7 Best Lightweight Car Seats Reviews

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There are many benefits to getting a lightweight car seat—for example, the ease of installation.

The low weight makes it easier to install the seat into the car without any assistance, which makes it great.

You can always take it out and install it again, especially if you regularly switch between vehicles.

Speaking of switching between vehicles, if the car seat is lightweight, it will also be very portable, making it so much easier to carry it around wherever you’re going.

Fortunately, many high-quality options in the market are very lightweight compared to others and won’t weigh your vehicle down.

What makes the seat lightweight is the material that has been used in its construction. However, you need to ensure that the seat is robust, safe, and impact-resistant.

But there is nothing to worry about because here are some of the best lightweight car seats, which are not only not heavy but also completely safe to use during a car ride.

7 Top Rated Lightweight Infant Car Seats Comparisons

IMAGEPRODUCTEDITOR'S RATINGPRICE
TOP PICK
Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35 LX Infant Car Seat

Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35 LX Infant Car Seat

9.7
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Combi Coccoro Streamlined Lightweight Convertible Car Seat

Combi Coccoro Streamlined Lightweight Convertible Car Seat

9.5
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Chicco KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat

Chicco KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat

9.1
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Century Carry On 35 LX Lightweight Infant Car Seat

Century Carry On 35 LX Lightweight Infant Car Seat

8.8
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BEST BUDGET
Baby Trend Ez Flex-Loc 30 Infant Car Seat

Baby Trend Ez Flex-Loc 30 Infant Car Seat

8.6
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Cosco Scenera NEXT Convertible Car Seat

Cosco Scenera NEXT Convertible Car Seat

8.2
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BRITAX B-Safe 35 Infant Car Seat

BRITAX B-Safe 35 Infant Car Seat

8
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1. Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35 LX Infant Car Seat

Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35 LX Infant Car Seat
$229.99
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11/10/2023 04:13 am GMT

The Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35 LX Infant Car Seat is a very popular option, and if you’ve been looking for car seats for a while, you might have come across the name many times already.

This is because the high quality combined with great features makes this product a favorite of all customers.

What is to be considered is that this is one of the most lightweight options you can find in the market today because it weighs only 9.75 pounds.

It also includes one-hand adjustability, making it so much easier and convenient to use.

The silent shade canopy is also adjustable, so if your baby wants to fall asleep, that won’t be a problem if the sun is bothering them.

A LATCH seat belt system and LATCH connectors make it much easier to attach to your vehicle and ensure that the seat will be properly secured to make everything as safe as possible.

Moreover, a five-point harness makes adjusting your child’s size easy. Also, there is a four-point adjustable base included.

This base will help you find the best posture for your baby, helping them be seated much comfortably. This has also passed all the FMVSS tests, ensuring it is a very safe option to use.

According to some customers, the handle on the top of this car seat is very inconvenient to use.

This is because it might be very hard to push the button to move the handle back and forth, so you might need to shake it a little bit to work properly.

PROS
  • Lightweight
  • One hand adjustability
  • Adjustable silent shade canopy
  • Five-point harness
  • Four-point adjustable base
CONS
  • Hard to use the handle

This car seat is one of the most popular products and has received a ton of positive feedback.

2. Combi Coccoro Streamlined Lightweight Convertible Car Seat

Combi Coccoro Streamlined Lightweight Convertible Car Seat
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The Combi Coccoro Streamlined Lightweight Convertible Car Seat is another lightweight option, weighing only 11 lbs with a shell height of 22 inches.

The maximum harness height is 15 inches.

This product has very generous padding, making it extremely comfortable and ensuring that the seat will resist any shocks and impacts in the best way possible, ensuring your child’s safety.

This seat also includes a lot of recline angles, so if your baby wants to sit in different positions, this is the seat for you as this will also help keep the baby as comfortable as possible.

Because of being so compact, this is one of the perfect options for use in an airplane.

Since it is so compact, you can even put it into your stroller seat when walking. This makes it a very travel-friendly item if you do that often.

This product also comes with lock-offs. These are built for the forward-facing position, and there are separate pieces for the rear-facing option.

Because of these, you can easily adjust the car seat angle when sitting in an airplane.

In addition to this, you can also fit three of these across the back of your car, which is great if you have multiple children.

