The Best Car Seats For Newborns
A car seat that is suitable for infants is essential. They are suitable from birth to 13kg and can be used in conjunction with a pushchair, to create a travel system. They have an elongated design that allows newborns to rest in the most optimal position.
By law, they need to be rear-facing until your baby is nine months old or 135cm tall. We suggest choosing an i-Size (also known as R129) or an ECE R44-approved baby seat that comes with ISOFIX and offers side impact protection.
Maxi-Cosi Pebble Pro i-Size
This Silver Cross model is worth taking a closer look if you're in the market for an iSize infant car seat that can protect your child from birth to when they're ready to upgrade to a booster. It is one of only one or two R129-approved car seats that can be used from the time of birth and offers complete protection for rear-facing children until 7. This is a great investment for your child.
It's important to check whether a vehicle is iSize approved. This includes side impact tests as well as front tests for impact. It's also important to think about other aspects, including the ease of installation and if it's compatible your vehicle. Brilliant safety features won't function effectively if they're not fitted correctly.
The design of the Pebble Pro is sleek and stylish and features soft fabric that's machine washable to make cleaning easy. There's soft padding for your infant and a the seat liner is reversible to ensure comfort. It features an ergonomic handle with a shaped grip that makes it easy to lift and transport.
As you can see in the pictures the base of this car seat can be connected directly to your vehicle using either the Isofix connectors or using the seat belt of your vehicle. However, it's best to make use of the FamilyFix i-Size base for easier installation and to maintain i-Size compliance. The base can be used in conjunction with Maxi Cosi accessories such as seat covers, footmuffs, and sun shades to provide warmth or protect your child from sun damage.
Apart from the i-Size certification and the excellent crash test results, which see it achieve top marks in all categories, this is an extremely well-designed car seat with many other attributes that are worth considering. Those include its compact fold that takes up small space in the trunk, a 5-point harness, an ergonomic carry handle and 10 headrest positions, including memory foam for babies. The seat will also fit into the majority of pushchairs that are part of a travel system and can be used in conjunction with the brand's FamilyFix 360 base.
Silver Cross Dream ISize
Silver Cross Dream i-Size, one of the most recent products in the range of products offered by the company, is a luxurious option with an infant insert. The car seat is certified by i-Size and provides maximum longevity for your child from birth. It can be used with a rear facing until 18kg and also offers high side impact protection thanks to its unique Motion Safe System. The rotating seat design makes it easy to get your child inside and out. The ISOFIX built-in lock is a safety feature.
Suitable for babies aged from birth to 12 months (to 85cm), this model has been designed with comfort in mind, with soft touch bamboo fabrics and Silver Cross premium branding. The infant insert will keep your baby safe, secure and comfortable. It has removable sections that can be adjusted to your baby's growth and a five-position headrest that ensures a comfortable fitting. The seat is awarded the AGR 2022 certificate of acceptance which is a prestigious award for infant car seats - and is compatible with Silver Cross prams and pushchairs to create a travel system (adapters are sold separately).
The Nuna PIPA Urbn is baseless and therefore you can use the Dream i-Size with ISOFIX connectors and your vehicle's seatbelt. The unique ISOFIX installation method is easy to use and takes just a few seconds to install. The seat is a great option for parents who frequently change cars or share a family car or travel with taxis and drivers.
It's also a little higher priced than maxicosi's cabriofix, but it's one of our top picks because it looks fantastic and comes with an swivel 360-degree feature. It also comes with a three-level recline feature and an inlay for infants that is removable. It's also iSize-approved, has an excellent crash-test rating, and is a top safety pick by Which? They base their recommendations on the safety of the product and the ease of installation and also on whether the seat is properly fitted. Remember that even the top of car seats can only offer maximum protection in the event that it is installed correctly.
Axkid One i-Size
The Axkid One i-Size is the only ISOFIX seat we've tested that can allow rear-facing for children up to 23kg and 125cm (around four years old). It has the highest height limit for rear-facing of any seat we've tested. It's an unusual feature, and is worth considering if you want your child to remain rear-facing as long as is possible.
The seat is comfortable and sturdy, and there's plenty of room for the torso and head of your child to expand comfortably. It's designed to be comfortable and features a one-handed reclining mechanism and 12 headrests, and soft belt padding. It's designed to be durable and can withstand the rigors of daily use. However the mechanism and button to loosen and tighten straps are a bit fiddly. We're worried that it may be snagged or break in time.
It is also relatively lightweight at just under 10kg, making it easy to lift into and out of your car. It comes with a pocket to store small items on the back and a built in sun shade with Velcro strips. It is easily clipped to an appropriate stroller which is ideal for those who need to travel on multiple occasions.
As is usual with an i-Size car seats by age seat, the base of this seat uses Isofix connectors that click effortlessly into position. The seat also comes with a support foot that can be adjusted by a small gray button hidden in the back. It also has an indicator light to let you know when it's secured. The seat slides onto the top, and there's a handy grab handle for lifting it in and out of the car.
This seat comes with a fantastic feature: it can be shifted forward and backwards along the base to adjust the legroom. This means you can alter the legroom as your child grows, so they can still comfortably cross their legs, even if they're very tall. This is a fantastic feature that works well. It took me about 30 seconds to set up the seat and then adjust the legroom after a bit of practice.
George at Asda
George at ASDA has a great selection of car seats for infants, whether you're looking for your first car seat or a second one to use with your pushchair. This well-known supermarket chain is known for its affordable clothes and homeware, and it's especially popular around Christmas and other shopping events.
Prices vary for all parenting products. You can purchase an infant car seat that does not require a base for as little as PS100, or a full infant carrier for as low as PS725 if you want one with the base. A second seat is generally worth it in the event that you plan to use your current pushchair, since you'll save money on the expense of a separate pushchair or travel system.
If you're buying a car seat for your newborn, it's important to choose one that is in line with the most recent guidelines. These include a recommended recline position to keep infants from sitting in a non-natural and dangerous posture. The seat should also be equipped with removable padding to keep the newborn in a comfortable and snug position.
Newborns and infants can outgrow their car seats very quickly and it's crucial to choose a model that will grow with them. Many parents opt for car seats in the group 0+/1, group 1/2/3 or group 3/4 that can be adjusted to meet their child's size. This kind of car seat is suitable for babies up to around 12 years old.
Second-hand car seats aren't safe for newborns. You should only buy them if they have been professionally cleaned and checked. Safety experts in the field of car seats Damon Marriott and Claire Waterhouse recommend against buying a second-hand car seat from relatives or friends, as it's hard to discern the history of the seat. They recommend a used seat purchased from a reputable seller or on eBay. Before buying anything, it's a good idea also to check the warranty. The warranty will cover any repairs or replacements that may be necessary. Based on the manufacturer, warranties can range from two to six years. The longer the warranty, the better. The most comprehensive warranties include repair and replacement parts as well as free repairs for the first three to five years.
