Best Lightweight Car Seat

Looking for the best lightweight car seat that’s lightweight without sacrificing comfort or safety?

Then let us help with our ultimate guide to the best lightweight infant car seat!

Car seats can be bulky and heavy, and if you plan on traveling a lot, carrying the seat back and forth can put a lot of strain on your body.

This is particularly stressful for new moms!

Lightweight car seats should use clever construction and quality materials to provide parents and babies with a model that’s safe and comfortable without added bulk.

However, if you only look at the weight rating, you might find your car seat just doesn’t get the job done!

In this guide, we’ll take a look at the best lightweight car seats available, from premium designs to budget buys, including their features, pros, and cons.

We’ve also included a buyer’s guide, to ensure you can find a car seat that perfectly suits your needs. So, let’s take a look at the top lightweight car seats!

And if you love this guide on when can best light car seat, then make sure to check out these guides on car seats compatible with Uppababy Vista, car seats compatible with Bob Stroller, car seats compatible with Uppababy Cruz, and Chicco Keyfit 30 infant car seat review. Or even our guide on the best narrow car seat.

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List of The 5 Best Lightweight Car Seats

Best Lightweight Car Seat

1. Century Carry On 35 Lightweight Infant Car Seat

Best Super Lightweight Car Seat

Traveling with a baby is easier than ever with the Century Carry On lightweight car seat. Weighing under 7 lbs, new parents won’t struggle to lift, move, and adjust this car seat, so you can travel comfortably.

The Century Carry On Lightweight Infant Car Seat is designed for babies from 4lbs to 35lbs. A rear-facing car seat, it’s fantastic for those first few months out of the hospital! Feeling sore after giving birth?

As the Century Carry On weighs only 7lbs, moms won’t have to strain to carry it. And when another late night has left you feeling a little less than your best, this super light car seat won’t slow you down.

Century has designed their car seat to combine a low weight with excellent safety features. Side-Impact protection and KeepSafe protection will keep your little one secure in their seat, so you can relax and focus on the road.

Parents will also love how easy it is to install, as the car seat is compatible with both the vehicle seat belt and LATCH. All that, and no extra bulk.

Pros

• 7lbs – One of the lightest car seats on the market.
• KeepSafe Protection – Rigorously tested to meet safety standards.
• Happy Planet Collection – Comfortable fabrics made with recycled materials.

Cons

• Limited durability – The lighter build lacks the longtime durability of a stronger car seat.

2. Graco SnugRide 35 Lite LX Infant Car Seat

Best Budget Lightweight Car Seat

Parents love Graco, and the SnugRide 35 Lite LX infant car seat is one of the best lightweight car seats available. This is an all round design, offering complete performance at the low weight of 7.2lbs.

Suitable for infants from 4 to 35lbs and up to 32 inches, the Graco SnugRide is an excellent car seat to use from birth.

The integrated handle and compact design makes transport easy, even for tired parent bodies! And your little one will feel happy and comfortable with the two-piece head and body support. It’s soft, snugly, and secure.

With a 4-position adjustable base, the Graco SnugRide is quick to install, and can be adjusted to suit a growing child. A pendulum level makes sure you’ve nailed the installation every time.

ProtectPlus engineering ensures the Graco SnugRide has been thoroughly tested from multiple angles, protecting your child from front, side, and rear crashes.

A rotating canopy and LATCH equipped installation makes the Graco SnugRide a complete car seat, delivering a high level performance for both parents and babies.

Pros

• 7.2lbs – Very light and easy to transport.
• 4-position adjustable base – Perfect installation and a comfortable ride for a growing child.
• ProtectPlus Engineered – Safety tested to protect against even rollover crashes.

Cons

• Seats could be better padded for newborns.

You may also like this guide on the the difference between Graco Classic Connect vs Click Connect.

3. Evenflo LiteMax Infant Car Seat

Best Handle on Lightweight Car Seat

The Evenflo LiteMax Infant Car Seat is designed to be as easy as possible to use. Weighing roughly 8lbs, this lightweight car seat also includes a specially designed ergonomic handle, which makes it more comfortable to carry and lift. 

