2024 Car Seat Compatibility Guide for New Parents

Carseat Compatibility Guide

Most parents have at least one car seat. An infant car seat is one of the essential requirements before leaving the hospital with your newborn. When you need to take a stroll with your newborn or go on a tour, it’s useful to have a stroller that is compatible with your car seat or a whole travel system. A travel system is a car seat and stroller which work together and independently from one manufacturer.

If you don’t buy a travel system, you can search for a compatible stroller for your car seat. Most strollers are compatible with various infant car seats making it easy for you to develop your own personal travel system. The search for a compatible stroller can be time-consuming, but this article serves as the car seat compatibility guide to help you save time.

It is important to note that only an infant car seat is usable as a travel system; car seats for older children cannot be used on strollers.

Top 4 Best Travel Compatible Car Seats – Comparison

Car Seats W/ Compatible Travel Systems

Clek Liing Infant Car Seat – Best For Small Cars

Clek Liing is a slim car seat, so much so that you can fit three across in a standard car so it is also perfect for use in a small car. It has seven recline positions and a large SPF 100+ adjustable canopy. It is easy to install and uses both a belt-tensioning and latch system attached to the base to secure your baby.

The car seat has a one-hand quick release from a stroller and is compatible with most strollers using Maxi-Cosi adapters. It has a metal load leg for anti-rotation and lowers crash forces by 40%. It is available in Chrome, Thunder, and Pitch.

Stroller Compatibility with the Clek Liing infant car seat

This car seat has a similar design to the Nuna, Cybex, and Maxi Cosi so that you can use adapters for these brands. Compatible strollers include:

  • Baby Jogger City brands
  • Bugaboo
  • Bumbleride Era
  • Bumbleride Indie
  • Cybex Mios 2
  • Cybex Priam 3
  • Silver Cross
  • Thule Sleek single & double
  • Thule Urban Glide single & double
  • Uppababy Minu
  • Uppababy Vista & Cruz

Britax B-Safe Gen2 / Britax B-Safe 35 – Best For Newborns

The Britax B-Safe 35 infant car seat features a steel frame covered with impact protective foam and an impact-absorbing base. It is compact and comes with a removable head pad to support tiny newborns. Britax B-Safe 35 is easy to install and has level indicators to signal correct positioning.

Britax B-Safe 35 has built-in adapters that attach to all Britax single strollers. It is also compatible with Duallie and BOB single strollers using separate adapters. Britax B-Safe 35 is available in three colors, Cobblestone, Greystone, and Eclipse Black.

Stroller Compatibility with the Britax B-Safe 35 infant car seat

Compatible strollers include:

  • Baby Jogger City Tour Lux
  • Bob Gear
  • Joovy Caboose Ultralight Graphite
  • Thule

Maxi-Cosi Mico 30 – Easiest To Clean

Maxi-Cosi Mico Max 30 has a removable seat pad made of a self-wicking stain-resistant fabric that you can clean with a damp cloth or even toss in a washing machine. It features side-impact protection and a stability leg to prevent rotation.

Maxi-Cosi Mico Max 30 is compatible with many stroller brands on the market via Maxi-Cosi adapters. In addition, Maxi Cosi is available in a wide variety of colors for any taste.

Stroller Compatibility with the Maxi Cosi infant car seat

Compatible strollers are:

  • Maxi Cosi
  • Baby Jogger City Mini
  • Thule strollers; Urban Glide 2 single & double and Sleek
  • Uppababy Cruz, Vista and Minu

Graco SnugRide SnugLock 30 – Most Cost Effective

The Graco SnugRide is an affordable infant car seat with plenty of features. It has the Graco SnugRide click connect technology which clicks when you’ve installed it correctly. It has multiple recline positions and accommodates babies weighing 4 pounds (using a newborn insert) to 35 pounds. It uses Snug Lock Technology to offer you a simple three-step installation.

Graco SnugRide is compatible with most baby jogger strollers, Graco strollers, and other strollers using an adapter. Graco SnugRide is available in four colors, Hailey, Gotham, Studio, and Jude.

