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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.
We travel a lot with a toddler, and a regular car seat is a pain in an airport. The Pico is the one we actually use: on flights, in rental cars, and any day we need a second seat in our own Model Y. Below is what makes a seat good for travel, what the FAA says about flying with one, and how we use the Pico.
What makes a good travel car seat
Four things matter most when a seat has to leave the car:
- Weight and folded size. You will carry it through the airport, so every pound counts. WAYB lists the Pico at 8 pounds, folding to 11.6 x 14.5 x 18.9 inches.
- An FAA label. To use a seat on the plane, its label should say it is certified for both motor vehicles and aircraft. Check the label on your own seat, not the box.
- Width. Airplane seats are narrow. The Pico is 14.5 inches wide, which helps it fit in a standard economy seat. Check your airline’s seat width if you are unsure.
- In a rental car you will usually use the seat belt, so pick a seat whose belt path you have practiced at home.
Flying with a car seat: what the FAA says
The FAA strongly urges parents to keep a child in an approved child restraint for the whole flight, not on a lap. A few basics from its guidance:
- Look for the label saying the seat is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft.
- Your child needs their own ticketed seat to use a car seat on board.
- Seat location rules apply. Per the FAA, car seats generally go in a window seat, cannot go in an exit row, and must not block an escape path, so check with your airline.
We are parents, not airline experts, so check your airline’s policy before you fly. The FAA’s page on flying with children has the details.
If your child has outgrown a car seat but is not ready for the plane’s seat belt alone, the FAA also lists the CARES harness for kids up to 40 inches tall and 22 to 44 pounds. It is for use on aircraft only.
WAYB Pico: the one we travel with
Quick verdict: WAYB Pico
Research pickOur travel car seat: we use it on planes and in rental cars. Sold direct by WAYB (and on Amazon), with a premium carrying bag. Always follow the seat’s manual and Tesla’s owner’s manual.$619.00 off today on Amazon · price as of 2026-10-31
With LATCH it takes us under a minute. It is FAA-approved, so it flies with us, and it folds small enough to live in the frunk, in or out of its carry bag.
There are trade-offs. Buckling the 5-point harness takes a bit longer than a booster. There are no padded side wings, so it is not great for naps. And it is forward-facing only: WAYB recommends it for kids 2 and up who meet the height and weight limits. Our son started in it a little over 2 and is on the bigger side.
For the frunk photos and our trade-offs, read our WAYB Pico in a Tesla Model Y review.
WAYB Pico at a glance
| Spec | WAYB Pico |
|---|---|
| Type | Forward-facing only, 5-point harness |
| Weight | 8 lb |
| Width | 14.5 in |
| Folded size | 11.6 x 14.5 x 18.9 in |
| Carry bag | Backpack-style travel bag |
| Child limits | 26.5 to 50 lb and 33.5 to 45 in (WAYB recommends 2 and up) |
| FAA-approved | Yes (check the label on your seat) |
Figures are from WAYB. Limits vary slightly by when a seat was made, so always go by the labels on your own seat.
What about babies?
The Pico is forward-facing only, so it is not for babies or young toddlers. A baby needs a seat that works rear-facing. We used to own a Cosco Scenera NEXT, which is more of a baby seat. It is widely sold, including at Walmart. For travel, though, the Pico is easier, because its backpack-style bag lets you carry it on your back through the airport.
Whichever seat you use, check its label for FAA approval and follow both the seat’s manual and Tesla’s owner’s manual.
Rental cars and rideshares
Rental cars vary, so we plan on the seat belt method, not LATCH. We practiced the Pico’s belt install at home before our first trip, and we keep WAYB’s instruction manual (PDF) on our phones. WAYB’s manual says to use the seat only in a rear seat location, never in a front seat.
Before you drive
We’re Model Y parents, not certified child passenger safety technicians (CPSTs). Follow your seat’s manual and the Child Safety Seats section of Tesla’s manual, and get a free install check from a CPST (find one through Safe Kids).
Recalls we found (checked October 9, 2026):
- WAYB Pico: seats made February 1 to August 23, 2019 were recalled for the headrest frame (NHTSA 19C-001). Worth checking if you buy a used Pico.
Recalls change, so check your seat’s model number and manufacture date at NHTSA’s recall lookup before you use it.
Car seats in a Tesla Model Y: all our guides
- Start here: best car seats for a Model Y
- Infant seat: Nuna Pipa Lite RX (owner-tested)
- Convertible: Graco 4Ever Extend2Fit (owner-tested)
- Booster: Nuna Aace (owner-tested)
- Travel seat: WAYB Pico (owner-tested)
- Best travel car seats: planes, rentals and rideshares (you’re here)
- Third-row car seats
- Model Y L for families
Still deciding? Read Is the WAYB Pico worth it?
Prices, fit and availability for the products above were last checked in October 2026; check the listing for the current price before you buy.
Travel car seat FAQ
Is the WAYB Pico FAA-approved?
Yes. WAYB says the Pico meets FAA requirements for aircraft use, and the label on the seat should say it is certified for motor vehicles and aircraft. Check the label on your own seat before you fly.
Do I need to buy a plane seat for my child to use a car seat?
In practice, yes. On a plane, the car seat needs its own ticketed seat. Check your airline’s policy before you book.
Does the WAYB Pico fit in the Model Y frunk?
Yes. It fits folded, in or out of its carry bag, and leaves room for other things.
What age is the WAYB Pico for?
WAYB recommends it for kids 2 and older who are 26.5 to 50 lb and 33.5 to 45 in tall. The limits vary slightly by when a seat was made, so go by the labels on your own seat.
Can I use a rear-facing travel seat in a Tesla Model Y?
We have only tested forward-facing seats in our Model Y. For a rear-facing install, follow both the seat’s manual and Tesla’s owner’s manual, and consider having a certified child passenger safety technician check it.
Related guides
WAYB Pico in a Tesla Model Y · Best car seats for a Tesla Model Y · Third-row car seats · Model Y must-haves for parents
Sources
Where the facts on this page come from:
