The Best Newborn Car Seats in the UK

Safety of your car seat is a top priority for any parent. Thankfully, there's an abundance of options when it comes down to choosing the ideal car seat for newborns for your baby.

The Cybex Cloud T offers enhanced side impact protection as well as an adorable inlay. It's the most comfortable new car seat in the UK. It also has a one-handed recline adjustment and more than 12 headrest positions that can be adjusted to your child's changing body.

1. Cybex Cloud T

The Cybex Cloud T is the premium car seat that has everything you need to take your infant on adventures from birth up until they reach their toddler years. It's the latest addition to the iconic Cybex Cloud range and features innovative reclining technologies that allow your child a comfortable and reclining position in the car when used with strollers as part of the complete travel system. It's also an ISOFIX car seat which means it can be easily attached to your vehicle by using the base that comes with it. It can even be rotated 360 degrees to assist in getting your baby in and out.

The car seat itself is constructed from high-quality materials and comes in a variety of fashionable 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 infants. This assists in maintaining the baby's head in a flat position, decreasing the risk that their heads move forward during sleep, which can cause breathing problems. This can be removed when your child reaches a height of 60 cm.

In terms of safety, the car seat offers superior 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 is equipped with LSP (Linear Side-impact protection) to safeguard your baby in the event of a crash and the innovative Flexi-Kinderkraft Junior Fix Car Seat Booster Gray system that can be stretched to fit your child as they grow.

If you're planning to use the car seat as part of a travel set-up with a Cybex pushchair, the revolutionary 180deg tilt means getting your baby in and out is super easy - no more awkward bending or reaching. The car seat is equipped to fully recline to provide extra comfort during long car journeys. The price is slightly higher than other car seats in this age but the features it offers including the reclining feature as well as excellent safety features make it worth the investment.

2. Maxi-Cosi Pebble Plus

The Maxi-Cosi Pebble Plus car seats is one of the most popular newborn car seats available. It is comfortable for infants and simple to use. It's suitable from birth and can be used with Maxi-Cosi's FamilyFix or EasyFix base or with the seat belt system in your car. The car seat can be used with a variety of pushchairs, including the Maxi Cosi range, Quinny, iCandy, and Bugaboo by using adapters. It includes the Baby-Hugg infant head support to allow for a better fit and the position of the child's head and side impact protection.

The Pebble Plus car seat is classified as a Group 0+ that means it is suitable for babies as young as 12 months (45cm to 75cm). It's compliant with new iSize regulations, which require that children be rear-facing for a greater length of time. It is compatible with the 2way family base that lets you switch from rear-facing to forward-facing on 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 comes with a brand new, better baby-hugging inlay that looks and feels great. The shoulder straps are padded and the headrest is able to be adjusted up or down as your baby grows. It is also possible to remove it at any time if you want to end using it.

It's heavier than other newborn carseats at 4.5kg, but that shouldn't be a problem when your baby is in it for most of the time. It has a handle that can make it easier to carry and is light enough to be lifted into and out of taxis or rideshare vehicles.

It's also a good-looking seat and you can select from a wide range of patterns and colours to suit your car. It's not the most cost-effective infant car seat, but it's nevertheless a good investment and is worth the extra cost for your child. It can be a bit difficult to adjust the length and height but once you get the hang of it it's fine. You can adjust the straps by pulling them down on the back panel pressing two buttons at the same time.

3. Joie Calmi

If you're looking for a newborn car seat that's simple to use and holds your baby like a cot then look no further than Joie Calmi. This dual-use carrycot and car seat is R129-certified which means it's built to last with a durable ventilated shell and plush padding to protect your little one. It has a three-point safety harness that can be adjusted with a single pull and softly cushioned covers. Plus, it features the ability to lateralize your baby's head at the safest position in case of an accident.

This seat's base is compatible with Joie's Aeria and Finiti pushchairs, which means you can pop it off and back on the frame effortlessly. It's easy to move even when your baby is asleep because of the adjustable handle bars. If you're looking to create a travel set, iBase Encore adapters allow you to pair Calmi up with a MaxiCosi or Britax stroller.

Joie has improved on the design of its previous i-Spin 360, which earned an excellent score in Which?'s crash tests as well as a Good rating from ADAC. The most recent model, which 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 sun canopy that's water repellent and offers 50+ UV protection, and features a mesh peekaboo windows that lets you observe without disturbing your child.

If you are shopping online for car seats, choose an online retailer that provides free delivery to the UK mainland for all orders. They should also allow returns within 35 days. John Lewis offers a wide range of infant car seats from top brands such as Maxi-Cosi, Silver Cross and Cybex. Click and collect is free to any branch in your area (or Sainsbury's if you are near). On all purchases you can also earn Nectar points. Argos also has a wide selection of car seats with prices starting from PS55. You can also enjoy 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 vehicle seat that is all-in-one from the reputable British brand, which is known for its high-end pushchairs and prams. Our test subject Jasper loved it, describing it "the best-looking of the bunch, and the one my daughter seemed to find most comfortable during long journeys."

This fully rotating R129 safe 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's also been tested over and beyond the regulations to ensure your child is safe throughout every trip.

For infants, it comes with an adjustable and cozy cushioned insert made of soft bamboo fabric that is breathable and antibacterial. The head and body inserts as well as the support can be removed as your child grows. You can also adjust the recline and headrest positions to fit your child's.

A distinctive feature is the built-in green light' that indicates when the car seat is secured and ready to use, making it a great option for new parents who aren't sure about the correct method to install and fit car seats. It also comes with a convenient strap that can be used in the forward or rear-facing position.

It's also a permanent fixture, so you won't have to wake your baby in order to take them out of the car for long trips. It is not compatible with travel systems like the Britax Romer Dualfix plus iSize, or Joie iSpin 360 iSize. You'll need to purchase an additional travel bag.

The drawback to permanently fixed car seats like the Axkid One i-size is that they're not as easy to carry around if you need to transport them between different vehicles. If you decide to buy an additional travel bag to carry your car seat, ensure that it's a sturdy bag that can keep up with the wear and tear 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.