10 of the Best Car Seats for Babies from Birth

We review the most productive car seats to use from birth and how to travel safely by car with a newborn

If you’re expecting a baby or have a baby and plan to use a car, you’ll want a car seat to make sure they’re safe.

To help you choose the right car seat for you, we’ve conducted extensive market research to find the safest, most comfortable, and easy-to-use products available, adding the ones with cutting-edge designs and cutting-edge features. That will make each and every vacation more wonderful for your baby, and for you too. Find great baby seat deals for some of our proven favorites.

Each car seat on this list has been very well tested by independent examiners and almost all seats have also been tested by professional MFM examiners who have tested them on their children over a period of at least 2 weeks. We also take into account the protection tests. carmade through ADAC, one of the leading car seat testers in Europe.

There are four of the seats designed for use by newborns:

All Group 0 car seats are rear-facing and your baby will want to do so from birth to 15 months of age. You can then move your baby to a 1/2 moment/organization level, 1/2 organization, or 1/2 organization. /3 car seat.

In which direction are they turned? Children under 15 months of age must be transported rear-facing or sideways (sideways) in approved seats (such as certain car cots) in accordance with Regulation No. 129 of the UN. Having your child rear-facing for longer when traveling in a car is safer because it provides greater coverage of the underdeveloped head, neck, and spine of very young children in the event of a collision. In fact, several studies have shown that it is much safer for young children to look back in the car seat until childhood.

What type of installation do you want?- Baby car seats can be installed in two ways: either by using ISOFIX, a formula that allows you to install the seat by special anchoring elements that connect directly to a car or simply to your car 3- Point seat belt. We the other types of installation in more detail here.

Remember that at the time of installation, all cars will have ISOFIX points, so before you buy, you’ll want to check your car’s compatibility with the car seat manufacturer’s installation guide. Here you will find a link to a list of car compatibility checkers for the top car seat brands discussed in this article.

Once you’ve selected your ideal car seat, you want to install it in the car and although we’re enthusiastic about adjustments at MFM headquarters, we propose that a trained car seat installation representative (manufacturer-appointed) install your car seat if you can.

Is support included? For baby car seats, the base will be independent. While for organization 0/1 and above, the base will be incorporated into the headquarters. In either case, the seat rests firmly on the base, and the base in turn is fastened. to the car with ISOFIX points. Using a car base increases the height of the car seat, can provide more legroom and simplifies correct installation. Some base sets have soft or audible signals that verify the correct assembly. It’s easier to use with a travel system, but keep in mind that car seat bases are sold separately and can double the price you pay.

Do you need an i-Size seat?– ISOFIX works with i-Size, the latest European standard for car seats, called R129, which aims to make car seats safer by requiring young people to sit rear-facing for longer (up to at least 15 months), ISOFIX installation (anchorage plus assist leg or upper strap), Appearance influences coverage and classification based on the child’s height rather than weight. You don’t need to buy an i-Size chair, for example your car It may not have ISOFIX points, but it’s something you might need to conspectr. Consult our expert i-Size advisor for more information.

Will you use your car seat as part of a formula?A formula associates a stroller with a car seat in organization 0. The car seat attaches or adapts to the stroller or its chassis, making it easier for your baby to move out of the seat. Car to the stroller. Check your stroller manufacturer’s online page to see if there are compatible car seats if this is something you want to do and if you want to purchase adapters to install the seat in your stroller.

This is the established protection advice backed by protection experts and manufacturers, which suggests that babies do not sit in a car seat for more than 2 hours at a time, with the exception of an extended car seat. In fact, young children can have breathing disorders if they are placed in a sitting or wrinkled position for too long.

This 2-hour rule includes young children sitting in car seats in their strollers. A car seat isn’t an option for a crib or crib, but don’t worry if your baby falls asleep in your car, like most toddlers do!I do not need them to sleep for more than 2 hours in the same poison.

Infant car seats are more expensive than child car seats in other groups. But as with anything similar to parenting products, costs can range from budget to luxury. Our smartest selections come with adapted seats from birth from £140 to £350 for seating only.

You may also want the extra charge of a dock, as they are not normally included with baby seats. However, some brands will have higher-level seats that are compatible with the base, so you may not have to buy one. a new one.

While value is vital and not an indicator of a car seat protection, it is more important for the right seat that best suits you and your child in the car you will use most often. Remember, don’t settle for the second. Second-hand car rates or seats.

