there’s even a zip-open mesh panel to provide better ventilation; the seat’s sides are also ventilated. The harness can be tightened with just one pull and the ergonomic handle is easy to hold.
For newborns, there’s a body insert to ensure a good fit that can be removed as your baby gets bigger.
Buy now £160.00, John Lewis
Graco SnugEssentials i-Size
Best for: value for money
Suitable for: birth to 12 months (40-75 cm)
Travel system compatible? Yes
Type of fitting: i-Size base or car’s seatbelt
Weight: 3.66 kg
The five-point harness can be adjusted with just one pull, making sure your baby rides safely every time and this seat has passed advanced testing by the ADAC safety institute.
It is ISOFIX compatible when using Graco’s IsoFamily base and it has plenty of good energy-absorbing foam to protect from any impacts. It’s easy to fit, with indicators to show when it is clicked in correctly and is very lightweight at just 3.66 kg. The large canopy will protect your baby from wind, sun and rain and the memory foam insert can be used for very small babies to ensure a great and safe fit. It’s also easy to fit in the car using an intuitive route for your car’s seatbelt.
It can be used as a travel system on several of Graco’s strollers too.
Buy now £89.99, Amazon
Doona Convertible Cat Seat
Best for: multifunction
Suitable for: birth to 12/15 months (birth to 13 kg)
Travel system compatible? Integral wheels
Type of fitting: i-Size or belt
Weight: 7.5 kg
If you’re wondering whether to take your pushchair or car seat with you on the plane – fear not, you can take this neat unit that is both!
As a car seat, it’s rear-facing and has a sturdy five-point harness and it is approved by both TUV and FAA for airline travel. Suitable from newborn, it can be used for around 12 months and has been created to be safe in event of a crash, with anti-rebound crash technology and double wall side impact protection. The handlebar is adjustable and a hypoallergenic bamboo newborn insert offers an almost flat position for very young babies - this is also anti-bacterial and regulates humidity and temperature. In a single move, you can transform it into a stroller on its integrated wheels, the brake is positive and is engaged with just one touch and it has swivel wheels to make corners a breeze.
Of course, it’s heavier than many infant car seats but as it doubles as a pushchair, that’s worth its weight.
Buy now £339.00, Doona
Britax Baby-Safe 3 i-Size
Best for: side impact protection
Suitable for: birth to 12/15 months (birth to 13 kg)
Travel system compatible? Yes
Type of fitting: i-Size base or car seatbelt
Weight: 4.6 kg
One of the best names in baby car safety brings you this i-Size car seat, with its five-point safety harness and effective side impact protection from a system called D-SIP technology. You can clip it to a range of Britax pushchairs and the Oyster stroller, from which it is easy to release it using a single-handed mechanism.
The height-adjustable headrest and the integral harness are adjusted from the front using just one motion and the harness can be made snug with just one pull. For newborns, there’s a removable insert that helps your baby lie as flat as possible, plus the lie-flat technology means that when you adjust the headrest, the lying position adjusts at the same time. The deeply padded sides offer not just comfort but protection too and the handle has a soft touch covering to make it pleasing to carry.
In black, grey or indigo blue, the canopy has 50+ UV protection and protects from the sun, rain and wind.
Buy now £199.20, Mamas and Papas
