12 Awesome Car Seat Toys for Families on the Go
Traveling with baby is no small feat, even if it’s just a trip down the street. Whether you’re en route to a local restaurant, a faraway relative’s house or anywhere in between, a car seat toy can make in-between moments more pleasant for parents and kiddos alike. To help you out, we’ve curated a list of standout playthings to make your next adventure a piece of cake—at least when it comes to keeping baby entertained. Below, shop the best car seat toys for every age, ranging from high-contrast designs for newborns to mini steering wheels for tots. Plus, read expert-backed safety tips and suggestions to keep in mind as you shop.
Safety is paramount when it comes to using car seats—and that includes accessories and toys. “Most manufacturers don’t allow toys to be clipped onto their car seats as they haven’t been crash tested that way,” says Alisa Baer, MD, a pediatrician and co-founder of The Car Seat Lady, “ With that in mind, toys shouldn’t actually be attached to seats when the vehicle is in motion. If parents do choose to clip toys onto infant car seats or give their little one an item to hold, she suggests picking something soft (like a stuffed animal or silicone toy), as harder materials can cause greater injury in the event of a crash. Baer adds that a safe car seat toy should pass the “ouch test”; hit yourself in the head with the toy, if you say “ouch” it’s not safe for the car. Why? Crash forces make everything much heavier—a 1 pound toy can feel like it weighs 25 pounds or more.
Additionally, parents looking to clip pacifiers to their little one’s car seat should attach it to the harness adjuster strap (the tail of the strap that hangs off the front of the car seat that’s used to tighten harness straps), adds Baer.
When it comes to travel toys, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends choosing soft, lightweight playthings. They’ll be easy for your little one to grasp, and they won’t cause harm if they’re tossed while the car is in motion. Moreover, Baer advises parents against choosing car seat toys that have small pieces. Not only will your child drop them and not be able to pick them up, but they can pose a choking hazard, which is especially dangerous in a moving vehicle. Lastly, choose a stimulating toy that aligns with your child’s developmental level.
Ready to find the best car seat toys for your little one? These picks are sure to stimulate your kiddo and soothe restlessness, while also inspiring imaginative play and promoting developmental skills. Here, check out our favorites on the market.
Overall best car seat toy
- Spot clean only
Not all car seat toys are cut from the same cloth. Take this standout option, for instance. The super-soft moose is perfect for play and snuggles, and features a squeaking tummy and antlers for teething. Baby is sure to be fascinated by the plush toy’s colorful satin legs—especially since they’re made up of various textures to encourage tactile and visual exploration. Better yet, it comes with a convenient clip for car seats, strollers or even diaper bags. Still not convinced? The parent-approved pick also has tens of thousands of positive reviews on Amazon.
Specs at a glance:
Weighs: 4.4 oz.
Measures: 11.5” x 5.3” x 2.8”
Age rating: 0+ months
Best car seat toy for newborns
- Features high-contrast graphics to engage newborns
- Complete with playful textures, visuals and other sensory elements
- Spot clean only
Newborns can’t hold onto playthings quite yet, which makes hanging car seat toys the perfect choice for babies under the 3-month mark. (Just remember that you should detach it when your car is in motion.) The activity set comes with three clip-on shapes for your little one to explore, each complete with high-contrast graphics to engage baby and teach them about pattern recognition. Some playful features your newborn is sure to love include the hidden squeakers, pull cords, various textures and teething elements. As they play, expect their hand-eye coordination, sense of cause and effect and fine motor skills to blossom.
Specs at a glance:
Weighs: 4 oz.
Measures: 3.5” x 1.5” x 9”
Age rating: 0+ months
Best car seat hanging toys
- Spiral design securely fastens to car seat handles
- Three hanging toys, complete with different activities
- Spot clean only
The best infant car seat toys are those with several activities for baby to discover—like this option from Itzy Ritzy. The plush spiral design is made from soft cotton and securely wraps around car seat handles, perfect for keeping infants entertained while strolling or sitting. Your little one can enjoy reaching up towards these sweet playthings, which feature mirrored and textured elements to pique baby’s interest.
Specs at a glance:
Weighs: 5.3 oz.
Measures: 15” x 4” x 10”
Age rating: 0+ months
Best car seat toy bar
- Easily attaches to most infant carriers
- Features auditory, visual and tactile elements to engage baby
- Requires 2 AAA batteries
- Made from plastic
Car seat toy bars come in all shapes and sizes, but our top pick has to be this option from VTech. The vibrant design features smiling animals, textured rings and a baby-safe mirror. Watch your little one giggle as they press the cow’s nose to hear 45+ sounds, phrases and songs. For your convenience, it comes with elastic straps to attach it to baby’s carrier in no time.
Specs at a glance:
Weighs: 9.3 oz.
Measures: 2.05” x 13.15” x 7.4”
Age rating: 0 months to 3 years old
Best rear-facing car seat toys
- Kick-activated pad for endless infant entertainment
- Features playful details like hanging toys and a baby-safe mirror
- Relatively high price point
According to the AAP, infants should remain in rear-facing car seats for as long as possible, or ideally up until the 2-year mark. Luckily, there are playthings designed with this specific stage in mind. Rear-facing car seat toys—like this option from Taf Toys Toe—securely attached onto headrests for you infant’s safety. This multicolored design features smiling plush toys that dangle and a baby-safe mirror. The best part has to be the bottom pad, which plays music and lights every time your little one kicks.
