There are no frills here but the TravelTot from Mothercare is a lightweight, portable seat that’s perfect for nipping around on short journeys, or as a spare for grandparents. A solid seat with good side protection and adjustable head hugger.
As the TravelTot is a budget buy the features are fairly basic but still tick all the boxes as far as safety and comfort are concerned. A single-walled shell provides adequate protection and it has a roomy seat with a removable head hugger for newborns. It has a three-point harness, which has a good sturdy buckle. The tension release button fits flush to the seat and the one pull adjustment is so simple that we could do it without looking for instructions.
What we love
What you see is what you get, so without any hidden gadgets, this seat really is extremely simple to use. It’s a compact seat that provides adequate protection and comfort for short journeys, or is just handy to use as a spare. Weighing only 2.55kg, it’s the lightest model I’ve come across, so carrying it around didn’t require brute strength.
All covers can be easily removed and washed, making this an all round easy-to-use car seat. There’s also a weather shield available, which is very handy for when you’re out and about. Best of all it’s self-explanatory – no instructions necessary – and at just under £50 it’s great value for money, too.
What to watch out for
For safety conscious parents the single-walled shell may be an issue and the side protection isn’t as high as some others I have used in the past. The seat, although it looked comfortable for short journeys, isn’t heavily padded, so loses points for longer car journeys. The fact that there’s no sun canopy meant that my little one, Elsie, had the sun in her eyes and didn’t sleep because of that and I ended up rigging up my own makeshift canopy. Finally, it doesn’t come with a base and isn’t compatible with a travel system.
Who is the TravelTot best for?
Grandparents who need a spare seat for visits. It’s a really easy car seat to install and use, so is handy for occasional use.
This ‘no frills’ seat is effortless to use and great value, too. What you see is what you get; there are no fancy extras, so it’s perfect for short journeys, but not so good for longer ones.
