The Best Newborn Car Seats in the UK
Safety of your car seat is a top priority for any parent. There are many options available when it comes to selecting the best car seat for your child.
Featuring a cosy baby-hugg inlay and enhanced side impact protection, the Cybex Cloud T is the best newborn car seat UK. It has a one handed recline and 12 headrest positions to adjust to your child’s changing body.
1. Cybex Cloud T
The Cybex Cloud T is the premium car seat that includes everything you need to take your infant to their first journey right through to their toddler years. It’s the newest addition to the iconic Cybex Cloud range and features innovative reclining technology that lets your child a comfortable and reclining position in the car or when used in conjunction with a stroller as part of the complete travel system. It’s also an ISOFIX car seat which means it can be easily attached to your vehicle using the base supplied. It can even be rotated 360 degrees to aid in getting your child in and out.
The car seat is made of top-quality materials and it comes in a range of fashionable colours including Moon Black, Lava Grey and Beach Blue Plus. It’s a sleek and sophisticated choice that effortlessly matches the Cybex T line of prams. It also comes with the Newborn Inlay for newborns and premature babies to ensure a secure, nearly flat position that reduces the possibility of their heads bouncing forward during sleep, which could cause breathing problems. This can be removed once your child reaches 60 cm 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 iSize is equipped with LSP (Linear Side-impact Protection) to safeguard your baby from being thrown around in the seat in the event of an accident and the revolutionary Flexi-Fix harness system that expands as your child grows to ensure they are always in a secure fit.
The innovative 180deg rotating system makes it simple to get your baby in and out of the car seat when you use it as a part of a travel system that includes a Cybex stroller. No more awkward twisting or reaching. The car seat can be positioned in a fully reclined configuration to provide extra comfort on long car journeys. It does come at a slightly higher cost than other seats for this age group, however the wide array of features including the reclining option and the excellent safety features make it worth the money.
2. Maxi-Cosi Pebble Plus
Maxi-Cosi’s Pebble Plus is one of the best newborn car seats available. It’s comfortable for babies and easy to use. It’s suitable for babies from birth and can be used with the Maxi-Cosi FamilyFix or EasyFix base or with your car’s 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 seat is included to ensure an improved fit, a more comfortable position, 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 – 75cm). It is in compliance with the latest i-Size regulations that require children to stay in the rear of the car for longer. It is compatible with the 2way family base, which allows you to switch from rear-facing to forward-facing on the same vehicle. It also features an easy-to-use rotating feature.
Like the previous version, it’s a very comfortable seat and the new version includes some improvements. It’s now got a better baby-hugg inlay that is super comfortable and stylish. The shoulder straps are well-cushioned and the headrest can be moved up and down as your baby grows. You can remove it at any point, when you do not want to use it anymore.
It’s heavier than other infant carseats, at 4.5kg but should not be a problem when your child is in it for most of the time. It has a handle that can make it easier to carry, and is light enough to be lifted into and out of taxis or rideshare vehicles.
It’s also a good-looking seat and you can select from a wide range of colors and patterns to match your car. It’s not the cheapest infant car seat but it’s still a reasonable price and is worth the investment for your baby. Once you’ve mastered it making adjustments to the harness’s size and height is simple. Simply pull down on the back panel, and squeeze together two buttons to adjust the height or down the straps without needing to rethread them.
3. Joie Calmi
If you’re in search of a new car seat that’s super easy to use and cradles your baby like a cot, then look no further than Joie Calmi. This carrycot that doubles as a car seat is R129-certified, meaning that it’s built tough with a durable air-conditioned shell and soft cushioning to cradle your infant. 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 keeps your baby’s face in the safest possible position in the event of an collision.
The base of this seat is compatible with Joie Aeria and Finiti strollers, which means you can easily slide it onto and off the frame. And, thanks to adjustable handle bars, it’s a breeze to lift, even when your bundle of joy is asleep. If you’re looking to create a travel set, iBase Encore adapters let you to pair Calmi up with a MaxiCosi or Britax stroller.
Joie has improved on the design of its earlier i-Spin 360, which earned a high test score in Which?’s crash tests and a good rating from ADAC. The model we tested includes an electronic lock that prevents you from rotating the seat too fast, ensuring that your baby remains rearward-facing for as long as it is possible. It also has a large, water-resistant sun canopy with 50+ UV protection, as well as a mesh peekaboo to allow you to check in without disturbing your child.
If you are shopping online for a car seat, select a retailer who offers free delivery to the UK mainland on all purchases. They should also allow returns within 35 days. John Lewis has a great range of newborn car seats with top brands like Cybex, Maxi-Cosi and Silver Cross and provides free click and collect to your nearest store (or to the nearest Sainsbury’s branch if you’re near by). You can also collect Nectar points on all purchases. Argos is another good infant car seats choice for a broad selection of car seats, with prices starting at PS55. You can also enjoy 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 vehicle seat that is all-in-one from the reputable British brand that is known for its high-end pushchairs and prams. Our tester Jasper loved it, describing it “the most stylish of the bunch and the one my baby appeared to be most comfortable during long journeys.”
This fully rotating R129 compliant car seat is suitable for babies up to 12 years old. It was awarded the ADAC 2022 autumn test’s award for the most effective baby, toddler and child car seat. It was also tested beyond the regulations to ensure your child is protected throughout every journey.
It is equipped with a removable, cozy cushioned insert for infants made of soft bamboo fabric. These bamboo fabrics are extremely breathable and antibacterial. The body and head support can be removed as your child grows and the 3 recline and 8 headrest positions can also be adjusted to fit your child’s.
One of the most distinctive features is the built-in ‘green light’ that lets you know when the car seat is secured and ready for use and is a great choice for new parents who aren’t familiar with the proper way to install and fit car seats. It also comes with a stowable harness which can be used in either a rear or forward-facing position.
It’s also permanent, so you won’t need to wake your baby in order to take them out of the car on longer journeys. But, 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 for this).
The downside to permanently fixed car seats like the Axkid One i-size is that they’re not as easy to carry around when you have to move them between vehicles. If you decide to buy a separate travel bag choose one that is sturdy and can stand up to the wear and tear of regular use. It’s worth spending a little more to purchase a bag that will last as long as the car seat of your child.
