pico travel car seat

Wayb Pico review: an expert and traveling parents weigh in (2024)

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This review of the WAYB Pico car seat is written by certified Child Passenger Safety Technician Melissa Conn and may contain affiliate links.

There are some amazing folding car seat options for older kids that make long-term travel and taxi-hopping a breeze. But until recently, parents of young kids who were too big for an infant car seat and still too small for a Ride Safer travel vest were mostly left out in the cold.

Enter: the Wayb Pico car seat . A team of parents with backgrounds in designing highly technical outdoor gear put their talents to work to design an innovative solution to this pain in the ass problem. You can see the fruits of their labor here :

You can see my quick video review of the WAYB Pico here:

Thanks to the marketing team’s prolific use of social media ads for the crowdfunding campaign, basically every traveling family in the US has seen a picture of this contraption. But with a steep price tag and some very real limitations, lots of parents have asked: is the Wayb Pico worth it? This is the most comprehensive Wayb Pico review you’ll find, so hopefully by the end you’ll be able to answer that question for yourself.

Pro tip: This is the cheapest place to buy the WAYB Pico. If you’re thinking about buying elsewhere, be sure to check the price first. Also read over my legit tips for getting a WAYB Pico discount .

Big thanks to Child Passenger Safety Technician – Instructor Courtney Levesque for providing some of her insights in this review! She’s mom to two lovely girls, who were kind enough to model for a way b car seat photo shoot. You’ll find some of Courtney’s feedback and photos as well as my own in the in-depth review of the Pico portable car seat below, followed by some  amazing real-world feedback  and Wayb Pico reviews from some of our parents who have been traveling with the  Wayb Pico  and covering a wide range of situations.

Is the Wayb Pico safe? The  Wayb Pico passes all federal safety testing , just like traditional car seats. But there are always subjective elements to car seats that may be in the eye of the beholder (whether kid or grown up): fit, ease of installation, price tag. Since every family has different kids and different needs, I also asked a few of our readers to weigh in with their thoughts after traveling with the Wayb Pico – you can find their reviews at the end of the article.

Check out our detailed expert Wayb Pico car seat review below:

What is the Wayb Pico car seat? 

The Wayb Pico car seat is a forward-facing foldable 5-point harness carseat. It’s currently certified for use in the USA and conforms to FMVSS213 – despite its small form factor, the Wayb Pico car seat safety standards are the same as traditional car seats sold in this country. It can be installed and used in both cars and airplanes. It retails for $380 USD and there’s a new-and-improved for 2023 carry bag available that costs an extra $95. Reader Annie uses this bag for her Pico and says it works great!

It’s about as light as other lightweight car seats for 3 year olds and 4 year olds , but its super power is that it folds in half for easy transportation.

Just how compact is the WAYB Pico? This lovely girl from our Facebook group is 40″ tall and you can see how tiny the Pico is next to her.

It’s also so compact that it fit perfectly under the bed in a cruise ship stateroom! It’s the best harnessed car seat for a cruise if your child is 2+ years old for that reason alone.

The photo below should give you a sense for what it’s like to travel with the WAYB Pico. You can see my brother-in-law casually slinging it from one shoulder while carrying a bunch of other stuff and paying attention to a kid! It’s basically the size of a large daypack.

Who is the Wayb Pico meant for?

The Wayb Pico can be used by children who are 22-50 pounds and 30-45 inches tall. The child must be at least 1 year old, but Wayb recommends the child be at least 2 years old to use the Pico. The seat is 14.5 inches wide and only weighs 8 pounds ! Because it’s so narrow, this is also a good car seat for three-across situations.

Above you can see my petite 2 year old niece riding in the WAYB Pico. She fits perfectly and will use it for several years to come. As you can see, it’s an ideal car seat for 3 across in the back of my 2022 Toyota Sienna and even allowed the older kids to use full-sized booster seats with room to spare.

In general, she’s not a fan of riding in a car seat (nor modeling them for me). But as you can see above, the Pico was comfortable enough that she had a nice long nap during a shore excursion on our family cruise!

Courtney tried out the Pico with her 4.5 year old daughter who is small for her age at 39 inches and 30 pounds. She has outgrown the Cosco Scenera Next that she used to use for travel, but is not old enough to use a booster seat. Since the FAA recommends children under 40 pounds use a 5-point harness car seat on a plane , she wanted something light and compact like the Pico instead of using a bulkier traditional car seat. The Pico seat is mesh stretched around a metal frame. It reminds me of a fancy office chair. 

Here’s my favorite model testing out the WAYB Pico just after age 5. He’s average height and weight for his age but with a slightly long torso and you can see that he’s basically and the harness height limit. The crotch buckle position was also a little snug for him.