Even though this car seat is very narrow, it is very hard to install it, and the installation might take a lot of time for many customers.

This makes the cars eat unsuitable for everyday use if you plan to uninstall and install the car seat regularly.

PROS
  • Generous padding
  • Numerous recline angles
  • Compact
  • Includes lock-offs
  • It can fit three across in the back
CONS
  • Hard to install

This is a great compact option if you usually travel. However, keep in mind that the installation process might become very hard for you.

3. Chicco KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat

Chicco KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat
$220.88
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11/09/2023 12:03 pm GMT

Another great lightweight option for your convenience is the Chicco KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat.

This is the highest-rated infant car seat in the United States on Amazon product review. It is so highly reputable that you will seldom face any issues after purchasing this product.

The product does not have a base, and the benefit to this is the extremely lightweight.

This weighs only nine pounds, making it very easy to install this product without any assistance and easy to carry around whenever you’re switching between vehicles.

Not only this, but this car seat is also compatible with Chicco strollers.

You can buy these separately or use them with the Chicco strollers, making them much easier to travel around. You will be able to benefit from both.

This product comes in many different styles for your preference, so you can buy whichever you like the most.

Not only this, the prices are different so you can get one suitable for your budget.

It includes a ReclineSure leveling foot for maximum convenience. Also, there is a RIdeRight bubble level indicator.

A SuperCinch LATCH lightener will make sure that the seat is properly secured to the vehicle seat without any hassle, also making sure that the seat is completely secure to use.

It includes a five-point safety harness for the perfect fit. The weight range is 4 to 30 pounds.

The release handle in this car seat is not placed in the best location. Because of this, it might become very difficult for you to release this car seat from the base.

According to some customers, you might find it almost impossible to release it.

PROS
  • Highly rated
  • Lightweight
  • Compatible with Chicco strollers
  • Right Bubble level indicator
  • SuperCinch LATCH tightener
CONS
  • The release handle is in a bad location

With the many adjustments, this seat is not only safe but also very convenient.

4. Century Carry On 35 LX Lightweight Infant Car Seat

Century Carry On 35 LX Lightweight Infant Car Seat
$102.38
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11/10/2023 08:18 am GMT

This Century Carry On 35 LX Lightweight Infant Car Seat has many safety features to ensure our child will be as safe as possible when you’re driving the car.

Because it is so compact, you can easily fit it across in the back of your seat.

Moreover, the compact feature makes it very easy to carry around, so this is great if you often travel or switch between vehicles.

Since some options in the market are pretty heavy, making it hard to carry them around, some customers prefer buying many lightweight and compact options, especially those that travel.

This particular option has an outstanding weight of only 6.8 pounds, which is one of the lowest in the market.

The WashMe seat is very easy to remove and wash whenever you want.

This makes it great if your children ever spill anything on the seat, as you can avoid any stains from forming on the car seat.

However, if you forget to do this, then blowouts might occur.

For this reason, you should remember to clean this seat as often as possible. In addition to this, this seat is also very compatible with the Century stroller.

The harness, in addition, can easily be adjusted with a single hand, so placing your child inside the seat and taking them out of it is not going to be that difficult.

This product does not come with the twin stroller option. Apart from this, it does not include many of the extra features that most car seats include, leaving it behind.

Also, there is no locking mechanism for installing the base in this car seat.

PROS
  • Compact and easy to carry
  • Extremely lightweight
  • Washable
  • Compatible with Century stroller
CONS
  • No twin stroller option
  • Lacks extra features
  • No locking mechanism for base

This is one of the most lightweight options you can find in the market today, making it highly convenient to use.

5. Baby Trend Ez Flex-Loc 30 Infant Car Seat

Baby Trend Ez Flex-Loc 30 Infant Car Seat
$139.99
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11/10/2023 10:09 am GMT

The Baby Trend Ez Flex-Loc 30 Infant Car Seat is the most comfortable option.

This includes a 5 point harness system, which is great because you can easily adjust this according to your child’s size, which will be of great assistance as your child grows up.

Moreover, this harness is also very stable, so your baby will not be moving around in the seat.

As the baby will be so properly secured, you can be ensured that they will be as safe as possible in this seat.

A 4 four-position height-adjustable base will make it much easier to get the right angle to help you install this product as perfectly as possible.

