WHAT IS A CAR SEAT TRAVEL TRAY?
A car seat travel tray is a child’s own personal activity area that will keep them busy during long rides or on a road trip.
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This portable activity table allows your toddler to play games, draw pictures, read a book, eat in the car, or watch their favorite show on their tablet.
To help make traveling with your toddler easier, we created a list of the best car seat trays for toddlers.
Related Post: 50 Road Trip Activities for Toddlers
QUICK RECAP: OUR FAVORITE CAR SEAT TRAVEL TRAYS
- Best Travel Tray for Toddlers – Tomser Travel Tray
- Our Favorite Travel Travel for Big Kids – Kenley Kids Travel Tray
- Most Popular Car Seat Travel Tray – Lusso Gear Kids Travel Tray
Read More – Screen-Free Road Trip Toys for Toddlers
TOP 5 CAR SEAT TRAVEL TRAYS COMPARISON CHART
To help you find the best car seat travel tray for your toddler, we put together a comparison table.
This table will allow you to compare the top car seat travel trays and decide which best fits your needs.
Although each of the travel trays is different, they have one thing in common, affordability.
All of the trays for car seats on our list are less than $40, which is well worth the sanity they provide when on a road trip with a toddler.
Last update on 2025-02-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Related Post: Best Tablets for Toddlers Under 5
THE 5 BEST CAR SEAT TRAVEL TRAYS
Car seat travel trays make a long road trip with your toddler more manageable.
Honestly, they are great for kids of all ages, even if your little one is 7 years old.
A kid’s travel tray will make it easier for them to entertain themselves or do homework on the go.
The concept is simple but helpful; your toddler or big kid can stay busy during the ride, making it easier and more fun for everyone.
funtasit Kids Travel Tray
The funtasit kids travel tray is our favorite car seat travel tray for toddlers. This kids’ tray connects at two points, which makes it more stable for your toddler to play on.
What sets it apart from the other trays is that it is detachable, so you can use it as a holder for an iPad or tablet. There is an opening in the device holder to make charging easier.
This is a complete portable travel station that your little one will love. There are two large detachable pockets for additional storage, which is especially helpful for long car rides.
If your little one loves to write or draw there are several pockets to store crayons, pencils, markers, and other drawing utensils.
One of the drawbacks is the lack of color choices. There are only two colors available (pink and green), which is somewhat limiting.
When not in use, it can easily zip into a messenger bag, so your toddler can take it on the go.
Overall, this car seat travel tray is versatile and can be used as your toddler transitions from a car seat to a booster seat.
Pros
- Sturdy
- Leakproof
- Easy to clean
- Lots of pockets for storage
- Tablet pocket has open port for charging
- Detachable pockets included (2)
- Folds into messenger bag
Cons
- Short side walls
- Few color options
Lusso Gear Kids Travel Tray
The Lusso Gear Kids Travel Tray is the most popular and best-selling car seat travel tray on Amazon.
The Lusso is one of the firsts to sell the travel tray for kids. According to the reviews, many parents love the simple, yet affected design.
This tray is better for kids over the age of 4. They are mature enough to entertain themselves, without as many tantrums.
This is one of the heavier kids’ travel trays, so their legs will be able to handle the additional weight.
The dry-erase board is huge, giving them a lot of space to write, color, draw, or play with their toys.
This tray has one of the better tablet stands, making it easier for your little one to watch their favorite movie or show.
There are a lot of additional pockets to store toys or coloring utensils. The cup holder Although it doesn’t collapse into a messenger bag, it does fold flat for storage.
Overall, this is a sold car seat travel tray for road trips, running errands, or long car rides. Plus, you aren’t limited to the car. You can use this kid’s travel tray at home.
Pros
- Lots of pockets
- Easy to clean
- Sturdy tablet holder
Cons
- Strap hard to tighten and loosen
- Pockets are small
- Can be heavy for younger toddlers
- No color options
Kenley Kids Travel Tray
The Kenley Kids Toddler Car Seat Lap Tray is the second most popular car seat travel tray on Amazon.
The curved design makes it fit perfectly over any car seat. Plus, the pad on the outside makes it comfortable for long-term use.
There are several pockets on the side on op top of the dry-erase board.
If you would like to rearrange the tray, the pockets are removable to get the perfect setup for your toddler. The additional mesh pockets can even be used as a second cup holder, which is useful.
An improvement for this travel tray would be if the tablet holder was redesigned. The current tablet holder is flimsy and only provides support for the bottom of the device.