Specs at a glance:
Weighs: 13.4 oz.
Measures: 11.8” x 10.8”
Age rating: 12+ months
Best front-facing car seat toys
- Easily (and securely) clips on to car headrests
- Features colorful illustrations and interactive elements to keep baby engaged
- Requires 2 AA batteries
When your tot graduates to a front-facing car seat, they’ll love this next pick. The sweet design has a cute koala illustration and a baby-safe mirror, with the standout feature being the steering wheel. Expect giggles and smiles as your little one “drives” by turning the device and pressing the interactive buttons. What’s more, it easily clips onto car headrests for your convenience and your child’s safety.
Specs at a glance:
Weighs: 15.5 oz.
Measures: 24” x 12” x 2.4”
Age rating: 12 months to 3 years old
Best toy steering wheel for car seat
- Interactive design encourages imaginative play
- Adjustable volume
- Handheld toy; it can’t be clipped on to anything
- 3 AAA batteries required
Best car seat spiral toy
- Colorful design with various textures and patterns
- Dangling activity toys prompt sensory play
- Reviewers say they wish it spread across the handle, rather than staying tightly coiled
- Spot clean only
Spiral-shaped infant car seat toys are a classic for a reason. They seamlessly wrap around car seat handle bars, and tend to have dangling playthings for little ones to reach for. This option from Infantino features plenty of activities to stimulate sensory play, such as a baby-safe mirror and colorful rings, as well as various textures and patterns. Keep in handy to attach when you’re out of the car, but baby is stuck in their car seat. This pick can also be used to keep baby engaged during tummy time.
Specs at a glance:
Weighs: 3.2 oz.
Measures: 11” x 9.6” x 3.2”
Age rating: 0 months to 3 years old
Best car seat activity toy
- Unique design complete with hidden activities for baby to discover
- Fabric hook and loop closure
- Spot clean only
This classic car seat toy is a cult-favorite. The unique plaything is super-soft, ultra-colorful and features tons of playful details for baby to discover; it’s sure to become a go-to car seat companion in no time. Your little one is bound to light up when they discover the hidden peek-a-boo mirror under the silly face’s red nose. Plus, they’ll love showing you the crinkle paper, squeakers and rattles.
Specs at a glance:
Weighs: 2.56 oz.
Measures: 5.12” x 3.15” x 10.04”
Age rating: 0+ months
Best budget-friendly car seat toy
- Sweet plush animal with textured teething ring
- Soothing chime sounds
- Most affordable car seat toy on our list
- Some reviewers say it’s bigger than they expected it to be
- Spot clean
This parent-approved car seat toy has thousands of positive reviews, and it’s easy to see why. With its soothing chime sounds and sweet plush design, the plaything is sure to keep baby busy and happy. Easily attach it to the car seat or stroller, and watch baby play away. When your little one’s teeth are sore—don’t fret. This car seat toy can provide relief, thanks to its textured teething ring. What’s more, the budget-friendly pick rings in at under $8.
Specs at a glance:
Weighs: 1.6 oz.
Measures: 2.5” x 7” x 3”
Age rating: 0+ months
Best musical car seat toy
- Smiling star gently lights up and play instrumental melodies
- Velcro fastener for added convenience
- 2 AA batteries required
- Spot clean
This next car seat toy will be music to your little one’s ears. The plush plaything is lightweight and easy for baby to hold on to. Thanks to the simple velcro fastener, it can also attach to car seat or stroller handles for younger infants. Baby will love the gentle lights and calming classic melodies. What’s more, this car seat toy doubles as a teether, making it an extra soothing option to boot.
Specs at a glance:
Weighs: 7 oz.
Measures: 7.25” x 2” x 7.25”
Best sensory car seat toy
- Interactive “climbing” sloth design
- Playful details like varied textures and a mirror
- Easily clips on to handles
- Spot clean
Last but not least in our roundup is the best car seat toy for sensory play. This sweet sloth hangs via a clip from car seat or stroller handles, and is sure to become baby’s backseat friend in no time. It features eight sensory activities for infants to discover, including varied textures and a sun-shaped mirror—plus, when your kiddo pulls the sloth’s hand, it will “climb” back up to its branch. This pick also comes in the shape of an avocado—how fun!
Specs at a glance:
Weighs: 5.9 oz.
Measures: 6.99” x 3.5” x 10”
Age rating: 0+ months
To help you pick out the best car seat toys for your little one, we browsed a wide range of options from leading toy brands and retailers. When picking each item, we considered the product’s weight, quality, value and, of course, safety features. We also looked for car seat toys for infants and toddlers of all ages to engage kiddos of various developmental levels. For each plaything, we read user reviews to see how they worked for real families, and didn’t consider anything with less than an average four-star rating. Last but not least, we chatted with a pediatrician and followed safety recommendations from the AAP to understand essential features and considerations to keep top of mind.
Interested in learning more about our editorial process? Read about how our team develops and reviews all articles here.
About the experts:
Alisa Baer, MD, is a pediatrician and co-founder of The Car Seat Lady. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Columbia University and graduated from New York University School of Medicine. Baer completed her pediatric residency at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
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