WAYb Pico Review
Face Rear
- Weight Limit (lb): 22-50 (Forward-facing)
- Height Limit: 30-45" (Forward-facing)
- Age Limit: 2-4 years old months old
You probably won’t find any other toddler car seat that matches WAYB Pico’s design. Its lightweight (8 pounds), folding for easy storage, and narrow profile (14.5″) stand out against your ‘Average Joe’ travel car seat.
All the features have a bespoke feel to them that makes the WAYB Pico car seat a real monster for practicality, from the 50-pound weight limit and 45-inch height limit to the safety certification from passing the standard crash tests. It’s absolutely the ‘King of toddler’s travel car seats’. But there’s one question going through my mind: is it worth it to get it? That’s up to you, and your budget.
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WAYB Pico Car Seat Review - Best Travel Car Seat for Toddlers
Pros & Cons
The good and the bad
What is it best for
Who we recommend it for
Value for Money
Is it worth the price tag?
Design
Dimensions, weight, color, etc
Safety Rating
Crash tests, FMVSS213, SIP
Performance
Weight/height limits, airplane, etc
Installation
Install with LATCH or seat belt
Alternatives
Other car seats to consider
1. Pros and Cons
Pros
- Ultra lightweight (8 pounds)
- Narrow profile to fit 3 across
- Folding design for great portability
- Most compact 5-point harness car seat
- Easy to install
- Safe to use
Cons
- Expensive ($495)
- Short crotch buckle and strap
- No big headrest for support if the kid naps
2. Who Is It Best For?
Will the WAYB Pico Car Seat Be a Good Fit For Your Child and Family?
The WAYB Pico car seat is ideal for parents who are searching for a portable travel car seat for kids around 2 years or older but less than 50 pounds and 45 inches tall.
It boasts a foldable and lightweight design, ease of installation, and safety to protect your kid on both car and airplane trips.
But for daily pickups and long road trips, the WAYB Pico car seat probably isn’t the best option, even though it’s a safe and comfortable 3 across car seat. There are other cheaper alternatives if you have to install multiple car seats in the back row.
Further Information
3. Value for Money
Is the price tag worth it?
Without a doubt, the WAYB Pico car seat looks the part. It’s a portable travel car seat that exudes a folding and lightweight design to come by. So if your family travels a lot in domestic or outside, this is the car seat for you.
However, considering its high price around $400-$500, not all on-the-road families could afford a WAYB Pico car seat.
Let’s face it, the WAYB Pico is one of the most expensive car seats (coming at about twice or a third the price of the average forward-facing car seat). Does portability look like everything, though?
When you put the WAYB Pico up against other portable car seats, the value-for-money question becomes more pertinent. The Pico’s weight and height limit is as big as most of its competitors, and other lightweight car seats, such as the Evenflo Tribute 5, tend to be more comfortable to ride long distances.
Nevertheless, if portability is what you’re after, the WAYB Pico car seat takes the biscuit.
Further Information
4. Design
Dimensions and Width
The WAYB Pico car seat is foldable, so it has at least two sizes for dimensions:
- Folded: 11.6” L x 14.5” W x 18.9” H
- Unfold: 15.2” L x 14.5” W x 27.8” H (maximum harness height position)
It’s obvious that the Pico’s width remains no matter whether folding or not, and it’s very narrow even compared to the best narrow car seats.
The 14.5-inch width is good for 3 across fit if you have multiple kids in a car seat. And you can put the kid using the WAYB Pico car seat in the narrowest middle spot of the back row, which is also considered the safest position to install a child car seat.
After folding the backrest and seat pad, the WAYB Pico goes to 18.9 inches in height, making it ultra-compact and easy to carry. The package includes a travel bag, which is slightly larger than a normal backpack that is specially designed to store the expensive Pico car seat.
The travel bag for the WAYB Pico car seat (we’ll talk about it later) is also separately available for sale, priced at $60. But we don’t recommend you purchase one unless your original one is broken or damaged – that rarely happens.
Further Information
Portability
Weighing at 8 pounds, the WAYB Pico car seat might be the most portable one for toddlers. Along with its folding design, the Pico is absolutely the No.1 travel car seat for toddlers.
The manufacturer designed it for air travel – lightweight for easy carry.
It’s much lighter in weight than our best recommendations for lightweight convertible car seats. For example, the 9.29-pound weighing Evenflo Tribute, which is considered the lightest on the list, is a bit heavier than WAYB Pico’s 8 pounds.
