Baby car seats... where do we begin?
First of all before you even begin looking for a car seat, make sure that you know the laws surrounding what you can and can't use.
It would be a big waste of money and a great danger to your child if you were to find out anything you had purchased was not complying with legal standards.
A child's car seat must only be used if the seatbelt has a diagonal strap, it has been specifically designed for use with a lap belt, or it is fitted using ISOFIX anchor points.
It's also important to remember when fitting a child's car seats to:
deactivate any front airbags before fitting a rear-facing baby seat in a front seat
not fit a child car seat in side-facing seats
Check out our round up below to find the perfect baby car seat for yours and your baby's needs.
Best baby car seats you can use from birth
1. Britax Römer dualfix m i-Size car seat
A Mothercare exclusive, this car seat has won the gold medal in the MadeForMums Awards 2019.
It's i-Size compatible, includes an ISOFIX base and packed with reassuring safety features.
It's long lifespan means it can be used from birth all the way up until around four years old (18kg).
There's a 360 degree rotation for smooth installation, energy absorbing padded inserts, 12 recline positions and so much more for a safe and stylish journey!
The rebound bar prevents seat tilt in an impact and can be adjusted to give your baby more legroom as they grow.
The v-shaped head rest is specially designed to control the movement of your baby's head and ensure optimum protection
Suitable from birth (minimum 40cm) to105cm - approx four years old.
Price: £325 | Buy now at Mothercare
2. Joie i-Level Group 0+ Lie Flat Car Seat & Isofix Base
Suitable from birth to 85cm (and under 13kg), this car seat is i-Size compatible and comes with an ISOFIX base. It's also travel system compatible.
It features a memory foam head and side protection and it had a multi height head rest for optimum comfort while the UPF50+ sun canopy gives protection on sunny days.
Give your baby supreme comfort (and keep them quiet for longer) with the ergonomic lie flat recline feature.
Easily strap your child in with the three point harness which has adjustable straps for a perfect fit.
Price: £180 | Buy now at Amazon
3. Cosatto Come and Go
This brand is known for its quirky deigns and slightly out of the box looks. This baby carseat definitely looks a little different, but that definitely isn't a bad thing in this case.
Featuring the patented 'anti escape system' this car seat is near impossible for your baby to undo the harness and be unsafely set free.
The rotating base allows for easy installation from the side instead of having to stretch around and strap your baby in from the rear facing position.
The extended rear facing design allows for comfy sitting in this position until your baby is four years old.
And we can't not mention the super cute design on this one - a muted grey is complemented with a patterned white inner sear and cushion section.
Price: £246.95 | Buy now at Amazon
4. CYBEX Gold Sirona S i-Size Car Seat
This offering from Cybex offers a seriously comfy travel seat for newborns – it's even been designed with legroom in mind as kids get taller, so they can still sit comfortably on the soft memory foam padding.
Install the seat from any angle with the handy 360 degree rotating mechanism and find the perfect position out of the five possible reclining positions in rear facing mode and three positions in front facing mode.
In terms of safety, this car seat features an Integrated Linear Side-Impact Protection System which reduced side force impact by 25%, Driving direction Control which prevents forward facing until the child is tall/old enough to legally be allowed to.
This sturdy, high quality car seat is well worth the investment and the one-click ISOFIX installation is a breeze and you even have the option of an additional cup holder and a summer cover accessory.
Price: £269.95 | Buy now at Amazon
5. Besafe iZi Go
Lightweight, sturdy, and safe – this is everything you need!
This egg shaped carseat can be teamed with many other brands and be used as part of a travel system very easily without having to strain too much or feel like you're lifting weights in the gym!
Install with an ISOFIX or a seatbelt and the magnetic attachments on the five point harness make it simple and easy to strap baby in.
Let your baby travel in luxury with super padded soft padded memory foam inner seat sides and head cushion inserts which can be removed as your baby's head grows.
Price: £199 | Buy now at John Lewis
6. Maxi-Cosi Pebble Plus i-Size Car Seat
This car seat is compatible with lots of buggies, so it will likely fit with one that you already have - but always best to check.
It is ISOFIX compatible and i-Size tested to the highest safety standards. Ii can be used with any 2wayFix base.
This Group 0+ seat is perfect for new parents on the go - it's 4.5kg weight is manageable. The headrest and harness can be adjusted at the same time for ease of use, while the baby-hugger inlay has a tailored fit and a removable cover that's machine washable.
Suitable form birth to 12 months (13kg).
All newborn car seats must be rear facing and this specific edition features a high tech shock absorbing safety system for added protection at the top of the side wings.
Price: £199 | Buy now at Uber Kids
7. Graco Milestone
If you're looking for something that gives amazing value for money and optimum safety, the Graco milestone will last from birth until your child is a whopping 12 years old!
Weighing 8.6kg it's slightly heavier than the rest - but it needs to be so support a 12 year olds 36kg body weight. With the idea that you should only have to buy one car seat, this one is sturdy, safe, and super easy to clean.
It covers the rear facing age group to the front facing harness age group in a way that's really easy to convert between modes. The head rest can be adjusted and it features a four position recline to ensure comfort even on the longest of journeys.
Price: £194.80 | Buy now at Amazon
8. Jané Matrix Light 2 Convertible Car Seat & Carrycot
From birth to 13kg (18 months), this Jane Matrix convertible carseat has you covered.
ISOFIX compatible (not included), this has a universal fit and will work in most cars and travel systems in just a few clicks.
The main appealing and standout point of this carseat is the 180 degree flat recline feature. Ensure your baby's comfort and good rest by setting them all the way down in a way that more resembles how they're used to sleeping in a basket/cot.
This mode can be used in the car and on a compatible pushchair chassis. It's great because having your newborn upright too long can actually be detrimental to their airflow and comfort.
There's even an additional mattress you can bu to double this up as a bassinet that's suitable for overnight sleeping, which makes it great for long trips and days out.
Price: £270 | Buy now at Uber Kids
9. Recaro Zero 1 Elite i-Size
Another car seat suitable from birth up to approx four years (18 kg), this carseat comes with an ISOFIX base for easy car installation.
It's a big spend, but with this seat, you get what you pay for.
It features a removable infant carrier that can be used with a travel system using an adapter to slot into a pushchair. This means that as you child grows, you can simply remove the inner carrier and just use the larger seat that you already have installed in your car - a two in one device!
What's more, there's a 360 degree rotating base so you can easily install the child from any angle and then swivel to the rear facing position.
At an incredibly light 2.9 kg, this carseat is ideal for busy mums and dads on the go. It features a five point harness for security in the seat, while the HERO safety system prevents babies from slipping and the seating foam adapts to your child's body type.
Price: £429 | Buy now at Uber kids
10. Kiddy Evo-Luna i-Size
Kiddy is a strong player in the car seat game and this edition is a very popular choice among parents.
It's am i-Size version of the brand's Evo-Lunafix, this one sports a five point safety harness, a rocker function, lie flat functionality and travel system compatibility.
Suitable from birth to 13 kg, it weighs 4.9kg.
It features medium side impact protection due to the large energy absorbing layer within the seat, while its larger size accounts for larger babies as they grow.
And for those sunny days, there's a large sun canopy that's fully adjustable to protect from the sun.
Price: £380 | Buy now at Amazon
Car seat weight groups guide
Check out the gov.uk website for more info on the rules and child car seat laws that apply in the UK.
