The Ultimate Stroller and Car Seat Hack

The Ultimate Stroller and Car Seat Hack at the MAXXI in Italy

We spend a lot of time talking to parents, and a common discussion point is how to manage both day trips and vacation travel with bulky baby gear, especially with a stroller and car seat. We compared tons of options, studied the height and weight limits, checked airline requirements, and compared prices. We looked into what combos would work for both taxis in the city and for international travel—on planes, trains, and automobiles.

This is what we came up with as the lightest travel hack at under 24 pounds (10.89 kg) for an affordable price (about $350 for everything!) that will last into the toddler years.

We chose the gb Pockit+ Stroller for several reasons. It’s one of the lightest strollers on the market, at 13 pounds (5.9 kg,) while it supports children weighing between 13 to 55 pounds (25 kg.) It folds into a compact 12.6 x 7.9 x 15 inches (32 x 20.6 x 38.1 cm,) and is listed, along with Babyzen YOYO, as one of two stroller brands allowed as a carry on for most major US airlines. Retailing at $229.95, it’s not inexpensive, but the longevity that it provides with the higher weight limit outweighs the price tag. When opened, the stroller measures 11.5 inches wide and 39 inches high. You can even fit a little diaper bag like this Small Longchamp La Pliage under the seat, so you will have what you need for a long day out.

The stroller’s sunshade isn’t sufficient for full sun, so we recommend buying the Summer Rayshade Stroller Cover which will offer protection over the entire stroller. This Universal Rain Cover is reasonable priced and fits perfectly over the stroller even with the additional stroller cover and when hacked with the carseat (see below.) There is a gb Pockit Travel Bag available for $29.95, which is compact, durable, and loops over the stroller handles as an extra catch all when the stroller is in use. We also attach a luggage lock to the seat which can be used to secure a purse or diaper bag, or to attach the stroller to a fence or pole for safe keeping.

For the safety of your child, it’s an absolute necessity to always travel with a carseat no matter where you are going. The Cosco Scenera Next is priced affordably at around 50 dollars without sacrificing any safety requirements. It weighs just 10.4 pounds, but will fit many children up to 40 pounds and 40 inches*. It also fits on the seats of most airlines. It’s important to know that some countries don’t require vehicles to have seatbelt locks, and sometimes they don’t work properly in a taxi here in the US, so you need to keep at least 2 Sungrace Metal Seatbelt Locks with you to secure the car seat in those situations.

We store the car seat in this Primo Passi Car Seat Travel Bag and use all 4 of the Frienda Add a Bag Luggage Straps adjusted to their shortest length and linked together to secure the bag tightly around the seat. When the car seat is in the bag with the luggage straps secured, the luggage strap loop slides nicely over a rolling luggage handle, making it easy to wheel through a train station or airport. The Primo Passi Car Seat Travel Bag also has sturdy backpack straps, giving you a second carry option.

Now for the hack. The Cosco Scenera easily sits right into the seat of the gb Pockit+. Loop two of the Frienda Add a Bag Luggage Straps (adjusted to their longest length) behind forward facing belt path and then around the stroller. Then adjust the other two luggage straps to their longest lengths and loop them through the rear facing belt paths and the stroller. It’s actually that simple. We put this combination to the ultimate test in Rome—walking through the Roman Forum, on the cobblestone streets and narrow sidewalks from the Trastavere neighborhood in Rome all the way up to the Ludavisi neighborhood—conveniently during a major summer heatwave. We can report total success. This combo is fully vetted for your next trip to a museum or sculpture garden, and hopefully, when it is safer, vacation travel!

*Rear-facing 5-40 lb and 19-40 in. and Forward-facing 22-40 lb and 29-43 in. and at least 1 year old. Actual fit may vary. Not all children will comfortably fit in the seat for the full weight and height ranges listed. Always consult a CSPT for car seat recommendations, and check regulations for your country or country of travel.