The Best Newborn Car Seats in the UK
Car seat safety is a top concern for any parent. There's a wealth of choices when it comes down to choosing the best newborn car seat for your child.
Featuring a cosy baby-hugg inlay and enhanced side impact protection This Cybex Cloud T is the most comfortable car seat for newborns in the UK. It also features a single-handed recline option and more than 12 headrest positions that can be adjusted to your child's growing body.
1. Cybex Cloud T
The Cybex Cloud T car seat is the best choice for bringing your baby along on trips from birth until they are toddlers. It is the latest version of the legendary Cybex Cloud range and features innovative reclining technologies that give your child a lie-flat ergonomic position in the car when used with strollers as part of an entire travel system. It is also an ISOFIX vehicle seat, so it can be easily affixed to your car using the base provided. It can also be rotated to help you get your baby in and out of the seat.
The car seat itself is made of top-quality materials. It comes in a variety of trendy colors such as Moon Black, Lava Grey, Beach Blue Plus and Seashell Beige Plus. It's a stylish and sophisticated option that matches perfectly with the Cybex T range of prams. It also comes with the Newborn Inlay for newborns and premature babies to ensure a secure, nearly flat position that minimizes the chance of their heads bouncing forward while they sleep, potentially leading to breathing difficulties. This can be removed once your child is at least 60 centimeters in height.
When it comes to safety the car seat provides excellent protection for your child. It scored an impressive 1.7 result in crash tests by ADAC (Allgemeiner Deutsche Automobil-Club e.V). The Cloud T i-Size features LSP (Linear Side-impact Protection) to protect your child from being thrown around in the seat in the event of an accident and the unique Flexi-Fix harness system that expands when your child grows to ensure they are always in a secure fit.
The unique 180deg rotating system makes it simple to get your baby into and out of the car seat when you are using it as a part of a travel system, with a Cybex stroller. There is no more awkward twisting or reaching. The car seat can also be set in a fully reclined position for added comfort during long car trips. The cost is a bit higher than other car seats for this age but the features it provides, such as the recline feature and superior safety features makes it well worth the investment.
2. Maxi-Cosi Pebble Plus
The Maxi-Cosi Pebble Plus Car Seat is among the most popular newborn car seats on the market. It's comfortable for babies and easy to use. It is suitable for babies from birth. It can be used with the Maxi-Cosi FamilyFix, EasyFix base, or with your car seat belt system. 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 also included to provide the best fit, better laying in a position that is more comfortable, and provides side impact protection.
The Pebble Plus is a Group 0+ car seat, which means it is suitable for use for babies ranging from birth until 12 months old (45cm between 45cm and 75cm). It is in line with the new iSize regulations that require that children be rear-facing for a longer period of time. It is compatible with the 2way Family base that allows you to change between forward and rear facing in the same car and has a handy rotation feature.
Like the previous version, it's a comfortable seat and the latest edition comes with some enhancements. It comes with a brand new, improved baby-hugging insert that feels and looks great. The shoulder straps are cushioned and the headrest can be adjusted up or down as your baby grows. It is also possible to remove it at any time if you want to stop using it.
It's a little heavier than some of the other infant carseats, at 4.5kg, but that should not be a problem when your baby is in it for most of the time. You can put it on with a handle to make it easier carrying, and it's lightweight enough to be able to lift it into and out of rideshare cars or taxis, too.
It's also a stylish seat. You can choose from many different colours and patterns that are suitable for your car. It's not the most affordable infant car seat but it's still very reasonable and is worth the investment for your baby. It can be a bit difficult to adjust the harness length and height, but once you've mastered the art of it, it's a breeze. You can adjust the straps by pulling downwards on the back panel, and pressing two buttons at the same time.
3. Joie Calmi
If you're in search of a new car seat that is user-friendly and can be used by 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 made tough with a tough ventilated shell and plush cushioning to hold your baby. It features a 3-point safety harness that can be adjusted with just a single pull, and softly cushioned covers. It also has lateral positioning to keep your baby's head at the most secure position in the event of an accident.
This seat's base is compatible with Joie's Aeria and Finiti pushchairs, which means you can remove it and on the frame with ease. It's easy to move even when your baby is asleep, because of the adjustable handle bars. If pushchairsandprams.uk looking to make a travel set, the iBase Encore adapters let you to pair Calmi with a MaxiCosi or Britax stroller.
Joie has improved the design of its earlier i-Spin 360, which earned the highest test score in the crash tests of Which? and an A+ rating from ADAC. The most recent model, which we tested, comes with a lock that stops you from rotating the seat to face forward too soon, ensuring your baby stays rearward-facing for as long as possible. It also comes with a large sun canopy that is water-resistant and offers 50+ UV protection and has a mesh peekaboo window to allow you to check in without disturbing your child.
If you are looking online for car seat, select an online retailer that offers free delivery to the UK mainland for all orders. They should also allow returns within 35 days. John Lewis offers a wide selection of infant car seats from top brands like 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 also has a great range of car seats at prices starting at PS55. You can also enjoy 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
The trusted British brand is most well-known for its high-end prams and pushchairs but the Silver Cross Motion all-in-one car seat is making its mark on the market. Jasper, our tester, loved it. He said it was "the most fashionable of the bunch." My baby seemed to be the most comfortable during 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 most effective child, baby and toddler car seat. It's also been tested above and beyond regulations to ensure your child will be safe on every journey.
It is equipped with an adjustable, comfortable padding for infants made of soft bamboo fabric. These bamboo fabrics are extremely comfortable and breathable, as well as antibacterial. The head and body inserts as well as the support can be removed when your child gets older. You can also alter the position of the headrest and recline to fit your child's.
A unique feature is the built-in green light' that lets you know when the car seat is secured and ready for use and is a great option for new parents who aren't sure with the proper way to install and set up car seats. It also has a handy stowable harness which can be used in either rear or forward-facing position.
It's also permanent, so you won't have to wake your baby up to take them out of the car on longer trips. However, it's not travel system-compatible, like the Joie i-Spin 360 i-Size or Britax Romer Dualfix Plus i-Size (you must purchase an additional travel bag to do this).
The Axkid One is a permanently fixed car seat that is permanently fixed. They're not as easy to transport between cars. If you do choose to purchase an additional travel bag for your car seat, be sure it's a sturdy one that is able to withstand the wear and tear that comes with frequent use. It's worth paying a bit more for a bag that can last longer than the car seat of your child.