This will also help make everything much more comfortable. The weight range is 4 to 40 pounds, average in most car seats.

Because of this, you will be able to find the best position to place your child in and then place them for a pressure-free ride. In addition, this also has a one-hand motion and release.

Because of this, the other hand will be free to help you easily carry this product around wherever you wish.

The carrying handle is also very smooth, so your arms will not be scratched because of this.

An EPS energy-absorbing foam will help take care of all the shocks and impacts in an unfortunate situation.

There are many complaints about the car seat not being as secure as it claims to be, and you might find it moving around in your back seat because of the lack of security.

According to some customers, the shade also falls apart constantly, defeating its purpose.

PROS
  • 5 point harness system
  • Four-position height-adjustable base
  • One hand motion and release
  • EPS energy-absorbing foam
CONS
  • Not very secure

This is a very safe option as long as the seat is properly secured to the vehicle seat.

6.Cosco Scenera NEXT Convertible Car Seat

Cosco Scenera NEXT Convertible Car Seat


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The Cosco Scenera NEXT Convertible Car Seat is another one of the best options to choose from. This car seat is very compact.

As you already know, this makes it very easy to carry this seat around whenever you’re traveling.

This is one of the most popular options because of the great features this seat includes.

You can easily carry this seat around on your back, like a backpack. This makes it one of the most travel-friendly options on the list.

There are also some hooks that many parents use to hang from the back of their stroller, helping make it very convenient. The harness slots are 13.5 inches high.

If your babies are smaller, you might find it hard to get the perfect fit for them. However, according to feedback, you will not face that problem with this car seat.

This is a product that will fit smaller babies much better. According to recommendations from experts, it is much better if you keep your child rear-facing for as long as possible.

This is because of the body structure, making it much safer for them to be rear-faced. You can change your child to forward-facing after one year.

However, experts recommend keeping them rear-faced for two years. Thankfully, with this product, you can do so for 2.5 years.

The crotch strap is very short; however, you can get a newer one for free.

Also, this is not the most comfortable car seat for your child, especially if they are older, for example, around four years old, so you might feel like changing it sooner than that.

PROS
  • Compact
  • Travel friendly
  • It fits smaller babies well
  • Can keep rear faced for 2.5 years
CONS
  • Short crotch strap
  • Uncomfortable for older children

This car seat can be kept rear-facing for a much longer time, making it a safe option.

7. BRITAX B-Safe 35 Infant Car Seat

BRITAX B-Safe 35 Infant Car Seat
$129.99
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11/10/2023 06:19 am GMT

Finally the last product on the list is the BRITAX B-Safe 35 Infant Car Seat.

This product is one of the safest options you can get in the market because the brand puts in a lot of effort while manufacturing to make this product as protected as possible.

The high-quality standard ensures that this car seat will last you long.

Because of this, this will last you for as long as your child can fit into it, but you can also use it later for another child if you have more than one.

Moreover, the installation type is a LATCH one that is not only very easy but also ensures that the seat will be properly secured to the vehicle seat without any issues, making it very safe.

This includes an impact-absorbing base that will help absorb any shocks in cases of crashes, keeping your baby safe.

A spring-assisted recline will help with comfort, and it has dual-level indicators to help you get the best installation angle for your child.

Moreover, there are built-in seat belt lock-offs that will help secure the car seat properly to the vehicle seat, ensuring that it will never move during any impacts.

However, this car seat weighs 12 pounds.

Because of this reason, this is not a very lightweight option, especially considering that there are many lighter options in the market.

However, this is more safety-based, making it very high quality, which should not be ignored.

PROS
  • Highly safe
  • LATCH installation
  • Impact-absorbing base
  • Spring-assisted recline
  • Built-in seat belt lock-offs
CONS
  • Not the most lightweight

Even though this option is not the most lightweight, it still is one of the safest options you can get in the market today because of the high-quality manufacturing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Is A Lightweight Car Seat Safe For My Kids?

Yes, it is. Many parents prefer to use lightweight car seats for their children.

This is because these convenient car seats are easy to install in your vehicle, do check the weight allowed by checking the vehicle’s manual.

Another great thing is that you can carry the seat around everywhere, whether going to a park or a Mall.

