Clarissa Lahey

The Best Newborn Car Seats in the UK

Safety in car seats is a top concern for all parents. There are a myriad of options when it comes to selecting the best newborn car seats 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 that adjust to your child's changing body.

1. Cybex Cloud T

The Cybex Cloud T is the top car seat that comes with everything you need to take your newborn to their first journey right up until they reach their toddler years. It's the newest addition to the renowned Cybex Cloud range and features innovative reclining technologies that allow your child a flat, comfortable position in the car or when used with strollers as part of the complete travel system. It's also an ISOFIX car seat, which means it can be attached to your vehicle by using the base supplied. It can also be rotated 360 degrees to assist in getting your baby out and in.

The car seat itself is made of top-quality materials. It comes in a range of stylish colours, including Moon Black, Lava Grey, Beach Blue Plus and Seashell Beige Plus. It's a stylish and elegant choice that effortlessly matches the Cybex T line of prams. It also comes with the Newborn Inlay, which is specifically designed for premature infants. This helps to maintain an upright position, which reduces the chance that their heads will move forward during sleep, which can cause breathing problems. It can be removed once your child reaches 60 centimeters in height.

The car seat is a fantastic option for safety as it scored a dazzling 1.7 in crash tests by ADAC (Allgemeiner Deutsche Automobil-Club e.V.). The Cloud T i-Size comes with LSP (Linear Side-impact Protection) to safeguard your baby from being thrown around the seat in the event of an accident. It also features the revolutionary Flexi-Fix harness system which stretches when your child grows, ensuring they always have a secure fit.

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 of a travel system, with a Cybex stroller. There is no more awkward twisting or reaching. The car seat can also be set in a fully reclined position for added comfort during long car trips. The price is slightly higher than other car seats of this age group but the features it offers including the reclining feature as well as excellent safety features makes it worth the investment.

2. Maxi-Cosi Pebble Plus

The Maxi-Cosi Pebble Plus is among the most popular infant car seats available. It is comfortable for infants and simple to use. It is suitable for babies from birth. It can be used either with the Maxi-Cosi FamilyFix or EasyFix base, or with your car seat belt system. The car seat can be used with most pushchairs including the Maxi Cosi range, Quinny, iCandy, and Bugaboo by using adapters. The Baby-Hugg infant seat is also included to provide an improved fit, a more comfortable in a position that is more comfortable, and provides side impact protection.

The Pebble Plus car seat is a member of Group 0+ which means it can be used by babies as young as 12 months (45cm between 45cm and 75cm). It's in line with the new iSize regulations that requires children to be in the rear of the car for longer. It is compatible with the 2way family base that allows you to change from forward-facing to rear-facing on the same vehicle and has a handy rotating feature.

It's still a very comfortable seat, but the latest version is a bit more refined. It's now got a better baby-hugg inlay that is extremely comfortable and looks great. The shoulder straps are cushioned, and the headrest can be moved up and down as your baby grows. You can remove it at any point, in case you decide not to use it anymore.

It's a bit heavier than other infant carseats, at Nania BEFIX Booster Seat: 4 Stars ADAC.5kg however that shouldn't be a problem when your baby is using it 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 selection of colors and patterns to match your car. It's not the cheapest infant car seat, but it is an excellent investment and worth the extra cost for your child. It can be a bit difficult to adjust the length and height, but once you get the hang of it, it's a breeze. Simply pull down on the back panel, and squeeze together two buttons to move up or down the straps without the need to rethread them.

3. Joie Calmi

If you're in search of a new car seat that's easy to use and cradles your baby like a cot then look no further than Joie Calmi. This dual-use car seat and carrycot is certified R129. It's built tough with a durable ventilated outer shell and soft padding to protect 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 a safest possible position in the event of collision.

The base of this seat is compatible with Joie's Aeria and Finiti pushchairs, meaning you can take it off and on the frame easily. With the adjustable handles, it's a breeze to lift, even when your baby is asleep. If you're looking to make a travel set, iBase Encore adapters will allow you to connect your Calmi with MaxiCosi or Britax stroller.

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 latest model that we tested has a lock that prevents you from rotating the seat to face forward too soon, ensuring your child stays in the rear the longest time possible. It also comes with a large, water-resistant sun canopy with 50+ UV protection as well as a mesh peekaboo to allow you to observe without disturbing the child.

If you are shopping online for a car seats, choose one that provides free delivery to the UK mainland for all orders. They should also allow returns within 35 days. John Lewis offers a wide range of infant car seats from top brands, including Maxi-Cosi, Silver Cross and Cybex. Click and collect is free to any branch in your area (or Sainsbury's if you are close to it). With every purchase you can also earn Nectar points. Argos is another option for a broad selection of car seats, starting at PS55. They'll also ship your order free of charge, offer same-day in-store collection 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 is all-in-one from the reputable British brand that is renowned for its high-end pushchairs and prams. Our test subject Jasper was a fan, describing it "the most attractive of the bunch and the one my daughter seemed to find most comfortable on long rides."

This fully rotating R129-compliant car seat can take your newborn all the way to 12 years of age, and won the best baby toddler, child and child car seat award at the ADAC's 2022 autumn test. It's also been tested above and beyond the regulations to ensure that your child is safe on every journey.

For infants, it comes with an easy-to-remove and comfortable padded insert made from soft bamboo fabric that's breathable and antibacterial. The body insert and head support can be removed as your child gets older. You can also adjust the headrest and recline positions to suit.

The green light that indicates that the car seat has been properly installed and is ready to use is a unique feature. This makes it an ideal choice for parents who are new to the family, and may not know the correct installation and fitting of car seats. It also comes with a stowable harness which can be used in either the rear or forward facing position.

Another big selling point is that it's a constant vehicle fixture which means you don't have to wake up your sleeping newborn to get out for longer journeys. However, 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 to do 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 to carry your car seat, be sure it's a durable one that can keep up with the wear and tear that comes with frequent use. It's worth spending a little more to purchase a bag that will last for as long as the car seat of your child.