The Best Newborn Car Seats in the UK
Safety of your car seat is a top concern for every parent. There are a variety of options when it comes to choosing the most suitable car seat for your newborn for your child.
Featuring a cosy baby-hugg inlay and enhanced side impact protection The Cybex Cloud T is the most comfortable car seat for newborns in the UK. It has a one handed recline and 12 headrest positions to adjust to your child's growing body.
1. Cybex Cloud T
The Cybex Cloud T car seat is the most popular choice to take your baby with you on your journeys from birth until they are toddlers. It is the latest addition to the iconic Cybex Cloud range and features innovative reclining technology that lets your child a lie-flat ergonomic position in the car or when used with a stroller as part the complete travel system. It is also an ISOFIX vehicle seat, so it is able to be easily attached to your car using the base provided. It can even be rotated to help get your baby in and out of the seat.
The car seat itself is made of top-quality materials. It comes in a range of stylish colors, including Moon Black, Lava Grey, Beach Blue Plus and Seashell Beige Plus. It's a sleek and sophisticated choice that seamlessly matches with 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 minimizes the chance of their heads flopping forward during sleep, potentially leading to breathing problems. It can be removed once your child is at a height of 60 cm.
The car seat is an excellent option for safety as it has scored an impressive 1.7 in crash tests conducted by ADAC (Allgemeiner Deutsche Automobil-Club e.V.). The Cloud T iSize is equipped with LSP (Linear Side-impact protection) to protect your baby in the event of a crash. It also features the innovative Flexi-Fix system that stretches to fit your child as they expand.
If you're planning to use the car seat as part of a travel system that includes a Cybex pushchair, the unique 180deg rotation ensures that getting your baby out and in is super easy - no more awkward bending or reaching. The car seat is capable of fully reclined for extra comfort on long car rides. It's slightly higher cost than other car seats for this age group, however the wide array of features like the reclining option and excellent safety features make it worth the investment.
2. Maxi-Cosi Pebble Plus
Maxi-Cosi Pebble Plus is one of the most popular infant car seats around. It is simple to use and comfortable for babies. 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 compatible with most pushchairs including the Maxi Cosi range, Quinny, iCandy, and Bugaboo, using adapters. The Baby-Hugg infant support is included to ensure an improved fit, a more comfortable in a more upright position, and also side impact protection.
The Pebble Plus car seat is classified as a Group 0+ that means it can be used by children as young as 12 months (45cm to 75cm). It's compliant with new iSize regulations, which require that children remain rear-facing for longer. It is compatible with the 2way Family base, which allows you to change between forward and rear facing in the same car and has a handy rotation feature.
Similar to the previous version, it's a comfortable seat and the new version has some improvements. It now has a much-improved baby-hugg inlay that looks and feels super-comfy. The shoulder straps are well-cushioned and the headrest is able to be moved up or down as your baby grows. You can take it off at any point, in case you decide not to use it any more.
It is a little heavier at 4.5kg than other newborn carseats, but this shouldn't be a problem for a baby who spends the majority of the time in it. It has a handle to make it easier to carry, and is light enough to lift into and out of taxis or rideshare vehicles.
It's also a good-looking seat and you can pick from a wide range of patterns and colours to match your car. It's not the cheapest car seat for infants, but it's still very reasonable and well worth the extra cost for your baby. Once you get the hang it and adjust the height and size is easy. Simply pull down on the back panel and squeeze two buttons to move up or down the straps without needing to rethread them.
3. Joie Calmi
Joie Calmi is the ideal newborn car seat. It's simple to use and cradles baby like a cot. This car seat that doubles as a carrycot is certified by R129. It's built to last with a tough ventilated outer shell and a plush padding to protect your baby. It has three-point harnesses that are easily accessible via a single pull tightening mechanism and softly padded covers. It also has lateral positioning, which helps keep your baby's face in the safest possible position in case of impact.
The base of this seat is compatible with Joie Aeria and Finiti strollers, so you can easily pop it on and off the frame. It's easy to lift even when your baby is asleep due to the adjustable handle bars. If you want to create a travel system, then the iBase Encore adapters permit you to connect Calmi with Maxi-Cosi or Britax pushchair as well.
Joie has improved on the design of its earlier i-Spin 360, which earned a high test score in Which?'s crash tests as well as an A+ rating from ADAC. The latest model, which we tested, has a lock that prevents you from turning the seat too quickly, ensuring that your baby stays rearward-facing for the longest time possible. It also has a large sun canopy that is water-resistant and has 50+ UV protection, as well as a mesh peekaboo to allow you to check in without disturbing the child.
If you are shopping online for car seat, you should choose an online retailer that provides free delivery to the UK mainland for all orders. They should also accept returns within 35 days. John Lewis has a great selection of baby car seats from top brands, including Cybex, Maxi-Cosi and Silver Cross and also provides free click and collect to the nearest store (or to a Sainsbury's branch if you're nearby). On all purchases you make, you will also earn Nectar points. Argos is another great option for a variety of car seats, starting at PS55. You can also avail free delivery, same-day collection in-store and free returns to any Argos or Sainsbury's store that is participating.
4. Silver Cross Motion All Size 360
Silver Cross Motion is a new vehicle seat that's all-in-one from the reputable British brand that is known for its premium pushchairs and prams. Jasper the tester loved it. He said it was "the most fashionable of the bunch and my baby seemed to find it most comfortable on long drives."
This fully-rotating R129-compliant car seat can carry your baby all the way to 12 years of age and was awarded the top baby toddler, child and child car seat award in ADAC's autumn test in 2022. It's also been tested above and beyond regulations to ensure your child is safe throughout every trip.
For infants, it comes with a removable and cosy cushioned insert made of soft bamboo fabrics that's super breathable and antibacterial. The body support and head support can be removed as your child grows and the 3 headrest positions and recline can also be adjusted to suit.
The green light that indicates when the car seat is properly fitted and is now ready to use is an exclusive feature. This makes it a perfect choice for parents who might not be aware of the proper installation and fitting of car seats. It also comes with a harness that can be used in either rear or forward facing position.
Another major selling point is that it's a permanent fixture in the car which means you don't have to wake up your sleeping newborn to get them out for long trips. But, it's not travel system-compatible, like the Joie iSpin 360 iSize or Britax Romer Dualfix Plus i-Size (you need to buy a separate travel bag for this).
The Axkid One is a permanently fixed car seat. They are not as simple to transport 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 regular use. infant carrier seat paying a bit extra for a bag that will last as long as your child's car seat does.