Best Travel Car Seat for 2 Year Old Reviews (Updated 2022)

To get your hands on the best travel car seat for 2 year old from the wide range available in the market these days.
The NHTSA recommends that children should remain rear-facing until they reach the age of three. At the same time, other safety advocates have suggested doing so until four.

On our list, some travel car seats will keep every child rear-facing till the age of at least four years.

Most kids these days are seen to be riding around the house in sizeable convertible car seats. This is something significant in terms of both comfort and safety. However, when it comes to traveling, nobody wants to carry a bulky car seat and get it installed everywhere they go and deal with all the hassle that comes with it.

Nevertheless, if your child is tall, you might want to check the specifications. Most of these options are well suited for around two years old on average.

Features of Best Travel Car Seat for 2 Year Old

What are the key features that every parent looks for in the best cheap car seat for 2 year old? We have listed down the most prominent ones below.
Lightweight,
Easy to Use,
Lasts 3-4 years ideally.

Every family has its own unique needs depending on the child and activities they are mostly involved in.

If your kid is taller than the average child’s height at their age, you might want to invest in a little taller car seat. Similarly, if you are mostly on the go and taking long flights or drives, you might like one with more comfort features such as cup holders and padding to keep the child peaceful.

Regardless, if you have been on a hunt for the best travel car seat for your 2-year old, you have reached the right place! Moreover, our top pick is the Graco Admiral 65 Convertible Car Seat, which is an easy to install, comfortable and durable car seat for children. It can easily be removed and has been through rigorous safety testing, making it the best one on our list!

Let’s have a look at the best travel car seat for a 2-year-old:

Best Pick

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Tribute 5 Convertible Car Seat: best cheap car seat for 2 year old

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Saturn GrayFor parents looking for an affordable option in the travel car seats, the Tribute 5 Convertible Car Seat is a great pick. Its lightweight build makes it easier than ever to carry it wherever you wish to.

Moreover, it is relatively easy to install, thanks to its latch system that makes your life easy and your child fits in it in a proper, secure position as well. Its harness system also meets the standard for use in airplanes. 

The safety features included in this one have been created keeping in mind the concerns of all parents. So, when you put your child in it, you can be free from any problems related to your child’s safety. This car seat is featured with safety functions to provide some relaxation to parents—no need to worry about your child’s safety when you take them for a trip.

The Evenflo Tribute will ensure your child is protected from any incidents or injuries.

Talking about convenience, the shoulder straps of this seat can easily be modified into four positions in addition to 2 crotch points that adapt to the growing size of your kid.

The good news for mothers, the seat pad can be washed in a machine as well! We find this a great affordable car seat with many protective features, ensuring the child’s welfare. It is the light and easy to use; making it a great one, particularly for air travel. Moreover, parents on a budget particularly love it. 

Cosco Mighty Fit 65 DX Car Seat

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Another great pick and one of the best travel car seats for 2-year old is this one from Cosco. Children from 5-40 lbs can fit in the rear-facing mode, while 22-65lbs can do in a forward-facing manner in the Mighty Fit 65 DX. This lightweight car set is just below 13 lbs and is also designed to accommodate the adult legroom installed in rear-facing mode.

Despite being small and lightweight, it is still quite a safe one and is approved for air travel. Its plush foam padding and side impact protection enhance its safety features. 

Its 5-point harness adjusts with the five harness positions over time in addition to 3 buckle locations, staying compatible as your child grows. Furthermore, there are many user-friendly features in this one, providing convenience to the parents.

These include adjustability to multiple heights and different buckle positions. The other recline options available in the rear-facing position help identify the best fit for every kid. 

The seat’s name says ‘Mighty’; however, it is much lighter than many other travel car seats out there. Weighing just 12 lbs, it is one of the most lightweight ones! Furthermore.

its fabric cover can be easily removed and tossed right in the washing machine, whenever the need be! The seat is pretty compact, providing enough legroom to the front seat passengers as they install it in the rear-facing position. 

Graco Admiral 65 Car Seat, Studio

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This is our top pick on the list mentioned earlier and hence, clearly the best travel car for a 2-year old. Parents who don’t want any frill car seat or are looking for top-notch safety features with the easy installation while being affordable as well, this is the one! When we talk about car seat safety, the child’s size is essential.

This one can be used with infants weighing 5-40 lbs in the rear-facing mode. Let us look at some of its prominent features a little more closely. 

No parent wants to get into a car incident with their child onboard. However, even if you do by chance, knowing that your kid is safe can be a great sigh of relief. This car seat, even though it’s not very heavy, but does feel pretty much solid and durable when held.

It has undergone testing using the Graco Protect Plus Engineered Testing Standard, which has some rigorous safety requirements. Hence, you can be sure of at least one thing – your child is in safe ‘hands’ when in the Graco Admiral 65. 

The rear impact, front-impact, side-impact, and rollover safety – all are tested. Moreover, this guarantee also means that the car seat exceeds the department of transportation’s standard requirements relevant to car seat safety by almost two times and remains undamaged and intact even in extreme weather conditions in the car. 

SureRide Convertible Car Seat, Carson

This is among the most favorite, easy-to-transport car seats for rental cars, air travel, vacations, family visits, and what not! Given its easy-to-carry feature, it has quite a long life span as well, and your child will continue to fit in this one as they grow. This again is a great choice for a safe, convertible car seat that can move with you on the go! 

Its tall back and steep recline take up a lot of legroom in the rear-facing position, even in some larger vehicles. So, some parents might find it a little task to adjust and fit the seat. Despite this, it remains a favorite as it falls in the category of most versatile ad affordable backup car seats. 

