WAYBPico Travel Car Seat with Premium Carrying Bag- Lightweight, Portable, Foldable - Perfect for Airplanes, Rideshares, and Road Trips - Forward Facing for Kids 22-50 lbs. and 30-45"

This car seat has made it to my top 2 list of the BEST Travel Gear for Toddlers! I own a travel agency and have a toddler who goes everywhere with me. As a full time traveler and a solo parent I need a car seat that is as compact as it is safe-enter the WAYB Pico!SIZE: After my usual research through endless rabbit holes of recommendations, I stumbled across this seat just before a cross country flight from Charleston to LAX. The first thing to catch my eye was of course its size when folded. The Pico has a very small footprint coming in at 18.9” H when folded, 22.8” H in its lowest use position, and 27.8” H in its tallest usage position. In its storage position it measures in at only 11.6” L x 14.5” W. A Compact footprint is this seats biggest advantage over any other seat on the market. Nothing comes close to the Pico’s storage size- which equates to what you’ll actually carry through the airport and on your travels.SAFETY: In terms of safety the manufacturer (also a a small business) states that the Pico passes “all safety testing according to U.S. standards regulated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).” There is a FAA approval sticker placed on the side of the seat in the event that you are questioned by flight crew when using the seat on an airplane.CONSTRUCTION: Material wise- the Pico’s main frame is crafted from lightweight aluminum alloy making it one of the lightest options on the market based on its size. For those who are looking for an environmentally conscious car seat, the manufacturer points out that there is no PU foam used to make the Picco, and minimal plastic components. The fabric of the seat contains a combination of polyester, wool, and WAYB’s AstroKnit™️ mesh- all of which help to make a seat that can handle the temperature variations of different cities while keeping little ones comfortable. While I haven’t had to wash the seat yet, it can be spot cleaned and some components can be removed and hand washed using warm water and wool-safe detergent.INSTALLATION AND REAL WORLD USE: As I mentioned earlier- I bought the PICCO just days before a cross country flight. It arrived the day before travel and I gave a quick glance at the instruction manual to practice how to fold and install the seat both on a plane and in a car. I am pleased to report that use in both situations is an absolute breeze! To begin- flight attendants were shocked that what came out of the backpack was actually a car seat as they’re clearly used to seeing parents lug (and struggle with) massive rigid seats in the cabin. Ease of use is critical for me when choosing travel gear as I have to be able to manage each piece without assistance. The Pico pops out of the optional travel backpack easily and one reverse fold maneuver has it in position to be placed on the airplane seat. After locking the red folding pin, the Pico is secured to the seat using the only the planes lap belt. Installing the seat on a plane took less than a minute with the longest step being extending the planes lap belt to thread through the guides located on the back of the Pico. After that it’s just a few comfort adjustments for the headrest and 5 point harness and you’re ready for takeoff! One of the things I love about the Pico is that using it on a plane does NOT affect the person in the seat behind you. I’ve seen other 5 point travel systems which require you loop a harness buckle over the back of the seat back behind the tray table- in full view of the person sitting behind you. The Pico keeps everything to itself which means no need for begging any pardons from other travellers.After you flight it’s as simple as unbuckling the seat belt, pulling the red folding pin, and placing the seat back into the backpack!On our first car use I installed the Pico into a standard SUV that picked us up at the airport. Insert more wide eyed glances from our driver who was just as shocked to see a car seat come out of a backpack!Installing the Pico into a car is about as fast as it is in a plane- with the main difference being the use of its integrated LATCH (and tether) for cars equipped with these features. If the vehicle is not LATCH equipped, WAYB includes additional instructions for installing with vehicle seat belts. Installation into our drivers vehicle took no more than two minutes with the majority of my time spent looking for the tether anchor in the dark.As a note- the Pico can only be used in a FORWARD facing position for all installation methods. This is important for those travelling with an infant as the seat is intended for ages 2 and up weighing 22-50 lbs and 30-45 inches in height.OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES:The Pico has options to purchase additional accessories to make the journey even smoother. I opted for the Carry Bag which is a backpack style that can be worn or placed on top of your luggage with an attached luggage sleeve. The bag features padded straps for comfort along with zippered compartments to stow small items along with the seat. I recommend keeping the small instruction manual in one of the pockets. With its top flap opening, inserting and removing the Pico was a breeze and can be done single handed. WAYB also offers a vehicle seat protector and cup holder.OVERALL THOUGHTS: I can’t say enough about Pico’s portability and ease of use! There is no other product on the market that comes close to the compact size and lightweight portability of this seat. While its compact size was a huge factor in my decision to purchase, it doesn’t appear to have come at the expense of safety which is even more important.If you’re considering this seat keep in mind this is a FORWARD facing travel seat. If your little traveller is under two or less than 22lbs and 30” inches, the Pico won’t be an option until they are a little older.Would I use this seat at home for regular daily use? No. I believe in keeping my kids rear facing for as long as possible. With that said, I have found the Pico to be the best option for TRAVEL- even with the requirement to use it forward facing. From my perspective the Pico was intended first to secure my toddler on an airplane, making the forward facing requirement far less of an issue. The ability to use it on trips to/from hotels and in ride shares makes it a far safer option for us than going without a restraint or using a dirty seat that I’m not familiar with and don’t know where it’s been (or if it’s been in an accident). LATCH/tether anchor integration makes this seat a breeze to install in a car and it’s a snap to thread the lap belt through it on an airplane. It’s light weight and one pull folding system make it a breeze for the solo travelling adult to unpack and install. Overall I give the WAYB Pico a 10/10 as my top pick for a Travel Toddler Car Seat!

