The Best Newborn Car Seats in the UK

Safety in car seats is a top priority for all parents. Thankfully, there's an abundance of choices when it comes to locating the best newborn car seat for your little one.

Featuring a cosy baby-hugg inlay and enhanced side impact protection The Cybex Cloud T is the best newborn car seat UK. It comes with a single-handed recline and 12 headrest positions to adapt to your child’s growing body.

1. Cybex Cloud T

The Cybex Cloud T is the top car seat that comes with everything you need to take your infant on journeys from birth right through to their toddler years. It's the latest update to the legendary Cybex Cloud line and features an innovative reclining system that gives your child a comfortable lie-flat position both inside the car and alongside a pushchair in the context of the travel system. It is also an ISOFIX vehicle seat, so it is able to be easily attached to your car by using the base that comes with it. It can be rotated to assist you in helping get your baby in and out of the seat.

The car seat itself is made of high-quality materials and is available in a range of stylish colours, including Moon Black, Lava Grey, Beach Blue Plus and Seashell Beige Plus. It's a stylish and sophisticated choice that effortlessly matches the Cybex T line of prams. It also includes the Newborn Inlay for newborns and premature babies to ensure a secure, flat position that reduces the possibility of their heads bouncing forward while they sleep, which can cause breathing difficulties. This can be removed when your child reaches 60 cm in height.

When it comes to safety the car seat offers excellent protection for your child, scoring an impressive 1.7 result in crash tests from ADAC (Allgemeiner Deutsche Automobil-Club e.V). The Cloud T iSize is equipped with LSP (Linear Side-impact Protection) to prevent your baby from being thrown out of the seat in the event of an accident and the revolutionary Flexi-Fix harness system that stretches as your child grows to ensure that they will always have a safe fit.

The innovative 180deg rotation system makes it simple to get your baby into and out of the car seat when you are using it as part of a travel system, paired with a Cybex stroller. No more awkward twisting or reaching. The car seat can be set in a fully reclined configuration to provide extra comfort on long car trips. It does come at a somewhat higher price than some other cars seats for this age group, however the extensive list of features like the reclining option and excellent security features make 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 available. It's comfortable for babies and easy to use. It's suitable for babies from birth. It can be used with the Maxi-Cosi FamilyFix or EasyFix base, or your car seat belt system. The car seat is also compatible with most pushchairs including the Maxi-Cosi range and Quinny, iCandy and Bugaboo (using adapters). The Baby-Hugg infant car seat cheap seat is included for a better fit, laying position, and side impact protection.

The Pebble Plus car seat is a Group 0+ which means it is suitable for babies as young as 12 months (45cm between 45cm and 75cm). It is in compliance with the latest i-Size regulations which require children to remain rear facing for longer. It is compatible with the 2way family base that lets you change from forward-facing to rear-facing within the same vehicle. It also includes a handy rotating feature.

It's still a very comfortable seat, but the latest version is a bit more refined. It now has a much-improved baby-hugg that looks and feels super-comfy. The shoulder straps are padded and the headrest can be adjusted up or down as your baby grows. You can remove it at any time, when you do not want to use it again.

It's a bit heavier than some of the other infant carseats, at 4.5kg however that shouldn't be a problem when your infant is using it for the majority of the time. It comes with a handle to make it easier to carry and is lightweight baby car seat enough to be carried to and from taxis or rideshare vehicles.

It is also a stylish seat. You can choose from many different colours and patterns that will suit your car. It's not the most affordable car seat for infants, but it's still very reasonable and well worth the extra cost for your baby. It can be a bit difficult to adjust the height and length, but once you've mastered the art of it, it's a breeze. Simply pull down on the back panel, and squeeze two buttons to move up and down the straps without having to rethread them.

3. Joie Calmi

If you're looking for a newborn car seat that's user-friendly and can be used by your baby like a cot, then look no further than Joie Calmi. This dual-use car seat as well as carrycot is certified by R129. It's built to last with a durable ventilated exterior shell and a plush padding to hold your baby. It features a 3-point safety harness that can be adjusted with a single pull, and softly cushioned covers. Additionally, it has the ability to lateralize your baby's head at the most secure position in case of an impact.

This seat's base is compatible with Joie's Aeria and Finiti pushchairs, so you can pop it off and back on the frame effortlessly. And, thanks to adjustable handle bars, it's also easy to lift even when your child is asleep. If you're looking to create a travel set, iBase Encore adapters let you to pair Calmi with a MaxiCosi or Britax stroller.

The design of the previous i-Spin 360 has been improved by Joie. This model received an excellent score in the crash tests conducted by Which?, and a good rating from ADAC. The model we tested includes an electronic lock that prevents the seat from turning too fast, ensuring that your child is rear-facing for as long as it is possible. It also boasts a large sun canopy that is water-resistant and offers 50+ UV protection and features a mesh peekaboo windows that lets you check in without disturbing your child.

If you're shopping for a car seat online, ensure you choose a store 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, including Cybex, Maxi-Cosi and Silver Cross, and offers free click and pick up to the nearest store (or to the nearest Sainsbury's branch if you are close to one). You can also collect Nectar points on all purchases. Argos also offers a good range of car seats at prices 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 participating Sainsbury's branches.

4. Silver Cross Motion All Size 360

The trusted British brand is well-known for its premium prams and pushchairs however, the Silver Cross Motion all-in-one car seat is making its mark on the market. Our tester Jasper loved it, calling it "the best-looking of the bunch and the one my daughter seemed to be most comfortable on long rides."

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

For babies, it has an easy-to-remove and comfortable cushioned insert made of soft bamboo fabric that is breathable and antibacterial. The head support and body insert can be removed as your child grows and the 3 recline and 8 headrest positions can be adjusted to accommodate.

The 'green' light that signals when the car seat has been properly installed and is ready for use is an exclusive feature. This makes it a perfect choice for new parents, who may not know the correct installation and fitting of car seats. It also comes with a harness that can be used in either the rear or forward-facing position.

Another major selling point is that it's a permanent vehicle fixture and you don't need to wake up your sleepy baby to take out for longer journeys. It's not compatible with travel systems like the Britax Romer Dualfix plus iSize or the Joie iSpin 360 iSize. You will need to purchase an additional travel bag.

The Axkid One is a permanently fixed car seat. They are not as easy to move between cars. If you choose to purchase a separate travel bag select one that is strong and can stand up to 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.