The Best Newborn Car Seats in the UK

Safety in car seats is a top concern for all parents. There's plenty of choices when it comes down to choosing the best car seats infant newborn car seat for your baby.

Featuring a cosy baby-hugg inlay and enhanced side impact protection, the Cybex Cloud T is the best newborn car seat UK. It also features a single-handed recline setting and no less than 12 headrest positions that adjust to your child's changing body.

1. Cybex Cloud T

The Cybex Cloud T is the top car seat that comes with everything you need to take your infant to their first journey right through to their toddler years. It's the latest version of the legendary Cybex Cloud range and features innovative reclining technologies that give your child a comfortable and reclining position in the car or when used with a stroller as part of a complete travel system. It is also an ISOFIX vehicle seat, so it can easily be attached to your car by using the base that comes with it. It can be rotated to help you get your baby in and out of the seat.

The car seat is constructed of top quality materials, and it comes in a variety of trendy colours including Moon Black, Lava Grey and Beach Blue Plus. It's a stylish and elegant option that works perfectly with the Cybex T range of prams. It also comes with the Newborn Inlay, which is designed for newborns and premature infants. This helps maintain the baby's head in a flat position, decreasing the chance that their heads may move forward during sleep, which can cause breathing problems. It can be removed once your child reaches 60 cm in height.

The car seat is a fantastic choice for safety, as it scored an impressive 1.7 in crash tests by 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 around in the seat in the event of an accident. It also features the revolutionary Flexi-Fix harness system that expands as your child grows, ensuring they always have a secure fit.

The unique 180deg rotating system makes it easy to get your baby in and out of the car seat when using it as part a travel system, with a Cybex stroller. There is no more awkward twisting or reaching. The car seat is equipped to fully recline to provide extra comfort during long journeys in the car. It's somewhat higher price 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 money.

2. Maxi-Cosi Pebble Plus

The Maxi-Cosi Pebble Plus car seat is one of the most sought-after newborn car seats on the market. It's a comfortable seat for babies and simple to use. It is suitable from birth and can be used with the Maxi-Cosi FamilyFix or EasyFix base, or with your car's seat belt system. The car seat is compatible with most pushchairs including the Maxi-Cosi range as well as Quinny, iCandy and Bugaboo (using adapters). The Baby-Hugg infant car seats uk seat is also included to provide a better fit, laying in a position that is more comfortable, and provides 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 to 75cm). It is in compliance with the latest 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 lets you switch between forward-facing and rear-facing within the same vehicle. It also includes an excellent rotating feature.

It's still a very comfortable seat, but the latest version has a few improvements. It's now got a better 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 end using it.

It is a little heavier at 4.5kg than some other infant carseats, however this shouldn't be an issue when your baby spends the majority of the day 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 vehicles or taxis too.

It is also a stylish seat. You can choose from many different colours and designs that will fit your car. It's not the cheapest infant car seat, but it's an excellent investment that is worth the money for your baby. Once you've mastered it, adjusting the harness size and height is simple. You simply pull down on the back panel and press two buttons to move up and down the straps without needing to rethread them.

3. Joie Calmi

Joie Calmi is the ideal infant car seat newborn car seat for a newborn baby. It's simple to use, and it can be used as a cot for baby. This dual-use carrycot and car seat is R129-certified meaning that it's built tough with a tough ventilated shell and a plush padding to protect your baby. It features three-point harnesses that are easily accessible with one-pull tightening and softly cushioned covers. It also features lateral positioning, which keeps your baby's face in a safest possible position in the event of impact.

The base of this seat is compatible with Joie Aeria and Finiti strollers, which means you can easily slide it on and off the frame. And, thanks to adjustable handle bars, it's also easy to move even when your baby is asleep. If you're planning to build a travel set, the iBase Encore adapters will allow you to connect your Calmi with MaxiCosi or Britax stroller.

Joie has improved the design of its earlier i-Spin 360, which earned an excellent score in the crash tests of Which? and a good rating from ADAC. The model we tested has an electronic lock that prevents the seat from turning too quickly, ensuring that your child remains rear-facing for as long as it is possible. It also comes with a large sun canopy that is water-resistant, with 50+ UV protection, as well as an open mesh that allows you to check in without disturbing the child.

If you're looking for a car seat online, make sure you select a retailer which offers free UK mainland delivery on all purchases and returns within 35 days. John Lewis has a great selection of baby car seats with top brands like Cybex, Maxi-Cosi and Silver Cross and provides free click and collect to your local store (or to a Sainsbury's branch if you are close to one). For all purchases, you can also earn Nectar points. Argos also has a great range of car seats at prices starting from PS55. You can also get free delivery, same-day collection at the store and free returns to any Argos or Sainsbury's store that is participating.

4. Silver Cross Motion All Size 360

The reliable British brand is most well-known for its premium prams and pushchairs but the Silver Cross Motion all-in-one car seat is making a name for itself. Our tester Jasper loved it, calling it "the most attractive of the bunch and also the one my baby appeared to be most comfortable in during long journeys."

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

For infants, it comes with an adjustable and cozy padded insert made from soft bamboo fabrics that's super 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 positions for the headrest can also be adjusted to fit your child's.

One of the most distinctive features is the built-in 'green light' that signals when the car seat is properly secured and ready for use which makes it a fantastic option for new parents who aren't sure with the correct way to install and set up car seats. It also has a handy harness that can be used in either a rear or forward facing position.

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

The downside to permanent fixed car seats such as the Axkid One i-size is that they're not as easy to carry around if you have to move them between vehicles. If you decide to buy a separate travel bag pick one that is durable and able to stand up to the wear and tear of frequent use. It's worth paying a bit extra for a bag that will last longer than your child's car seat.