The Best Newborn Car Seats in the UK
Safety in car seats is a top priority for all parents. There are a myriad of options when it comes to choosing the best car seat for your child.
The Cybex Cloud T offers enhanced side impact protection, as well as an adorable inlay. It’s the best new car seat in the UK. It features 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 top rated infant car seats car seat that comes with everything you need to take your newborn on journeys from birth right until they reach toddler years. It’s the latest version of the legendary Cybex Cloud line and features an innovative reclining system that gives your child an ergonomic lie-flat position both inside the car, and when used alongside a pushchair in the context of a travel system. It’s also an ISOFIX vehicle seat, so it is able to be easily attached to your vehicle by using the base that comes with it. It can also be rotated to help to get your child into and out of the seat.
The car seat is made of top quality materials, and it comes in a range of fashionable colors, including Moon Black, Lava Grey and Beach Blue Plus. It’s a stylish and elegant option that works seamlessly with the Cybex T range of prams. It also comes with the Newborn Inlay, which is specifically designed for premature and newborn infants. This helps maintain a near-flat position, reducing the risk that their heads will shift forward while sleeping, causing breathing problems. This can be removed once your child is 60 cm in height.
When it comes to safety the car seat provides excellent protection for your child, scoring 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 safeguard your baby from being thrown around in the seat in the event of an accident and the revolutionary Flexi-Fix harness system that stretches as your child grows to ensure that they will always have a safe fit.
The innovative 180deg rotation system makes it easy to get your baby into and out of the car seat when you are using it as a part of a travel system that includes a Cybex stroller. There is no more awkward twisting or reaching. The car seat is capable of fully reclined to provide extra comfort during long car journeys. The cost is a bit higher than other car seats for this age group but the features it offers including the reclining feature and excellent safety features makes it well worth the investment.
2. Maxi-Cosi Pebble Plus
Maxi-Cosi’s Pebble Plus is one of the best newborn car seats available. It is easy to use and is comfortable for babies. It is 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 also compatible with most pushchairs, including the Maxi-Cosi range as well as Quinny, iCandy and Bugaboo (using adapters). It includes the Baby-Hugg infant car seats that swivel headrest to allow for a better fit and the position of the child’s head and side impact protection.
The Pebble Plus is a Group 0+ car seat newborn seat which means it can be used with babies from birth to 12 months old (45cm – 75cm). It’s in line with the new iSize regulations that requires children to be in the rear for a longer period of time. It is compatible with the 2way Family base that allows you to change between forward and rear facing on the same vehicle and also has a handy rotating feature.
Similar to the previous version, it’s a really comfy seat and the latest edition has some improvements. It now comes with a more refined baby-hugg inlay which is super comfortable and stylish. The shoulder straps are cushioned and the headrest can be adjusted to fit your baby’s growth. You can take it off at any point, in case you decide not to use it again.
It’s a bit heavier at 4.5kg than other infant carseats, however it shouldn’t pose a problem for a baby who spends the majority of the time in it. You can put it on with a handle for more comfortable carrying, and it’s light enough to lift in and out of rideshare vehicles or taxis too.
It is also a stylish seat. You can choose from a variety of colors and patterns that are suitable for your car. It’s not the most affordable infant car seat, but it’s still affordable and well worth the extra cost for your baby. It can be difficult to adjust the harness’s height and length but once you’ve mastered the art of it, it’s easy. You can adjust the straps by pulling downwards on the back panel, pressing two buttons simultaneously.
3. Joie Calmi
Joie Calmi is the perfect baby car seat for a newborn baby. It’s simple to use, and can be used as a cot for baby. This dual-use carrycot and car seat is certified R129, meaning that it’s built tough with a durable ventilated shell and a plush cushioning to hold your baby. It has an easy 3-point harness that is accessible via a single pull tightening mechanism and softly cushioned covers. It also features lateral positioning, which keeps your baby’s face in the most secure possible position in the event of impact.
The base of this seat is compatible with Joie’s Aeria and Finiti pushchairs, meaning you can pop it off and back on the frame effortlessly. And, thanks to adjustable handle bars, it’s easy to move even when your child is asleep. If you’re looking to make a travel set, iBase Encore adapters will allow you to connect your Calmi together with a MaxiCosi or Britax stroller.
Joie has improved the design of its previous i-Spin 360, which earned the highest test score in the crash tests of Which? and a good rating from ADAC. The most recent model, which we tested, has a lock that prevents you from turning the seat to face forward too quickly, making sure your child stays in the rear as long as is possible. It also boasts a large sun canopy that’s water repellent and provides 50+ UV protection, and includes a mesh peekaboo window to allow you to look in without disturbing your child.
If you are looking online for car seats, choose an online retailer that provides free delivery to the UK mainland on all purchases. They should also accept returns within 35 days. John Lewis has a great selection of baby car seats from top brands, such as Cybex, Maxi-Cosi and Silver Cross and offers free click and pick up to your local store (or to the nearest Sainsbury’s branch if you are nearby). For all purchases you make, you will also earn Nectar points. Argos also has a great selection of car seats with prices starting at PS55. They’ll also ship your order for free and provide same-day pickup in-store and free returns at any Argos store or Sainsbury’s branches.
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 prams and pushchairs. Jasper who was our test subject, was a fan of it. He said it was “the most fashionable of the bunch, and my child seemed to be most comfortable for long drives.”
This fully rotating R129-compliant vehicle seat is able to carry your infant all the way to 12 years of age and was awarded the top baby, toddler and child car seat award at the ADAC’s test for the autumn of 2022. It was also tested above the rules to ensure your child is protected throughout every journey.
For babies, it has a removable and cosy padded insert made from soft bamboo fabric that’s comfortable and breathable. It’s also antibacterial. The body support and head support can be removed as your child grows, and the 3 recline and 8 positions for the headrest can be adjusted to accommodate.
The ‘green’ light that signals when the car seat has been properly installed and is ready for use is a unique feature. This makes it a perfect choice for new parents, who may not know the proper installation and fitting of car seats. It also comes with a handy stowable strap that can be used either in the forward or rear-facing position.
Another reason to buy it is that it’s a constant vehicle fixture and you don’t need to wake up your sleeping newborn to get them out for longer trips. It’s not compatible with travel systems like the Britax Romer Dualfix plus iSize or the Joie iSpin 360 iSize. You’ll need to purchase an additional travel bag.
The drawback to permanent fixed car seats such as the Axkid One i-size is that they’re not as convenient to carry around when you need to transport them between different cars. If you decide to purchase a separate travel bag choose one that is sturdy and can stand up to the wear and tear of regular use. It’s worth paying a bit extra for a bag which will last as long as your child’s car seat does.