This state-of-the-art Group 0 car seat is the first of its kind to feature a modular 2-part formula: the first module is the comfortable detachable interior support, weighing 1. 7 kg, which can be removed from the module for the time being: the plastic outer shell of the seat. Our MFM reviewer, Georgina, enjoyed this exclusive feature and described it as “revolutionary” and “so useful, simple and lightweight to use that it can be used to comfortably transport your baby through space or even on short walks. “

The interior bracket, which has retractable handles, fits in and gently removes from the plastic casing, which is then snapped into the FamilyFix3 base unit or secured in your car with a seat belt. Both features have been shown to be similar in independent tests. however, it’s worth noting that installing it with a seat belt means it’s not i-Size. Our reviewer found that the ISOFIX base, which can accommodate seats for young children up to four years old, has “a pretty big footprint”, which is anything to stay in the brain if you have a compact car.

You cannot use the car seat shell without the comfortable stand, however, the full seat can be installed in a compatible Maxi-Cosi or Quinny stroller frame to create a system, which is useful on trips of 2 hours or less. The sunshade was another feature our reviewer appreciated, noting that it “extends over my baby to prevent reflections from his eyes. “

The only sticking point occurred when the baby in our review passed the newborn insert, because for a while, without further padding, the comfortable seat was “too deep and not comfortable for her. “But overall, he felt that “the chest of drawers makes abundant value attractive. “

Pros: state-of-the-art detachable bracket, additional giant visor, easy to install Cons: deep seat, giant footprint when used with ISOFIX base

Read our complete MadeForMums from Maxi-Cosi Coral

Available in: John Lewis and Boots

Unlike maximum rotation car seats that cannot be used as a component of a system, Cloud Z is compatible with all Cybex strollers, as well as other popular stroller brands, thanks to the use of universal adapters. Best of all, when the seat is outside the car, such as in the frame of a stroller, it can recline in a maximum flat position, making it safer and more comfortable for your baby to lie down. Unsurprisingly, this was one of our favorite MFM Examiner features. Other notable features are the extra-long sunshade and 11-point adjustable headrest, which allow the seat to be compatible with your developing baby.

Weighing 4. 8kg, it is significantly lighter than maximum swivel car seats and easy to move, something our reviewers appreciated: “The grip of the car makes it easier for the car: even with the visor lowered, there is still enough room to have compatibility with your arm . for more comfortable compatibility.

The elegant fabrics and almost elongated posture of this lightweight car seat are supported by its improved fender characteristics, adding the linear telescopic look that has an effect on the protection formula: really an “arm” that unfolds on either side of the seat to get soaked. They have an impact in the event of a collision. These benefits are evident in the ADAC review, which gives Cloud Z a “very low risk of injury” in a side crash.

The greatest protective feature is obvious when the seat is used with the Cybex Z base, as it gives it the i-Size rating. The base also allows the seat to rotate 180°, which makes it much less difficult to use. the base for installing the Cloud Z, you have the option to wear your car’s seat belt, but that means wasting the i-Size score and rotation factor. Base prices are almost as much as the seat, but it’s worth remembering that you can buy it as part of Cybex’s Z-line system, allowing you to use it with the Sirona Z i-Size, a state-of-the-art seat.

Pros: Near false position outside the car, 180° swivel input (when used with Cybex Base Z) Cons: Cannot adjust the inclination in the car, it is flat inside the car

Read our full Cybex Cloud Z i-Size MadeForMums

Available in: Kiddies Kingdom, Mamas

The Jade is the first car bed to meet R129 i-Size protection standards, Maxi-Cosi claims, allowing young children to travel safely and comfortably longer than in a regular car seat (i. e. more than 2 hours). It can also be used as a car crib, as it is compatible with most Maxi-Cosi stroller frames and is even suitable for occasional sleeping in the middle of the night, which helps justify the value of a product that is only suitable for small children up to 6 months.

It beats its closest rival, the Jané Matrix Light 2, because it’s i-Size, while Matrix Light 2 is ISOFIX compatible, and because you don’t want to buy an extra bed to use the Jade as a gimbal. However, unlike the Matrix Light 2, the Jade does not rotate and cannot be switched to a traditional car seat position to accommodate older babies.

“The most productive thing about Maxi-Cosi Jade is that it’s a completely flat gimbal that also doubles as a car seat, so you never want to wake up a sleeping baby when you go from stroller to car,” said our MFM Felicity. reviser. It is very useful for parents who have to make long car trips, as well as for those who do not want to disturb their newborns who are napping when they walk from the house to the car.

