The Best Newborn Car Seats in the UK

Car seat safety is a top priority for every parent. There are many options available when it comes to choosing the most suitable car seat for your newborn for your child.

With a soft baby-hugg inlay and enhanced side impact protection This Cybex Cloud T is the most comfortable car seat for newborns in the UK. It has a one handed recline and 12 headrest positions to adjust to your child's changing body.

1. Cybex Cloud T

The Cybex Cloud T car seat is the best choice for taking your newborn with you on your journeys from the time they're born until toddlers. It's the latest addition to the iconic Cybex Cloud range and features innovative reclining technologies that give your child a lie-flat ergonomic position in the car or when used with strollers as part of the complete travel system. It's also an ISOFIX car seat so it can be attached to your vehicle with the base supplied. It can also be rotated 360 degrees to aid in getting your baby out and in.

The car seat is made of top-quality materials and is available in a variety of trendy colors, including Moon Black, Lava Grey and Beach Blue Plus. It is 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 assists in maintaining a near-flat position, reducing the possibility that their heads may be able to move forward during sleep, which can cause breathing issues. It can be removed when your child reaches 60 centimeters in height.

In terms of safety, the car seat provides excellent 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 i-Size is equipped with LSP (Linear Side-impact protection) to protect your baby in the event of a crash and the innovative 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 system with a Cybex pushchair, the innovative 180deg tilt means getting your baby in and out is a breeze - no more awkward bending or reaching. The car seat is able to be fully reclined for extra comfort on long journeys in the car. It is priced at a somewhat higher price than other car seats for this age group, but the extensive list of features, including the option to recline and the excellent security features make it worth the cost.

2. Maxi-Cosi Pebble Plus

The Maxi-Cosi Pebble Plus car seat is one of the most sought-after newborn car seats that are available. It is simple to use and is comfortable for infants. It is suitable from birth and can be used with Maxi-Cosi's FamilyFix or EasyFix base or with your car's seat belt system. The car seat can be used with most pushchairs including the Maxi Cosi range, Quinny, iCandy, and Bugaboo by using adapters. It comes with the Baby-Hugg infant head support for a better fit and laying position and side impact protection.

The Pebble Plus car seat is a Group 0+ that means it is suitable for infants as young as 12 months (45cm between 45cm and 75cm). It is compliant with the new iSize regulations, which require that children be rear-facing for a greater length of time. It's compatible with the 2way Family base, which allows you to change between forward and rear facing in 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 now has a much-improved baby-hugg that is super comfortable and stylish. The shoulder straps are well-cushioned, and the headrest can be moved up or down as your baby grows. It is also able to be removed at any time if you want to stop using it.

It's a bit heavier than other infant carseats, at 4.5kg, but that isn't a problem if your child is using it for the majority of the time. You can use it with a handle to make it easier carrying, and it's lightweight enough to be able to lift it into and out of rideshare cars or taxis, too.

It's also a stylish seat and you can select from a wide range of patterns and colours to match your car. It's not the most affordable car seats newborn seat for infants, but it's still a reasonable price and worth the extra investment for your baby. Once you've mastered it, adjusting the harness height and size is easy. 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 baby car seat that's easy to use and cradles your baby like a cot, then you should consider Joie Calmi. This carrycot that doubles as a car seat is R129-certified which means it's made tough with a sturdy ventilated shell and plush padding to protect your little one. It comes with a 3-point harness that's easily accessible with one-pull tightening and softly cushioned covers. Additionally, it has lateral positioning to keep your baby's head at the safest position in case of an impact.

The base of this seat is compatible with Joie Aeria and Finiti strollers, so you can easily slide it onto and off the frame. Additionally, with the adjustable handle bars, it's also a breeze to lift even when your bundle of joy is asleep. If you're looking to make a travel set, the iBase Encore adapters will allow you to pair Calmi with MaxiCosi or Britax stroller.

The design of the earlier i-Spin 360 has been improved by Joie. The model earned an excellent score in Which?'s crash tests, and a Good rating from ADAC. The latest model that we tested has a lock that prevents you from rotating the seat to face forward too quickly, making sure your child stays in the rear as long as possible. It also comes with a large sun canopy that is water-resistant and offers 50+ UV protection, and has a mesh peekaboo window that lets you check in without disturbing your child.

If you're shopping for a car seat online, ensure you pick a retailer that provides free UK mainland delivery on all orders and 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 also offers free click and collect to your nearest store (or to the nearest Sainsbury's branch if you live close to one). For all purchases you make, you will also earn Nectar points. Argos also offers a good range of car seats at prices starting at PS55. They'll even deliver your order free of charge and provide same-day pickup in-store and free returns at any Argos store or participating 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 stylish of the bunch, and my baby seemed to be the most comfortable during long drives."

This fully rotating R129 compliant car seat is suitable for babies all the way to 12 years old. It was awarded the ADAC 2022 Autumn Test's award for the best child, baby and toddler car seat. It's also been tested above and beyond the regulations to ensure your child's safety on every journey.

For infants, it comes with a removable and cosy cushioned insert made of 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 alter the recline and headrest positions to accommodate.

The green light that signals when the car seat has been properly installed and is ready for use is an unique feature. This makes it a great option for parents who might not be aware of the proper installation and fitting of car seats. It also comes with a strap that can be used either in the rear-facing or forward-facing position.

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

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