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Some things you realize only once you become a parent, including the fact that traveling with babies, toddlers, and kids becomes as much about the stuff as the memories you’ll make. One key item caregivers come to know quite intimately: the car seat—and there are many. There are infant car seats (suitable for babies), convertible car seats (those that work both forward- and backward-facing), booster seats (fit for bigger kids), car seats for everyday use that may not exactly transport well (read: they’re clunky, heavy, or otherwise difficult to move and reinstall, making them no good for travel), and there are travel car seats.

The travel car seat is not one particular type of seat but rather a selection of products that just work just right for parents on the go. The best car seats for travel are lightweight, easy to install, versatile (a stroller and a car seat, a car seat and a booster, a seat that faces both ways), comfortable, and—of course—safe.

As for how to pick one out of a market saturated with products? First you have to understand a bit about flying with babies and young children in general—including what’s allowed, what isn’t, and how airlines approach car seats. Only then can you dive into choosing a car seat that works best for you and your family's needs in the air, on a train, and everything in between.