Further Information
Cup holder
The WAYB Pico car seat sold on Amazon (priced at $495) does not include a cup holder, which is sold separately at a price of $35. It’s really a shame for a so-expensive car seat without a cup holder. But if you do really want one, you can also get it on Amazon.
You may wonder where to install the cup holder to the Pico car seat because the seat pad is really limited in space. The manufacturer has taken this into consideration and prepared a manual for using the cup holder for the WAYB Pico car seat, specifically.
How to install WAYB Pico car seat cup holder
1. Push corner of attachment clip onto seat bottom side, towards front of seat, and rotate towards seat until clip engages tube.
2. Align cup holder with attachment clip, pull tab away from cup holder 1 , and slide cup holder down 2 until it touches the vehicle seat.
3. Release tab and ensure cup holder locks into the nearest adjustment slot.
Cup holder can be installed on either side of seat!
NOTE: To improve the fit with the vehicle’s seat, you can adjust the cup holder up or down and front to back on either side of Pico’s seat bottom.
how to remove the cup holder
1. Pinch tab away from cup holder 1 while pulling up on cup holder 2 .
2. We recommend leaving the attachment clip on when folding, storing, or transporting the Pico!
3. When you need to remove the attachment clip, grab bottom of clip and rotate away from seat.
Color option
The WAYB Pico car seat is not only expensive but also stylish. It’s available in five colors:
- Jet
- Golden Hour
- Midnight Sky
- Stardust
- Earth
Very different from other colored car seats that only change the color on the seat pad, each color of the Pico car seat means that the whole body changes the style. This is very appealing for young parents who travel a lot and are often proud of their fashion taste.
Stardust looks the most trendy, making the WAYB Pico in a light and bright view. Personally, I choose this one. It’s more suitable for toddler girls. So does the Golden Hour.
Actually, the five colors are good for both boys and girls, not as obviously inclined feminist colors like purple and pink.
Premium travel bag
The version we reviewed includes the expensive premium travel bag that is worth $60. The travel bag is very similar to a backpack and you can always effortlessly navigate it through an airport, carry it on your back or put it on your travel suitcase.
Headrest and Harness
It’s a pity that the WAYB Pico car seat does not provide multiple positions for harness adjustment. There is only one harness height. You can adjust the harness to fit growing toddlers anyway, but the harness position and strap length might not be the best perfect fit for kids at different weights or heights.
This might be a negative result for its great performance in portability – you can’t design an 8-pound 5-point harness car seat with complex harness adjustment.
Padding
It’s obvious that the WAYB Pico car seat has a very low profile, even lower than the backless booster seats.
To make the car seat compact, the manufacturer does not pad it with as much foam as other common car seats, making it seem less comfortable.
But wait, don’t judge it too soon before knowing what materials it is made from.
The manufacturer has certainly taken your kid’s comfort into consideration and uses a few techniques in the fabrics.
The WAYB Pico car seat is manufactured with high-end materials, its AStroKnit mesh fabric is made from a blend of polyester and responsibly sourced wool, ensuring the car seat is breathable and ergonomic to provide the most comfort for your kids during the trips.
5. Performance
Weight and Height Limits
The WAYB Pico car seat is designed for toddlers weighing between 22-50 pounds and 45 inches tall. It’s neither for newborns nor for big kids older than 5 years.
The car seat is forward-facing only but has lower limits than most other forward-facing harnessed models, which averagely feature a 65-pound and 49-inch 5-point harness capacity.
Working with the 50 lbs/ 45″ weight and height limit is a short harness height, only 16.5 inches high. This means that most kids will outgrow the WAYB Pico car seat by torso height, height, or weight earlier than most standard forward-facing 5-point harness car seats.
The short harness is one of the most talked about complaints for WAYB Pico. If your child grows faster than his peers, you should pay attention to this point. Also, the harness is not as soft as most car seats.
Further Information
Stage / Modes
WAYB Pico car seat is for forward-facing use only. But you can’t simply group it into stage 2 car seats, which have higher weight and height limits.
From its weight and height limits, it obviously belongs to the second stage – forward-facing harness. But it does not last as long as those most-common convertible car seats being used in the second stage.
Don’t get strapped on this topic, you just need to stick to the manufacturer’s instructions to use this car seat.