The harness height is non-adjustable and is approximately 16 inches from the seat bottom. For the high Wayb Pico price tag, it has a fairly low harness height and will be outgrown for most kids by height before weight.  For reference, the harness height is the same as the Cosco Onlook and 1″ shorter than the Cosco Mighty Fit 65 and the Cosco Finale DX .

It’s important to know that the WAYB Pico harness adjusts differently than most other car seats. Instead of a center adjuster strap between the feet, you tighten and loosen each side at your child’s hip. It’s really important that you raise the headrest to at least position 2 and tighten the harness properly.

The short crotch buckle is one of the disadvantages of the WAYB Pico. The crotch buckle sits approximately 4.5 inches from the back of the seat (this is the equivalent distance of the middle slot on the Cosco Scenera Next ). Courtney’s daughter found it uncomfortable to have the buckle that close to her. The edges of the buckle tongues would poke her legs if she sat with them straight. Crossing her legs made the fit a bit comfier, but she complained about it the entire time they were trying it out.

Wayb Pico  install details

The Pico is shipped fully assembled and folded into its compact state. To use the seat, you need to unfold it, lock the seat bottom in place with the red metal hook, and raise the headrest. It’s a very quick process and pretty simple.

The  Wayb Pico  forward facing car seat can be installed using LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children), or using the seatbelt and top tether. Since the Pico is a forward facing only car seat, there is only one belt path, marked by two red guides on the frame.

Wayb recommends  using LATCH whenever possible , since it tends to be an easier installation method. The lower anchor strap is permanently threaded through the frame and has a single adjuster on one side of the belt. The push-on lower anchors have handy storage spots right on the frame and are easy to disconnect and connect. Courtney didn’t have too much trouble installing the Pico in several different locations in my 2016 Honda Odyssey using LATCH. It even fit on the 2nd row center seat, which is only 14 inches wide. I have installed it easily with LATCH in my 2022 Toyota Sienna and even in a random tour van on St. Thomas!

Installation with the seatbelt can be a bit difficult depending on the seatbelt configuration. When installing with seat belt, only the lap portion of the belt goes into the guides, and the shoulder portion sits in front of them. The red belt guides are quite narrow. The seat belt tended to bunch and get caught in the guides when trying to tighten. Pulling the belt tight and then sliding it into one belt guide, then, while continuing to hold tension, sliding the belt into the second guide did help. It even took Courtney a few tries to get an acceptably tight install.

Watch this video to see a demonstration of how to install the Wayb Pico with a seatbelt:

In the Honda Odyssey, the captains chair seatbelts have an extra flap of webbing (to prevent the latch plate from falling all the way down), and that presented some challenges when Courtney attempted to install the Pico. The flap of webbing wanted to sit right where the belt guide was, and the opening in the belt guide was not big enough for it to fit through. She was able to slide the entire vehicle seat forward, which fixed the problem.

I pushed the WAYB Pico seatbelt installation to its limits when I installed it in the 3rd row center of my Toyota Sienna. The buckles back there are quite close to the vehicle seat and the one for the adjacent seat (not shown, but to the left in the photo below) rotates up and down for use/storage and has no flexibility at all – that really limits the position of the Pico. You can see below that I just managed to fit the seat in between the two buckles. There was some swearing involved for sure. Removing the LATCH connectors from their storage position gave me a few extra millimeters to work with but isn’t recommended. This installation may be ugly, but it worked for a near-impossible 3-across car seat situation and was safe.

Installing the WAYB Pico with the seatbelt in my captain’s chairs was a cake walk by comparison. Just watch for extra slack in the seatbelt.

Always remember to lock the seatbelt when installing a car seat with a seatbelt. For most North American vehicles, the belt will lock at the retractor or at the latch plate. For vehicles with non-locking belts, a locking clip will be needed – read all about locking clips (including when you do and don’t need them). The Pico manual does have tips on how to lock the belt.

Whether installing with the lower anchors or the seat belt, always use the top tether (if available). It’s always a good idea to test out a car seat and practice installing it at home before you travel!

Can the Wayb Pico be used on planes?  The Wayb Pico is  FAA approved , and can be used for all portions of flight on airlines that follow FAA regulations. Non-US airlines set their own rules, so you’ll need to check with your specific carrier to see if they allow forward-facing car seats.

My niece recently rode in the WAYB Pico on a plane and it was smooth sailing. Since planes have a lap belt, you simply put the airplane seatbelt into both guides and pull the tail of the seatbelt to tighten. A nice feature of the Pico car seat is the mesh seat fabric that sits in front of the frame. The buckle of the seatbelt would not poke the child in the back.  Woohoo!