Designed for babies from 4lbs to 35lbs, the design of the Evenflo LiteMax car seat is sympathetic to the stresses and strains of being a new parent.

The ergonomic handle is a particularly nice touch, as it fits naturally in the bend of the arm. Even fresh from the hospital, the EvenFlo LiteMax is a car seat you can carry easily.

The EvenFlo LiteMax is also a car seat you can use for longer. The 4 shoulder harness positions and multiple recline positions ensure this car seat doesn’t simply fit children up to 35lbs, but it keeps them secure and comfortable.

The head and body pillow can also be added and removed, for an extra snug fit. You can adjust the design perfectly to your growing baby, while the machine-washable pads and precision installation will appeal to busy parents!

Pros

• 8.17lbs – Lighter than many car seats on the market.
• Full-coverage canopy – Protect your little one from the weather.
• Tested at twice the federal crash test standard – Provides safety and peace of mind.

Cons

• Removing the seat from the base is difficult, and requires some practice.

4. Bugaboo Turtle One By Nuna Car Seat

Best Premium Lightweight Car Seat

Bugaboo is a brand that aims to combine usability with a premium design, and that’s clear in the Bugaboo Turtle One by Nuna car seat.

Weighing just over 7 lbs, this is an impressively light car seat design, made with high quality materials and a durable finish.

An attractive design with an intuitive build, the Bugaboo Turtle One is designed to be used with babies from day one.

The lightweight is perfect for moms still feeling the strains of giving birth, while the smart design is helpful for parents struggling with baby brain!

The white buttons make installation easy both in the car, and in the compatible bugaboo strollers. All you have to do is click the seat into place!

For babies, the Bugaboo Turtle One comes with 3-piece removable merino wool inserts. With impressive climate control and a soft touch, these inserts offer your little one the comfort they deserve.

And as they’re removable, you can adjust the padding level to suit their age and weight! A re-imagined sun canopy provides total protection from the weather, with smart visors and a peekaboo window ideal for quick checks on your little one!

Pros

• Weighing just over 7 lbs – A lightweight, premium car seat.
• True-Lock base with load leg – Install the car seat easily and securely.
• Patented tailor-tech foam – Super comfort, adaptable to your little one.

Cons

• Upper limit of 32lbs – The car seat doesn’t have the same age range as other similar designs. 

5. Safety 1st Grow and Go All-in-One Convertible Car Seat

Best Convertible Lightweight Car Seat

The Grow and Go 3-in-1 Car Seat is an exceptional choice for parents looking for a versatile and long-lasting car seat that can grow with their child. This convertible car seat is designed to provide extended use through three stages, making it a great investment for families.

First and foremost, the Grow and Go is designed for safety. It includes side impact protection to help keep your child safe in the event of a collision. Additionally, the car seat can be used rear-facing for infants weighing as little as 5 pounds, forward-facing with a harness for children up to 65 pounds, and as a belt-positioning booster for children up to 100 pounds. This means that the car seat can be used for many years, providing reliable protection and comfort as your child grows.

In addition to its safety features, the Grow and Go offers several convenient features that make it a great choice for busy parents. For example, the harness holders keep the harness in an open position, making it easy to get your child in and out of the car seat. The QuickFit Harness allows you to adjust the headrest and harness height with one simple motion, eliminating the need for re-threading or re-installing the harness. And when it’s time for cleaning, the seat pad can be removed easily and is machine washable and dryer safe.

Another great feature of the Grow and Go is its space-saving design. When placed rear-facing, it takes up less room than many other car seats, giving parents up to 7 inches of extra leg room in the front seat.

All in all, the Grow and Go 3-in-1 Car Seat is an exceptional choice for parents looking for a safe, convenient, and long-lasting car seat for their child. With its versatile design and numerous features, this car seat is sure to provide a comfortable and secure ride for years to come.

Pros

• 18.25lbs – Light weight for a 3 in 1 car seat
• 3 in 1 Design – This car seat is built to grow with your child from rear facing to forward facing to a booster seat.
• Weight limit – Can be used from 5lbs all the way up to 100lbs.
• Cup Holders – Great for older children.

Cons

• Weight – At 18.25lbs it is heavier than other infant car seats on this list.