Further Information
Age Range
From the minimum 22-pound weight requirement and 30-inch height limit, it seems a 1-year-old kid can fit well in the WAYB Pico car seat as long as he reaches both bottom limits.
However, we suggest you not put a 1-year-old infant in a Pico car seat too soon because they may not be good at sitting well upright in the car seat.
Actually, the manufacturer strongly recommends using the WAYB Pico car seat for toddlers at 2 years of age or older. My opinion? I’d like to follow this rule.
Actually, many parents in my community use this type of car seat for air travel or short trips. We prefer keeping the purchased common car seats in the vehicle and using the WAYB Pico on the airplanes.
Airplane
Is Evenflo Shyft DualRide FAA-approved for use on a plane?
Yes, the WAYB Pico car seat is FAA-approved for use on aircraft. Actually, I would believe that the manufacturer designed the Pico for air travel. Three reasons:
First, it’s ultra-lightweight, only 8 pounds, half of the weight compared to most toddler car seats.
Second, it’s foldable. The seat pad and the headrest can be folded along with the backrest, making the Pico car seat very compact for storage and carry.
Third, there is a travel bag designed for storing and carrying the car seat.
Even though it’s okay to use the WAYB Pico for road trips – some parents do this for its narrow profile to fit 3 across, it’s more suitable for airplane use.
You can find the FAA approval label on the bottom of the seat, along with the expiration information. Plus, there’s a label with the aircraft installation belt path on the side of the seat.
Further Information
Lifespan
How long is WAYB Pico car seat good for
The WAYB Pico car seat has a 7-year lifespan from the date of manufacture, which can be found on the label on the bottom of the car seat.
It’s not as long as the most forward-facing harness car seats. But considering its 50-pound weight limit and 45-inch height limit, it’s quite acceptable.
You can even use the WAYB Pico for the second or third kid if it does not get involved in a car crash and there is no apparent damage.
WAYB Pico Car Seat Warranty - 3 Year
The manufacturer provides a 3-year warranty plan for the WAYB Pico car seat.
That’s very common among the most expensive car seats, like the Doona infant car seat with a 2-year warranty. And the lifetime warranty for the Evenflo Shyft DualRide Gold series.
To claim this long-term warranty, you’d better register the car seat once you receive it and want to keep it.
Completing the car seat registration would also let the manufacturer alert you in the event of a recall.
7. Crash Tests and Safety Ratings
Is it safe to use WAYB Pico car seat?
When it comes to car seats and family travel – as the Pico car seat’s objective is for travel families, the saying “safety first” is always true. Most parents would agree that no compromises can be made in the kid’s safety no matter which transportation you travel with.
You should not doubt the WAYB Pico car seat’s safety for its out-standard design. It has a seat pad, backrest, headrest, and most importantly 5-point harness.
Like all other car seats sold in the US and Canada, it basically passes all U.S safety standards, including the crash tests under the FMVSS 213 and FMVSS 302 standard that are regulated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The extras? According to the manufacturer, the WAYB Pico car seat is made of AeroWing™ aluminum and marries the strength of two individual pipes for maximum durability while keeping Pico light, compact, and safe to use.
Proper installation is fundamental to ensure the car seat works for its safety performance. The Pico car seat has a V-shape tether to keep the installation tight. It allows for two attachment points to ensure a secure installation and minimal side-to-side movement. In the event of a collision, multiple rows of stitching on the tether itself help decelerate forward movement.
Check what the manufacturer says about WAYB Pico’s safety.
8. WAYB Pico Car Seat Installation
Before starting to install the car seat, you may where to put it. The center of the back seat is probably the safest position to install a car seat.
If possible, install the car seat on that spot. If that seat is not applicable for a proper installation, for example lacking a shoulder belt, either seat on the side would be safe. You may choose any of them based on your family’s and kid’s needs.
Here are the steps to install the WAYB Pico car seat in the car and airplane.
Install WAYB Pico Car Seat with LATCH
Using LATCH might be the easiest way to install the WABY Pico car seat.
1. Refer to vehicle owner’s manual to identify the seating locations with the LATCH Anchorage System. Select the seating location to be used and locate the vehicle lower anchors at the seat bight for that seating location. Location of some vehicle lower anchors will be identified by the LATCH Lower Anchor Symbol.
2. After selecting a seating location, if the vehicle seat back is adjustable, adjust the seat back to the most upright position or the position specified in the vehicle owner’s manual.
