The best car seats for newborns uk Newborn Car Seats in the UK

Safety of your car seat is a top concern for any parent. There's plenty of options when it comes down to choosing the best car seats for newborns newborn car seat for your child.

Featuring a cosy baby-hugg inlay and enhanced side impact protection This Cybex Cloud T is the most comfortable car seat for newborns in the UK. It has a one handed recline and 12 headrest positions to adapt to your child’s growing body.

1. Cybex Cloud T

The Cybex Cloud T is the premium car seat that includes everything you need to take your newborn on adventures from birth up until they reach 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 in the car, and when used in conjunction with a pushchair as part of the travel system. It's also an ISOFIX vehicle seat, meaning that it is able to be easily attached to your vehicle using the base provided. It can be rotated to help get your baby in and out of the seat.

The car seat itself is constructed from high-quality materials and comes in a variety of fashionable colours that include Moon Black, Lava Grey, Beach Blue Plus and Seashell Beige Plus. It's a chic 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 maintain an upright position, which reduces the risk that their heads may move forward during sleep, which can cause breathing problems. It is removed when your child reaches 60 centimeters in height.

When it comes to safety the car seat provides 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 i-Size comes equipped with LSP (Linear Side-impact protection) to safeguard your baby in the event of a crash and the revolutionary Flexi-Fix system that stretches to fit your child as they expand.

The innovative 180deg rotating system makes it easy to get your baby in and out of the car seat when you use it as a part of a travel system, paired with a Cybex stroller. There is no more awkward twisting or reaching. The car seat can be positioned in a fully reclined position to provide extra comfort on long car trips. The cost is a bit higher than other car seats in this age group however the features it offers including the recline feature and superior safety features makes 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 that are available. It's comfortable for babies and easy to use. It's suitable for babies from birth and can be used with Maxi-Cosi's FamilyFix or EasyFix base or in conjunction with your car's seat belt system. The car seat is also compatible with all pushchairs, including the Maxi-Cosi range and Quinny, iCandy and Bugaboo (using adapters). The Baby-Hugg infant support is also included to provide the Best Car Seat Newborn fit, better laying position, and side impact protection.

The Pebble Plus car seat is classified as a Group 0+ which means it is suitable for infants as young as 12 months (45cm – 75cm). It's compliant with new iSize regulations, which require that children sit in the rear for longer. It is compatible with the 2way Family base that allows you to switch between forward and rear facing on the same car and also has a handy rotating feature.

It's still a very comfy seat, but the latest version has a few improvements. It now comes with a more refined baby-hugg inlay which looks and feels super-comfy. The shoulder straps are cushioned and the headrest is able to be adjusted up or down as your baby grows. It can also be removed at anytime if you wish to stop using it.

It's heavier than other infant carseats, at 4.5kg but should not be a problem when your child is using it for the majority of the time. It can be used with a handle to make it easier transport, and it's light enough to get it in and out of rideshare cars or taxis too.

It's also a nice-looking seat and you can select from a wide range of colours and patterns to match your car. It's not the cheapest infant car seat, but it's still a reasonable price and is worth the investment for your baby. It can be a bit difficult to adjust the length and height however once you've mastered the art of it, it's easy. Simply pull down on the back panel, and squeeze two buttons to move up or down the straps without having to rethread them.

3. Joie Calmi

Joie Calmi is the ideal newborn car seat for your newborn. It's simple to use and cradles baby like a cot. This dual-use carrycot and best car seats newborn seat is R129-certified, meaning that it's built tough with a durable ventilated shell and a plush cushioning to hold your little one. It has a three-point safety harness that is adjusted with just a single pull and softly cushioned covers. Additionally, it has an lateral position to keep your baby's head in the most secure position in the event of an impact.

The base of this seat is compatible with Joie's Aeria and Finiti pushchairs, meaning you can remove it and back on the frame easily. It's easy to lift even if your baby is asleep thanks to the adjustable handle bars. If you're looking to make an entire travel set, the iBase Encore adapters will allow you to pair Calmi with a MaxiCosi or Britax stroller.

Joie has improved the design of its previous i-Spin 360, which earned the highest test score in Which?'s crash tests and a good rating from ADAC. The most recent model, which we tested, comes with a lock that stops you from turning the seat to face forward too quickly, making sure your child stays in the rear as long as possible. It also boasts a large sun canopy that's water repellent and provides 50+ UV protection and has a mesh peekaboo window to let you observe without disturbing your child.

If you're shopping for a car seat online, make sure you choose a store that offers free UK mainland delivery on all purchases and returns within 35 days. John Lewis offers a wide selection of infant car seats from top brands such as Maxi-Cosi, Silver Cross and Cybex. Click and collect is free to your local branch (or Sainsbury's if you are close to it). For all purchases you make, you will also earn Nectar points. Argos also has a wide range of car seats at prices starting from PS55. You can also get free delivery, same-day collection in store and free returns to any Argos or participating Sainsbury's store.

4. Silver Cross Motion All Size 360

Silver Cross Motion is a new vehicle seat that is all-in-one from the reputable British brand, which is known for its premium prams and pushchairs. 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 be the most comfortable on long drives."

This fully rotating R129-compliant vehicle seat can carry your baby all the way to 12 years old and was awarded the top baby, toddler and child car seat award in ADAC's test for the autumn of 2022. It was also tested above the rules to ensure your child is protected on every trip.

For infants, it comes with a removable and cosy padded insert made from soft bamboo fabric that's breathable and antibacterial. The head and body inserts as well as the support can be removed when your child gets older. You can also alter the position of the headrest and recline to suit.

The 'green' light that signals when the car seat is properly fitted and is now ready to use is a unique feature. This makes it a great option for parents who are new to the family, and might not be aware of the proper installation and fitting of best car seats for newborns seats. It also comes with a convenient stowable strap that can be used in the rear-facing or forward-facing position.

Another major selling point is that it's a constant fixture in the car which means you don't have to wake your sleeping baby to take them out for long trips. However, it isn't travel system-compatible, like the Joie iSpin 360 iSize or Britax Romer Dualfix Plus iSize (you have to purchase a separate travel bag for this).

The Axkid One is a permanently fixed car seat that is permanently fixed. They're not as easy to transport between cars. 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 little more for a bag that will last longer than the car seat of your child.