Best Car Seat Newborn: The Good The Bad And The Ugly
The Best Newborn Car Seats in the UK
Car seat safety is a top priority for any parent. There are a myriad of options when it comes to choosing the best car seat for your child.
With a soft baby-hugg inlay and enhanced side impact protection, the Cybex Cloud T is the best infant car seat UK. It comes with a single-handed recline and 12 headrest positions that adjust to your child's changing body.
1. Cybex Cloud T
The Cybex Cloud T car seat is the best choice to take your baby to the road from birth until they are toddlers. It's the latest version of the legendary Cybex Cloud line and features an innovative reclining system that gives your child a comfortable lie-flat position in the car, and when used in conjunction with a pushchair as part of an overall travel system. It's also an ISOFIX car seat so it can be easily attached to your vehicle using the base provided, it can also be rotated 360 degrees to aid in getting your child in and out.
The car seat is constructed of high-quality materials, and comes in a variety of trendy colours including Moon Black, Lava Grey and Beach Blue Plus. It is a stylish and elegant option that works perfectly 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 an upright position, which reduces the risk that their heads will be able to move forward during sleep, which can cause breathing problems. It is removed when your child is 60 centimeters in height.
The car seat is a fantastic choice for safety, as it scored a dazzling 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 safeguard your baby in the event of a crash. It also features the revolutionary Flexi-Fix system that stretches to fit your child's size as they grow.
If you're planning to use the car seat as part of a travel set-up with a Cybex pushchair, the revolutionary 180deg rotation means that getting your baby out and in is super easy - no more awkward twisting or reaching. The car seat can also be set in a fully reclined position for extra comfort during long car journeys. It's slightly higher price point than some other cars seats for this age group, however the extensive list of features including the reclining option and excellent safety features make it well worth the money.
2. Maxi-Cosi Pebble Plus
The Maxi-Cosi Pebble Plus car seats is among the most popular newborn car seats that are available. It's a comfortable seat for babies and easy to use. It is suitable for babies from birth. It can be used either with Maxi-Cosi FamilyFix, EasyFix base, or your car seat belt system. The car seat can be used with all pushchairs, including the Maxi Cosi range, Quinny, iCandy, and Bugaboo with adapters. The Baby-Hugg infant car seat travel seat is included for the best fit, better laying position, and side impact protection.
The Pebble Plus car seat is a Group 0+ which means it can be used by babies as young as 12 months (45cm to 75cm). It's compliant with new iSize regulations, which require that children sit in the rear for a greater length of time. It's compatible with the 2way Family base, which allows you to switch between forward and rear facing on the same car and has a handy rotation feature.
It's still a very comfy seat, but the new version has a few improvements. It has a new, better baby-hugging inlay that is both beautiful and comfortable. The shoulder straps are padded and the headrest can be moved up or down as your baby grows. You can take it off at any point, if you don't want to use it anymore.
It is a little heavier at 4.5kg than other newborn carseats, but this shouldn't be an issue if your infant car seat that swivels spends most of the day in it. It has a handle that can make it easier to carry and is light enough to be lifted to and from taxis or rideshare vehicles.
It's also a stylish seat and you can select from a wide range of patterns and colours to fit your car. It's not the most cost-effective infant car seat, but it is still a great investment that is worth the cost for your child. Once you get the hang it and adjust the size and height is a breeze. You simply pull down on the back panel, and squeeze together two buttons to move up or down the straps without needing to rethread them.
3. Joie Calmi
If you're looking for a baby car seat that's simple to use and holds your baby like a cot then you should consider Joie Calmi. This carrycot that doubles as a car seat is certified R129, which means it's made tough with a durable ventilated shell and plush cushioning to cradle your little one. It has a three-point safety harness that can be adjusted by a single pull, and softly cushioned covers. It also has lateral positioning, which keeps your baby's face in the most secure possible position in case of impact.
The base of this seat is compatible with Joie's Aeria and Finiti pushchairs, so you can pop it off and back on the frame easily. With the adjustable handle bars, it's a breeze to lift even when your baby is asleep. If you're looking to create a travel set, iBase Encore adapters allow you to pair Calmi together with a MaxiCosi or Britax stroller.
The design of the prior i-Spin 360 has been improved by Joie. The model was awarded an excellent score in the crash tests of Which? and a good 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 quickly, making sure your baby stays rearward-facing for as long as possible. It also comes with a large sun canopy that's water resistant and offers 50+ UV protection, and has a mesh peekaboo window to let you 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 on all purchases. They should also accept returns within 35 days. John Lewis offers a wide variety of car seats for newborns from top brands such as Maxi-Cosi, Silver Cross and Cybex. Click and collect is free to your local branch (or Sainsbury's if you are nearby). You can also earn Nectar points on all purchases. Argos is another 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 participating Sainsbury's store.
4. Silver Cross Motion All Size 360
Silver Cross Motion is a new all-in-one vehicle seat from the reputable British brand that is renowned for its top pushchairs and prams. Our test subject Jasper loved it, describing it "the best-looking of the bunch, and the one that my child seemed to be most comfortable on long rides."
This fully rotating R129 certified car seat is suitable for infants up to 12 year olds. It won the ADAC 2022 Autumn Test's award for the best child, baby and toddler car seat. It has also been tested to the extent that it exceeds the requirements to ensure your child is safe during every trip.
For babies, it has a removable and cosy cushioned insert made of soft bamboo fabric that is breathable and antibacterial. The head support and body insert can be removed as your child grows and the 3 recline and 8 positions for the headrest can be adjusted to accommodate.
One of the most distinctive features is the built-in 'green light' that signals when the car seat is secured and ready for use which makes it a fantastic option for new parents who aren't sure about the correct method to install and set up car seats. It also has a handy stowable harness which can be used in either a rear or forward-facing position.
It's also an ongoing fixture, meaning you won't need to wake your baby up to get them out of the car for longer journeys. It is not compatible with travel systems such as the Britax Romer Dualfix plus iSize or Joie iSpin 360 iSize. You'll need to purchase a separate travel bag.
The drawback to permanently fixed car seats like the Axkid One i-size is that they're not as convenient to carry around when you have to transport them between different cars. If you decide to buy an additional travel bag for your car seat, make sure it's a sturdy bag that can keep up with the wear and tear that comes with frequent use. It's worth paying a bit extra for a bag which will last for as long as your child's car seat does.