3. Set up Pico for use by unfolding and locking into use position, see “Setting Up Pico” section for assistance. Check that fold lock is securely engaged.
Remove push-on connectors from the storage bars on both sides of the car seat.
4. Lengthen lower anchor belt by pressing adjuster release button while pulling belt to extend the length of lower anchor belt.
5. Remove tether from storage compartment on back of car seat and place in seating area of car seat.
6. Place car seat forward-facing in the vehicle seat location selected with car seat centered between the vehicle lower anchors.
7. Connect lower anchor connectors to vehicle lower anchors. Position red release button of push-on connector facing away from car seat so that lower anchor belt is not twisted. Position the slot of the push-on connector onto the lower anchorage. Push connector in to lock onto the lower anchorage. You should hear a “click”. Pull on connector to be sure it is locked onto the anchorage. Repeat for connector on opposite side.
8. Locate the tether anchor for the seating location being used. NOTE: Check vehicle owner’s manual for tether anchor locations and proper routing of tether strap in relation to vehicle headrest. DO NOT use cargo tie downs or other attachment points not intended for use with car seats. Look for the tether anchor symbol.
9. Attach tether hook to vehicle tether anchor and pull strap to remove slack from tether. Check that the tether strap is not twisted. Final tightening will occur in a later step. NOTE: To lengthen the tether strap, push the tether adjuster button and pull the tether strap through the adjuster.
10. Tighten lower anchor belt to secure the car seat. Place your hand in center of car seat bottom and use leverage to compress the car seat into the vehicle cushion while tightening the lower anchor belt. NOTE: Check that both sides of lower anchor belt are tight. It may be necessary to pull some strap through the seat back frame or to gently rock the seat back left to right while tightening. 11. Snugly adjust tether strap by pulling on free end. NOTE: Check that both sides of the tether strap are tight. It may be necessary to pull some strap through the tether hook toward the adjuster.
12. Check for secure installation. Gripping car seat at the belt path, pull car seat front to back and left to right to check for secure installation. LATCH belt MUST stay tight. Car seat should not move more than 1 in. (25.4 mm). If LATCH belt does not stay tight or car seat cannot be securely installed: Try a different LATCH equipped seating position. Try installing using the vehicle seat belt. See “Vehicle Seat Belt Installation” section.
Install WAYB Pico Car Seat with Lap/Shoulder Belt
1. Refer to vehicle owner’s manual to identify the seating locations which can be used with a car seat. Check for specific instructions for car seat use.
2. After selecting a seating location, if vehicle seat back is adjustable, adjust seat back into most upright position or the position specified in the vehicle owner’s manual.
3. Set Pico up for use by unfolding and locking into use position, see the “Setting Up. Check that fold lock is securely engaged.
4. Remove tether from storage compartment on back of car seat and place in seating area of car seat.
5. Place car seat forward-facing in the vehicle seat location selected, centered between the vehicle belt anchors.
6. Route vehicle belt between the backrest and car seat frame. Place the vehicle lap belt or lap portion of a lap and shoulder belt into both vehicle belt guides on the front of the car seat frame, behind the backrest.
7. If your vehicle belt is equipped with a switchable retractor, switch it to locking mode. NOTE: See the “Vehicle Seat Belt System Overview” section of this manual for assistance.
8. Locate the tether anchor for the seating location being used if available. If no tether anchor is available, skip next step. NOTE: Check vehicle owner’s manual for tether anchor locations and proper routing of tether strap in relation to vehicle headrest. DO NOT use cargo taie downs or other attachment points not intended for use with car seats. Look for the tether anchor symbol.
9. Attach tether hook to vehicle tether anchor and pull strap to remove slack from tether. Check that the tether strap is not twisted. Final tightening will occur in a later step. NOTE: To lengthen the tether strap, push the tether adjuster button and pull the tether strap through the adjuster.
10. Tighten vehicle seat belt to secure the car seat.
FOR VEHICLE LAP BELT ONLY
Place your hand in center of car seat bottom and use leverage to compress the car seat into the vehicle cushion while tightening the vehicle lap belt. NOTE:Rocking the car seat from side to side while tightening may assist in getting the lap belt tightly adjusted.
FOR VEHICLE LAP AND SHOULDER BELTS
Place your hand in center of car seat bottom and use leverage to compress the car seat into the vehicle cushion while pulling on the shoulder belt to tighten the vehicle lap belt. Rocking the car seat from side to side will assist in getting the lap belt tightly adjusted.
