Traveling with kids is exhilarating… and mildly panic-inducing. Add toddlers to the mix, and it can feel downright terrifying. Don’t worry, I’ve done it all (mistakes included), and I’m here to make sure you don’t have to learn the hard way.
This post contains affiliate links: because yes, champagne does taste better when someone else is footing the bill. And full disclosure: the photos are from 2015 and 2016, which means I paid full price for everything after doing HOURS of obsessive research. So go ahead and enjoy the fruits of that labor. I’ve been at this for a while, with overstuffed carry-ons and not a single packing cube in sight, thank you very much.
Let’s talk car seats: because if there’s one thing that can make or break your trip, it’s how your kid is strapped in.
🚗 Car Seats: AKA My Niche Mom Superpower
We all have that friend: the one who knows which car seat ranks highest on every safety list, when kids should face forward (spoiler: basically never), and how to install one with their eyes closed using seatbelt or LATCH (never both, btw).
Hi. I’m that friend.
When my kids were younger, I knew every model, rating, and regulation out there. And even though my car seat days are behind me, one of my best friends recently asked for travel advice, and wow did I light up like a runway.
The good news? Car seat physics haven’t changed. So here’s my still-solid advice:
✈️ If You’re Traveling With a Baby…
And they’re still in an infant bucket seat (a.k.a. “the shell”) but flying as a lap infant, gate check that seat.
Do. Not. Send. It. With. Checked. Luggage.
Unless you want it launched down airport stairs like a suitcase in a heist movie, always gate check.
👶 If Your Child Has Their Own Plane Seat…
And you’re bringing a car seat? Bring it on board. Make sure it’s FAA-certified (there’s a sticker on the side — don’t wait to find out at security). Your child will be more secure, more comfortable, and way more likely to nap in their own familiar space instead of half on you, half on the stranger next to you, and half in the aisle.
Yes, Clek makes a rolling travel bag… but let’s be real: with the Fllo, you’re hauling around 35 lbs, and with the Foonf? A full 50 lbs of parenting pride. (Yes Jess, I’m looking directly at you.)
Proof that travel doesn’t have to be bulky: the Costco Serena Next casually hitching a ride on the YoYo like it owns the place. Under 11 lbs, FAA-approved, and actually fits into real life (unlike some of the “travel” seats that need their own luggage cart).
Your luggage is already pushing the limit — here’s a more manageable option: the Costco Serena NEXT (Canadian link) car seat is an underrated gem. It weighs under 11 lbs, has a super high rear-facing limit, is FAA-approved, and rings in at around $150.
Bring it on board, then gift it to grandma when the trip’s done. Everyone wins: especially your back.
🧥 If You’re Not Bringing a Car Seat…
But your child is over 3 years old and 30 lbs, I swear by this travel vest (the RideSafer vest) (Canadian link).
Is it as safe as a rear-facing Clek? Probably not.
Is it safer than the crusty rental car seat with mystery stains, weird smells, and missing parts? Absolutely.
I used it for years with all three of my kids. It packs small, fits in your carry-on, and has a safety rating your local car seat nerd (me) would approve of.
Throwback to 2016: two BumbleBums, one RideSafer vest, and three kids who had no idea how much gear it took to get them from point A to B safely. Snack bribes were flowing, patience was thin, but the setup? Solid.
🧒 For the Big Kids Still in Boosters…
I’ve used both the mifold and the BumbleBum over the years : compact, clever, and approved by my inner safety snob. The both became my go-to for all three kids: easy to use, easy to pack, and perfect for travel. Just toss it in your bag and go.
Traveling with kids is never 100% stress-free, but a smart car seat plan definitely makes it easier. You’ve got this! And if you don’t, I do. Stick around, I’ve got more up my sleeve.
Zone 1 Boarding 