Pros
- Two cup holders
- Waterproof
- Fully collapsible
- Curved edge for a comfortable fit
- Removeable pockets for additional space
- Lifetime warranty
Cons
- Few color options
- Not as sturdy as other trays
- Flimsy tablet holder
Beloved Belongings Kids Travel Tray
The Beloved Belongings Kids Travel Tray is perfect for toddlers that love to play in the car.
The high walls make it perfect for rolling cars without them dropping on the floor. One of the best features is the stable stand for an iPad or tablet.
The material is spill-proof, so you don’t have to worry about spills on your floor. When you purchase this tray for your kids, it comes with educational drawing papers and dry-erase markers.
The major drawback of this car seat travel tray is the lack of a dry-erase board. It is a feature that other trays have that this one is lacking.
There aren’t as many pockets available for storing toys or activities. Although there is a cup holder, it is in an inconvenient location for younger toddlers.
Pros
- Great for iPads
- Secure tablet holder
- Easy to clean
- No dry erase board
- Tall side walls
Cons
- Less pockets than other travel trays
- Takes up a lot of space
- Material isn’t as durable
Tomser Kids Travel Tray
The Tomser Kids Travel Tray is a solid option if you are looking for a kids’ travel tray that doesn’t need a tablet holder. This is perfect for kids who want to color, draw, read, or do activities.
There are several mesh pockets to store toys or coloring utensils. Although there are a lot of pockets it would be better if they were enclosed.
A major drawback is the lack of a true tablet holder. There is just a slot to place your tablet, but there isn’t really any back support or plastic cover.
The placement of the cup holder is inconvenient for younger toddlers but may work for older kids.
Pros
- Bonus activities included
- Learning dry erase board
- Lots of storage and pockets
- Back pocket for storage
- Travel bag included
Cons
- Doesn’t have a true tablet holder
- Cup holder in weird location
Toddler Activities
Last update on 2025-02-15 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
BIG KID CAR SEAT TRAYS COMPARISON TABLE
Last update on 2025-02-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Read More: Best Headphones for Toddlers
BENEFITS OF HAVING A CAR SEAT TRAVEL TRAY
When traveling with a toddler for an extended time, the number one rule is to keep them engaged.
Boredom can lead to frustration, tantrums, and irritation for young children. Having a car seat travel tray will reduce the likelihood of your toddler getting bored and becoming frustrated.
Here are the different ways you can use a car seat travel tray.
Activity Table
Your toddler can play with their toys, build a puzzle, read a book, or watch a movie on a stead tray.
The best car seat travel trays have a dry erase board for your little one to write or draw. Our son used his tray to build with his blocks.
Read More: Best Road Trip Toys for Kids Under 5
Food Tray
Having a food tray makes it a lot easier to clean up after your toddler in the car. You avoid stale fries in between seats, and their food can sit on a stable surface.
How many of us are tired of trying to reach in the back seat to hand our little one’s food?
With a car seat travel tray, you no longer need to push yourself in the backseat to feel your toddler.
Storage
If you are tired of your backseat looking like your toddler’s second bedroom. Travel trays are great for storing toys, pencils, coloring books, markers, tablets, and other toys.
Do we use a travel tray?
Yes, we absolutely do. We used one when our son was 20-months old during our three-week trip through five states, and it was a lifesaver.
Honestly, I don’t know how we’ve been surviving without a car seat travel tray. They are perfect for keeping toddlers busy while in the car.
I’m not saying you need a car seat travel tray, but you need one if you have a toddler that isn’t fond of long car rides.
Related Post: Best Travel Toys for 2-Year-Olds
5 BEST CAR SEAT TRAVEL TRAYS FOR BIG KIDS
Related Post: Potty Training on the Go
Jungle Feels Car Seat Table
The Jungle Feels Car Seat Table
Pros
Cons
DMoose Kids Travel Tray
Pros
Cons
Organized Empire Kids Travel Tray
The Organized Empire Kids Travel Tray
Pros
Cons
World Map Kids Car Seat Travel Tray
The World Map Kids Car Seat Travel Tray
Pros
Cons
BE Family Travel Tray
Pros
Cons
Related Post: Best Travel Potty for Toddlers
BEST BACK SEAT CAR ORGANIZER FOR KIDS
I don’t know what it is, but after you have kids, it seems impossible to keep your car clean.
There are clothes, toys, headphones, crayons, and all sorts of other things in your backseat as your kids get older.
It’s like your car becomes their second room, with stuff everywhere. That doesn’t include the food that somehow makes its way onto the floor, between the seats, and in their car seat (that’s for the toddler parents out there).
Back seat organizers can be the solution to your back seat problems. They make it easier to store the things your kids need without the back of your car being a mess.
Here are the best back seat organizers for parents.
