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 down to choosing the most suitable car seat for your little one.

Featuring a cosy baby-hugg inlay and enhanced side impact protection The Cybex Cloud T is the best infant seat newborn car seat UK. It also features a single-handed recline setting and no less than 12 headrest positions that adapt 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 on journeys from birth right through to their toddler years. It's the most recent update to the legendary Cybex Cloud line and features the latest reclining technology that allows your child an ergonomic lie-flat position inside the car and with a pushchair as part of the 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 also be rotated to assist you in helping get your baby into and out of the seat.

The car seat itself is made of high-quality materials and is available in a variety of trendy colors that include Moon Black, Lava Grey, Beach Blue Plus and Seashell Beige Plus. It is a stylish and elegant option that works perfectly with the Cybex T range of prams. It also comes with the Newborn Inlay, which is specifically designed for premature and newborn infants. This helps to maintain the baby's head in a flat position, decreasing the chance that their heads be able to move forward while sleeping, causing breathing problems. This can be removed once your child is at least 60 cm in height.

When it comes to safety the car seat offers superior protection for your child, achieving an impressive 1.7 result in crash tests by ADAC (Allgemeiner Deutsche Automobil-Club e.V). The Cloud T iSize is equipped with LSP (Linear Side-impact protection) to safeguard your child in the event of a crash and the innovative Flexi-Fix system that stretches to accommodate your child as they develop.

The unique 180deg rotating system makes it easy to get your baby into and out of the car seat when you are using it as part a travel system that includes a Cybex stroller. There is no more awkward twisting or reaching. The car seat can also be placed in a fully reclined configuration to provide extra comfort on long car journeys. It does come at a slightly higher cost than other 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 is among the most popular infant car seats on the market. It is simple to use and is comfortable for babies. It's suitable for babies from birth. It is compatible with the Maxi-Cosi FamilyFix, EasyFix base, or your car seat belt system. The car seat is compatible with a variety of pushchairs, including the Maxi Cosi range, Quinny, iCandy, and Bugaboo, using adapters. It includes the Baby-Hugg infant headrest for a better fit and laying position and 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 stay rear facing for longer. It's compatible with the 2way Family base that allows you to switch between forward and rear facing on the same vehicle and comes with a handy rotation feature.

Similar to the previous version, it's a comfortable seat and the new version includes some improvements. It now comes with a more refined baby-hugg inlay that is super comfortable and stylish. The shoulder straps are padded, and the headrest can be moved up and down as your baby grows. You can take it off at any point, when you do not want to use it anymore.

It's a bit heavier than some of the other newborn carseats at 4.5kg but shouldn't be a problem when your baby is using it for the majority of the time. You can use it with a handle to make it easier carrying, and it's lightweight enough to lift in and out of rideshare cars or taxis as well.

It's also a stylish seat, and you can choose from a variety of colours and patterns to suit your car. It's not the cheapest infant car seat, but it's nevertheless a good investment and is worth the extra cost for your child. It can be difficult to adjust the harness's length and height, but once you've mastered the art of it, it's a breeze. You simply pull down on the back panel and squeeze together two buttons to move up and down the straps without the need to rethread them.

3. Joie Calmi

If you're looking for a newborn car seat that is easy to use and cradles your baby like a cot, then look no further than Joie Calmi. This dual-use car seat and carrycot is R129-certified. It's built to last with a tough ventilated outer shell and soft padding to hold your baby. It comes with a 3-point safety harness that is adjusted with a single pull and softly cushioned covers. It also features lateral positioning, which helps keep your baby's face in the most secure possible position in the event of an collision.

The base of this seat is compatible with Joie's Aeria and Finiti pushchairs, so you can remove it and put it back on easily. Additionally, with the adjustable handle bars, it's also a breeze to lift, even when your child is asleep. If you're looking to build an all-in-one travel system, the i-Base Encore adapters allow you to connect Calmi with a Maxi-Cosi or Britax pushchair, too.

Joie has improved on the design of its earlier i-Spin 360, which earned the highest test score in Which?'s crash tests as well as a Good rating from ADAC. The model we tested has locks to stop you from rotating the seat too quickly, making sure that your child is rear-facing as long as possible. It also has a large sun canopy that is water-resistant and has 50+ UV protection, as well as a mesh peekaboo to allow you to check in without disturbing the child.

If you're shopping for a car seat online, ensure you choose a store that offers 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, including Cybex, Maxi-Cosi and Silver Cross and offers free click and pick up to your nearest store (or to an Sainsbury's branch if you live close to one). You can also earn Nectar points on every purchase. Argos also offers a good range of car seats at prices starting at PS55. You can also avail 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 all-in-one vehicle seat from the reputable British brand, which is known for its premium pushchairs and prams. Jasper, our tester, was a fan of it. He said it was "the most stylish of the bunch." My baby seemed to be the most comfortable during long drives."

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 top child, baby and toddler car seat. It was also tested to the extent that it exceeds the requirements to ensure that your child is protected on every trip.

It includes a removable, cozy padding for infants composed of soft bamboo fabrics. These bamboo fabrics are extremely breathable and antibacterial. The head and body inserts as well as the support can be removed when your child grows. You can also alter the position of the headrest and recline to accommodate.

The green light that indicates that the car seat has been properly fitted and is ready for use is an unique feature. This makes it a great option for parents who might not be aware of the correct installation and fitting of car seats. It also has a handy stowable harness which can be used in either rear or forward-facing position.

Another major selling point is that it's a long-lasting fixture in the car which means you don't have to wake your sleeping newborn to get them out for longer trips. It's not compatible with travel systems such as the Britax Romer Dualfix plus iSize or the Joie iSpin 360 iSize. You'll need purchase a separate 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 withstand the wear and tears of frequent use. It's worth spending a little more for a bag that can last for as long as the car seat of your child.