The Best Newborn Car Seats in the UK

Safety of your car seat is a top concern for every parent. There's a wealth of choices when it comes to finding the most suitable car seat for your child.

The Cybex Cloud T offers enhanced side impact protection as well as a baby-hugging inlay. It is the best new car seat in the UK. It has a one 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 premium option for taking your newborn along on trips from the moment they are born until they become toddlers. It is the latest version of the legendary Cybex Cloud range and features innovative reclining technology that lets your child a lie-flat ergonomic position in the car when used with a stroller as part of a complete travel system. It's also an ISOFIX vehicle seat, so it can easily be attached to your vehicle by using the base supplied. It can even be rotated to help get your baby into and out of the seat.

The car seat itself is made of top-quality materials. It comes in a variety of trendy colors, including Moon Black, Lava Grey, Beach Blue Plus and Seashell Beige Plus. It's a sleek and sophisticated choice that effortlessly matches the Cybex T line of prams. It also comes with a Newborn Inlay for newborns and premature babies that helps ensure a safe, near-flat position that minimizes the chance of their heads moving forward while they sleep, which could cause breathing problems. It can be removed when your child is 60 cm in height.

The car seat is an excellent choice 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 safeguard your baby in the event of a crash. It also features the innovative Flexi-Fix system that stretches to fit your child's size as they expand.

The innovative 180deg rotation system makes it simple to get your baby into and out of the car seat when using it as part of a travel system, with a Cybex stroller. There is no more awkward twisting or reaching. The car seat can be set in a fully reclined posture for extra comfort during long car journeys. The price is slightly higher than other car seats of this age but the features it provides, such as the reclining feature and excellent safety features makes 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 that are available. It is simple to use and comfortable for infants. It's suitable from birth and can be used with the Maxi-Cosi FamilyFix or EasyFix base, or with the seat belt system in your car. The car seat is also compatible with most pushchairs including the Maxi-Cosi Titan Booster Seat: Multi-Age ISOFIX Black range, Quinny, iCandy and Bugaboo (using adapters). The Baby-Hugg infant support 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 is a Group 0+ car seat, which means it can be used with infants from birth to 12 months old (45cm between 45cm and 75cm). It meets the new i-Size regulations which requires children to be in the rear of the car for longer. It is compatible with the 2way family base that lets you switch between forward-facing and rear-facing on the same vehicle. It also includes an excellent rotating feature.

Similar to the previous version, it's a really comfy seat and the new version comes with some enhancements. It features a new, improved baby-hugging insert that feels and looks great. The shoulder straps have been cushioned and the headrest can be adjusted to accommodate the growth of your baby. You can take it off at any time, when you do not want to use it anymore.

It's a bit heavier than some of the other infant carseats, at 4.5kg but isn't a problem if your child is in it for most of the time. It can be used with a handle to make it easier carrying, and it's light enough to lift in and out of rideshare cars or taxis, too.

It is also a stylish seat. You can pick from many different colours and patterns that will suit your car. It's not the most cost-effective infant car seat, but it's still a great investment and worth the extra money for your baby. It can be tricky to adjust the harness's height and length however once you've mastered the art of it it's fine. You simply pull down on the back panel and press two buttons to move up and down the straps without the need to rethread them.

3. Joie Calmi

Joie Calmi is the ideal baby car seat. It's simple to use, and it can be used as a cot for baby. This carrycot that doubles as a car seat is R129-certified, which means it's built to last with a tough ventilated shell and a plush padding to protect your infant. It has a three-point safety harness that can be adjusted by a single pull, and softly cushioned covers. Additionally, it has lateral positioning to keep your baby's head at the most secure position in the event of an accident.

The base of this seat is compatible with Joie Aeria and Finiti strollers, which means you can easily pop it onto and off the frame. It's easy to move even when your baby is asleep due to the adjustable handle bars. If you want to create a travel system, then the i-Base Encore adapters allow you to pair Calmi with a Maxi-Cosi or Britax pushchair too.

The design of the previous i-Spin 360 has been improved by Joie. The model was awarded a high score in the crash tests of Which? and a good rating from ADAC. The model we tested has locks to stop the seat from turning too fast, ensuring that your child is rear-facing as long as possible. It also boasts a large sun canopy that is water-resistant and offers 50+ UV protection and includes a mesh peekaboo window to allow you to look in without disturbing your child.

If you're shopping for a car seat online, ensure you select a retailer that offers free UK mainland delivery on all purchases and returns within 35 days. John Lewis offers a wide selection of infant car seats from top brands, including Maxi-Cosi, Silver Cross and Cybex. Click and collect is free to your local branch (or Sainsbury's if you are near). With every purchase you make, you will also earn Nectar points. Argos is another great option for a broad selection of car seats, starting at PS55. They'll also deliver your order free of charge 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 is all-in-one from the trusted British brand that is known for its premium pushchairs and prams. Jasper who was our test subject, loved it. He said it was "the most fashionable of the bunch and my baby seemed to be the most comfortable for long drives."

This fully-rotating R129-compliant car seat is able to carry your infant all the way to 12 years old and won the top baby toddler, child and child car seat award at the ADAC's test for the autumn of 2022. It's also been tested above and beyond the regulations to ensure your child's safety during every trip.

It includes a removable, cosy padded insert for newborns made of soft bamboo fabric. These fabrics are super breathable and antibacterial. The body and head support 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 indicates when the car Disney Frozen Booster Seat Topo Easyfix for Kids is secured and ready to use and is a great option for parents who aren't sure with the proper way to install and fit car seats. It also has a handy stowable harness which can be used in either the rear or forward facing position.

Another major selling point is that it's a long-lasting fixture in the car which means you don't have to wake your sleeping baby to take out for longer journeys. However, it's not travel system-compatible, like the Joie i-Spin 360 i-Size or Britax Romer Dualfix Plus iSize (you have to purchase an additional travel bag to do this).

The disadvantage of cars with a fixed structure like the Axkid One i-size is that they're not as easy to carry around if you have to transport them between different vehicles. If you decide to purchase an additional travel bag, choose one that is sturdy and able to endure the wear and tear of daily use. It's worth paying a little extra for a bag that will last for as long as the car seat of your child.