The Best Newborn Car Seats in the UK

Safety in car seats is a priority for all parents. There are a myriad of options when it comes down to choosing the best newborn car seats for your child.

With a cozy baby-hugg insert and enhanced side impact protection, the Cybex Cloud T is the best infant car seats on sale car seat UK. It comes with a single-handed recline and 12 headrest positions that 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 to their first journey right until they reach toddler years. It's the newest version of the legendary Cybex Cloud range and features innovative reclining technologies that allow your child a comfortable and reclining position in the car or when used in conjunction with a stroller as part an entire travel system. It's also an ISOFIX car seat which means it is able to be easily connected to your vehicle by using the base that comes with it. It can also be rotated 360 degrees to help get your baby out and in.

The car seat is constructed of high-quality materials, and is available in a range of fashionable colours including Moon Black, Lava Grey and Beach Blue Plus. It's a stylish 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 secure, flat position that reduces the risk of their heads bouncing forward while they sleep, which could cause breathing difficulties. It can be removed when your child is at least 60 cm in height.

In terms of safety, the car seat offers excellent protection for your child, scoring an impressive 1.7 result in crash tests conducted by ADAC (Allgemeiner Deutsche Automobil-Club e.V). The Cloud T i-Size is equipped with LSP (Linear Side-impact protection) to safeguard your child in the event of a collision and the revolutionary Flexi-Fix system that can be stretched to accommodate your child as they develop.

If you're planning to use the car seat as part of a travel set-up with a Cybex pushchair, the revolutionary 180deg rotation ensures that getting your baby in and out is easy. No more awkward reaching or twisting. The car seat can be set in a fully reclined posture for added comfort during long car journeys. The price is slightly higher than other car seats for this age group however the features it has, including the reclining feature as well as excellent safety features makes it well worth the cost.

2. Maxi-Cosi Pebble Plus

The Maxi-Cosi Pebble Plus is among the best newborn car seats available. It's easy to use and comfortable for babies. It's suitable from birth and can be used with Maxi-Cosi's FamilyFix or EasyFix base or in conjunction with the seat belt system in your car. The car seat is also compatible with most pushchairs including the Maxi-Cosi range, Quinny, iCandy and Bugaboo (using adapters). The Baby-Hugg infant support is included for an improved fit, a more comfortable in a position that is more comfortable, and provides side impact protection.

The Pebble Plus car seat is classified as a Group 0+ that means it can be used by babies as young as 12 months (45cm to 75cm). It is in compliance with the latest i-Size guidelines that require children to remain rear facing for longer. It is compatible with the 2way family base that allows you to change from forward-facing to rear-facing within the same vehicle. It also features a handy rotating feature.

It's still a very comfy seat, but the latest version has some improvements. It comes with a brand new, improved baby-hugging inlay that looks and feels great. The shoulder straps are well-cushioned and the headrest can be moved up or down as your baby grows. You can remove it at any time in case you decide not to use it again.

It's a little heavier at 4.5kg than other infant carseats, however this shouldn't be a problem for a baby who spends the majority of the time in it. You can use it with a handle for more comfortable carrying, and it's lightweight enough to get it in and out of rideshare vehicles or taxis as well.

It's also a nice-looking seat and you can pick from a wide selection of colors and patterns to fit your car. It's not the cheapest infant car seat but it's still affordable and is worth the investment for your baby. Once you've mastered it, adjusting the harness size and height is simple. You can adjust the straps by pulling down on the back panel, pressing two buttons simultaneously.

3. Joie Calmi

Joie Calmi is a great newborn car seat for your newborn. It's simple to use, and it cradles baby like a cot. This dual-use carrycot and car seat is R129-certified, which means it's made tough with a sturdy 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. Plus, it features 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, so you can easily pop it on and off the frame. With the adjustable handle bars, it's a breeze to lift even when your child is asleep. If you want to create an entire travel system, the i-Base Encore adapters allow you to pair Calmi with Maxi-Cosi or Britax pushchair, too.

The design of the previous i-Spin 360 has been improved by Joie. This model received an excellent score in the crash tests of Which? and a good rating from ADAC. The latest model that we tested comes with a lock that stops you from turning the seat too soon, ensuring your child remains rear-facing for as long as is possible. It also has a huge, water-resistant sun canopy with 50+ UV protection as well as a mesh peekaboo to allow you to check in without disturbing the child.

If you're looking for a car seat online, make sure you pick a retailer that provides free UK mainland delivery on all purchases and returns within 35 days. John Lewis offers a wide variety of infant car seats from top brands like Maxi-Cosi, Silver Cross and Cybex. Click and collect is free to any branch in your area (or Sainsbury's if you are close to it). On all purchases you can also earn Nectar points. Argos is another option for a wide selection of car seats, with prices starting at PS55. They'll also deliver your order free of charge and provide same-day pickup in-store and free returns at any Argos store or participating Sainsbury's branch.

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. Our tester Jasper loved it, calling it "the best-looking of the bunch and the one my baby appeared to be most comfortable in on long rides."

This fully rotating R129-compliant car seat can take your newborn all the way to 12 years old and won the top baby toddler, child and car seat in the ADAC's autumn test in 2022. It's also been tested above and beyond the regulations to ensure that your child's safety throughout every trip.

It is equipped with a removable, cozy padded insert for newborns composed of soft bamboo fabrics. These fabrics are super breathable and antibacterial. The body insert and head support can be removed when your child gets older. You can also alter the position of the headrest and recline to accommodate.

The 'green' light that signals when the car seat has been properly fitted and is now ready to use is a unique feature. This makes it an ideal choice for parents who are new to the family, and might not be aware of the correct installation and fitting of car seats. It also has a handy harness that can be used in either rear or forward facing position.

Another reason to buy it is that it's a long-lasting vehicle fixture and you don't need to wake up your sleepy baby to take them out for longer trips. It's not compatible with travel systems like the Britax Romer Dualfix plus iSize or the Joie iSpin 360 iSize. You'll need to purchase an additional travel bag.

The disadvantage of cars with a fixed structure like the Axkid One i-size is that they're not as convenient to carry around when you're required to move them between cars. If you decide to buy a separate travel bag choose one that is sturdy and can stand up to the wear and tear of frequent use. It's worth paying a little extra for a bag that will last for as long as your child's car seat.