See how easy it is to install the Wayb Pico on an airplane:

The  Wayb Pico  cannot be installed using an inflatable seat belt (in a vehicle or plane). In theory you’re allowed to disable the air bag using a seatbelt extender, but the bulk of the air bag in the seatbelt will be too much to get the belt through the guides. If you’re assigned to a seat with an inflatable seatbelt, you can always ask to be moved; however, most main cabin/economy seats should be fine since they usually have regular belts. It’s always a good idea to talk to the airline if you have any questions or concerns about the plane’s seating.

How does the Pico compare to two other popular travel seats?  

Here you can see the Cosco Finale on the left, Wayb Pico in the center, and Cosco Scenera Next on the right. (Please note that the harness covers on the Next are approved for use and were purchased directly from Cosco). All three seats are approximately the same weight. 

The Scenera is the only one of these three options that rear faces, which is the safest option for a 2 or 3 year old. But the Scenera is typically outgrown around 37-38″ in both directions . By contrast, the Pico and Finale are forward facing only seats that will last average kids to 5 and 6 years old respectfully.

Other thoughts and improvements

To improve longevity, it would be really helpful to position the crotch buckle even 0.5″ further forward on the seat.

I’d like to see a grab handle on the side of the frame. It would make it easier to carry. There isn’t a great place to grab the frame where you can put your fingers around it. Adding a grab handle would make it really easy to quickly grab the seat and carry it off of a plane.

It would be nice if there was an extra strap or fabric piece on the back of the seat to act as a luggage handle pass through. Thinking about the process of de-planing, it would be nice to just quickly slip it on top of a rolling carry on, and not have to fold it to its most compact form and put it in a bag or something. 

This is totally a personal preference, but I’d rather see the square IMMI buckle and square chest clip on the seat, instead of the circle button one. I find the square one easier to use.

Seatbelt installation would be easier in tight spaces if the lower anchors stored mid-way up the seat frame instead of at the bottom.

Wayb Pico reviews from traveling families

Since every family’s needs are different when it comes to travel car seats, I asked some members of our amazing Facebook community to tell us about their real-world experiences traveling with the Wayb Pico. Is it really as good as advertised? Or is the short crotch buckle a deal-breaker? Let’s see what real-world traveling families think in these Wayb reviews:

Wayb Pico car seat review from Leemor K., used WAYB car seat on a family gap year with three young kids:

I love the Wayb Pico but I also think my situation is unique. If I was taking the standard once-a-year vacation, I would not have bought it because it’s really pricey and it’s not the kind of car seat that I would use for every day (hard for a kid to nap in it). But for a round the world trip , it is a godsend.

It is so light, and incredibly easy to use, carry, and install , and my average size 2yo seems to be very comfortable in it. I also have an average size 4yo girl and she’s comfortable in it, too.

I commented in some social media groups that I chose the Wayb over the Immi Go car seat because a top tether is not required for installation, and a car seat lady gave me a whole shpiel about why a top tether is important. I get it, it’s important. The Wayb has it. But as you know, when you travel in countries where car seats are optional, you don’t get the benefit of top tethers in taxis/cars/shuttles. So at least I am able to put my 2 year old in a device that keeps him far safer than the alternative (my lap). I could not do that with the Immi Go. If you’re debating Immi Go vs Wayb Pico for your family, think hard about what types of destinations you’ll be visiting with your kids.

The bag that it comes with is very roomy and I can fit a lot in it in addition to the car seat.

Wayb review rom Candace H.-S., semi-full-time traveler at The World School :

My son is almost 4 (he had just turned 3 when I bought the seat) and is right about 50% in both height and weight (about 39 inches and 32 pounds). After watching how my checked car-seat was treated (and seeing the damage to the padded backpack it was traveling in), and a few scares of arriving at my destination and thinking that my car seat had been among the lost luggage, I am now really hesitant to check a car seat when I fly, and that was one of the deciding factors in purchasing this seat.

We do slow travel, and last year we traveled for more than 6 months of the year. I had used the Cosco Scenera Next and also the Cosco Apt 50 seats previously on travels, along with the JL Childress padded car seat backpack . While it’s great for single-destination trips, I did NOT want to travel on trains with that thing.

This year I had planned a pretty involved 3-month trip through Italy , France , and Spain , and so I ordered the WayB Pico during their crowdfunding campaign back in November of 2018. After anxiously getting every update on delayed shipping, contacting the company and begging to be among the first seats sent, and waiting and tracking it’s progress across the ocean on the slowest freight ship ever to see if it would arrive here in Dominican Republic in time for our trip, it arrived literally as we were getting on the bus to go the the airport. I was pretty stoked to be getting it but I had NO time to prepare, read instructions, etc.

We unpacked it, stuck it in the backpack it came with, and were off! I was relieved, because we had already gifted our Cosco car seat to another family member, and our backup plan was the Ride Safer vest .

