The Best Newborn Car Seats in the UK
Safety of your car seat is a top concern for any parent. There are a myriad of options when it comes to choosing the most suitable car seat for your newborn for your child.
The Cybex Cloud T offers enhanced side impact protection and a baby-hugging inlay. It's the most comfortable new car seat in the UK. It comes with a single-handed recline and 12 positions for the headrest to adjust to your child's changing body.
1. Cybex Cloud T
The Cybex Cloud T is the premium car seat that includes everything you need to take your infant on journeys from birth right through to their toddler years. It's the newest version of the legendary Cybex Cloud line and features the latest reclining technology that allows your child an ergonomic lie-flat position both inside the car and when used with a pushchair as part of an overall travel system. It is also an ISOFIX vehicle seat, so it can be easily affixed to your vehicle using the base provided. It can be rotated to assist you in helping to get your child into and out of the seat.
The car seat itself is made from high-quality materials and comes in a range of stylish colours, including Moon Black, Lava Grey, Beach Blue Plus and Seashell Beige Plus. It's a stylish and sophisticated choice that effortlessly matches the Cybex T line of prams. It also comes with the Newborn Inlay for newborns and premature babies which helps to ensure a secure, flat position that reduces the risk of their heads bouncing forward while they sleep, which can cause breathing problems. This can be removed once your child is at least 60 cm in height.
The car seat is a fantastic option for safety as it scored a dazzling 1.7 in crash tests by ADAC (Allgemeiner Deutsche Automobil-Club e.V.). The Cloud T iSize is equipped with LSP (Linear Side-impact protection) to safeguard your child in the event of a crash and the revolutionary Flexi-Fix system that stretches to accommodate your child as they develop.
The unique 180deg rotating system makes it simple to get your baby into and out of the car seat when you use it as a part of a travel system, with a Cybex stroller. No more awkward twisting or reaching. The car seat can be set in a fully reclined configuration to provide extra comfort on long car journeys. It is priced at a slightly higher cost than some other cars seats for this age group, however the numerous features including the reclining option and the excellent safety features make it worth the money.
2. Maxi-Cosi Pebble Plus
Maxi-Cosi's Pebble Plus is one of the most comfortable infant car seats on the market. It's a comfortable seat for babies and easy to use. It is suitable from birth and can be used with the Maxi-Cosi FamilyFix or EasyFix base or with the seat belt system in your car. The car seat is also compatible with most pushchairs including the Maxi-Cosi range, Quinny, iCandy and Bugaboo (using adapters). It comes with the Baby-Hugg infant head support to allow for a better fit and the position of the child's head and side impact protection.
The Pebble Plus is a Group 0+ car seat which means it can be used with babies from birth until 12 months old (45cm between 45cm and 75cm). It's compliant with new iSize regulations that require that children sit in the rear for a longer period of time. It is compatible with the 2way family base, which allows you to switch between forward-facing and rear-facing within the same vehicle. It also includes a handy rotating feature.
As with the previous version it's a comfortable seat and the latest edition has some improvements. It now comes with a more refined baby-hugg inlay that is extremely comfortable and looks great. The shoulder straps are covered in padding and the headrest can be adjusted to accommodate your baby's growing. You can take it off at any time when you do not want to use it anymore.
It is a little heavier at 4.5kg than some other newborn carseats, but it shouldn't pose a problem when your baby spends the majority of the time in it. It comes with a handle to make it easier to carry and is lightweight enough to be carried to and from taxis or rideshare vehicles.
It's also a nice-looking seat, and you can choose from a variety of colours and patterns to fit your car. It's not the most cost-effective infant car seat, but it's still a great investment and is worth the extra money for your baby. Once you've got the hang of it and adjust the size and height is a breeze. You can adjust the straps by pulling down on the back panel, pressing two buttons at the same time.
3. newborn car seat
If you're looking for a baby car seat that's easy to use and cradles your baby like a cot, then you should consider Joie Calmi. This carrycot that doubles as a car seat is R129-certified, which means it's made tough with a durable ventilated shell and plush cushioning to hold your infant. It features a 3-point safety harness that is adjusted with just a single pull, and softly cushioned covers. It also has lateral positioning, which keeps your baby's face in a safest possible position in the event of an collision.
The base of this seat is compatible with Joie Aeria and Finiti strollers, so it's easy to pop it on and off the frame. Additionally, with the adjustable handles, it's easy to lift, even when your bundle of joy is asleep. If you want to create an all-in-one travel system, the iBase Encore adapters permit you to pair Calmi with a Maxi-Cosi or Britax pushchair, too.
Joie has improved on the design of its earlier i-Spin 360, which earned a high test score in the crash tests of Which? and a Good rating from ADAC. The model we tested has a lock to prevent the seat from turning too fast, ensuring that your baby remains rearward-facing for as long as is possible. It also boasts a large sun canopy that is water-resistant and provides 50+ UV protection and features a mesh peekaboo windows to let you look in without disturbing your child.
If you're shopping for a car seat online, ensure you choose a store that offers free UK mainland delivery on all orders and returns within 35 days. John Lewis has a great selection of infant car seats from top brands, including Cybex, Maxi-Cosi and Silver Cross, and provides free click and collect to the nearest store (or to the nearest Sainsbury's branch if you are close to one). You can also collect Nectar points on all purchases. Argos also has a great selection of car seats with prices starting from PS55. You can also enjoy free delivery, same-day collection in-store and free returns to any Argos or Sainsbury's retailer that is a participating one.
4. Silver Cross Motion All Size 360
The trusted British brand is well-known for its high-end prams and pushchairs but the Silver Cross Motion all-in-one car seat is making a name for itself. Our tester Jasper loved it, describing it "the best-looking of the bunch and the one that my child seemed to be most comfortable in on long rides."
This fully rotating R129 safe car seat is suitable for babies all the way to 12 years old. It won the ADAC 2022 autumn test's award for the most effective baby, toddler and child car seat. It has also been tested beyond the regulations to ensure your child is protected throughout every journey.
For newborns, it features an adjustable and cozy padding made of soft bamboo fabrics that's super comfortable and breathable. It's also antibacterial. The head support and body insert can be removed as your child grows and the 3 recline and 8 positions for the headrest can be adjusted to accommodate.
One of the most distinctive features is the built-in green light' that lets you know when the car seat is secured and ready to use and is a great choice for new parents who aren't familiar about the correct method to install and set up car seats. It also comes with a stowable harness which can be used in either rear or forward-facing position.
It's also a permanent fixture, so you won't have to wake your baby in order to take them out of the car for long journeys. It's not compatible with travel systems such as the Britax Romer Dualfix plus iSize or the Joie iSpin 360 iSize. You'll need to purchase a separate travel bag.
The Axkid One is a permanently fixed car seat. They're not as easy to move between cars. If you decide to purchase a separate travel bag pick one that is durable and able to stand up to the wear and tear of frequent use. It's worth spending a little more to purchase a bag that will last as long as the car seat of your child.