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⚠️ Car seat safety: read this first
This article shares our own experience and research on how car seats fit in a Tesla Model Y. It is not a set of installation instructions and does not replace them.
Always install and use your car seat exactly as directed by both the car seat manufacturer’s instruction manual and labels and the Child Safety Seats section of the Tesla Model Y Owner’s Manual. If anything on this site differs from those instructions, follow the manufacturers’ instructions, not us. If the two manuals conflict or you’re unsure, contact the car seat manufacturer or a certified technician before using the seat.
Anchor locations, approved seating positions and compatibility can vary by model year, trim, seat configuration and car seat version, and manufacturers update their guidance over time. Check that the instructions you follow match your exact vehicle and your exact car seat, and check your child’s height and weight against the seat’s limits.
Before driving with your child, have your installation checked by a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST). Checks are often free. Find one through Safe Kids Worldwide or NHTSA. Plugin Parents is not affiliated with Tesla or any car seat manufacturer, and we are not certified technicians. You are responsible for correctly installing and using your child’s car seat.
Owner-Tested in Our Model Y
The WAYB Pico is the travel car seat we own and use in our own Model Y. We take it on planes and use it in rental cars when we travel, and it’s also the seat we grab when we need to bring a niece or nephew along. Here’s how it fits, how it installs and where we keep it, with photos from our car.
WAYB Pico at a glance (WAYB’s specs)
| Spec | WAYB Pico |
|---|---|
| Type | Forward-facing only, 5-point harness |
| Child age | 2 years and up |
| Child weight | 26.5–50 lb |
| Child height | 33.5–45 in |
| Seat weight | 8 lb |
| Folded size | 11.6 x 14.5 x 18.9 in |
| Install | LATCH or vehicle seat belt |
| Airplane use | FAA-approved |
Figures are from WAYB’s product page. WAYB notes the age, weight and height limits vary slightly depending on when a seat was made, so always go by the labels on your own seat.
Does the WAYB Pico fit in a Tesla Model Y?
Yes. We’ve installed our Pico on both the driver’s side and the passenger side of the Model Y’s back seat, and it fits the same way on each. The seat is narrow, so it leaves plenty of room beside it. In our car it sits right next to our son’s Nuna Aace booster with space between them.
How to install the WAYB Pico in a Model Y
The Pico can go in with the Model Y’s LATCH anchors or with the seat belt. We’ve done both, and both are easy, but LATCH is easier. With LATCH it takes us less than a minute:
- Unfold the Pico and set it on either outboard rear seat, facing forward.
- Clip the lower connectors onto the Model Y’s lower anchors in the crease of the seat.
- Attach the top tether to the anchor on the back of the Model Y’s rear seatback, following the tether instructions in your Pico manual.
- Tighten everything until the seat moves less than an inch side to side or front to back at the belt path.
If you’re using the seat belt instead, route it through the Pico’s belt path as shown in WAYB’s manual and lock the belt. That’s the method to know for rental cars and rideshares, too. If you want a second set of eyes on any install, a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician can check it, usually for free.
For more on the Model Y’s anchors and seat layout, see our guide to installing a car seat in a Tesla Model Y.
Can you store the WAYB Pico in the Model Y frunk?
Yes, and this is one of our favorite things about it. The Pico folds down small enough to fit in the Model Y’s front trunk either inside its carry bag or on its own, and there’s still room left in the frunk for other things. That means the seat is always with us when a niece or nephew needs a ride, without taking up space in the back seat or the rear trunk.
Taking the Pico on a plane and in rental cars
Travel is where the Pico really shines for us. It’s FAA-approved, so we bring it on the plane and use it in the airplane seat, then carry it off and install it in the rental car at the other end. Because it goes in with either LATCH or a seat belt, we haven’t had to worry about what the rental car has. At 8 pounds, it’s easy to carry through the airport, and it means we don’t have to rent a car seat or check a bulky one.
The trade-offs
The Pico uses a 5-point harness, and we like that the harness keeps our son snug and secure. The flip side is that buckling him in takes a little longer than with a booster, where the Model Y’s own seat belt does the work. You adjust the straps, buckle the harness and snug it down each ride, so expect an extra minute at the car door if you’re used to a booster.
It’s also not the best seat for naps. The Pico doesn’t have the padded side wings around the head that a regular car seat has, so a sleeping child has less to lean against and their head can slump. On a long drive at nap time, that’s something to plan around.
For us, the versatility makes up for both. It’s the one seat that goes from our Model Y to the plane to a rental car to the frunk.
Who the Pico is (and isn’t) for
The Pico is a great second seat for a Model Y family. It’s built for travel (we use it on flights and in rental cars), and it’s handy for any day you’re picking up an extra kid. It’s also an easy seat to hand to grandparents or a babysitter since it weighs only 8 pounds.
Our son started riding in it when he was a little over 2. He’s on the bigger side, so he already met the height and weight minimums; a smaller 2-year-old may need to wait, so go by size, not just age.
It’s not a seat for babies or young toddlers. It’s forward-facing only, and WAYB recommends it for kids 2 and up who meet the height and weight limits. For a younger child, you’ll want a rear-facing seat. See our best car seats for a Tesla Model Y for everyday picks.
WAYB Pico Travel Car Seat
Fits either outboard rear seat of the Model Y; folds small enough for the frunk
WAYB Pico and Tesla Model Y FAQ
Does the WAYB Pico fit in a Tesla Model Y?
Yes. It fits either outboard rear seat, and we’ve used it on both sides of our Model Y.
Is LATCH or the seat belt easier in a Model Y?
Both work, but LATCH is easier. It takes us less than a minute to install the Pico with LATCH.
Will the WAYB Pico fit in the Model Y frunk?
Yes. It fits folded, in or out of its carry bag, and leaves room in the frunk for other things.
Can you use the WAYB Pico on a plane?
Yes. It’s FAA-approved, and we use ours on flights and then install it in our rental car when we land.
Is the WAYB Pico good for naps?
It’s not ideal. There are no padded side wings for a sleeping child’s head to rest against, so heads can slump. We still think the travel versatility is worth it.
What age is the WAYB Pico for?
WAYB recommends it for kids 2 and older who are 26.5–50 lb and 33.5–45 in tall. Our son started just after turning 2, but he’s big for his age. Limits vary slightly by manufacture date, so check your seat’s labels.
Related guides
Nuna Aace in a Tesla Model Y · Best car seats for a Tesla Model Y · How to install a car seat in a Model Y · How we choose products