The Wayb travel car seat is really lightweight and it fits in a nice backpack . It is easy to transport. The backpack has a strap that allows it to attach to the handle of your rolling luggage. It is really handy. I had no problems taking it as carry-on on multiple flights, it is easy to store in the overhead bin on even budget carriers.

I did get some questions about our Pico carseat at checkin at the airports. My child did not sit in it on any flight. We used it in rental cars in Italy, France , and Spain using the built-in lower anchors with no problem. I think maybe in older vehicles it may be harder to install, but we had only new vehicles and had no problems. I did not use the seatbelt installation. It was a little challenging to get it tight but still easier than other seats. I do feel like the tightening process could be improved upon.

The seat seems well-designed. We don’t usually travel by car at home and so my child is not accustomed to riding in car seats for long durations, always previously with other seats (Cosco and others) after a while he would complain and I’ve never seen him sleep well in another seat. This seat seems less like a ‘contraption’ and more like an extension of the regular seat (maybe because of the fabric, the low profile, the black color, same as the car seats) and so he readily climbed in.

It was easy enough to tighten the straps. Some others have said that the WAYB carseat crotch strap is kind of short, and it is, but it didn’t seem to bother my child but I found it a bit of a challenge to buckle/unbuckle without ‘smashing him’ unless I loosened the straps first (and in reverse, loosened the straps before I put him in, buckle the buckle, then tighten them).

My son found it comfortable, the shoulder straps appeared kind of high up on the seat, but he was secure in them with no wiggle room. I thought he might be uncomfortable from the straps but he fell asleep several times and the higher straps seemed to hold him/his head in place better than any other seat. He fell asleep in this seat much more than in any other seat we’ve used. We used it on short and long drives, up to about 3 hours at a time.

I’d say that this is my favorite seat to travel with by far of any that we’ve used. It takes a bit of ‘figuring out’ to get it back together and back in the bag. I think a novice traveler might find it overwhelming if they didn’t practice ahead of time.

Wayb Pico travel car seat review from Becca C., casual vacationer:

My daughter is 3.5 and small for her age at about 29 lbs. We’ve used the Way b Pico on short drives (2 hours or less). When she first used it, she had trouble sleeping in it but then figured out to tip her head back and now sleeps in it fine.

I like it because my daughter is a bit small for the Ride Safer vest and I prefer a more rigid device than the vest. I’d prefer if it could rear face as well, but for limited travel use, I will deal with forward facing. My husband greatly prefers its size and portability to our previous travel seat . We have not yet used it as a child restraint on a plane, but intend to do so on our next trip. We have also tried the CARES harness ( full review here ), but she slides out of that one and basically ends up waking up when it rides up so far it chokes her a bit.

Wayb car seat review from Natalie H., business travel family:

I really like the Way B Pico car seat . My daughter is 2 years old I think around 35″ tall and weighs 26 lbs.

Pros: it’s super lightweight and the backpack makes it easy to bring with us on trips. Super quick to set up in taxis/Uber’s on the go which is nice. The video and directions are easy to follow.

We went to Germany and needed the locking clip , the company will send them to you if you request them and the turnaround time is super fast. Their customer service is texted based which I actually like since it’s a quick reply from them.

The biggest con, besides the WAYB Pico recall, is my daughter doesn’t sleep comfortably in it since it is a low profile it doesn’t have cozy head rest for her but we also only used it for small trip so I can prop her head with a small blanket if she falls asleep with no problem (she gets motion sick so we give her meds sometimes that make her drowsy) .

WAYB review from Inza M. of SinCityMama :

We love our Pico travel car seat by WAYB. We use it during flights and in rideshares / rental cars. Super easy to transport. My 4yo daughter doesn’t complain about it being uncomfortable or anything and naps in it just fine.

Conclusion: is the Wayb Pico worth buying?

The Wayb Pico is revolutionary, but it might not be right for every family. If your typical family vacation pattern involves traveling for a week or two per year within the US to places where you’ll rent a car, you might be better served by sticking with one of these awesome lightweight convertible car seats for a younger child or a Ride Safer travel vest for an older one.

But if one of these describes your family, the Pico WAYB car seat could be an amazing option for you: -You live in (or frequently visit) an urban area and need to take Ubers/taxis often -You’re planning on extended travel like a family gap year, especially with time in the developing world -You don’t mind the price for the sake of convenience (or have more kids/cousins to pass it down to)

If the Wayb Pico had been available when our kids were 3 years old, I would absolutely have purchased it for our family’s trip around the world!

