The Best Newborn Car Seats in the UK

Safety of your car seat is a top concern for every parent. There are many options available when it comes to selecting the most suitable car seat for your newborn for your child.

Featuring a cosy baby-hugg inlay and enhanced side impact protection This Cybex Cloud T is the best infant car seat UK. It features a one-handed recline and 12 headrest positions that adapt to your child’s growing body.

1. Cybex Cloud T

The Cybex Cloud T is the top car seat that comes with everything you require to take your baby on adventures from birth until they reach toddler years. It's the latest update to the legendary Cybex Cloud line and features an innovative reclining system that gives your child an ergonomic, flat position both inside the car and when used in conjunction with a pushchair as part of an overall travel system. It is also an ISOFIX vehicle seat, meaning that it can be easily affixed to your car by using the base that comes with it. It can also be rotated to help get your baby in and out of the seat.

The car seat itself is constructed of top-quality materials. It comes in a range of stylish colours such as Moon Black, Lava Grey, Beach Blue Plus and Seashell Beige Plus. It's a stylish and elegant option that is seamlessly matched with the Cybex T line of prams. It also comes with the Newborn Inlay, which is specifically designed for premature and newborn infants. This assists in maintaining the baby's head in a flat position, decreasing the possibility that their heads may be able to move forward during sleep, which can cause breathing problems. It can be removed when your child is at least 60 centimeters in height.

The car seat is a fantastic option for safety as it scored an impressive 1.7 in crash tests by ADAC (Allgemeiner Deutsche Automobil-Club e.V.). The Cloud T i-Size 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 develop.

The innovative 180deg rotating system makes it simple to get your baby into 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 capable of fully reclined for added comfort on long journeys in the car. It's slightly higher price point than other car seats for this age group, however the wide array of features including the reclining option and excellent safety features make it worth the investment.

2. Maxi-Cosi Pebble Plus

The Maxi-Cosi Pebble Plus is among the best newborn car seats around. It's easy to use and is comfortable for babies. It's 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 can be used with all pushchairs, including the Maxi Cosi range, Quinny, iCandy, and Bugaboo, using adapters. The Baby-Hugg infant support is included for a better fit, laying position, and side impact protection.

The Pebble Plus car seat is a member of Group 0+ that means it can be used for infants as young as 12 months (45cm to 75cm). It's in line with the new iSize regulations that require children to remain in the rear for a longer period of time. It is compatible with the 2way Family base, which allows you to switch between rear facing infant car seat and forward facing on the same vehicle and has a handy rotation feature.

As with the previous version it's a very comfortable seat, and the most recent version has some improvements. It's now got a better Kinderkraft I-Spark Baby Car Seat Group 2/3-hugg that is extremely comfortable and looks great. The shoulder straps are padded and the headrest has been made adjustable to accommodate the growth of your baby. You can take it off at any point, in case you decide not to use it again.

It's a little heavier than some of the other newborn carseats at 4.5kg however that shouldn't be a problem when your infant is using it most of the time. It can be used with a handle for easier carrying, and it's lightweight enough to lift in and out of rideshare cars or taxis, too.

It's also a fashionable seat. You can pick from a variety of colors and patterns that are suitable for your car. It's not the cheapest infant car seat, but it's nevertheless a good investment and is worth the extra cost for your child. It can be difficult to adjust the harness height and length however once you've mastered the art of it, it's a breeze. You can adjust the straps by pulling them down on the back panel, pressing two buttons simultaneously.

3. Joie Calmi

If you're looking for a newborn car seat that's super user-friendly and can be used by your baby like a cot then look no further than Joie Calmi. This dual-use carrycot and car seat is R129-certified which means it's made tough with a sturdy ventilated shell and a plush cushioning to cradle your little one. It has a three-point safety harness that can be adjusted with just a single pull, and softly cushioned covers. Plus, it features an lateral position to keep your baby's head at the most secure position in case of an impact.

The base of this seat is compatible with Joie's Aeria and Finiti pushchairs, which means you can pop it off and back on the frame with ease. And, thanks to adjustable handle bars, it's also easy to move even when your bundle of joy is asleep. If you're looking to create a travel set, the iBase Encore adapters allow you to pair Calmi together with a MaxiCosi or Britax stroller.

The design of the earlier i-Spin 360 has been improved by Joie. This model received an excellent score in the crash tests of Which? and a good rating from ADAC. The model we tested has a lock to prevent the seat from rotating too quickly, making sure that your child remains rear-facing for as long as it is possible. It also comes with a large sun canopy that is water-resistant and offers 50+ UV protection, and includes a mesh peekaboo window to let you check in without disturbing your child.

If you are shopping online for car seats, choose a retailer who offers free delivery to the UK mainland on all orders. They should also allow returns within 35 days. John Lewis has a great range of newborn car seats from top brands, including Cybex, Maxi-Cosi and Silver Cross, and provides free click and collect to your local store (or to an Sainsbury's branch if you are near by). You can also collect Nectar points on all purchases. Argos also has a great range of car seats at prices starting at PS55. They'll also ship your order for free and offer same-day collection 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, which is known for its premium pushchairs and prams. Jasper the tester was a fan of it. He said it was "the most fashionable of the bunch, and my child seemed to be most comfortable during long drives."

This fully rotating R129 compliant car seat is suitable for infants all the way to 12 years old. It was awarded the ADAC 2022 Autumn Test's award for the top baby, toddler and child car seat. It's also been tested over and beyond regulations to ensure that your child's safety throughout every trip.

It comes with a removable, cozy padding for infants made of soft bamboo fabric. These are super comfortable and breathable, as well as antibacterial. The body insert and head support can be removed when your child gets older. You can also adjust the headrest and recline positions to suit.

The 'green' light that indicates when the car seat is properly installed and is ready for use is an exclusive feature. This makes it an ideal choice for parents who might not be aware of the proper installation and fitting of car seats. It also has a handy stowable harness which can be used in either a rear or forward-facing position.

It's also permanent, so you won't have to wake your baby in order to take them out of the car for longer journeys. However, it isn't travel system-compatible, like the Joie iSpin 360 iSize or Britax Romer Dualfix Plus i-Size (you must purchase an additional travel bag for this).

The disadvantage of permanently fixed car seats like the Axkid One i-size is that they're not as easy to carry around if you have to transport them between different cars. If you choose to purchase a separate travel bag pick one that is durable and can withstand the wear and tears of daily use. It's worth spending a little more to purchase a bag that will last longer than the car seat of your child.