The Best Newborn Car Seats in the UK

Safety in car seats is a top concern for all parents. Thankfully, there's an abundance of choices when it comes to finding the most suitable car seat for your baby.

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

1. Cybex Cloud T

The Cybex Cloud T car seat is the best choice for bringing your baby to the road from the time they're born until toddlers. It's the latest version of the legendary Cybex Cloud line and features innovative reclining technology that gives your child a comfortable lie-flat position in the car, and when used with a pushchair as part of a travel system. It is also an ISOFIX vehicle seat, which means it is able to be easily attached to your car using the base provided. It can be rotated to help you to get your child into and out of the seat.

The car seat is made of top-quality materials and is available in a variety of trendy colours including Moon Black, Lava Grey and Beach Blue Plus. It's a sleek and sophisticated choice that seamlessly matches with the Cybex T line of prams. It also comes with the Newborn Inlay, which is specifically designed for premature infants. This helps to maintain a near-flat position, reducing the risk that their heads may move forward during sleep, which can cause breathing issues. This can be removed when your child is at 60 centimeters in height.

The car seat is a great option for safety, since 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 child in the event of a crash. It also features the innovative Flexi-Fix system that can be stretched to fit your child's size as they expand.

If you're planning to use the car seat as part of a travel system that includes a Cybex pushchair, the revolutionary 180deg rotation ensures that getting your baby out and in is super easy - no more awkward twisting or reaching. The car seat is also able to be fully reclined for added comfort on long car journeys. It is priced at a slightly higher price point than other car seats for this age group, but the numerous features like the reclining option and excellent safety features make it well worth the cost.

2. Maxi-Cosi Pebble Plus

The Maxi-Cosi Pebble Plus car seats 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 the Maxi-Cosi 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 by using adapters. It comes with the Baby-Hugg infant head support for a better fit and the position of the child's head and side impact protection.

The Pebble Plus is a Group 0+ car seat which means it can be used for babies ranging from birth to 12 months old (45cm to 75cm). It meets the new i-Size regulations which require children to stay in the rear of the car for longer. It is compatible with the 2way family base that allows you to switch from rear-facing to forward-facing within the same vehicle. It also features an excellent rotating feature.

It's still a very comfy seat, but the latest version has a few improvements. It now has a much-improved baby-hugg inlay which looks and feels super-comfy. The shoulder straps are covered in padding and the headrest can be adjusted to accommodate your baby's growing. It can also be removed at any time to stop using it.

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

It's also a nice-looking seat and you can select from a wide selection of patterns and colours to fit your car. It's not the most affordable infant car seat but it's still affordable and worth the extra investment for your baby. It can be difficult to adjust the length and height, but once you've got the hang of it, it's easy. Simply pull down on the back panel, and squeeze together two buttons to move up or down the straps without having to rethread them.

3. Joie Calmi

If you're looking for a baby car seat that's super easy to use and cradles your baby like a cot then you should consider Joie Calmi. This dual-use car seat and carrycot is certified by R129. It's built tough with a tough ventilated outer shell and soft padding to cradle you baby. It features an easy 3-point harness that is accessible via a single pull tightening mechanism and softly cushioned covers. It also features lateral positioning, which helps keep your baby's face in the most secure possible position in case of 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. It's easy to lift even if your baby is asleep, thanks to the adjustable handle bars. If you're looking to make an entire travel set, the iBase Encore adapters allow you to connect your 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 model we tested comes with a lock to prevent the seat from rotating too fast, ensuring that your child remains rear-facing for as long as it is possible. It also has a huge sun canopy that is water-resistant and has 50+ UV protection as well as an open mesh that allows you to observe without disturbing the child.

If you're looking for a car seat online, ensure you choose a store that provides free UK mainland delivery on all purchases and returns within 35 days. John Lewis has a great range of newborn car seats from top brands, such as Cybex, Maxi-Cosi Pearl Pro2 i-Size Car Seat - Authentic Black and Silver Cross and also offers free click and collect to the nearest store (or to an Sainsbury's branch if you live close to one). With every purchase, you can also earn Nectar points. Argos also offers a good selection of car seats with prices starting at PS55. You can also enjoy free delivery, same-day collection in store and free returns to any Argos or Sainsbury's store that is participating.

4. Silver Cross Motion All Size 360

Silver Cross Motion is a new vehicle seat that's all-in-one from the trusted British brand that is renowned for its premium pushchairs and prams. Our tester Jasper loved it, calling it "the most attractive of the bunch and the one my daughter seemed to be most comfortable in on long rides."

This fully rotating R129 certified car seat is suitable for newborns up to 12 years old. It was awarded the ADAC 2022 autumn test's award for the most effective child, baby and toddler car seat. It has also been tested beyond the regulations to ensure your child is safe on every trip.

It includes an adjustable, comfortable padding for infants made of soft bamboo fabric. These are super breathable and antibacterial. The body and head support can be removed as your child grows, and the 3 recline and 8 headrest positions can also be adjusted to suit.

A distinctive feature is the built-in green light' that lets you know that the car seat is secured and ready to use, making it a great option for parents who aren't sure with the proper way to install and set up car seats. It also comes with a handy stowable strap that can be used either in the forward or rear-facing position.

Another major selling point is that it's a permanent vehicle fixture, so you don't have to wake your sleeping baby to take them out for longer trips. It's not compatible with travel systems such as the Britax Romer Dualfix plus iSize or Joie iSpin 360 iSize. You'll need to purchase a separate travel bag.

The Axkid One is a permanently fixed car seat. They're not as simple to transport between cars. If you do choose to buy a separate travel bag for your car seat, ensure that it's a sturdy bag that is able to withstand the wear and tear that comes with frequent use. It's worth spending a little more for a bag that can last longer than the car seat of your child.