The Jade adapts to the car the Maxi-Cosi ISOFIX FamilyFix3 base; once installed, you can use the same base with a Maxi-Cosi seat suitable for older toddlers and toddlers, such as the Pebble Pro i-Size or Pearl Pro 2 i-Size. However, since the Jade sits sideways in 2 seats, “even in a giant car, there will only be room for some other user in the back,” warns our MFM reviewer.

Pros: lying position, i-Size, fits most Maxi-Cosi mounts, can be used for sleeping at night Cons: occupies 2 seats in the back of the car, ISOFIX only, limited service life

Read our complete Maxi-Cosi Jade MadeForMums

Available in: Uber Kids, Kiddies Kingdom, Maxi-Cosi

The Groupe 0 Dream is part of the first variety of car seats of this traditional brand. Since you can install the Dream in a car with only the vehicle’s seat belt, as well as the compatible Dream i-Size base, it’s a smart choice if you need a seat that you can use seamlessly in other vehicles, for example, in your grandparents’ car. But even moving the ISOFIX base is a piece of cake thanks to the Silver Cross Car Safety Made Simple app, which provides a foolproof installation advisor for any of the functions when you scan the QR code on the side of your seat.

The seat was designed to be used as a travel formula with several stroller chassis and Silver Cross stroller, you will have to purchase the adapters separately, making it a better choice for new parents. For parents who already have a stroller or travel formula that’s not Silver Cross, not having the option to attach the seat to the wheels for a quick ride or grocery shopping “can be a little annoying,” says our MFM review, Sarah.

Remarkably, the Dream and Dream i-Size database earned the highest score ever awarded by ADAC, a world-leading independent testing organization. 5-point protective harness and ventilated hood, which allow maximum peace of mind for parents on the road.

The detachable padding of the baby insert is the winning feature for Sarah, who said, “The graduated series of inserts can be replaced as your baby grows, making sure your baby is perfectly fastened every step of the way. In addition, the padding is made of super soft and breathable bamboo fabric with thermoregulatory properties, which helps keep your baby at a comfortable temperature even on hot summer days.

Pros: high protection index, 4-layer look has an effect on protection, detachable sections for developing babies, breathable bamboo fabric Cons: only compatible with Silver Cross travel systems

Read our full Silver Cross Dream MadeForMums

Available on: Amazon, Uber Kids, Silver Cross

The i-Spin 360 is an upgraded i-Size edition of Joie’s popular Spin 360 style and, at less than £300 for the seat and base, is one of the most affordable car swivel seats on the market. Thanks to the full rotation of the one-handed seat activated via easily accessible buttons on the side of the seat, it is very easy to get your child into the car, a feature appreciated by our MFM examiner. “It’s convenient to be able to turn the i-Spin 360 in front of me as I stand through the open car door, tie my daughter up, and then turn the seat so it’s facing backwards. “

It has been cleverly designed to grow with your child: the headrest formula and harness are compatible in combination, with 6 other height positions to choose from; And the baby insert is made up of 3 individual pieces that can be used in combination to allow even toddlers to be held securely and then separately for developing toddlers.

The seat is safe, but for added protection when installing the Joie i-Spin, “there are soft green signals to verify that you secured it correctly”, which our MFM reviewer liked, as well as the “Guard Surround Safety” panels that will be offering greater lateral protection. The ADAC review also highlighted the ease of installation of the Joie i-Spin with “very simple to understand” instructions.

However, it should be noted that since the base is attached to the seat, the unit is heavy and can be difficult to install, which our MFM examiner noted. But once the seat is in your car, you’re unlikely to move it. from your installation position. The base also makes the seat quite bulky, which one user said means it’s arguably not the most productive option for small cars.

Pros: good value, easy to turn Cons: bulky and heavy (seat should be separated from base)

Read our full i-Spin 360 Joy MadeForMums

Available in: Uber Kids, John Lewis, Argos

The CabrioFix, from iconic market leader Maxi-Cosi, is a mid-priced car seat that was an instant hit when introduced over a decade ago and remains one of the most popular car seats in the UK. Its dominance lies in its moderate price, excellent protection record and the fact that it is a formula compatible with many of the best-selling strollers,” says our MFM reviewer.

