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First things first: what is car seat compatibility?

The big question parents ask us all the time is “Do all car seats fit all strollers?” The answer is, “We wish!” But there are actually good reasons why you can’t attach any car seat to any stroller.

In the article that follows, you’ll learn about car seat compatibility, which in plain English means “Which car seats can fit in which strollers without adapters, which car seats can fit in which strollers with adapters, and which just won’t fit together at all.”

Three important things to remember up front:

• Only infant car seats  are compatible with strollers. Convertible car seats, “All-in-One” car seats, and booster seats are not compatible with strollers
• A travel system is a fancy term for a car seat and stroller that are compatible without the use of adapters, or where the adapters are included with purchase. 
• There are two ways to make a travel system. You can either purchase a travel system or you can “mix and match” to make your own travel system, by purchasing a stroller and car seat that are compatible, plus the adapters if sold separately.
• Short on time? Here's a quick hack. Search GoodBuy Gear or Amazon for your car seat brand’s adapters, like “Graco adapters”. Any stroller brand that you find adapters for is compatible with your car seat. (And if you search on Amazon, make sure to come back to GoodBuy Gear for prices up to 85% off retail!)

We worked with our Gear Experts and GoodBuy Gurus like Megan Larsen and our in-house car seat safety technician (CPST) Amanda Brown to conduct extensive research on car seat and stroller compatibility. Of course, we also consulted our panel of Wingmoms and Wingdads to see what they use, love and recommend to one another. 

The Ultimate Car Seat and Stroller Compatibility Guide

One of the big benefits of infant car seats is that you don’t have to take your little one out of their safety harness (and then put them back in!) at every stop you make. But you won’t always want to lug around a heavy car seat, either. Having a stroller that’s compatible with your specific car seat can help take the load off. Here’s a comprehensive look at some of our most popular car seat brands and the strollers they’re compatible with.

Jump to the brand of your car seat below to see what strollers it’s compatible with. 

• Britax Car Seats
• UPPAbaby Car Seats
• Chicco Car Seats
• Peg Perego Car Seats
• Clek Car Seats
• Nuna Pipa Car Seats
• Maxi-Cosi Car Seats
• Common Mistakes When Choosing Car Seats
• Tips for Installing a Car Seat Correctly

Strollers Compatible With Britax Car Seats 

While Britax may not have the most extensive line of products, our gear experts say the car seats they do manufacture have been perfected for safety. And because a safe seat is one that’s installed correctly, you’ll love the patented “ClickTight” technology. Easy-to-read indicators guide you through an installation that’s as simple as buckling a seatbelt. 

The Britax B-Lively stroller and Britax B-Clever stroller are compatible with Britax B-Safe infant car seats as a travel system, no adapters needed.

Adapters are required for Britax car seats to be compatible with other brands.

Here is a complete list of strollers compatible with Britax infant car seats: 

Shop Britax Adapters

Our favorite Britax infant car seats:

• • Britax B-Safe Gen2 FlexFit Travel System
  • Britax B-Safe 35
  • Britax B-Safe 35 Elite

UPPAbaby Car Seats 

UPPAbaby car seats are a great option, because the merino wool is naturally flame retardant. The luxe seats also click seamlessly into the brand’s strollers, no car seat adapters necessary (as long as you’re using it as a single stroller). You can also configure two infant car seats onto the stroller with adapters—great for parents of twins who need a double stroller. For added functionality, if you have older children, you can click in a bassinet for the baby and a regular stroller seat for the toddler at once. 

The UPPAbaby Vista v2 and UPPAbaby Cruz v2 are compatible with UPPAbaby infant car seats like the UPPAbaby Mesa as a travel system, no adapters needed. 

Adapters are required for UPPAbaby car seats to be compatible with other brands.

Here is a complete list of strollers compatible with UPPAbaby infant car seats: 

Shop Uppababy Adapters

Our Favorite UPPAbaby Infant car seats

• UPPAbaby Mesa

Chicco Car Seats 

All of Chicco’s seats—both their infant seats and convertible seats—have great safety ratings. Plus, parents love that the seat fabric removes easily, so you can wash your child’s seat hassle-free. This is particularly great for any kids who tend to get car sick. 

