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Travel Car Seats


Are you getting ready to travel with your baby? If so, you may be shocked and surprised how such a little creature can require… so much stuff! Even just a weekend away to visit grandma and grandpa can fill up a car, what with all the supplies, the portable crib, the monitors and what if you are traveling by plane? Then the circus really begins! You’re probably on this page because you are looking for a car seat to take with you. Well, you have several options as you consider travel car seats.

Sit-n-Stroll

travel_car_seats_1The one that you see most often is the Sit-n-Stroll, which is called a car sear/stroller combination. It’s essentially a convertible car seat with built-in wheels and a handle. This product pares down your baby travel gear immensely because not only does it double as a stroller and car seat (both in cars and planes) but you can use it as a high chair too. It’s great for families that travel a lot. I say this because it comes with a pretty high sticker price, around $250. But having lugged a double stroller, a convertible car seat, and a booster through many an airport terminal by myself… if you take multiple trips a year, it’s worth it.

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Parent Reviews

The average rating for this product is 4 out of 5 stars. 411 on the Sit-n-Stroll is that it’s a great product but the company is not very responsive and has poor customer service. A reputable merchant helps to get issues with the company resolved.

The Brownings from Florida report:

We were absolutely sold on this product from day one! We are both active duty USAF members who travel quite extensively; so, this product is the most efficient on the market. If this and internet shopping were available in the early 90’s, we would have had one for all of our children! We do, however, have one for each of our last 3 of 5 (YES-five!) kids. We highly recommend this to families who travel at least annually. We never have to worry about checking a car seat or a stroller at the airport, and we always have a safe child for all modes of travelling. Some reviews complain of an “inconvenience” when having to take time to buckle/unbuckle the entire seat everytime they use a car/suv–basically, comparing it to the ease of other traveling systems where the car seat just clicks in/out while the base remains buckled. We’ve owned both kinds and find the other travel systems take more time & hands to separate the units then store the wheeled portion while this product is not only the most convenient and time-saving, but also the most cost-effective. Since Sit N’ Strolls are safe for up to 40 lbs, it takes the place of three separate seats (1- rear-facing NB/Infants car seat; 2- front-facing Infant/Child car seat, & 3- booster/dining seat up to 40 lbs). Besides, is it really “inconvenient” to ensure the safety of our most precious cargo?
Tina from Michigan says:

I bought the sit ‘n’ stroll to go on a trip. It was exactly what I hoped it to be. The down side is that my daughter is almost 2 and it was very heavy to hold the car seat and deploy the wheels myself. I had to have help. It also didn’t fit down the aisle of the plane like I had hoped. Maybe it was just the style of plane I was on. Overall, it was worth every penny and I highly recommend getting it if you are traveling. Having to haul a car seat and a separate stroller would have been much more difficult.

30+ reviews are available for this product.

Gogo Kidz Travelmate

travel_car_seats_2Your other option is a really cool system that converts your car seat into a wheeled tote. It’s called the GoGo Kidz Travelmate and yes, you can strap your child in it in a pinch (like at the airport), but at less than half the price of the Sit-n-Stroll. So if you are only doing one or two trips a year and don’t expect to use your car seat as a stroller the whole time, It’s a great, affortable option. Words probably don’t adequately describe this system, so view the demo here.  The Travelmate is compatible with most convertible car seats but check the detailed list for the one you are interested in.

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Parent Reviews

Martha from Texas says:

Excellent approach to getting through the airport w/out a stroller. Airport security is a challenge since you may be asked to remove the QR wheels while unloading all other carry on baggage as it may not fit through the x-ray equipment. However removing quick release (QR) wheels is very easy. Due to the size of my seat it did not roll down the isle of the smaller commuter jets and I had to lift it to get it to my seat all the while maintaining an eye on my small child. The back plate can leave indentations in leather upholstery when installed in your vehicle.

Andrea from Florida writes:

I have an older version of this that goes with the Britax roundabout. Except on small regional jets like the CR7 it has rolled down aisles. It fits through most xray machines while attached to the seat. I often travel alone with my two and three year old. I use this to transport my two year old through the airport and onto the plane. Given my seat is not that heavy, I can lift my DS and the seat into the airplane seat if needed. My DS loves sitting in his seat riding backwards through the airport this way. I wouldn’t go without it. I have been using it for 4 years.

An anonymous reviewer from Alabama did have some issues with it:

This product is a lifesaver, especially if you travel alone. However, on my third time to use it, one of the screws was broken when I picked it up from the gate-check. It’s glued for now but don’t know how long it will hold.

But 30+ reviews should help you make a call! :)

GoGo Infant Cruiser

travel_car_seats_3The makers of the Travelmate also have the same system for infant car seats called the GoGo Infant Cruiser. Frankly, it’s the only travel car seat system I’ve seen to accommodate infants. The difference is that it’s got 4 wheels so it rolls flat on the ground rather than like the wheeled suitcases. It’s still relatively new, so right now it’s only compatible with the Graco Snugride, the Graco Safe Seat (Step 1), and the Peg Perego Primo Viaggio. The company plans on releasing adapters for Chicco and Britax seats within the next few months.

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Parent Reviews

Ann from Texas writes:

I actually purchased both the Travelmate and the Infant Cruizer hoping to determine which was best for our trip to Disney World. They are both terrific products – but the four wheels made the Infant Cruizer more appropriate for our needs and desires. The Infant Cruizer with the Toddler Seat Adaptor was easy to assemble. Adding or removing the Britax Boulevard was simple with the wench-tightening straps on the toddler seat attachment. The seat will feel more secure on the base if it is a little reclined against the handle. Also, the front strap will snugly fit across the front of the carseat with little effort (we initially tried to thread it through a small opening at the bottom and found that to be difficult). Compared to the Travelmate, the Infant Cruizer is bulkier; but for a long trip without a stroller, we decided the carseat would fare better with a four-wheeled approach. It rolls very smoothly and quietly. The large back wheels were a true plus as we rolled over stone streets, tall curbs, and even stairs. At the airport, we gate-checked the Infant Cruizer, but probably could have fit it into the overhead bin. At Disney World, our daughter was comfortable in her own carseat (we added the sunshade). This product is awesome if you expect to need to take long walks and know you are packing the carseat and not a stroller.

Joanna from New York says:
Just saw you have this now, got mine a while ago from another store but this product is my new best friend…I have a 5 month old and 3 1/2 year old, the infant cruiser makes it so much easier to handle my Graco seat while I am able to walk with my son to preschool and his activities instead of carrying the car seat on my arm. It is my new stroller!

If you are looking for travel car seats, click on the links to Elite Car Seats, which carries all three of these products as well as a number of very handy travel accessories. Elite Car Seats is a well-respected online merchant with a great reputation for excellent customer service and speedy shipping. They also have free shipping!

As one of our trusted partners, we often have access to additional discounts and savings. So sign up for our NEWSLETTER and we’ll pass those along to you!

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