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 down 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's the best new car seat UK. It also comes with a one-handed recline adjustment and more than 12 headrest positions that adapt to the growing body of your child.

1. Cybex Cloud T

The Cybex Cloud T car seat is the best choice to take your baby with you on your journeys from birth until they are toddlers. It's the newest version of the legendary Cybex Cloud line and features an innovative reclining system that gives your child an ergonomic, flat position inside the car and in conjunction with a pushchair as part of an overall travel system. It's also an ISOFIX car seat so it can be attached to your vehicle by using the base that comes with it. It can even be rotated 360 degrees to assist in getting your child in and out.

The car seat itself is made of high-quality materials and is available in a variety of trendy colors such as Moon Black, Lava Grey, Beach Blue Plus and Seashell Beige Plus. It is a stylish and elegant choice that goes 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 to maintain a near-flat position, reducing the risk that their heads may be able to move forward during sleep, causing breathing problems. This can be removed when your child is at a height of 60 cm.

In terms of safety, the car seat offers superior 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 Nania Race i-Size Car Seat - Spiderman comes equipped with LSP (Linear Side-impact protection) to protect your baby in the event of a crash. It also features the revolutionary Flexi-Fix system that can be stretched to fit your child's size as they grow.

The innovative 180deg rotating system makes it easy to get your baby in and out of the car seat when you use it as part a travel system, paired with a Cybex stroller. No more awkward twisting or reaching. The car seat is equipped to fully recline for extra comfort on long journeys in the car. It's slightly higher price point than other car seats for this age group, however the numerous features, including the option to recline and the excellent safety features make it worth the investment.

2. Maxi-Cosi Pebble Plus

The Maxi-Cosi Pebble Plus Car Seat is one of the most sought-after 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 or EasyFix base, or with your car seat belt system. The car seat is compatible with all pushchairs, including the Maxi Cosi range, Quinny, iCandy, and Bugaboo by using adapters. It comes with the Baby-Hugg infant headrest to allow for a better fit and laying position and side impact protection.

The Pebble Plus is a Group 0+ car seat which means it can be used with infants from birth to 12 months old (45cm - 75cm). It is in line with the new iSize regulations that require that children sit in the rear for a greater length of time. It is compatible with the 2way family base, which allows you to switch between forward-facing and rear-facing on the same vehicle. It also includes a handy rotating feature.

It's still a very comfy seat, but the new version has a few improvements. It now comes with a more refined baby-hugg that is extremely comfortable and looks great. The shoulder straps have been covered in padding and the headrest can be adjusted to accommodate your baby's growing. It is also able to be removed at any time if you want to stop using it.

It's a bit heavier at 4.5kg than other newborn carseats, but this shouldn't be an issue for a baby who spends the majority of the day in it. It comes with a handle to make it easier to carry, and is light enough to lift into and out of taxis or rideshare vehicles.

It's also a fashionable seat that is stylish. You can choose from a variety of colors and designs that will fit your car. It's not the most affordable infant car seat, but it's an excellent investment and worth the extra cost for your child. It can be tricky to adjust the length and height, but once you've got the hang of it, it's easy. 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 car seat that doubles as a carrycot is certified R129. It's made tough with a durable ventilated outer shell and a plush padding to cradle you baby. It has an easy 3-point harness that is accessible with one-pull tightening and softly cushioned covers. Plus, it features an lateral position to keep your baby's head in the safest position in case of an accident.

The seat's base is compatible with Joie Aeria and Finiti strollers, which means it's easy to pop it onto and off the frame. It's easy to lift even if your baby is asleep thanks to the adjustable handle bars. If you're looking to build an all-in-one travel system, the i-Base Encore adapters allow you to pair Calmi with Maxi-Cosi or Britax pushchair, too.

Joie has improved on the design of its previous i-Spin 360, which earned a high test score in Which?'s crash tests and an A+ rating from ADAC. The model we tested comes with a lock to prevent you from rotating the seat too quickly, making sure that your baby remains rearward-facing for as long as is possible. It also comes with a large sun canopy that's water resistant and offers 50+ UV protection, and features a mesh peekaboo windows that lets you observe without disturbing your child.

If you're looking for a car seat online, ensure you pick a retailer that offers free UK mainland delivery on all orders and returns within 35 days. John Lewis offers a wide selection of infant car seats from top brands such as Maxi-Cosi, Silver Cross and Cybex. Click and collect is free to any branch in your area (or Sainsbury's if you are nearby). You can also earn Nectar points on all purchases. Argos is another great option for a broad selection of car seats, with prices starting at PS55. They'll also deliver 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 all-in-one vehicle seat from the trusted British brand that is known for its top pushchairs and prams. Jasper the tester loved it. He said it was "the most stylish of the bunch and my baby seemed to find it most comfortable for long drives."

This fully rotating R129-compliant vehicle seat can carry your baby all the way up to 12 years old and was awarded the top baby toddler, child and child car seat award in ADAC's test for the autumn of 2022. It has also been tested above the rules to ensure your child is safe during every trip.

It comes with an adjustable, comfortable padded insert for newborns composed of soft bamboo fabrics. These fabrics are super comfortable and breathable, as well as 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 also be adjusted to accommodate.

One of the most distinctive features is the built-in green light' that lets you know that the car seat is properly secured and ready for use which makes it a fantastic option for parents who may be unfamiliar about the correct method 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 an ongoing fixture, meaning you won't have to wake your baby to get them out of the car for long journeys. But, it's not travel system-compatible, like the Joie iSpin 360 iSize or Britax Romer Dualfix Plus iSize (you must purchase a separate travel bag for this).

The Axkid One is a permanently fixed car seat that is permanently fixed. They are not as easy to move between cars. If you do choose to purchase an additional travel bag for your car seat, make sure it's a durable one that can keep up with the wear and tear of frequent use. It's worth paying more to purchase a bag that will last as long as the car seat of your child.