The 6 best FAA Approved car seats

If you’re looking for a booster seat for a child 18 months and over, this ultra-compact and lightweight design from Maxi Cosi is ideal for taking on holiday. It folds in half to about the size of a large backpack making it easy to transport and carry around. It also comes with its own travel bag so you can safely stow it away at check-in or take on board the plane with you. This car seat can also be used up to the age of four so it’s a good long-term travel option.  

What one parenting tester said: **“**After 3 weeks of use I can say ‘yes, that's what I was looking for’. The seat has everything you need if you have two cars or if you have to be constantly changing vehicles. It is light, much more than a fixed chair, easy to carry, it has a handle and folds up, greatly reducing its size, even if you need to remove it to store it in the trunk it is a good option. We are going on vacation to the Canary Islands, and we have seen that it is the best option for a rental car”.

If you’re travelling with a newborn or very small baby, Bugaboo’s Turtle Air by Nuna car seat is suitable for babies from birth up until around 18 months.  TÜV-certified, it has a super strong shell, three-point harness, and an SPF50+ sunshade that will shield your baby from any bright sunlight on the plane or car. Reviewers also love its very lightweight feel that’s ideal for travel. 

What one mum tester said: **“**I am so happy with the quality and construction of the car seat. It looks and feels very safe and very comfy for a newborn and yet still lightweight (only 3 kg) for a baby car seat. I love that it could last baby for a while and all the handy extra features like the sunshade and merino wool insert make this an amazing car seat”.

Suitable from birth to approximately four years, the Joie Tilt offers plenty of longevity and safety. It also meets most airline’s weight and size regulations so, while you’ll need to check before your flight, it’s a safe bet for taking on board. It’s fitted with a very secure five-point harness and has an adjustable headrest so it can grow with your child. The only thing to bear in mind is that this car seat can only be secured with a seatbelt as it isn’t ISOFIX compatible. 

What one mum tester said: **“**I bought this a month ago and am so happy with this purchase. The tilt-in-front feature is fantastic for growing children. My 2-year-old doesn't like to sit rear face anymore. So, it's pretty good and enjoyable for her and supportive for their neck during nap time. Moreover, it's quite a good size to put on the middle seat of the car if you have three kids. I researched a lot and returned my previous purchase to fit three kids in a car, and I am so happy it's so perfect”.

If you’re travelling with a newborn or very young baby, Maxi-Cosi’s Pebble 360 Pro is a popular choice for many parents. First off, it’s TÜV-certified so can be used on most airlines (however it may be too wide for some aircraft seats so be sure to check beforehand), and it comes with a five-point harness, and excellent head and neck support. It also has an integrated sun canopy, which is super helpful when travelling to warmer climes, and feels light in hand, even with a baby inside. 

What one mum tester said: **“**Love this car seat, the recline feature is so amazing. I also love how the straps don’t fall down under baby due to the way the hardness is made. The seat colour is so lovely, and I can clip it to my pram with the adaptors. I also have the rain cover. Really happy”.

When it comes to travel safety, Joie’s i-Gemm 3 car seat is not only TÜV-certified, but it also exceeds ECE R129/03 safety standards. It’s designed for optimum comfort with a super-soft padded seat and memory foam headrest that will keep your baby’s head and neck fully supported. The very generous UPF50+ protective hood is also super handy for keeping their delicate skin protected as you travel around, and we love the curved base which allows you to rock baby to sleep when they’re secured in the car or aeroplane seat.

This lightweight and easily portable car seat from Nuna is TÜV-certified and R129-compliant – which means it’s undergone extra tests for head and neck safety. It’s also comfortable to carry with a high-strength handle, and super comfy for baby with a headrest that can be placed in seven different positions. The straps are also easy to adjust and secure while you’ll have the flexibility between using it with an ISOFIX base or seatbelt. 

**Read our review of the Nuna Pipa Next.
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What one mum tester said: “Straps are easy to move and secure. Ideal with the 360 bases with getting our baby out of the car easily and quickly. Also comes with adapters with the pushchair base to slot onto the base”.