The Best Newborn Car Seats in the UK

Safety of your car seat is a top concern for every parent. Thankfully, there's an abundance of choices when it comes to locating the ideal car seat for newborns for your baby.

The Cybex Cloud T offers enhanced side impact protection as well as a baby-hugging insert. It's the best new car seat in the UK. It also has a one-handed recline option and more than 12 headrest positions that adapt to your child's changing body.

1. Cybex Cloud T

The Cybex Cloud T is the premium car seat that includes everything you need to take your infant to their first journey right 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 in the car, and when used in conjunction with a pushchair as part of a travel system. It's also an ISOFIX car seat, which means it can be easily attached to your vehicle by using the base that comes with it. It can be turned 360 degrees to assist in getting your baby out and in.

The car seat is constructed of high-quality materials, and comes in a range of fashionable colours including Moon Black, Lava Grey and Beach Blue Plus. It's a chic and elegant option that works seamlessly with the Cybex T range of prams. It also comes with a Newborn Inlay for newborns and premature babies to ensure a secure, nearly flat position that reduces the risk of their heads flopping forward facing infant car seat during sleep, which could cause breathing problems. It can be removed when your child is at least 60 centimeters in height.

When it comes to safety the car seat offers superior protection for your child. It scored an impressive 1.7 result in crash tests from 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. It also features the innovative Flexi-Fix system that stretches to accommodate your child as they develop.

If you're planning to use the car seat as part of a travel system that includes a Cybex pushchair, the innovative 180deg rotation ensures that getting your baby in and out is super easy - no more awkward twisting or reaching. The car seat can also be positioned in a fully reclined configuration to provide extra comfort on long car journeys. It does come at a slightly higher price point than other car seats for this age group, however the extensive list of features, including the option to recline and the excellent safety features make it well worth the cost.

2. Maxi-Cosi Pebble Plus

The Maxi-Cosi Pebble Plus Car Seat is one of the most popular infant car seats available. It's easy 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 is compatible with all pushchairs, including the Maxi Cosi range, Quinny, iCandy, and Bugaboo, using adapters. The Baby-Hugg infant seat is included for 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 is suitable for use for babies ranging from birth to 12 months old (45cm to 75cm). It is in compliance with the latest i-Size regulations which require children to remain in the rear for a longer period of time. It is compatible with the 2way family base that lets you change from forward-facing to rear-facing within the same vehicle. It also has an excellent rotating feature.

It's still a very comfortable seat, but the new version has some improvements. It now has a much-improved baby-hugg inlay which is extremely comfortable and looks great. The shoulder straps have been covered in padding and the headrest has been made adjustable to fit your baby's growth. You can remove it at any time, in case you decide not to use it again.

It is a little heavier at 4.5kg than some other newborn carseats, but it shouldn't pose a problem when your baby spends the majority of the time in it. It can be used with a handle for more comfortable transport, and it's light enough to get it in and out of rideshare cars or taxis too.

It's also a good-looking seat and you can select from a wide selection of colours and patterns to match your car. It's not the cheapest infant car seat, but it's still affordable and worth the extra investment for your baby. Once you've mastered it, adjusting the harness height and size is easy. You simply pull down on the back panel, and squeeze two buttons to move up or down the straps without needing to rethread them.

3. Joie Calmi

Joie Calmi is the perfect baby car seat. It's simple to use and is a great cot-like baby sitter. This dual-use carrycot and car seat is R129-certified, which means it's made tough with a durable ventilated shell and plush cushioning to hold your baby. It features a 3-point safety harness that can be adjusted by a single pull, and softly cushioned covers. It also features lateral positioning, which helps keep your baby's face in the safest possible position in the event of an impact.

The base of this seat is compatible with Joie Aeria and Finiti strollers, which means you can easily slide it onto and off the frame. Additionally, with the adjustable handles, it's easy to lift, even when your child is asleep. If you're looking to make a travel set, iBase Encore adapters allow you to pair Calmi together with MaxiCosi or Britax stroller.

Joie has improved the design of its earlier i-Spin 360, which earned a high test score in Which?'s crash tests as well as an A+ rating from ADAC. The most recent model, which we tested, has a lock that prevents you from turning the seat 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 and 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 which offers free UK mainland delivery on all orders and returns within 35 days. John Lewis has a great range of newborn car seats with top brands like Cybex, Maxi-Cosi and Silver Cross and provides free click and collect to your nearest store (or to an Sainsbury's branch if you are close to one). For all purchases, you can also earn Nectar points. Argos also has a great selection of car seats with 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 all-in-one vehicle seat from the trusted British brand, which is known for its premium pushchairs and prams. Jasper who was our test subject, was a fan of it. He said it was "the most stylish of the bunch." My baby seemed to find it most comfortable for long drives."

This fully-rotating R129-compliant car seat can carry your baby all the way up to 12 years old and won the top baby, toddler and child car seat award at the ADAC's autumn test in 2022. It was also tested beyond the regulations to ensure that your child is safe on every trip.

For newborns, it features an adjustable and cozy cushioned insert made of soft bamboo fabric that's comfortable and breathable. It's also antibacterial. The body and head support can be removed as your child grows, and the 3 recline and 8 headrest positions can be adjusted to suit.

The green light that indicates that the car seat is properly fitted and is ready to use is an unique feature. This makes it a perfect choice for parents who are new to the family, and may not be familiar with the correct installation and fitting of car seats. It also comes with a stowable strap that can be used in the rear-facing or forward-facing position.

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

The Axkid One is a permanently fixed car seat that is permanently fixed. They're not as easy to move between cars. If you decide to buy a separate travel bag choose one that is sturdy and able to endure the wear and tear of regular use. It's worth paying a bit extra for a bag that will last for as long as your child's car seat does.