WAYB Pico Review: The 8 lb Folding Car Seat, Limits and FAA Label

The WAYB Pico is an 8 lb, forward-facing-only harnessed car seat that folds small enough to carry in a backpack, and it is certified for both cars and aircraft. It makes sense for families who fly or use taxis and rideshares several times a year with a child who has already outgrown rear-facing. It is the wrong seat for any child who still fits rear-facing, and an expensive one if you travel once a year.

Check the minimum weight carefully. WAYB raised it from 22 lb to 26.5 lb for seats manufactured on or after June 30, 2025. The limit printed on your seat's label is the one that applies.

WAYB Pico Travel Car Seat with Premium Carrying Bag, Lightweight Portable Foldable

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An 8 lb folding, forward-facing car seat certified for motor vehicles and aircraft, for families who travel often with a child past rear-facing.

weight:~8 lbs

age Range:26.5–50 lbs, 33.5–45 in

direction:Forward-facing only

fold:Folds flat for travel

Pros

• ✓Ultra-lightweight at 8 lbs
• ✓Folds flat into carrying bag
• ✓Perfect for airplanes and rideshares
• ✓Premium build quality

Cons

• ×Very expensive
• ×Forward-facing only
• ×Limited weight range
• ×No rear-facing option

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This product is featured in our Best FAA-Approved Car Seats roundup.

How we assessed this

We have not used this car seat. This page is built from WAYB's published specifications and safety-standards page, FAA guidance on car seats in aircraft, and AAP car seat recommendations. Method: How We Research.

Quick verdict

Is the WAYB Pico FAA-approved?

Yes, by label. WAYB says the Pico is tested to FMVSS 213, the federal standard for child restraint systems, and FMVSS 302, and that it carries the statement "This restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft" in red text on the bottom of the seat.

That wording is what matters at the gate. The FAA tells parents to confirm their child's seat carries exactly that statement, to install it according to the manufacturer's instructions, and to keep the child within the device's weight and size limits. Flight attendants may ask to see the label, so know where it is before you board.

Two practical notes. You need to buy your child a seat to use the Pico onboard. And the FAA does not set which row or seat a car seat goes in; airlines have their own seat-location policies, so check your carrier's rules when you book. More in our airline car seat rules guide.

Why is it forward-facing only, and who does that rule out?

The Pico has no rear-facing mode. The AAP recommends that infants and toddlers ride rear-facing as long as possible, until they reach the highest rear-facing weight or height their seat allows, and notes that most convertible seats allow rear-facing for 2 years or more. WAYB itself recommends the Pico for children 2 and up and points out that some states, such as California, require children to stay rear-facing in most cases until age 2.

In practice the Pico is a seat for the stage after rear-facing. If your child still fits a rear-facing seat, use one. The AAP also says children should stay in a harnessed seat as long as possible, at least to age 4, so a harnessed travel seat like this one fits that stage well.

How much does it weigh, and how small does it fold?

WAYB lists the Pico at 8 lb, using an aluminum frame instead of a plastic shell. Folded for storage it measures about 11.6 × 14.5 × 18.9 in. For comparison, the Baby Trend Trooper Slim, a common budget FAA-approved travel seat, is listed at about 12 lb and does not fold.

The weight difference is small on paper. It matters when you carry the seat through a terminal along with a child and a carry-on, or keep it in a backpack between rideshares.

How does it install in a car?

WAYB lists three methods: the vehicle's LATCH lower anchors, a lap-and-shoulder belt, or a lap-only belt. It uses a V-shaped top tether with two attachment points and recommends using the tether whenever the vehicle seat has a tether anchor. The AAP says the top tether should always be used with a forward-facing seat, whether you install with the belt or the lower anchors.

Rideshares and older taxis may have hard-to-find anchors, so learn the belt route at home before your trip. If you can, have a certified child passenger safety technician check your first installation. Our rental car car seat guide covers installing in unfamiliar vehicles. NHTSA publishes car seat guidance and an inspection-station locator.

When will my child outgrow it?

At 50 lb or 45 in, whichever comes first. WAYB adds that the height limit is reached when the harness straps are level with the shoulders, or when the tops of the ears reach the top of the headrest in its highest position. The harness has a single height position, so check the strap height against your child's shoulders rather than relying on age.

Usable time depends on when your child leaves rear-facing. A child who rear-faces until 3 or later gets fewer years from a forward-facing-only seat.

How does it compare?

Choose the Trooper Slim if your child still rides rear-facing, you travel once or twice a year, or the budget is tight.

Choose CARES if you only need restraint on the plane and will have a car seat at your destination. The FAA approves CARES for children up to 40 in tall weighing 22–44 lb.

Choose the Pico if your child is forward-facing, you use cars at both ends of a trip, and you would otherwise haul a full convertible through the airport.

Trade-offs to weigh

• Price. It sits in the premium tier, well above a budget travel seat; you pay for weight and fold.
• Forward-facing only. It does not cover the rear-facing years.
• Single harness height. Fit depends on strap height against your child's shoulders.
• No recline is listed. A sleeping child's head can drop forward on long drives.
• Expiry. The seat expires seven years after manufacture; check the date on any seat you buy.
• Buying used is risky. You cannot verify the crash history of a secondhand car seat. Pico seats made from February 1 to August 23, 2019 were also recalled (NHTSA campaign 19C-001) because the headrest frame can break; WAYB replaces the headrest free. Seats made outside those dates are not covered, so check the manufacture date on the label of any secondhand seat.

Who should skip it

• Families with a child who still fits rear-facing.
• Families who travel once or twice a year: a Trooper Slim or a rental seat costs far less.
• Anyone looking for an everyday seat for daily driving.
• Families with older-model seats and a child under 26.5 lb should note that a new seat will have the higher minimum.

Final verdict

The Pico solves a specific problem: getting a forward-facing child safely through planes, taxis and rental cars without carrying a full-size seat. It is light, folds small, installs with LATCH or a belt, and carries the aircraft certification label. It costs a lot and starts late, at 26.5 lb on current seats. Buy it if your child is past rear-facing and you travel often; otherwise a budget FAA-approved convertible does the same safety job for much less.