Chicco Keyfit Caddy Frame is compatible with Chicco Keyfit 30 and 35 infant car seats, no adapters needed.

Other brands require an adapter to be compatible with Chicco car seats.

Here is a complete list of strollers compatible with Chicco infant car seats: 

Shop Chicco Adapters

Our Favorite Chicco Infant Car Seats:

Chicco Keyfit 30 and Chicco Keyfit 35

Read here for our in-depth comparison of the two models! 

Peg Perego Car Seats

While all car seats manufactured in the US are safe, Peg Perego goes a step above by offering additional safety features in their popular Peg Perego Primo Viaggio, like an anti-rebound bar and load leg technology. These two items reduce movement in the event of a collision. (Most manufacturers offer one or the other.) The brand is also known for their sophisticated designs. The biggest limitation: The brand’s strollers are pricey, and their seats aren’t compatible with many strollers, even with car seat adapters. 

Peg Perego strollers like the Peg Perego YPSI are compatible with Peg Perego infant car seats, no adapter needed.

Other brand strollers require an adapter to be compatible with Peg Perego infant car seats.

The following is a complete list of strollers that are compatible with Peg Perego infant car seats. 

Shop Peg Perego Adapters

Our favorite Peg Perego Infant Car Seats:

• Peg Perego Primo Viaggio

Clek Car Seats 

Clek manufactures both infant and convertible car seats, but our gear experts say their convertible seats are particularly notable. The interior has a layer of steel that makes them virtually indestructible. Their infant seat has an important claim to fame, too, though. The seat can be installed via the LATCH system—no base needed. This makes it especially easy for use in cities where parents may take taxis and ride shares more often.

Although Clek does not offer a travel system - the brand doesn't manufacture strollers - Clek infant car seats are compatible with other brands' strollers if adapters are purchased.

Here is a complete list of strollers compatible with Clek infant car seats: 

Shop Clek Adapters

Our Favorite Clek infant car seats: 

• • Clek Liing

Nuna PIPA Car Seats 

Nuna seats are undeniably expensive, but they have lots of bells and whistles, including a built-in privacy shade/sun shade and a rigid latch base for easy installation. The PIPA LITE is also the lightest traditional infant seat on the market—great for parents of multiple children who frequently tote the car seat from place to place. 

Nuna strollers are compatible with Nuna infant car seats like the Nuna PIPA, and adapters are either not needed or included with your purchase. The only exception to this is the Stokke PIPA by Nuna, which is manufactured by Nuna but designed to fit Stokke strollers. The Stokke PIPA by Nuna does not have the same compatibility as Nuna car seats.

The following strollers are compatible with all Nuna infant car seats with adapters sold separately.

Shop Nuna Adapters

Our Favorite Nuna infant car seats: 

• Nuna PIPA Rx

Maxi-Cosi Car Seats 

Parents love Maxi-Cosi car seats, in part because most stroller manufacturers make Maxi-Cosi adapters. What’s more, the seats are relatively inexpensive, lightweight and easy to install. Overall, the fabrics are all very soft to ensure baby’s comfort, too. 

Maxi-Cosi strollers (like the Lila and Tayla) are compatible with Maxi-Cosi infant car seats, and adapters are either not necessary or included with stroller purchase.

The following strollers are compatible with all Maxi-Cosi infant car seats like the Pria and Mico Max with adapters sold separately. 

Shop Maxi-Cosi Adapters

Our Favorite Maxi-Cosi infant car seats: 

• Maxi-Cosi Pria
• Maxi-Cosi Mico Max 30
• Maxi-Cosi Mico Lux +

Most Common Mistakes When Choosing A Car Seat

All car seats sold in the United States—whether a budget-friendly brand like Graco or a splurge like Cybex—must meet rigorous safety standards, so any car seat you can purchase in the US is suitable for use. Here’s the catch though: Just because a car seat is safe, doesn’t mean it’s suitable for your car or your lifestyle.

With that in mind, here are some of the biggest mistakes people make when choosing car seats: 

• Not reading the instruction manual that comes with the seat: These pamphlets are gold mines of information. They contain everything you need to know about the seat, including vital installation guidelines, any warnings to be aware of and specific usage instructions. 

