The Best Newborn Car Seats in the UK
Safety of your car seat is a top concern for every parent. There are many options available 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 is the best new car seat 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 premium option for bringing your baby along on trips from the moment they are born until they become toddlers. It is the latest version of the legendary Cybex Cloud range and features innovative reclining technology that lets your child a lie-flat ergonomic position in the car or when used in conjunction with strollers as part of a complete travel system. It is also an Kinderkraft JUNIORFIX2 Isofix Toddler Car Seat – Gray vehicle seat, so it can be easily affixed to your car by using the base supplied. It can even be rotated to help you get your baby into and out of the seat.
The car seat itself is constructed from high-quality materials and comes in a range of stylish colours such as Moon Black, Lava Grey, Beach Blue Plus and Seashell Beige Plus. It’s a stylish and elegant option that is seamlessly matched with the Cybex T line of prams. It also comes with the Newborn Inlay, which is designed for newborns and premature infants. This assists in maintaining the baby’s head in a flat position, decreasing the possibility that their heads shift forward during sleep, causing breathing problems. This can be removed when your child is at 60 centimeters in height.
The car seat is an excellent option for safety as it has scored an impressive 1.7 in crash tests by ADAC (Allgemeiner Deutsche Automobil-Club e.V.). The Cloud T i-Size comes with LSP (Linear Side-impact Protection) to safeguard your baby from being thrown around in the seat in the case of an accident. Also, it has the revolutionary Flexi-Fix harness system that expands as your child grows, ensuring that they will always have a safe fit.
If you’re planning to use the car seat as part of a travel system that includes a Cybex pushchair, the unique 180deg tilt means getting your baby out and in is easy. No more awkward bending or reaching. The car seat is capable of fully reclined for added comfort on long car rides. It’s somewhat higher price than other car seats for this age group, but the wide array of features like the reclining option and the excellent security features make it worth the investment.
2. Maxi-Cosi Pebble Plus
The Maxi-Cosi Pebble Plus is among the best newborn car seats around. It is comfortable for infants and easy to use. It is suitable for babies from birth. It can be used either with Maxi-Cosi Mica Eco i-Size Swivel Car Seat Black – Premium Safety for Your Baby FamilyFix, EasyFix base, or with your car seat belt system. The car seat is compatible with all pushchairs, including the Maxi-Cosi range and Quinny, iCandy and Bugaboo (using adapters). It comes with the Baby-Hugg infant headrest to allow for a better fit and positioning for laying and side impact protection.
The Pebble Plus car seat is a Group 0+, which means that it is suitable for children as young as 12 months (45cm between 45cm and 75cm). It is in compliance with the latest i-Size regulations which require children to stay in the rear 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 within the same vehicle. It also includes a handy rotating feature.
It’s still a very comfy seat, but the latest version has a few improvements. It’s now got a better baby-hugg inlay which looks and feels super-comfy. The shoulder straps are well-cushioned and the headrest can be adjusted up or down as your baby grows. You can remove it at any time, if you don’t want to use it again.
It is a little heavier at 4.5kg than some 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 be lifted into and out of taxis or rideshare vehicles.
It’s also a stylish seat and you can select from a wide selection of colors and patterns to match your car. It’s not the most affordable infant car seat but it’s still affordable and is worth the investment for your baby. It can be tricky to adjust the harness length and height, but once you’ve got the hang of it, it’s easy. Simply pull down on the back panel and press together two buttons to move up and down the straps without needing to rethread them.
3. Joie Calmi
If you’re looking for a newborn car seat that’s super user-friendly and can be used by your baby like a cot, then you should consider Joie Calmi. This dual-use car seat and carrycot is certified by R129. It’s built to last with a durable ventilated outer shell and soft padding to hold your baby. It has a three-point safety harness that can be adjusted with just a single pull, and softly cushioned covers. It also has lateral positioning, which helps keep your baby’s face in the safest possible position in the event of an collision.
This seat’s base is compatible with Joie’s Aeria and Finiti pushchairs, meaning you can take it off and put it back on easily. And, thanks to adjustable handle bars, it’s also a breeze to lift even when your bundle of joy is asleep. If you’re looking to create a travel set, iBase Encore adapters allow you to connect your Calmi up with a MaxiCosi or Britax stroller.
The design of the earlier i-Spin 360 has been improved by Joie. This model received a high score in Which?’s crash tests, and a good rating from ADAC. The most recent model that we tested features a lock that will stop you from turning the seat to face forward too soon, ensuring your child remains rear-facing for the longest time possible. It also boasts a large sun canopy that’s water resistant and provides 50+ UV protection, and includes a mesh peekaboo window that lets you observe without disturbing your child.
If you’re shopping for a car seat online, make sure you select a retailer that offers free UK mainland delivery on all orders and returns within 35 days. John Lewis offers a wide variety 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). For all purchases, you can also earn Nectar points. Argos is another good choice for a variety of car seats, with prices starting at PS55. You can also get free delivery, same-day collection in 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 trusted British brand, which is known for its high-end pushchairs and prams. Our tester Jasper was a fan, describing it “the most stylish of the bunch and the one that my child seemed to be most comfortable in on long drives.”
This fully rotating R129 certified car seat is suitable for infants up to 12 year olds. It was awarded the ADAC 2022 autumn test’s award for the most effective baby, toddler and child car seat. It’s also been tested above and beyond the regulations to ensure that your child’s safety on every journey.
It is equipped with an adjustable, comfortable padded insert for newborns composed of soft bamboo fabrics. These fabrics are super breathable and antibacterial. The head and body inserts as well as the support can be removed as your child gets older. You can also alter the recline and headrest positions to fit your child’s.
The green light that indicates when the car seat has been properly fitted and is ready to use is a unique feature. This makes it an ideal choice for parents who are new to the family, and may not know the correct installation and fitting of car seats. It also has a handy harness that can be used in either rear or forward-facing position.
It’s also an ongoing fixture, meaning you won’t need to wake your baby up to take them out of the car on longer trips. However, it isn’t travel system-compatible like the Joie I-Spin 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 easy to transport between cars. If you choose to purchase a separate travel bag choose one that is sturdy and able to withstand the wear and tears of regular use. It’s worth spending a little more for a bag that can last as long as the car seat of your child.