The best car seats for newborns (click here for info)

When you are choosing a car for your newborn, there are many things to consider. You want something that is safe and follows UK laws, but you also need to find an appropriate seat for your car and your budget.

Infant car seats are designed for infants and are typically used with a buggy to form a travel system. They are typically easier to use than car seats that convert and can be used up until your child reaches age of two.

1. Maxi-Cosi Pebble 360

Maxi-Cosi Pebble 360 car seat is the best option if you want a high-rated car that puts your child's comfort at the forefront. It's in compliance with the newest safety standards of iSize and comes with G-CELL side-impact protection that provides superior crash protection. Additionally, it comes with breathable ClimaFlow panels and air circulation to ensure your baby is at a comfortable temperature regardless of weather. It also has a huge canopy to shield your baby from sun. It is also easy to install and use due to the anti-misuse lock and the simple one-hand rotation mechanism.

The ergonomic handle allows you to easily transport your child to and from the car, as well as to the mall or shopping center. It's also machine washable to facilitate cleaning and maintenance. It also features a lie-flat position, which provides maximum comfort for your child while traveling or seated in prams. It is suitable for use up to four years old, however it is suitable from birth up to 15 months.

Pebble 360 Pro is part of the revolutionary 360 Pro Family range, which combines one-hand rotation with intelligent SlideTech technology to make it easy and quick to get your baby in and out of the seat on a daily basis without any headaches or head bangs. The 360 Pro Family includes our toddler seat Pearl 360 Pro, which can be used on the same ISOFIX bases and is designed to increase in size with your child to age 4.

With FlexiSpin, our revolutionary rotational system, it's simple to rotate the seat using only one hand in any reclined position. It's also easy to secure your baby in using our unique harness system that makes it easy for you to fasten the straps from both the front and the back of the seat. It also comes with visual indicators that allow you to determine whether you've put it in correctly. The car seat is protected by a 2-year guarantee to give you additional assurance.

2. Chicco Seat3Fit

One of the best infant car seats on the market, Chicco Seat3Fit cradles your newborn in rear-facing style from the moment they return home. This top-rated infant car seat in front seat car seat newborn seats is designed to be extremely portable and clicks into many Chicco strollers that are compatible with the travel system. It comes with a removable newborn insert that is suitable for babies weighing between 5-11 pounds. It also comes with a safety harness with no rethread that allows for simple height adjustments. Seat3Fit also has i-Size approval which means it complies with the most current European safety standards.

i-Size is a brand new standard for car seats for children that allows them to expand with your child until 7 years old. This makes the Chicco Seat3Fit a great long-term investment, and Mum Rachael really liked how lightweight it is too.

The baseless car seats newborn seat comes with built-in ISOFIX connectors, which click into the vehicle's lower anchor bar with the sound of a loud, clear clunk. This is particularly useful for taxi rides, flying holidays, and trips to grandparents' cars where you might not have a baby car seat.

Seat3Fit is also a lie-flat seating option. It can be used either in rear-facing mode or forward-facing mode. However, its maximum harness height is lower, and it does not transform into a booster. The soft items are made out of ClearTex fabric, which satisfies Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards flammability requirements without adding chemical flame retardants.

The premium lower anchor connectors are easy to install and the belt guides are clearly labeled. The harness height can be adjusted by a single push and the headrest is sized to fit small babies well. The seat does not have the 360-degree swivel. However it was not an issue for our testers.

Seat3Fit's straps are easy to thread and there's no need to rethread them during colder days. Dress your baby in clothing that does not hang over the car seatbelts. Also, take off any large coats or blankets prior to using the seat.

3. Joie i-Snug 2

Ultra-Light - More security with less weight

This featherlight champion sets a new standard for car seats that are i-Size certified for infants. It is lightweight and strong with a weight of only 3.35 kg. This ensures your child's safety. It's designed to make transports to and from the hospital, as well as between car-to-pushchair or stroller and trips up or down the stairs, and every baby-hauling moment as effortless as possible.

Approved by i-Size, it's suitable for newborns to 75 cm or approximately 12 months and provides outstanding protection with its unique Tri-Protect headrest. This unique safety concept of three layers combines energy-absorbing Intelli-Fit Memory Foam to provide superior side impact protection.

The Grow Together Technology allows you to adjust the harness and headrest simultaneously, ensuring that your baby grows comfortably through each stage. The soft infant cushion provides a comfortable fit for babies and the curved bottom allows for gentle rocking that soothes your child. The seat is compatible with all Joie strollers and other brands that have adaptors, which allows you to design a customized travel system easily. Machine washable inserts and covers make cleanup easier when spills or accidents happen.

Simple and safe travel

A 360deg rotating base and the exclusive iBase Encore spinning system allow for seamless integration with your vehicle making ins and outs more convenient than ever. ISOFIX connectors are easy to use and secure instantly. Color-coded guides will assist you in connecting the base and seat correctly. The i-Snug can be used with i-Base Advance, other i-Base model and the i-Snug 2. This allows for the most flexibility.

This car seat is popular among parents because of its easy-to-use features, including effortless ins and outs. It also offers a plush, comfortable fit for your infant. The ergonomic handle for carrying can be adjusted to a variety of positions for maximum comfort and the curved base facilitates gentle rocking for your child. The machine-washable inserts and covers make cleanup easy after accidents, and the UPF50+ sun canopy protects your baby from harsh sunlight. The i-Snug 2 is compatible with all Joie strollers as well as other brands that are compatible with the Maxi-Cosi style adaptors that are universal for extra convenience.

4. Nuna PIPA urbn

The latest innovation from Nuna the original Pipa Urbn, reinvents the future of travel for baby. This rear-facing car seat for infants has been designed to simplify parenting by providing a luxurious selection. It comes with patented features, including the world's first and only infant car seat that is baseless with PipaFIX(tm) rigid latch that installs in just two seconds, without the requirement for a vehicle base. It can be used as a stand-alone seat or paired with a Nuna stroller to create a travel set. It is also compatible with strollers from other brands, including Silver Cross, Joolz Bugaboo, i-Candy, and Egg.

This unique feature is especially useful for families that don't own their own vehicles, who use taxis or rideshares frequently, or who need to move the seat swiftly between cars for daily life, trips to the beach or to visit grandma's home. The ISOFIX connectors are integrated, meaning there's no need for a base, and the system is easy to use, with indicators indicating that the seat is safe and ready to go.

The latches can be easily removed from their hidden place under the carrier and you can then click to secure them. You can also alter the angle as needed using the blue indicator line. This is much quicker and simpler than putting in Clek Liingo, which requires you hinge the latches attached to it from behind the carrier to find and align the buckles.

Our tester, a mother of a 7-week-old, found the Pipa Urbn to be simple to use and well-designed. The sturdy seat is light and comfortable to carry even with a sleeping newborn. It also comes with a variety of features that are convenient and comfortable such as the ventilated Dream drape that pulls from the canopy with ease and can be attached easily to the car seat to provide privacy, and a full-coverage UPF 50+ canopy, with a flip-out eyeshade and XL peekaboo window.

Our baby test was able to fit in the urbn perfectly at 3 months old and still has the space to expand. He's still a bit too small for the top part of the harness, but is almost outgrowing the urbn in terms of weight and height. He has an inch and a half headroom remaining at his current size.