Given a car seat in the price range as the Evenflo is in, it has some excellent safety features, incredible comfort, long life, and excellent usability as well. As primary and backup car seats, both are top-rated products, so we recommend all the parents check it out definitely.

Its easy-to-adjust harness has six positions that fit children for much longer, and the seat itself is also pretty comfortable to use, clean, and thus maintain. Adding further, its side cup holder can also be folded when not being used that preserves the car seat’s narrow frame for two or even 3-across installations. 

Evenflo Sonus 65 best car seat consumer reports

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Evenflo is ranked as the best car seat by consumer reports this one comes with a price tag so affordable that none can beat it. Paired it with its convertible convenience, it quickly makes it to our list of the best travel car seat for 2 years old.

The extensive crash testing it undergoes, 3-cross seating, built-in airflow, and Evenflo’s generous support all make it a favorite of all. However, it comes with an expiration date of just six years, which suggests that the car seat may not have longevity as much as its other counterparts.

 The lack of a newborn pillow and the single rear-facing incline suggests that it may not accommodate some smaller infants. Having just four harness positions also means that it may not easily fit the taller kids, exceeding the typical average child’s growth chart.

These can affect how long your car seat comes to use, depending on your child’s height/size. However, it is so affordable and safe that even if it doesn’t last long, the investment is worth making for even just a couple of months. 

Parents with kids within an average weight and height limit looking for affordable car seat options to fit into a range of vehicles and seat types will find this one great. It is an all-rounder product which can also be taken on vacations and for air travel. Its portability and ease of use make it just so suitable for everyone, we can not resist simply! 

Combi Coccoro Streamlined Lightweight Convertible Car Seat

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This one has been designed to be able to fit in smaller vehicles, ultimately making installation in the airplane much easier. With a width of just 15.5 inches, even the smallest of aircraft will easily be able to accommodate this travel seat. Apart from being just compact, the Combi is also very comfortable for children.

Travel passes with a breeze when your little one is this one, as they are kept snug in it during the entire trip. 

The most significant advantage of this, which will never make you regret getting it, is its safety elements. The energy absorption foam and its side impact protection reduce and eliminate any crash forces hitting the seat.

Thus, the baby’s spine, head, and neck remain safe as they are made untouchable by its sidewalls. A removable infant insert is also included to make positioning even more proper and comfortable for the kiddos.

Like some others on the list, this one is a compact and lightweight built car seat, making trees across installation even more straightforward.

The seat is very convenient to be carried during air travel and also has FAA approval. You may have to go through the installation manual, though, before heading over to wash the cover in a machine. Its surface may be harmed during the dry-safe mode, so that must be avoided.

Let us tell you; its buckles have an indicator that shows you if the buckling and installation are fine and secure. Moreover, a tether connection strap is also included for the rear-facing mode tethering. 

Baby Trend Trooper 3-in-1 Convertible Car Seat, Moondust (CV01C87B)

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So, this one is among the more attractive car seats we have gone through and among the favorites as well. Just like the many other options for best travel car seats for 2 years old, having convertible features and whatnot, this one also claims to accommodate your child for years.

Its features are quite remarkable though, its functions and comfort might have been overlooked a bit by Baby Trend designers. 

However, it is still very convenient and easy to use. It is washable! Yes, all its armrests, padding inserts, and seat cover can be washed in a machine. Car seats can become a very nasty mess, particularly during long trips or outings. So, fortunately, this one’s fabric is water and stain-resistant.

Anything settling in can be later on washed off as well. The only issue with this one is that the car seat needs to be taken apart to wash off, which means a little time and effort consuming. 

All safety requirements in the US are met by this one, so we consider it reasonably safe for a child. The padding in its headrest provides some great side impact protection for little ones. The 5-point safety harness it has for the first stage of convertibility is another great add on.

Thus, when looking for a nice, easy, and convenient to use option for your child, you will find this car seat a great option to explore.

When to Buy a car seat: buying guide

Children should ride in a rear-facing car seat until they reach the maximum weight or height permitted by their car seat’s manufacturer. Children can usually ride rear-facing for up to 2 years in most convertible seats.

After your child has the top safety requirements for your infant-only car seat, it’s time to upgrade to a forward-facing toddler car seat. The AAP recommends keeping a convertible car seat rear-facing as long as possible, then reinstalling it facing forward once your child reaches the maximum capacity of the seat. Check out these features when you’re shopping.

5-Point Harness

Five-point harnesses attach to your toddler’s chest, thighs, and legs to ensure he stays safe. When your child is restrained in an accident, the saddle will keep him snug and secure at all times.

Additionally, you might want to consider a seat with an overhead shield – an attachment like a tray that rests at his waist. Travelling with, this tray is great for storing toys and other objects while providing extra safety in case of a crash.

Tether Attachment is a Must

Tethers are straps that attach the tops of car seats to vehicle anchors. Almost all car seats have come with tethers since September 2000, and ropes are required on new cars, minivans, and light trucks. A tether kit may be available from the car seat manufacturer if you have an older seat or vehicle. However, the best option is to purchase a new car seat to ensure an old or damaged chair does not compromise your child’s safety.

Adequate padding

With soft, plush pads surrounding her head and back, your child will have a more comfortable ride. Roll blankets around her (but not under or behind her) if she’s not snug in the chair.

A Machine-Washable Cover

There is no getting around the messy nature of toddlers. Select a car seat with a removable, machine-washable cover to reduce hassle and frustration. When spills and stains can be spotless, they aren’t so big of a deal.

Conclusion

As we have gone through some of the best travel car seats for 2-year old, you would have found one according to your needs, budget, and child’s requirements. Our list has combined the most compact, convenient, and affordable options available on the market to bring only the best to our readers!