When the weather is hot, car seats can become uncomfortable, sticky and even cause sweating. Even worse, when left unprotected from the sun, the car seat straps and buckles can become hot enough to burn your child’s sensitive skin.
The good news is, there are car seats available in the market that are designed to keep your child cool and comfortable in hot weather.
These car seats are made of materials that are breathable, moisture-wicking, and designed to reflect heat away from the body.
In this article, we are reviewing 5 best car seats for hot weather, based on their features, customer reviews, and expert opinions.
In a Hurry? Pick one of our recommended options
- Britax B-Safe Gen2 Flexfit CoolFlow
- Evenflo LiteMax DLX FreeFlow
- Chicco Nextfit Max Zip Air
- SlimFit3 LX 3-in-1 Car Seat
- Britax Grow With You CoolFlow
5 best breathable car seats for hot weather
Britax B-Safe Gen2 Flexfit CoolFlow
- Fits babies 4 – 35 lbs & up to 32″ in height
- Dimensions: 26.6 x 17.9 x 25.85 inches
- Price: 269.99
The Britax B Safe is a popular infant car seat that comes with ventilated mesh fabric to improve airflow in the car seat. This feature will keep your little one cooler and more comfortable during hot weather.
The B-Safe Gen2 FlexFit is also made with a spacious seating area and tagless smooth-touch knit fabric.
In addition to being cool and comfortable, this car seat is built with a high-strength steel reinforced base and SafeCell crumple zone; a protective shell with foam that provides head-to-toe safety.
Plus a no-rethreading 6-position harness makes it easy for you to adjust the seat as your baby grows.
Evenflo LiteMax DLX FreeFlow
- Fits babies 4 – 35 lbs & up to 32″ in height
- Dimensions: 28 x 17.5 x 26.5 inches
- Weight: 11.97 lb
- Price: $199.49
The FreeFlow fabric on the Evenflo LiteMax DLX keeps little riders happy and comfortable during hot weather.
The cooling mesh fabric on the car seat is designed to circulate air to keep your baby’s temperature just right.
When it comes to safety, the Evenflo LiteMax has a SafeZone Load Leg that stabilizes the car seat base and according to Evenflo, this feature can reduce rotation up to 50% in the event of a frontal collision.
The no-rethread harness is also a big plus for busy parents and caregivers. The headrest easily slides up and down, allowing you to adjust the seat without having to rethread the harness straps.
Chicco Nextfit Max Zip Air
- Limits: 5 – 100 lbs & up to 57″ in height
- Dimensions: 20.7 x 16.7 x 24.5 inches
- Weight: 19.2 lbs
- Price: $279.98
What makes the Chicco Nexfit Zip Air a good car seat for hot weather is the 3D AirMesh channels on the backrest of the car seat.
Those Mesh channels offer ventilation and enhance the airflow through the fabric to offer comfort during long rides.
We also love the Chicco Nextfit Max for its extended rear-facing weight limit (up to 50 lb) and advanced safety features. Plus, It has a deep rigid shell and EPS energy-absorbing foam that surround the head and torso.
In addition to the easy zip-off seat pad and the 9-position easy-adjust headrest, the Nextfit Max Zip is quick and safe to install with the Supercinch and Locksure system.
SlimFit3 LX 3-in-1 Car Seat
- Limits: 5 – 100 lbs & up to 57″ in height
- Dimensions: 20.7 x 16.7 x 24.5 inches
- Weight: 19.2 lbs
- Price: $279.98
The Slimfit3 LX is a great convertible car seat for 3 across installations but since the backrest of the seat is made of breathable mesh channels, it’s the perfect car seat for hot climates.
While the Slimfit3 LX 3 in-1 is designed to save space in the back seat, it’s surprisingly spacious inside.
The No-Rethread harness system allows you to easily adjust the height of the headrest and harness to 10 positions with just one motion. Plus, there are 4 recline positions for a better installation.
Overall, the Slimfit3 LX is an awesome long-lasting, and budget-friendly option that’s both safe and cool for your kids.
Britax Grow With You CoolFlow
- Limits: 25 – 120 lbs & up to 63″ in height
- Dimensions: 21 x 19 x 25 inches
- Weight: 25 lbs
- Price: $339.99
With the Britax Grow With You harness-2-booster, no more complaining about the sweaty and hot backrest. The CoolFlow feature keeps the seat cool and airy even during long rides.
What we love about all Britax seats is the Clicktight system that allows you to install the seat with total confidence.
And with the two layers of side impact protection that surround the head, neck, and torso, you know that Britax Grow With You offers maximum safety to your precious cargo.
Other car seats for hot weather
There are many car seat options available that come equipped with cooling fabric, which helps to minimize discomfort during hot weather. We are listing a few here.
Chicco car seats for hot weather
- Chicco MyFit Zip Air 2-in-1 Harness + Booster Car Seat
- Chicco Fit4 Adapt 4-in-1 Convertible Car Seat
- Chicco NextFit Max Zip Air Convertible Car Seat
- Chicco KidFit Zip Air Plus 2-in-1 Booster Car Seat
Graco car seats for hot weather
Britax car seats for hot weather
- Britax One4Life ClickTight All-in-One Car Seat Cool Flow
- Britax Marathon ClickTight Convertible Car Seat Cool Flow
Evenflo car seats for hot weather
Safety 1st car seats for hot weather
Other ways to keep your car seat cool for your baby
1. Use a car seat sunshade
Yes, they make car seat shades as well. I was so surprised when I learned about it. Like windshield shades, car seat shades are meant to keep the car seat by preventing it from directly getting hit by the sun.
These covers are easy to find and you can go wrong with a cheap sunshade from Amazon.
Once you have one of these ready in the car, all you have to do is cover the car seat before you leave the car to prevent direct exposure to the sun.
2. Get a car seat ice cooler pad
When the car seat is left unprotected, it gets extremely hot and it needs something to cool it off quickly. In this case, we recommend a car seat ice cooler.
To better use this self-insulated cooler liner, place it in the freezer overnight and when needed put it on an empty car seat for about 10 minutes to cool it off.
When done keep the cooler bag folded so it stays frozen for longer periods.
Important Notice: Do not keep this cooler bag near your baby’s car seat. Anything left in the car can be a projectile. Make sure to stash it somewhere safe.
3. Get a car seat air conditioner “The Noggle”
If your car doesn’t have an AC vent in the backseat or it’s just too hot and you need extra cool air in the back, then you need an air conditioner for your car seat.
Luckily there is a safe one we can recommend. The Noggle is like an AC vent extender that you can attach to your front vent and channel cool air back to your kids.
The Noggle is considered a safe aftermarket solution for car seats, so you don’t have to worry about safety.
Important Notice: We do not recommend any other baby fan solutions that are advertised online. These have a high risk of becoming projectiles in case of a collision.
Best car seats for hot weather FAQs
How can I make my child’s car seat less hot?
There are a few things you can do to keep your child’s car seat cool. One of the most important things is to get acar seat with breathable material. Many car seat brands offer solutions for hot weather.
Another tip is to use The Noggleto channel cool air to the backseat.
And if the car seat is sweaty and hot, put an ice cooler liner on it for 10 minutes to cool it off. Also, don’t forget to cover the car seat with a shade to limit its exposure to the sun.
Is a black car seat too hot?
Yes, black car seats can absorb more heat from the sun than lighter-colored seats, which can make it feel hotter to the touch. If you are planning on getting a car seat, go for light-colored ones.
Further reading
Best Narrow Car Seats For 3 Across