Worth the money makes traveling easier! It’s light weight and I was able to pack snacks and toys in it for the air port.

We took this car seat on our trip to the Midwest in a rental car and to the UK and it was fairly easy to install in both places and gave us ease of mind. It’s a lifesaver when you have a toddler and don’t want to bring a massive car seat. The travel bag is perfect, the car seat is light, and it has a strap on the travel bag to make it easy to attach to luggage and make it easy to bring around the airport. All in all, it was perfect for our trip!

It's expensive but totally worth it. Took this car seat to the UK. It worked well in all vehicles. We had to buy car seat belt clips since not all UK vehicles have belts that lock. We also bought an airplane seatbelt extender to use on buses and trains. We even used it on the airplane! It literally went everywhere with us. It's light, easily portable, and easy to install. My husband could get this seat installed in under 60 seconds. He had lots of practice though in different types of vehicles. Worked great for Ubers as well. Would highly recommend. It may not have all the safety features of a 30lbs car seat but for travel it's decent and pretty safe overall. Your child has to be old enough to face forward though. The carry bag is also good quality and comfortable to wear as a backpack. Very happy with this purchase

It was quite expensive and I had to purchase one to travel abroad with my 2 year old daughter to visit father-in-law. First, my daughter didn't like this when I installed this on the seat of airplane, so didn't used it on the airplane, when I asked cabin crew they said it was not mandated so didn't used it. But we used this everyday in father-in-law's car.There are two things I can recommend.1. You better practice this carseat so that you as parents are used to this product, but more important thing is that your baby needs to get used it, so try few times at least before travel.2. You will need neck pillow for long drive due to lack of head support, otherwise your baby's head will slumping while sleeping.

Very DURABLE and simple to setup. No complicated instructions and techniques required. I know as busy moms We want the best for Our cubs. We also want to know if paying such a high price for an item that We are getting what We pay for or just getting Our money worth. I know We have so much going on that We don't have time to read a long review. I will save You some time and energy of searching and say IF YOU CAN AFFORD IT BUY IT. Definitely worth the INVESTMENT. I don't travel often but when I needed something COMPACT FOR TRAVELING on the birthday trip for My one year old turning two I stumbled upon this last minute. It even arrived on time in Vegas at the hotel as promised as I had to return a different brand that was entirely not as compact and convenient as promised. It was perfect for Uber rides, fit great on the plane, and east to maneuver in and out of airport etc. Their is an offer that does not come with CARRY BAG. Do Yourself a favor and get the bag. Make Your life easier while ensuring the SAFETY and COMFORT of Your cub. It can be used for non travel purposes too as an everyday car seat.

Why did you pick this product vs others?:It's so light, worth the price!

I got this because it had such great reviews and moms were talking about the ease of this car seat. Well my two year hated it and would not sit in this carseat. He does not mind other carseats but not this one. The crotch part is really uncomfortable and short. He would scream whenever he went in here.