Where to get your own Wayb Pico

There aren’t many WAYB Pico car seat stores out there, and it’s been popular enough that sometimes stock runs low. Check these places to find one for your family:

• Albeebaby (generous rewards program)
• Pish Posh Baby
• Nordstrom (best return policy)
• Amazon (this is usually the most expensive)

WAYB accessories

WAYB has broadened their line of innovative family travel accessories. Some of them are specifically for the Pico, while others are awesome for families even if they’re using a different car seat solution.

WAYB Pico accessories:

• WAYB Pico Carry Bag (this is the latest, updated version)
• Deluxe Pico Travel Bag (slightly more basic than the one above)
• Vehicle Seat Protector (approved for use with the Pico + attaches to the Pico and folds with it)
• Cup holder (helpful if you’re flying with the Pico and then taking a long road trip)

WAYB Read to Roam series:

• Ready to Roam tote
• Ready to Roam catchall (attached to the discontinued backpack above, but I also sometimes use it as a belt bag on its own)
• Ready to Roam mini cooler

Key stats: -Weight 8lbs -Max harness height 16.5″ -Forward-facing size limits: 22-50lbs, 30-45″, recommended 2+ years old minimum

Pros: ✔ Compact ✔ Easy to install ✔ Keeps kids harnessed ✔ FAA-approved to use on flights ✔ Can install without top tether ✔ Narrowest car seat on the market

Cons: ✘ High price ✘ Low height limit ✘ Crotch strap too short for some kids ✘ Top tether strap too short for some cars (can request an extension)

WAYB Pico FAQs

Yes. The WAYB Pico passes all required FMVSS 213 testing for use in the United States. Individual car seat crash test results are not public information in the US.

Folding the WAYB Pico only takes about thirty seconds! You’ll lower the headrest back to the storage position and then pull the little latch at the back of the seating area to fold the seat behind the back. If you’re a visual learner, check out this helpful video of folding the WAYB Pico .

Since the WAYB Pico fabric is integrated with the frame of the car seat, you’ll spot clean and let it air dry. You can towel off any excess water from the metal frame.

In fall 2019, WAYB voluntarily recalled some of the earliest production WAYB Pico carseat model numbers. The WAYB recall was focused on headrest support tubes that broke in a small number of cases. There have been no subsequent issues with the Pico facing forward car seat.

At this time the WAYB Pico is only approved in the USA.

Yes, the WAYB Pico is FAA approved and makes an ideal airplane car seat.

Unfortunately the IMMI Go has been discontinued. But for the sake of posterity since some people still ask me… The IMMI Go and WAYB Pico weight about the same amount and fold down to similar sizes. The IMMI Go has the advantages that it fits somewhat larger kids and eventually converts to a backless booster seat (though that’s not a crucial feature since travel booster seats are light and portable). However, the IMMI Go requires a top tether ; it won’t function without one, which makes it useless in developing countries where top tethers are hard to come by and it’s also not FAA-approved.

What do you think of the Wayb Pico? Feel free to share your experiences in the comments!

21 thoughts on “Wayb Pico review: an expert and traveling parents weigh in (2024)”

There is a recall for some of the WayB Pico seats right now. Their customer service team is slow to respond, which is unfortunate.

Hi Laura, Thanks for stopping by! The recall occurred in fall of 2019, but fortunately the newly redesigned product has been available since mid-December 🙂 If you’re having trouble getting in touch with the company, try their Facebook page. I’ve found them very responsive on that channel.

Best, Melissa

This looks like such a great product. Unfortunately for me, my son is too big for it. We need the 5 point but are looking for the low profile design like this. Any recommendations for a next-size up item?

Thanks for stopping by! How old is your son and what are his height and weight? I’m happy to help you pick 🙂

Does it recline?

Hi Jennifer,

The WAYB Pico does not recline. Unfortunately (off the top of my head) all of the seats that are under 10-12lbs just have a single position for forward facing.

Safe travels, Melissa

Hi – your discount code does not work on their website, I’m receiving an error, has it expired? Loved the detail of the review.

Hi Jacqueline,

Thanks for stopping by! The updated coupon code is ‘VOYAGE10’ and it’s good for a 10% discount site-wide. Sorry for any confusion, I just swapped them yesterday and it looks like I had missed a few spots.

What travel seat would you recommend for a 39 pound 43” 6yo? She’s very petite! 🙂

Sorry, I’m just seeing your question! Here are some great travel car seats for 6 year olds to consider. I would stick with the first few, as she’s under the weight minimum for safe booster riding. In particular, you may want to check out the Ride Safer Travel Vest – full review here .

Hi Melissa,

Thanks for this super useful post!

I understand that the seat doesn’t recline itself. But if the plane seat reclines, does Pico recline with it? I’m planning to take a car seat in a 10 hour night flight and really need something that my 2 year old can sleep on comfortably.