Stroller Compatibility with Graco SnugRide infant car seats

Compatible strollers are:

  • Graco
  • Thule Urban Glide series
  • Twin Roo+ stroller frame
  • Joovy Caboose series
  • Bob Gear Alterrain pro
  • Baby Jogger series

Uppababy Mesa Infant Car Seat – Easiest to Install

The Uppababy Mesa has a classic design and superior safety features. It comes with an adjustable headrest and extra padding to provide side impact protection. Installation is effortless by clipping the latch connectors and pushing the base downwards. It has a red to green tightness indicator to indicate correct installation.

The Mesa has a one-handed stroller release and is available as a travel system. It is compatible with the Vista and Cruz without additional adapters and clips into many other stroller brands with adapters.

Stroller Compatibility with the Uppababy Mesa infant car seat  

The Mesa is designed for use with Uppababy strollers, the Cruz, Vista, and Minu. It attaches to Vista and Cruz strollers without adapters. You’ll need adapters (sold separately) to connect to the Minu. It is compatible with a few other stroller brands using adapters. Compatible strollers include:

  • Uppababy Minu
  • Uppababy Vista & Cruz
  • Thule Urban Glide single & double

Chicco KeyFit 30 Infant – Parents Favorite

Many parents love Chicco KeyFit for its ease of use, quality, and affordability. It is easy to install with a built-in leveling foot to enable correct angle recline. The Super Cinch latch system allows proper tightening to keep your baby safe and secure. Chicco KeyFit is narrow, suitable to be used three across or in smaller cars.

The car seat has a removable and washable cover and comes with an anti-rebound to retain your baby in position in the case of a crash. The Chicco Infant car seat comes with a KeyFit adapter compatible with most strollers and is available in a wide variety of colors. It provides head and body support to newborns weighing 4 pounds to toddlers of 30 pounds.

Stroller Compatibility with the Chicco KeyFit 30 infant car seat

Compatible strollers include:

  • Chicco
  • Bab Jogger strollers; City Mini GT2 / City Mini 2, and City Select / City Select Lux
  • Bob Gear Alterrain pro
  • Fox 2
  • Joovy
  • Maxi Cosi
  • Thule

Stokke PIPA by Nuna – Best Lightweight

The Stokke PIPA by Nuna Car Seat is an ultra-light car seat suitable for newborns and toddlers up to 32 lbs. The car seat offers your baby exceptional comfort and protection wherever you go. The car seat features side-impact protection, UPF 50 sun canopy, a padded newborn insert, and a 5-point safety harness.

The car seat has green safety indicators to signal ‘go’ and two bubble level indicators to verify the correct angle. The car seat is compatible with all Stokke strollers. Stokke strollers have multi-car seat adapters compatible with a few car seat models from other manufacturers. The car seat is available in both black and black mélange.

Stroller Compatibility with the Stokke PIPA by Nuna car seat

Although Nuna manufactures this car seat, it isn’t the same as Nuna PIPA. The car seat is not compatible with other brands of strollers. It is only compatible with Stokke strollers such as Trailz, Beat, and Xplory.

Cybex Aton 2 Sensorsafe – Best Safety Features

The Cybex Aton 2 uses Sensorsafe technology to alert you when unsafe conditions arise. For example, it sends alerts on your phone when your baby unbuckles, is unattended for too long, or when temperatures move out of the comfortable range. The Cybex car seat is compact, lightweight, and narrow, making it suitable for small cars.

Cybex Aton 2 provides side-impact protection and has a load leg base that stabilizes the car seat and cuts down crash forces by 50%. You can use the European belt path to install it without a car seat base safely. It has a removable newborn insert and is compatible with the Cybex stroller. Cybex Aton is available in four colors; Lavastone black, Denim blue, Manhattan grey, and Pepper black.

Stroller Compatibility with the Cybex Aton2 infant car seat

Compatible strollers include:

  • Baby Jogger City series
  • Bugaboo
  • Bumbleride Indie
  • Cybex
  • Silver cross wave
  • Thule
  • Uppababy

Baby Trend Secure Snap Tech 35

The Baby Trend Secure Snap Tech 35 has EPS energy-absorbing foam to provide excellent side-impact head protection and support. It has a removable four-piece insert that grows with your newborn, giving comfort and support. The Snap Tech 35 has a five-point safety harness and a one-hand harness adjustment feature.