Weighing only 3. 3kg, it is the lightest baby car seat that can be connected to an ISOFIX base, but it does not skimp on features, adding an aspect that affects protection, padded head mount, use in multiple positions, take the car and fold. in the back to stabilize the seat when not in the car, plus an integrated sunshade (although our reviewer’s idea might be bigger).

The seat can be attached to the car using the vehicle’s seat belt or one of the 2 Maxi-Cosi bases: EasyFix is the most economical option because it is designed only for use with CabrioFix; the FamilyFix is more expensive but can be used with Pearl car seats (up to four years). Using the CabrioFix with the vehicle’s seat belt is simple (our tester only took 2 minutes to install) and will offer your baby a “good” point of protection and “very low threat of injury in the event of a frontal collision,” according to the ADAC exam. But the seat “makes sense with the click-and-go basis,” says our reviewer, who enjoyed the simplicity of the indicator where “green means go. “

The seat is designed to last for years, so expect to use it with other kids, but be prepared to upgrade the case, which can only be handled by hand and is “easier to remove than put back on. “

Advantages: Very lightweight, compatible with best-selling strollers, selection of ISOFIX bases Disadvantages: Simple cover or reposition, the sunshade is offering enough coverage

Read our full MadeForMums of the Maxi-Cosi CabrioFix

Available in: John Lewis, Halfords, Amazon

When it comes to child car seats, Britax is a major player in gaming and its Baby Safe variety is its best-selling baby car. Bringing your 3 children home after the hospital, the Baby Safe 2 i-Size car seat replaces the popular Britax Römer Baby-Safe Plus SHR 11.

Like its predecessor, Bathrough-Safe 2 is compatible with the travel formula (with any Britax stroller that uses integrated adapters, as well as strollers from other leading brands), approved through aircraft for use in aircraft and benefits from Britax’s patented flatbed technology. The new features come with an adaptable, staggered look that has an effect on protection, a detachable bathroom insert for extra support, and an automatically adjustable tilt so your newborn can lie as flat as possible – the safest and most comfortable position for a young bath. As the bathroom grows, you just want to adjust the height of the headrest and the seat gradually straightens.

The ADAC review gave the seat a protection score with a “very low threat of injury” in the event of a frontal and side collision and highlights how “the height of the harness straps can be adjusted temporarily and smoothly for the developing child with a median adjuster. “

This car seat is i-Size and universal because the ISOFIX seat belt can be installed in your car without ISOFIX anchoring problems or an ISOFIX base. There are 2 fundamental options: the i-Size Baby Safe base (€150) and a Flex base (RRP £175). The latter allows you to adjust the angle of the base to a flatter position, to offer the maximum ergonomic position to your baby. The ADAC tested the seat with either base and rated them as “good. “”, while highlighting the “large area required in the car” with the i-Size base.

Pros: almost flat car interior, built-in formula adapters for Britax strollers Disadvantages: ISOFIX base takes up more space in the car

Available in: Boots, Uber Kids

Developed through Scandinavian child seat manufacturer BeSafe, the iZi Go Modular X1 is famous for being one of the lightest baby car seats available. At 4. 2kg, it’s lighter than the Cybex Cloud Z i-Size and Silver Cross Dream on this list. The seat is a component of the BeSafe iZi Modular concept, so it can be used on the iZi Modular base (sold separately) until your bathroom is too large for the seat (around 12 months or thirteen kg). Then you can click on one of the BeSafe modular child seats on the same ISOfix basis.

The iZi Go Modular X1 has some updated features compared to BeSafe’s original iZi Go Modular, adding a new headrest design with more integrated coverage for the baby’s head instead of side impact, as well as a new baby insert. Called Newborn Hugger, it features a wedge that lifts the baby’s back, offering a greater incline for a more comfortable ride.

The new headrest design solves a problem with the previous styling that our MFM reviewer pointed out, namely that it looked too small. Toddlers and give your bathroom the mastery their head needs. In addition, this seat has been rated as suitable for the back by the German organization for healthier backs, AGR, which praised the Newborn Hugger bath insert for its stability and for allowing the child back to recline another 10 degrees.

What wasn’t replaced was the weight of the seat or ergonomic handles, which inspired our MFM reviewer, stating, “I can safely say it was as comfortable to use for me as it was for my baby. And the ingenious magnetic straps are “that allow to hold the baby temporarily and without stress”.