• Not reading the vehicle owner’s manual: Similarly, vehicle owner’s manuals include very specific information about installing car seats in that particular model of car. This information will equip you with the knowledge you need to know if your car seat is compatible with your vehicle. 

• Not checking for recalls: Even a brand new product could end up being recalled for various reasons. Be sure to check the manufacturer’s website or the NHTSA’s handy tool. And once you have your car seat in hand, be sure to register it directly with the manufacturer, so you’ll be notified in case of a recall. Update your address on their website if you happen to move. 

• Choosing the wrong type of car seat: Children should be rear-facing for as long as possible, as long as they’re within the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat's manufacturer. Cross-reference this often, especially as your child approaches those limits—kids grow quickly and unexpectedly. For more information, read our guide to when to change car seats. 

Tips for Installing Your Car Seat Correctly 

When installing a car seat, reading the instructions—both for your car seat and your vehicle—is one of the most important first steps. Give yourself about an hour to read through the manual, and then try to install the car seat on your own. (Pro tip: Many parents find the LATCH system more intuitive than routing the seat belt, but choose whatever method suits your car and feels most comfortable to you.) Don’t forget to ensure the car seat is sufficiently on the vehicle's seat, is sitting at the right angle, and is nice and snug. 

To give yourself peace of mind, reach out to a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician to verify the installation and set up was done correctly. There are even organizations like Tot Squad that allow you to make a virtual appointment, so you can do your safety check right from the comfort of your own home. 

Though all car seats are manufactured to meet strict safety guidelines, some models go above and beyond, offering additional safety features. When shopping, it’s also worth looking at conveniences, like car seat-stroller compatibility. Having a seat that clicks right into your stroller is a huge time-saver, especially for parents of multiple children. And forget the burden of carrying a heavy seat—you can’t put a price on the fact that you won’t have to wake your sleeping baby just to get out of the car.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are all car seats compatible with all cars?

All car seats sold in the United States must meet federal safety requirements, but that doesn’t mean all car seats sold fit in all cars. Studies suggest the angles of vehicle seats and child safety seats don’t align properly nearly 42 percent of the time. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), it can be particularly difficult to install a car seat in certain vehicles, including pickup trucks, two-door vehicles, or in cars with small rear seats, deep bucket seats, split bench seats, or forward-anchored belts. Consult your car seat manual and your vehicle owner’s manual for more guidance—and always do a test installation before using the seat to make sure it fits properly. 

How do I know if a car seat will fit in my car?

The best way to check if a car seat is compatible with your vehicle is to try before you buy, says Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) Jennifer Saxton. “If you’re shopping in-person, most retailers will allow you to bring the car seat out to your vehicle to install it and see if it fits, can be installed tightly and works for the dynamics of your family.” Here’s a quick run-down of what to look for during your test fit: 

1. Check for overhang: Many infant car seats require 80 percent of the car seat to sit on top of the vehicle seat. (Some require all; others do not specify.)
2. Assess the angle: Be sure you can achieve the proper angle according to the instructions and the angle indicator on the shell of the car seat or the one on the base. 
3. Give it a wiggle: Where you have routed the seat belt of LATCH strap, the car seat should move less than one inch side to side and back to front.
4. Consider access: If you want to install the car seat in the center, be sure you can easily remove the infant carrier from the base or remove the baby from a rear-facing convertible seat. (Kids don’t sit forward-facing until well into their toddler years.)

Are car seat adapters universal?

Car seat adapters are generally not modular or universal, but some car seat adapters can fit seats from different brands. Megan Larsen, GBG Gear Expert, says “Maxi-Cosi, Nuna, and Cybex fit in the same adapters.”

What is a travel system?

A travel system is a stroller and car seat that are sold together. A travel system is basically a shortcut to ensuring your stroller is compatible with your car seat, no adapters needed. 

Further Reading: Guides

What is the difference between a rear-facing and a forward-facing car seat?

What is the difference between a convertible car seat and a booster seat?

Car Seat Buying Guide

How Long Are Car Seats Good For? Car Seat Expiration Explained

Deciphering Car Seat Labels: How to Find Important Information

Further Reading: Car Seat Comparisons

Nuna PIPA Lite vs. UPPAbaby MESA V2: Infant Car Seat Comparison

Chicco Keyfit 30 vs. Keyfit 35: Infant Car Seat Review & Comparison