The car seat’s extra-large three-panel canopy provides ample shade, and the boot offers added warmth and comfort. The car seat is simple to install with a no-rethread harness feature. With four recline positions and a delta-multi-grip handle, the car seat is convenient for you and your baby.

The car seat is compatible with all snap tech strollers for a perfect travel system and is available in five colors.

Stroller Compatibility with Baby Trend infant car seats

Compatible strollers include:

  • Baby Trend sit N’ stand Sport
  • Baby Trend sit N’ stand Shopper
  • Baby Trend sit N’ stand Ultra
  • Baby Trend sit N’ stand Double
  • Joovy Caboose Ultralight Graphite

Baby Trend EZ Flex Loc – Best For Twins

The Baby Trend EZ is a lightweight but sturdy infant car seat that is compact enough to be suitable for twins in even small cars. The EZ contains EPS energy-absorbing foam that provides excellent side-impact protection and soft head support. The EZ is easy to install and comes with a triangular handle to switch hands or hold at different angles.

Baby Trend EZ has an adjustable five-point harness and accommodates infants weighing from five to thirty pounds. The EZ Flex car seat is available in Carbon, Liberty, and Picante colors.

Stroller Compatibility with Baby Trend infant car seats

Compatible strollers include:

  • Baby Trend sit N’ stand Sport
  • Baby Trend sit N’ stand Shopper
  • Baby Trend sit N’ stand Ultra
  • Baby Trend sit N’ stand Double
  • Joovy Caboose Ultralight Graphite

Peg Perego Primo Viaggio 4/35 – Coziest While Strolling

The Peg Perego Primo Viaggio 4/35 has a three-position recline; relaxing, sitting, or lying down. For a comfortable position on a stroller, the backrest reclines while the leg rest extends, enabling your baby to lie down flat. The car seat has kinetic pods that divert forces away from your baby during a side-impact collision.

Peg Perego Primo Viaggio 4 /35 Lounge has EPS energy-absorbing foam and EPP in the headrest to protect your child against impact forces. It has a load leg and an anti-rebound bar that reduces rotation by 50% in an accident. The 4 /35 Lounge has an extendable Pagoda UPF 50+ hood to protect your baby against the sun.

The Viaggio 4/35 Lounge is compatible with a Peg Perego UppaBaby adapter or any Peg Perego Stroller for an excellent travel system. The car seat is available in a wide variety of classic colors.

Stroller Compatibility with the Peg Perego Primo Viaggio infant car seat

You don’t need an adapter to attach the car seat to an Agio stroller or a Peg Perego stroller, but you need adapters for use with other stroller brands.

Compatible strollers include:

  • Peg Perego
  • Baby Jogger
  • Bob
  • Bumbleride
  • Uppababy
  • Thule

Factors To Consider In Car Seat Compatibility

Lightweight

If you are always on the go, you should consider a lightweight but sturdy travel system. The car seat should be light enough to carry in your hands as you relocate it to the stroller. The stroller should also be lightweight for ease of pushing.

Safety

When searching for car seats and strollers, safety is a priority. It is best to choose car seats and strollers with enhanced safety. For instance, you may consider infant car seats with side-impact protection and strollers that have been certified for safety.  

Convenience

You may consider a travel system with a storage basket underneath, cup holders, and a canopy. You may also choose a travel system made of removable machine washable fabrics for ease of cleaning.

Cost

A travel system can be a hefty investment, depending on your preferences. Starting to look for a system that will suit your family and your budget early on will mean you can find a cost-effective system.

Tips For Buying The Right Travel System

Car seat first

As you shop for a travel system, choose the car seat first and the stroller second. This is because the car seat keeps your baby safe in the car while a stroller adds convenience. Check the car seat’s safety, ease of use, and installation. Choose a stroller according to your needs.

Car seat and stroller compatibility

You can purchase a car seat and stroller combo from one manufacturer as it will compatible. Or you can also buy your chosen car seat and search for a compatible stroller from a different brand.

Bottom Line

Many strollers are compatible with a wide variety of infant car seats. When you choose your ideal car seat, you’ll always be able to find a compatible stroller for it. It is best to read manufacturers’ instructions before pairing your car seat with a stroller from a different brand. Most car seats attach to their company’s strollers without adapters but require adapters when being used with other strollers.

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