The Best Newborn Car Seats in the UK
Safety of your car seat is a top concern for every parent. There's a wealth of options when it comes down to choosing the ideal car seat for newborns for your child.
The Cybex Cloud T offers enhanced side impact protection and a baby-hugging insert. It's the best new car seat in the UK. It also features a single-handed recline setting and no less than 12 headrest positions that adjust to your child's changing body.
1. Cybex Cloud T
The Cybex Cloud T car seat is the best choice for bringing your baby along on trips from the time they're born until toddlers. It's the newest update to the legendary Cybex Cloud line and features an innovative reclining system that gives your child an ergonomic lie-flat position in the car and when used in conjunction with a pushchair as part of a 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 get your baby in and out of the seat.
The car seat is made of top quality materials, and is available in a range of fashionable colors including Moon Black, Lava Grey and Beach Blue Plus. It's a stylish and sophisticated option that is seamlessly matched with the Cybex T line 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 possibility of their heads moving forward during sleep, potentially leading to breathing difficulties. This can be removed when your child reaches 60 cm in height.
The car seat is an excellent choice for safety, as it scored a dazzling 1.7 in crash tests by ADAC (Allgemeiner Deutsche Automobil-Club e.V.). The Cloud T i-Size features LSP (Linear Side-impact Protection) to prevent your baby from being thrown around the seat in the event of an accident. It also features the revolutionary Flexi-Fix harness system that expands when your child grows, ensuring they always have a secure fit.
If you're planning to use the car seat as part of a travel set-up with a Cybex pushchair, the revolutionary 180deg rotation ensures that getting your baby in and out is super easy - no more awkward bending or reaching. The car seat is also equipped to fully recline for extra comfort on long car rides. It does come at a somewhat higher price than some other cars seats for this age group, however the wide array of features including the reclining option and the excellent safety features make it worth the cost.
2. Maxi-Cosi Pebble Plus
The Maxi-Cosi Pebble Plus car seat is one of the most popular newborn car seats on the market. It is comfortable for infants and easy to use. It's suitable from birth and can be used with Maxi-Cosi's FamilyFix or EasyFix base or with the seat belt system in your car. The car seat is compatible with most pushchairs including the Maxi-Cosi range and Quinny, iCandy and Bugaboo (using adapters). It includes the Baby-Hugg infant head support to ensure a better fit, positioning for laying 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 to 75cm). It's compliant with new iSize regulations that require that children remain rear-facing for longer. It's compatible with the 2way Family base, which allows you to switch between forward and rear facing in the same car and comes with a handy rotation feature.
It's still a very comfy seat, but the new version is a bit more refined. It features a new, improved baby-hugging inlay that feels and looks great. The shoulder straps have been covered in padding and the headrest is adjustable to fit your baby's growth. You can take it off at any time, if you don't want to use it anymore.
It's heavier than other infant carseats, at 4.5kg, but that shouldn't be a problem when your child is using it for the majority of the time. You can put it on with a handle for more comfortable transport, and it's light enough to be able to lift it into and out of rideshare vehicles or taxis as well.
It's also a stylish seat that is stylish. You can pick from many different colours and patterns that will suit your car. It's not the most affordable infant car seat, but it's an excellent investment that is worth the money for your baby. It can be difficult to adjust the harness's length and height however once you've got the hang of it, it's easy. You simply pull down on the back panel, and squeeze two buttons to move up and down the straps without needing 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 you should consider Joie Calmi. This dual-use carrycot and car seat is R129-certified, which means it's built to last with a tough air-conditioned shell and soft cushioning to hold your infant. It has a three-point safety harness that is adjusted with a single pull and softly cushioned covers. It also has lateral positioning, which helps keep your baby's face in the most secure possible position in case of impact.
The seat's base is compatible with Joie Aeria and Finiti strollers, which means it's easy to pop it on and off the frame. It's easy to lift even when your baby is asleep thanks to the adjustable handle bars. If you're looking to build an entire travel system, the i-Base Encore adapters let you to pair Calmi with Maxi-Cosi or Britax pushchair, too.
The design of the previous i-Spin 360 has been improved by Joie. The model was awarded a high score in Which?'s crash tests, and a good rating from ADAC. The most recent model, which we tested, features a lock that will stop you from rotating the seat to face forward too soon, ensuring your baby stays rearward-facing for the longest time possible. It also comes with a large sun canopy that's water repellent and provides 50+ UV protection and features a mesh peekaboo windows that lets you observe without disturbing your child.
If you're looking for a car seat online, ensure you pick a retailer which offers free UK mainland delivery on all purchases 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 also offers free click and collect to your nearest store (or to an Sainsbury's branch if you are close to one). You can also collect Nectar points on every purchase. Argos also offers a good selection of car seats with prices starting at PS55. They'll even deliver your order for free, offer same-day in-store collection and free returns at any Argos store or participating Sainsbury's branches.
4. Silver Cross Motion All Size 360
Silver Cross Motion is a new all-in-one vehicle seat from the reputable British brand, which is known for its top pushchairs and prams. Our tester Jasper was a fan, describing it "the most stylish of the bunch, and the one my baby appeared to find most comfortable on long drives."
This fully rotating R129 certified car seat is suitable for babies all the way to 12 years old. It was awarded the ADAC 2022 autumn test's award for the best toddler, cheap infant car seats and child car seat. It has also been tested beyond the regulations to ensure your child is safe during every trip.
It includes a removable, cosy cushioned insert for infants made of soft bamboo fabric. These fabrics are super breathable and antibacterial. The head support and body insert can be removed as your child grows, and the 3 recline and 8 headrest positions can also be adjusted to suit.
One of the most distinctive features is the built-in 'green light' that lets you know that the car seat is secured and ready for use and is a great choice for new parents who aren't sure with the correct way to install and set up car seats. It also comes with a stowable harness which can be used in either the rear or forward facing position.
Another major selling point is that it's a permanent fixture in the car and you don't need to wake up your sleepy baby to take out for longer journeys. However, it isn't travel system-compatible, like the Joie i-Spin 360 i-Size or Britax Romer Dualfix Plus iSize (you must purchase an additional travel bag for this).
The Axkid One is a permanently fixed car seat. They're not as easy to move between cars. If you decide to buy a separate travel bag pick one that is durable and can endure the wear and tear of daily use. It's worth paying a bit more for a bag that will last longer than your child's car seat.