I’m sorry, I’m just seeing your question! No the Pico doesn’t recline unfortunately. I’d recommend a rear-facing seat for more comfortable sleeping in-flight. If you haven’t already, check out these travel car seats for 2 year olds . Unfortunately they don’t fold. Don’t worry, I’ve started pestering my friends at WAYB to create a rear-facing folding option. I think there’s a big market for it!

Safe travels,

I think this is the only reason why I am not purchasing this, I constantly travel cross country with my 20 month old and NEED something comfy for him to sleep in. It would be game changer if they can figure this out

Hi Carolina,

Thanks for stopping by! Ideally before 2 years old your son will still be rear facing – that’ll give him a comfy recline, and he can continue rear facing on the plane until he hits the manufacturer’s limit for his seat. A recline mechanism for the Pico would definitely add to the weight and bulk. I also found that by the time they were 3-4 my kids didn’t sleep nearly as much on planes (unfortunately).

Let me know if you need a different suggestion for your little globetrotter!

Thank you so much for this write up, I’ve been looking at the Pico for a while now and I’m finally going to give it a try because of your reviews. Does the 10% discount still work? I’m trying to enter “VOYAGE10” into their site (I got there by way of your link) and it’s not allowing me to use it.

Thanks for stopping by. Unfortunately we had to end that promotion a few days ago 🙁 We’ve been discussing a new promotion to start sometime in July, so if you aren’t in too much of a rush you can wait and take advantage of that. So sorry!

Hi Melissa, Did you ever get a new code for the wayb? I’m considering it for my 2.5 yr old son (37″, and 30lbs currently, will be 1 month shy of 3yrs at trip). Still trying to figure out what to get for my daughter for travel since we won’t uninstall her convertible seat – she will be 8 months for our trip (currently 4months, just turned 12lbs, 24″. Trip to Maui, Hawaii but another trip planned 6 months later to Mexico….so ideally seats that would work for travel for both.

Hi! I’m seriously considering this seat for an upcoming international flight with my 2 year old. This not her first flight but now that she is no longer a lap infant and more wiggly/energized, I have a couple minor hesitations that make me a little concerned with the price point. It would be AWESOME if there was another promotion that was going on to shave a little off and help me make the decision. Any such promotion going on now?

Thanks for your informative article! M

I wish I could help you out but WAYB has stopped running discounts due to heavy demand. They offer freebies with purchase now and then (like Black Friday ) but otherwise you’ll generally just get the best deal by shopping direct .

My family will be taking an Alaska Cruise Tour this year and we are trying to decide which seat to buy. Our daughter will be 3 1/2 years old and 39 inches tall and weigh 37 lbs. We plan on doing some excursions and will be in Denali on the bus tour. I have read your blog on Alaska’s requirements and am torn between the WAYB Pico and the Ride Safer Travel Vest. We would like to keep the seat small and these 2 seem to fit the bill the best. What would you recommend?

Thanks, Jeff

Thanks for stopping by! What is the transportation for the land portion of the cruise tour? If it’s bus or train, I’d consider the Ride Safer – in this review you can grab a discount and see some comparisons between XS and S. Since one of you will always be next to her on excursions, you can ensure fit and positioning plus it’ll be easier to carry around.

If you’ll be riding in cars or vans around Alaska, at that age I think the WAYB Pico is the better choice. It’s more supportive and you don’t have to worry constantly about your kiddo staying in position. It’s generally cheapest if you buy direct , and families love the newer deluxe backpack to carry it around.

Have an amazing trip!

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My Son’s Travel Car Seat Fits in a Backpack

I learned about the WAYB Pico travel car seat last spring while trying to sort out a car seat for a three-month stay in Sicily. My husband was working in Taormina for several months and our 20-month-old toddler and I were flying over to join him. After spending nearly a decade traversing the globe for my former job as a travel editor, the trip was unnerving me in a way that felt surprising. My son was born at the beginning of the pandemic, so our adventures had been limited to places we could drive. Flying long-distance on my own with such a young child felt like entirely new territory; I wanted to make sure we had the proper gear .

I’m a big researcher to begin with but tend to go the extra mile when it comes to travel or parenting , so I spent quite a few hours online trying to suss out my options. My initial takeaway: the more obvious travel-friendly car seats were not going to work. My son was tall and slim for his age and too long for the now-ubiquitous Doona . He didn’t weigh enough for the RideSafer vest , a conveniently compact option that lets young kids safely use a regular seat belt but has a 30-pound minimum. The widely beloved and gloriously inexpensive Cosco Scenera Next hit the “lightweight” criteria at just under ten pounds, but it isn’t especially compact, and I worried it would be a hassle to carry. We weren’t renting a vehicle, so booking a car seat through an agency wouldn’t be an option. And I didn’t want to lug our wonderful but extremely heavy Nuna Rava through the airport, let alone install it in the occasional taxi once we arrived. At 27 pounds, it literally weighed more than my child.