You may also like our guide on the best compact car seats for small cars!

Buyer’s Guide on best lightweight infant car seat

We’ve listed above our favorite lightweight car seats, and we hope they will help you make the right choice for you and your family.

But when it comes to choosing a car seat, you might find your eyes are drawn straight to the weight.

However, picking the car seat simply because it has the lowest total weight isn’t the way to do it! For a start, that number might not be telling the whole story.

To help you make the right choice (not just the light choice), we’ve put together this car seat buyer’s guide. These are the important factors to consider when buying a lightweight car seat, to ensure that it fits all your needs!

Weight

We’ll start with the obvious one: the weight. If you want a light car seat, you should be looking for a weight around or under 9lbs. Typically, you can expect a car seat to weigh around 12lbs, but some models are significantly heavier.

The lightest infant car seats are around 6lbs, and you can find some designs that sneak in at just over 5lbs. However, most lightweight models are between 7 and 9lbs. 

When checking the weight, make sure to see if it refers to the seat, or the seat and base. Some car seats can initially seem quite heavy because they’re including the base weight, but the actual seat itself weighs significantly less.

And, of course, the opposite can happen: you think the entire unit is light, but the base unit weight is listed separately, and the seat itself weighs over 12lbs.

Weight And Height Range

Once you’ve checked the overall weight of the car seat, the next thing to consider is the weight and height range it can accommodate.

Lightweight car seats are typically built to be used from birth, and have a weight range of roughly 4lbs to 35lbs. However, this will vary between brand and model, so it’s essential to check the actual dimensions.

As well as the standard ranges, it’s important to check what the car seat does to accommodate for different ages.

For example, can the padding be removed? Are the harnesses adjustable? Can it recline? All these factors can affect just how comfortable the car seat is for your child.

Handle

A lightweight car seat should be easy to carry and hold, which means it needs a good handle.

A bad handle will be difficult to grasp and balance, and if you’re struggling with mobility after giving birth, an uncomfortable handle might be even worse than a heavy seat.

Some models include an ergonomic handle, which is designed to fit more comfortably in the elbow. This allows you to distribute the weight of the car seat, and carry it for longer distances.

Padding And Materials

Good padding should add comfort without weight and bulk. Look for smart materials that mold to the natural shape of your little one, while still providing support.

The fabric of the seat must be soft and breathable, so that the air can circulate and prevent your baby from either overheating, or getting too cold.

Parents should also look for materials that are easy to wash! Car seats should be wipe-clean, so you can deal with any small spills as they happen. Machine wash fabrics are also fantastic, and ensure you can deal with the big messes easily!

Safety

Safety is, of course, a key concern, and you shouldn’t consider any car seats that haven’t been rigorously tested. Even lightweight car seats should be strong and able to withstand an impact.

Good models will balance clever construction and smart materials, to increase the safety level without adding weight and bulk.

Installation

No parent wants to struggle to get the seat actually installed in the car, even if it does only weigh a couple of pounds.

Some car seats will connect to the car’s seat belt, others will use the LATCH method, and some will offer multiple ways to install the seat.  

Adjustable recline can also help with installation, as it allows you to lock the seat in securely, no matter the car design. Some car seats will also come with an indicator that you can use to check if the seat is in properly.

Stroller Compatibility

If you plan on using your car seat with a stroller frame you already own, it’s vital to check their compatibility. While many car seats can be used with strollers of different brands, some have limited compatibility. 

Durability

A car seat shouldn’t sacrifice durability just to cut down the weight. Look for strong, quality materials that will withstand being picked up, carried, and moved.

It should also be strong enough to put up with the wear and tear that comes with a baby!

FAQs on best light car seat

Final Thoughts on the Best lightweight car seat for infant

Carrying a car seat back and forth can quickly become uncomfortable, particularly if you’ve chosen a bulky and heavy model.

A lightweight car seat is easier to carry, and comfortable for both parents and babies. We hope our guide will help you choose the perfect lightweight car seat!

And if you’re still looking for more great baby guides, try these guides on do car seats and bases expire?, how to keep baby cool in car seat, how to keep baby warm in car seat, best stroller car seat combos, and best compact travel stroller for more inspiration!