NOTE: If your vehicle belt is not equipped with a switchable retractor or locking LATCH plate, you may need a locking clip to securely install this car seat. Contact WAYB at 1-888-924-WAYB (9292) or email [email protected] to request a free locking clip. If using tether, snugly adjust tether strap by pulling on free end.
NOTE: Check that both sides of the tether are tight. It may be necessary to pull some strap through the tether hook toward the adjuster to get both sides tight.
Check for secure installation. Gripping car seat at the belt path, pull car seat front to back and left to right to check for secure installation. Car seat should not move more than 1 in. (25.4 mm). Vehicle lap belt MUST stay tight. If vehicle lap belt does not stay tight or car seat cannot be securely installed: Try installing with LATCH. See “LATCH Installation” section. Try installing in a different vehicle seating position.
Install WAYB Pico Car Seat on Airplane
As there is generally only a lap belt on aircraft if you want to install a WAYB Pico car seat on the airplane, follow the steps above in the ‘install with lap belt’ part.
WAYB Pico Car Seat Manual
You should always read the user manual before starting to install and use it for riding your child.
The WAYB Pico car seat manual is stored in a small storage slot at the frame of the car seat, but you can always find the online user manual on its official website, or download the PDF here.
9. Specifications
| Brand | |
| Brand | WAYB |
| Type | |
| Suitable for | Toddlers |
| Positions | Forward-facing |
| Design | |
| Portability (1-10) | 9.5. Ultra-lightweight and foldable |
| Weight (pounds) | 8 |
| Weight limits (lb.) | 22-50 |
| Height limit (inch) | 22-45” |
| Dimension | 11.6” L x 14.5” W x 18.9” H (Folded); 15.2” L x 14.5” W x 27.8” H (Unfold) |
| Cup holder | No, but you can purchase |
| Performance | |
| Age Range | 2-4 years old |
| Stage | 2nd |
| Installation | LATCH and seat belt |
| Headrest Positions | – |
| Recline positions | – |
| Airplane | Yes |
| Lifespan | 7 Years |
| Extra Features | Folding, lightweight, storage bag |
*About the height limit for rear-facing: The top of the head must be 1” (2.5 cm) below the headrest adjustment lever.
9. Alternatives
What other travel car seats should you consider?
Evenflo Tribute 5
- Weight range (lb): 5-40 (RF): 22-65 (FF)
- Height limits: ~43" (RF); ~49” (FF)
- Stage: 1st, 2nd
- Lifespan: 8 years
Why is it better than WAYB Pico car seat?
- Cheaper price ($79.99 vs $495）
- Can be used in rear-facing for infants
- Headrest is bigger
- Included cup holder
Why is it worse than WAYB Pico car seat?
- Not folding
- Lower weight and height limit (40 lb/ 40” vs 50 lb/ 45”)
- A bit heavier (9.3 lb vs 8 lb)
- Much wider (18.5” vs 14.5”)
Evenflo Maestro Sport
- Weight range (lb): 22-50 (FF); 40-110 (Booster)
- Height limits: ~50" (FF); 38-57"(High Back)
- Stage: 2nd, 3rd
- Lifespan: 8 years
- Suitable: 2 to 8 years and older
Why is it better than WAYB Pico car seat?
- Cheaper price ($99.99 vs $495）
- Can be used in booster for big kids
- Higher harness height limit (50” vs 45”)
- Included cup holders
Why is it worse than WAYB Pico car seat?
- Not folding
- Lower weight and height limit (40 lb/ 40” vs 50 lb/ 45”)
- A bit heavier (9.6 lb vs 8 lb)
- Much wider (17” vs 14.5”)
Diono Radian 3R
- Weight range (lb): 5-40 (RF): 22-65 (FF); 40-100 (Booster)
- Height limits: ~49" (RF&FF); ~57” (Booster)
- Stage: 1st, 2nd, 3rd
- Lifespan: 10 years
Why is it better than WAYB Pico car seat?
- Cheaper price ($199.99 vs $495）
- Can be used in rear-facing for infants
- Can be used in booster for big kids
- Higher harness weight/height limit (65/49” vs 50/45”)
Why is it worse than WAYB Pico car seat?
- A bit heavier (29.6 lb vs 8 lb)
- Much wider (17” vs 14.5”)