Looking for advice, I turned to women I’d met through Mysha , a platform where mothers-to-be can join “pods” with others who are delivering around the same time. A few folks in my pod swore by the WAYB. It seemed ideal: lightweight at only eight pounds, compact, fits in an overhead compartment, has a five-point harness, and most important, passes all U.S. safety standards for motor vehicles and planes . I was sold, until I saw that the WAYB is recommended for kids aged 2 years and up who weigh between 22 and 50 pounds and are between 30 and 45 inches tall. My son wasn’t big enough, so I mentally filed it away for future travels and reluctantly made plans to buy a car seat in Sicily.

Fast-forward a few months and the WAYB was an obvious purchase as my family prepared to fly to France for a wedding. Our journey from Connecticut to Provence and back would include Ubers, airplanes , taxis, trains, and a car rental. Having a car seat that I knew was safe, comfortable for my son, and easy to carry and install was really important to me. Not only was I drawn to the sleek design and quality materials — the WAYB is made of aerospace-grade aluminum and a responsibly sourced poly-wool mesh — I didn’t want to worry about booking car services with car seats or wonder what we’d do if our luggage got lost along the way.

At $380, the WAYB car seat isn’t cheap, but one of the key differences between it and other travel car seats is that it folds in half, making for an extremely compact piece of equipment. The brand’s marketing photos even show parents toting it around on the handles of their carry-on . With more solo mother-son trips in my not-too-distant future, I knew additional carry-on items would need to be small and light enough for me to manage on my own, so I decided to also spring for the Deluxe Pico Travel Bag . It costs an additional $80 but lets you wear the seat like a backpack and keeps it neatly tucked away from airport germs. There’s extra space inside, too — enough to fit my son’s mini Fjällräven . The two items combined were an investment for sure, but we travel frequently and the price-per-use ratio would ultimately be less expensive, and provide way more peace of mind, than renting a car seat.

Before we left, I practiced installing the WAYB in our car. I also had my son try out the seat so I could size the straps to his body. An instruction manual is helpfully placed in the back pocket, but I prefer this installation video and bookmarked it on my phone for easy access. The process was relatively easy; the most difficult part was installing the side connectors to the LATCH system in our car, but I find that to be hard with standard car seats too. Once we set out on our trip, the WAYB established itself as a game-changer. I installed it in our Uber to the airport in a matter of minutes. My son was happy and content in his new seat and I felt a sense of ease knowing that he would have a safe car seat for the duration of our trip. At the airport, the WAYB was so light that I was easily able to chase him through the hallways of JFK with it strapped on my back.  

Car seats are free to carry on, so we didn’t have to pay extra to keep it with us on our flight. (We stashed it in the overhead bin, but it’s also FAA-approved for use in an airplane seat.) Once we arrived in Paris, I loved that we could take an airport taxi to the train station and didn’t need to pre-book a car service with a car seat. Both the taxi in Paris and our car rental in Provence had the LATCH system, but should you find yourself in a vehicle that does not have this feature, the car seat can also be installed using a lap and shoulder belt or a lap-only seat belt .

We’ve now used the WAYB several times since that first trip — while visiting my in-laws in Michigan and on another visit to Paris. It’s also become a great backup car seat to use locally: My 2-year-old niece was able to borrow it when my brother brought her to visit over the summer. This spring, we will be taking it to Thailand, where my husband is working on another months-long project. Knowing that I have a safe and reliable car seat for my now 3½-year-old son to use while we’re there feels like a full-circle moment.

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WAYB Pico Travel Car Seat - Forward-Facing Portable and Foldable Car Seat for Toddlers & Kids 22-50 lbs. and 30-45” - Perfect for Travel, Carpool, Rideshare and Airplane Use

About this item.

• To keep little ones safe, returned car seats with open boxes must be destroyed (per industry standards). So, before you unbox your Pico, please make sure it's the exact item you intended to purchase and wanted for your on-the-go needs. Thanks for doing your part to keep car seats out of landfills and on to new adventures with your family!
• ANYWHERE YOU GO: Pico travel car seat is ideal for kids ages 2+ and within the range of 22-50 lbs. and 30-45 inches. Whether you’re ridesharing or road tripping, Pico’s 5-point safety harness has you and your little ones covered. Each bundle comes with a Premium Travel Bag where Pico can be stored and carried as a backpack, with the carrying handle, or slipped on the handle of rolling luggage.
• DESIGNED FOR SAFETY: Pico meets all U.S. safety standards regulated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Federal Aviation Administration, so it’s ready for road or air travel. FAA approved sticker is located on the bottom of the seat (see image for detail).
• LIGHTWEIGHT DESIGN: Weighing just 8 pounds, the Pico travel car seat makes it easy to travel light. Our AeroWing aerospace-grade aluminum frame offers lightweight strength, and the AstroKnit performance wool/polyester mesh fabric cover keeps kids cool and comfortable. The Premium Travel Bag is responsibly made with 100% bluesign certified recycled polyester; no PU, EVA, or EPS foams
• FOLD & GO: Pico is easy to carry and stow! Folding down to a compact 11.6" L x 14.5" W x 18.9" H, the Pico car seat can fit into overhead bins and is easily carried while walking through the airport or to-and-from the car