Moreover, it will make it easier for you to travel in airplanes as lightweight seats are allowed but just search the weight limit permitted before you carry it with you.

Q2. What Do I Need To Check For A Lightweight Car Seat?

When looking for a lightweight car seat, it is vital to examine every aspect of it before purchasing it.

Make sure to test by putting your child in and out of the seat to see if it is convenient. You also want to check the accurate size for your child.

Moreover, inspect the seat from everywhere, and the quality of the seat as some lightweight seats are made out of cheap materials.

And lastly, check by carrying the seat in your hands and by placing it in your car seat to check if it is easy to install or not.

Q3. How Long Should I Use A Lightweight Car Seat For My Kids?

Although there are no serious restrictions on this course, do keep in mind that these lightweight car seats cannot be used for a long period.

This is because once your child exceeds the weight limit; the seat will not be able to hold the child’s weight any longer.

If your child is still seated on the seat, that can be hazardous as the seat will not be eligible to safeguard your child during an accident.

It is best to use it for as long as the seat allows, so just being safe, read the instructions manual before buying.

Q4. What Is The Weight Limit For Infant Lightweight Car Seats?

This is a valuable factor that parents should know about before using a lightweight car seat.

Various brands’ manuals state that the weight limit of a child should be approximately from 4 up to 35 pounds, and the child should be at least 15.75 up to 35 inches tall to fit in the lightweight seat.

If your child is above the weight limit, the seat will not be qualified to perform adequately.

That can be dangerous, specifically if an accident occurs, as the seat will not be proficient at defending the child.

Q5. How Do I Install A Lightweight Car Seat In My Car?

The first thing to do is by placing the car seat base or the car seat in the vehicle, do make sure the angle adjustment is accurate.

After that, if it has a LATCH system, make sure to buckle them at the base of the vehicle seat or simply take the seat belt of the vehicle and pass it through the belt path of the base and take the latch and buckle it securely.

Moving on, you will have to place one hand on the base or the seat to hold it, while with your other hand, you need to pull the shoulder portion of the belt or use the base strap and tighten it.

After that, tighten the seat belt in place, check it by moving side by side to see there is only an inch movement.

Lastly, if you use a base, place the seat and make sure you hear the click. Now you are all set.

Q6. What Is The Lightest And Safest Car Seat?

Undoubtedly, the Century Carry on 35 LX Lightweight is probably one of the most lightweight car seats currently available in the market.

Weighing in at only 4.8 pounds, it blows away many of its competitors when it comes to being the lightest.

Other car seats can come close, but it is undisputed that this car seat is the lightest.

In many cases, the Century Carry on 35 LX is more than half the weight of other “lightweight” car seats, which should put into perspective how easy to move it should be.

Q7. What Is The Lightest Weight Graco Infant Car Seat?

Regarding the popular car seat company Graco, their SnugRide lineup features a variety of the lightest car seats in the world.

The least-weighing car seat by Graco is the Graco SnugRide 35 Lite LX. This seat weighs a low 7.2 pounds which is amazingly light!

While it is not as light as the Century Carry on 35, as I have discussed above, this is still very light by Graco standards.

Graco car seats are usually filled to the brim with features and generally use heavy-duty materials, which make them heavy in general.

Q8. What Is The Difference Between SnugRide And SnugLock?

The term SnugRide refers to the lineup of car seats that Graco has produced and continues to expand upon.

The SnugLock is simply a clamp system that the seats use to be attached to the vehicle.

A SnugRide may have a SnugLock system since the SnugLock is just a feature that comes in the seat. SnugRides, in general, are one of the best lineups the company offers.

If possible, you should look for one with SnugLock technology when browsing a Graco car seat.

Not only will they make your life a lot easier, but they should also make your entire user experience much more user-friendly.

Conclusion

Which car seats are the lightest for my baby from this comparison guide?

When getting a best lightweight car seat for your child, you should make sure that the seat has been crash-tested, which ensures that the product is completely safe for real-life usage.

It is also important to get a car seat that is comfortable for your child to sit in, as you don’t want them feeling uncomfortable due to sitting for too long.

The harness should also be secure enough to work perfectly in every situation to keep your child as safe as possible.

The highest quality and best lightweight car seat is the Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35 LX Infant Car Seat, which is a very popular option and highly loved by customers.