Last update on 2025-02-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Tsumbay Car Back Seat Organizer
The Tsumbay Car Back Seat Organizer came in a close second for our favorite back seat organizer for kids. The foldable tray makes it the perfect activity table for older kids in the car.
If you are looking for a car seat tray that also doubles as a back seat organizer, this is the one for you.
It is a combination of both products, so you can keep the back seat clean, and your kids can keep themselves entertained.
Based on the reviews, the main complaint is the quality of the seams. The buckle is held together with a single seam, as opposed to a double one, which would increase durability.
Pros
- Waterproof
- Easy to clean
- Lots of storage pockets (9)
- Foldable tray
Cons
- Difficult for toddlers to reach in car seat
- Seams can be stronger
- Comes with one organizer
ULEEKA Car Backseat Organizer
The ULEEKA Car Backseat Organizer comes in a pack of two and includes a 1-year warranty if you experience any problems. This back seat organizer has the most pockets of all the organizers on our list.
There are nine backseat pockets to organize all of your kid’s toys, crayons, etc.
It’s easy to clean, water-resistant, and is machine washable, but I recommend using a damp cloth. The built-in tablet holder can fit a 10-inch tablet or iPad.
Based on the reviews, these back seat organizers do not work well on bucket seats. There are also reports of the snaps breaking during installation if you pull too hard.
Also, there were mentions of the tablet holder being too low if your kids are in a car seat, so I recommend this for older childer who are in a booster seat.
Pros
- A lot of pockets for storage
- Touchscreen tablet holder fits tablet up to 10 in
- Water-resistant
- 1-year warranty
Cons
- Durability
- Not good for bucket seats
- May be too low for kids in a car seat
FoxBox Kids Car Organizer
The FoxBox Kids Car Organizer is a simple back seat organizer for your backseat to keep that straps in the middle seat.
Although it isn’t a cooler, it’s the perfect place to store snacks, toys, drinks, and other things for your kids.
It’s perfect for storing any size cup, although it doesn’t have a tablet holder for your little ones to watch shows. Plus, you can use a portion of the bag as a trash can, so there isn’t trash all over the back seat.
Pros
- Insulated cup holders
- Separate section for trash
Cons
- No tablet holder
- Takes up the middle seat
High Road Car Organizer for Kids
The High Road Car Organizer for Kids is our favorite backseat organizer for families with older kids, not necessarily toddlers.
What I love about this back seat organizer is that it doubles as a cooler. You can place snacks inside for long road trips or to keep cold or warm while in the car.
There are four storage compartments on each side, so there is plenty of space for the kids to put their items, without touching the other’s stuff (reduce fighting).
The front pockets double as a cup holder, so everything they need is next to them.
Since it takes up a lot of space in the backseat, it is only suitable for families with one or two children who are no longer in car seats.
There isn’t a tablet holder, but you can purchase a separate headrest tablet holder for them to watch TV shows or movies.
Pros
- Insulated cooler inside to keep snacks cold
- Additional storage pockets
- Fits a lot of items
Cons
- Takes up space on backseat
- No tablet holder
BEST CAR SEAT TRAVEL TRAY BUYING GUIDE
Choosing the best car seat travel tray for your toddler depends on several factors.
For this post, we only considered the trays that work best for car seats, although kids of any age can use a kid travel tray.
The things that meant the most to us for our toddler were durability, storage pockets, and portability.
Durability
When it comes to kids, you always need something that’s going to be durable. You know how rough kids can be, so we look for quality products that are going to last.
Most car seat travel trays for kids are durable and can withstand the beating it may take as your toddler plays in the car.
Storage Pockets
Storage pockets help keep your car clean because your little ones can put their toys in the pockets and not the floor.
You don’t have to worry about markers, crayons, coloring books, or even stuffed animals everywhere.
Portability
All of the kids’ car seat travel trays sold flat, but not all of them are designed to be carried as a workstation.
There are a few trays on our list that can be turned into a messenger bag and taken with them as a portable activity table.
If you want to use this in places other than the car, I recommend getting an activity tray that converts to a bag.
This is super helpful- thank you! You mention that you used this when your child was 20 months old. I’m specifically looking to see if any trays can be used for a rear facing car seat. Do you have any input on that? I’ve searched everywhere!!!
I wasn’t able to find a tray that is meant for rear-facing kids. We usually face him forward during long road trips because it makes it easier to remedy an issue if he starts crying. When he is rear-facing (shorter road trips under 3 hours), we usually just put a headrest holder on the seat for him to watch a movie. He also has a little art studio that he uses when he is rear-facing, so he doesn’t need the car seat tray. I hope this helps you.