Pros: comfortable and lightweight to carry, grows with your baby, is a component of BeSafe’s modular system, improved headrests Cons: difficult to cover

Available in: John Lewis, Uber Kids and Natural Baby Shower

This rugged, mid-range car seat is the latest edition of Joie’s original i-Gemm, praised for its headrest, ability to be installed with the vehicle’s seat belt or i-Size base and sumptuous sun visor. The successor to this previous style follows all those attractive features and enhances 2 key spaces: the headrest section, which now provides a forward tilt angle for the head, and a simplified newborn insert, which provides extra padding that, according to our MFM review, has kept your baby. “Cozy, protected and safe. “

The height-adjustable headrest has 3 layers of coverage on the inside of the wings, adding reminiscence foam. Our critic first discovered that the headrest was difficult to place at the right height for his baby but, once he understood it, his little one “looked comfortable and protected, and slept well. “A merit when adjusting the headrest is that the harness formula moves with it, so you will not want to put the straps back, which will save you a lot of time and effort.

The i-Gemm 2 can be fitted with your vehicle’s seat belt or, to make it compatible with i-Size, with the Joie i-Size base (£90), i-Base lx (£125) or i-Base Advance (£125), also compatible with Joie seats in the following steps. It is with an “easy cleaning cloth” that can also be washed.

Outside the car, the “tough” multi-position handle, which is “soft” to adjust, “makes it easy to carry with the baby” and the curved base means it’s ideal for gently rocking your baby to sleep if he was woken up. up when you’re out of the car. The seat can also be used as a formula that employs Joie or Maxi-Cosi taste adapters to attach it to the frame of your stroller.

Pros: headrest, simplified insert for newborns, easy to carry, generous visor Cons: Headrest can be tricky to adjust

Read our full Joie i-Gemm MadeForMums review

Available in: Uber Kids, Baby Online, Joie

This modern car seat is one of the lightest on our list, weighing more than 3. 9 kg with the baby insert and sun visor. The baby liked to sleep in this seat and, thanks to the Arra’s almost flat reclining position, he was sure he would leave it there longer than in a popular seat.

The Arra has 3 lean positions and can be extended up to 157°, either inside or outside the car. As newborns want to lie flat as many times as possible to keep the spine in a healthy position and improve their oxygen levels, this feature is “fantastic” when the baby falls asleep in the car and wants to be moved undisturbed. The seat can be compatible with a variety of travel systems, not just Nuna, with the right adapters as well.

Overall, our reviewer found that the car seat was incredibly strong and well-made, but felt that the “fragile” visor did not conform to the “high-end materials” that were used elsewhere, such as merino wool. He also noted that the Arra cannot be used without the ISOFIX base “which can be a constraint for some families who need the flexibility to use it in other cars without having to take away the ISOFIX base time. “

Advantages: almost flat position, easy to install, light weight, base is provided Cons: top price, visor is fragile, ISOFIX installation only

Read our full MadeForMums from Nuna Arra

Available in: John Lewis, Boots and Natural Baby Shower

ISOFIX is a formula that allows you to install a car seat in your car with special anchoring problems that adhere directly to a more than one more car.

ISOFIX car seat bases have 2 connectors on the back of the seat that anchor to small steel bars attached to your vehicle’s chassis. Makes it easy to install your car seat in your car because you just want to fit the seat and maximize ISOFIX car seats also have colored signs to let you know you’ve installed the seatArray

Since ISOFIX is overseas for fastening problems in cars, cars manufactured from 2011 come with ISOFIX anchors like Array

Car seats that can be held in position only with the vehicle’s 3-point adult seat belt to keep it in position are classified as “universal” because they can be used in any car as they sit directly in the vehicle seat.

Multiple car seats with universal brackets and ISOFIX can be used, adding i-Size approved seats. But constant i-Size seats only with the vehicle’s seat belt and not ISOFIX anchoring issues are not classified as i-Size, because only i-Size applies. when the seat is installed ISOFIX.

Don’t worry if your car doesn’t have ISOFIX points, as there are many belt features that are the same when properly installed.

Gabrielle Nathan has worked as a journalist for nearly 20 years, at publications such as GQ, Red, Women’s Health and Tatler. She began writing about parenting and family circle while pregnant with her first child in 2012 and joined MFM in 2014. Next Generation Set Thanks to the rigorous testing of MadeForMums, it is clear that the Nuna MIXX Next Generation Set is a high-quality choice for the variety of desires for you and your child, from newborn to baby and more. . .

Advertising serve as with John Lewis x Nuna

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