Additional Details

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Product Description

Meet Pico, the travel car seat that’s actually portable!

✓ Compact Fold ✓ Just 8 lbs ✓ Car & Plane Approved

Forward-facing car seat fits kids 22-50 lbs and 30-45 inches.

Recommended for ages 2+

Designed for safety.

The Pico Car Seat meets all Federal Motor Vehicle Safety and Federal Aviation Administration standards for cars and planes.

Strong and light.

Weighing in at just 8lbs, the Pico makes it easy and convenient to be on-the-go safely.

Never skip the seat.

Pico's AeroWing space-grade aluminum alloy is ultralight, super strong, and absorbs energy forces.

What are the product dimensions?

Travel Bag Dimensions: 14.8"L x 10.2"W x 17.7"H, 1.7 lbs

Storage Position: 11.6”L x 14.5”W x 18.9”H

Lowest Use Position: 15.2”L x 14.5”W x 22.8”H

Highest Use Position: 15.2”L x 14.5”W x 27.8”H

How do I install the Pico?

Install with car’s LATCH system (Lower Anchor & Tether) or a car/plane seatbelt (WAYB strongly recommends installing the Pico with LATCH)

Is the Pico approved for cars and planes?

Yes! The Pico meets all applicable US Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS213) and is FAA-certified for use on airplanes.

What are the age and height limits for the Pico?

We recommend the Pico for children ages 2+, 22-50 lbs and 30-45 inches tall.

Product information

Technical details, additional information, warranty & support, compare with similar items, videos for this product.

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Customer Review: It’s perfect!

An Earthling

How to Install a WAYB Pico Car Seat (Full Set Up and Installation with LATCH)

How to Install a WAYB Pico Car Seat with a Lap and Shoulder Belt

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Installing and Removing Pico Fabric Covers

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Meet Pico, the on-the-go car seat

WAYB Pico Travel Car Seat Detail Video

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To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.

Customers say

Customers like the weight, ease of installation, and quality of the infant toddler car seat. For example, they mention it's very portable, not bulky, and easy to install. That said, opinions are mixed on the fit.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Customers find the infant toddler car seat very portable, and easy to install. They also say it's compact and excellent for travel.

"...This is easy to use, lightweight , sturdy, and my 2 year old did great in it...." Read more

"The car seat is awesome. Light, very portable , and easy to install.I’d just say that it’s good for temporary use...." Read more

"This is so much easier to carry around for traveling then bringing a car seat! It’s light weight . Easy to install. Not bulky either...." Read more

"Easy to install, and carry . Keep away from anything sharp. The fabric will rip easily. It is not easy to clean if any liquid food gets on the fabric...." Read more

Customers find the installation of the infant toddler car seat easy. They mention that it's a breezy backup car seat.

"...This is easy to use , lightweight, sturdy, and my 2 year old did great in it...." Read more

"The car seat is awesome. Light, very portable, and easy to install .I’d just say that it’s good for temporary use...." Read more

"...It’s light weight . Easy to install . Not bulky either. Definitely worth the buy." Read more

" Easy to install , and carry. Keep away from anything sharp. The fabric will rip easily. It is not easy to clean if any liquid food gets on the fabric...." Read more

Customers are satisfied with the quality of the infant toddler car seat. They mention that it is a great product, worth it, and a breeze to install.

"The car seat is awesome . Light, very portable, and easy to install.I’d just say that it’s good for temporary use...." Read more

"...It’s light weight . Easy to install. Not bulky either. Definitely worth the buy ." Read more

" Good Product ..." Read more

" Great seat !!..." Read more

Customers are mixed about the fit of the infant toddler car seat. Some mention it's convenient, and can easily fit it anywhere. However, some say the crotch strap seems very short.

"The seat is super small , which is great. It also folds up so you can easily fit it anywhere and even bring it on the plane. Only 2 small issues...." Read more

"...The only downside is that the crotch strap seems very short ...." Read more

" Convenient fit ..." Read more

"...a 5/5 if the straps were a little easier to pull and the crotch strap wasn’t so short . We still love it in spite of those two flaws." Read more

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