The Best Newborn Car Seats in the UK
Car seat safety is a top priority for any parent. There's a wealth of choices when it comes to locating the most suitable car seat for your child.
The Cybex Cloud T offers enhanced side impact protection as well as a baby-hugging insert. It's the most comfortable new car seat in the UK. It also has a one-handed recline setting and no less than 12 headrest positions that adapt to your child's growing body.
1. Cybex Cloud T
The Cybex Cloud T car seat is the most popular choice for taking your newborn to the road from the moment they are born until they become toddlers. It's the latest addition to the iconic Cybex Cloud line and features an innovative reclining system that gives your child a comfortable lie-flat position both inside the car, and when used alongside a pushchair in the context of an overall travel system. It's also an ISOFIX car seat so it can be attached to your vehicle with the base that comes with it. It can even be rotated 360 degrees to assist in getting your child in and out.
The car seat is constructed of top-quality materials and it comes in a variety of trendy colors, including Moon Black, Lava Grey and Beach Blue Plus. It's a chic and elegant option that works seamlessly with the Cybex T range of prams. It also comes with a Newborn Inlay for newborns and premature babies which helps to ensure a safe, near-flat position that reduces the risk of their heads flopping forward while they sleep, which could cause breathing problems. It is removed when your child is at least 60 cm in height.
The car seat is an excellent choice for safety, as it scored a dazzling 1.7 in crash tests conducted by ADAC (Allgemeiner Deutsche Automobil-Club e.V.). The Cloud T i-Size comes equipped with LSP (Linear Side-impact protection) to safeguard your child in the event of a collision and the revolutionary Flexi-Fix system that stretches to accommodate your child as they grow.
If you're planning to use the car seat as part of a travel set-up with a Cybex pushchair, the unique 180deg tilt means getting your baby out and in is a breeze - no more awkward twisting or reaching. The car seat is able to be fully reclined to provide extra comfort during long car journeys. It is priced at a slightly higher price point than some other cars seats for this age group, but the extensive list of features like the reclining option and excellent safety features make it well worth the money.
2. Maxi-Cosi Pebble Plus
The Maxi-Cosi Pebble Plus car seat is among the most sought-after newborn car seats on the market. It is comfortable for infants and simple 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 as well as Quinny, iCandy and Bugaboo (using adapters). It includes the Baby-Hugg infant head support to ensure a better fit, laying position and side impact protection.
The Pebble Plus car seat is a Group 0+, which means that it is suitable for babies as young as 12 months (45cm – 75cm). It is in line with the new iSize regulations, which require that children be rear-facing for a longer period of time. It is compatible with the 2way family base, which allows you to change from forward-facing to rear-facing on the same vehicle. It also features an easy-to-use rotating feature.
It's still a very comfortable seat, but the latest version is a bit more refined. It has a new, better baby-hugging inlay that looks and feels great. The shoulder straps are covered in padding and the headrest can be adjusted to accommodate the growth of your baby. You can remove it at any point, in case you decide not to use it anymore.
It's a little heavier at 4.5kg than some other newborn carseats, but this shouldn't be an issue for a baby who spends the majority of the day in it. You can put it on with a handle for easier carrying, and it's lightweight enough to get it in and out of rideshare cars or taxis, too.
It's also a nice-looking seat and you can select from a variety of colors and patterns to fit your car. It's not the most affordable infant car seat but it's still very reasonable and worth the extra investment for your baby. It can be difficult to adjust the harness height and length but once you've got the hang of it it's fine. You simply pull down on the back panel and press two buttons to move up or down the straps without having to rethread them.
3. Joie Calmi
If you're in search of a new car seat that's easy to use and cradles your baby like a cot then look no further than Joie Calmi. This car seat that doubles as a carrycot is certified by R129. It's built tough with a durable ventilated exterior shell and a plush padding to protect your little one. It comes with an easy 3-point harness that is accessible with one-pull tightening and softly padded covers. It also features lateral positioning, which helps keep your baby's face in a safest possible position in the event of impact.
The base of this seat is compatible with Joie's Aeria and Finiti pushchairs, so you can pop it off and back on the frame easily. And, thanks to adjustable handle bars, it's easy to lift even when your baby is asleep. If you're planning to build an entire travel set, the iBase Encore adapters allow you to pair Calmi up with a MaxiCosi or Britax stroller.
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 an electronic lock that prevents the seat from turning too quickly, ensuring that your baby remains rearward-facing for as long as is possible. It also has a large sun canopy that is water-resistant and has 50+ UV protection and an open mesh that allows you to check in without disturbing the child.
If you are shopping online for a car seat, select an online retailer that provides free delivery to the UK mainland for all orders. They should also allow returns within 35 days. John Lewis offers a wide range of car seats for newborns from top brands, including Maxi-Cosi, Silver Cross and Cybex. Click and collect is free to any branch in your area (or Sainsbury's if you are close to it). You can also collect Nectar points on every purchase. Argos is another great option for a wide selection of car seats, starting at PS55. You can also enjoy free delivery, same-day collection at the store and free returns to any Argos or participating Sainsbury's store.
4. Silver Cross Motion All Size 360
Silver Cross Motion is a new all-in-one vehicle seat from the reputable British brand that is renowned for its high-end pushchairs and prams. Our tester Jasper was a fan, describing it "the most stylish of the bunch, and the one my daughter seemed to find most comfortable on long drives."
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 best infant seat baby, toddler and child car seat. It was also tested above the rules to ensure your child is protected on every trip.
It includes a removable, cozy cushioned insert for infants made of soft bamboo fabrics. These are super comfortable and breathable, as well as antibacterial. The head and body inserts as well as the support can be removed as your child grows. You can also adjust the position of the headrest and recline to suit.
A distinctive feature is the built-in green light' that signals when the car seat is properly secured and ready for use, making it a great option for parents who aren't familiar with the proper way to install and fit car seats. It also has a handy harness that can be used in either a rear or forward facing position.
It's also a permanent fixture, so you won't need to wake your baby in order to get them out of the car on longer trips. However, it's not travel system-compatible, like the Joie iSpin 360 iSize or Britax Romer Dualfix Plus i-Size (you need to buy an additional travel bag to do this).
The drawback to cars with a fixed structure like the Axkid One i-size is that they're not as convenient to carry around if you have to transport them between different vehicles. If you decide to buy a separate travel bag, choose one that is sturdy and able to endure the wear and tear of daily use. It's worth paying a little extra for a bag that will last as long as the car seat of your child.
