Infant Car Seats - Which One is Right For Your Baby?

The right car seat for your newborn is a key parenting purchase. With a wide variety of car seats for children and baby car seats to pick from, it's important to be well-informed.

Usually, Group 0+ or i-Size (R129) baby car seats, these rear-facing seats are suitable from the moment of birth. They often go with a pram to form travel systems.

Group 0+

A car seat for your infant or newborn is a necessity. These seats are designed to protect children from the dangers of driving including head injuries by ensuring they stay in the correct position. All-stage car seats are also equipped to safeguard babies, but they lack the added safety features of infant car seats.

Car seats for infants are generally rear-facing and allow the child to sit in the seat to 15 months old. A lot of these models include an insert for newborns to help small babies and ensure they are in a comfortable position. Furthermore, the best infant car seat infant car seats come with a recommended recline to ensure the head of the child is secure during the journey.

All infant car seats must be approved under the iSize standard, and must comply with European safety standards. The iSize standard is far more sophisticated than the R44/04 standard. This means that cars regulated under this regulation are more likely to have better side impact tests. This is important for infants and newborns. The iSize seats also utilize the more sophisticated Q-series crash-test dummies, which provide more security for infants.

When purchasing a new car seat, parents should think about how often they will require it to be moved from one vehicle to another. Those who frequently use taxis or car sharing services should search for a seat with distinctive baseless design, such as the Nuna PIPA Urbn that allows the seat to be set up in a matter of seconds. This allows the seat to be swiftly moved between cars, making it ideal for parents who regularly need to make multiple journeys.

ADAC has given the Silver Cross Dream i-Size an excellent safety rating, which means that it is a great protection for infants. It also comes with an ISOFIX base integrated and EPS energy-absorbing foam.

Group 1

As with many other infant car seats cheap car seats that are available, the Cosatto All in One is designed to be used until your child is 12 years of age (or 36 kg). It rotates to make it easy to take your baby inside and out. It can be fitted with ISOFIX, or a car seatbelt that has a top tether. It's also easy to clean, which helps with any spills or stains.

Keep in mind that your child may outgrow a car seat very quickly. Many parents need to replace their seat within nine months or even earlier. The majority of manufacturers recommend moving to a different seat when your child's head is within an inch of the top of the car seat.

A car seat has to comply with specific European safety standards in order to be sold. This includes testing rigorously in simulations of accidents, and the use of certain types of materials to guard your child from side impact injuries. Two standards are in force at the moment in force - ECE R44 and R129, known as i-Size. It is more stringent and takes into consideration height as well as weight when classifying car seats.

Our experience has proven that seats that are approved to the R129 standard, also referred to as i-Size, tend to be safer and easier to install. They also allow your child facing rearwards for a longer time. The only drawback is that they cannot be used with an airbag for the front passenger and may not be suitable for certain families. It is essential to contact the manufacturer before buying if you're concerned. They should be able provide you with the most up-to-date information and suggestions for your specific situation.

Group 2

A baby car seat is for infants who are large enough to transition from a Group 0+ seat but aren't yet out of a convertible Group 1 seat. It's not as popular as the all-in-one models but it's worth keeping in mind if you're looking for the best car seat for your child from birth right up to about four years old. old.

Like all car seats, it's essential that the seat you choose is compliant with European safety standards. You can look for the E-mark to ensure that the seat is in compliance with ECE R44/04 or iSize (which is being replaced by the previous regulation). This will help you determine if the seat will be safe for your child in a crash. Seats with i-Size approval are also more streamlined to fit and offer better protection from side impact and will keep your baby facing rear for longer.

The Maxi Cosi Pebble 360 Pro, designed for newborns to 15 months old, is a top choice that has impressive crash test results. Its LATCH connectors are rigid and change color when properly connected. It also has a convenient swivel base that helps reduce the movement of your car seat for newborn and an inlay that is hugging for the baby's neck, head and back to help maintain their posture.

Another great option is the Cybex Aviounaut Pixel Pro, which also features an swivel base that can rotate 360 degrees and has a unique GELL system that provides safety in side-impacts. It's a little more expensive than the other seats but offers good value and excellent protection. Jasper found it comfortable on long journeys, and it appears better than the other seats we tried also.

Group 3

A group 3 infant car seat is a three-in-one car seat that can be used by your child from birth right up to the booster stage. They start rearward-facing (some until your child weighs at least 9kg) and can later be turned around to face forwards. They can be used in this manner until they reach the limit of 36kg.

These seats are typically very comfortable and provide excellent head and neck support. A lot of them have removable and machine-washable padding for newborns to help keep them clean. One of the best car seats for newborns models we have tested, the Nuna PIPA aire Rx comes with two inserts, one made from sustainably-sourced materials, and the second made of GOTS-certified organic cotton, to ensure your baby is more snug.

The model has impressive crash test results but it also has a user-friendly design. It comes with one-handed reclining and 12 different headrest positions. It's also simple to set up using ISOFIX and has a convenient color-changing indicator to indicate to show when it's secure.

We wouldn't recommend swapping groups too early as children in the lower limits of each group can be more prone to injury in a crash so it's worth hanging in your old seat until your child hits their new limit. There are plenty of great options in this group. We recommend the Silver Cross Motion All Size 360 that will last until the 12th birthday of their child.

Cozy N Safe Arthur is another option worth considering. It will allow your child to go from the newborn stage to the booster stage when they are four years old. It's not as expensive as the highly-rated Silver Cross, and features a good range of safety and comfort features, like recline settings that can be adjusted with one hand, and at least 13 headrest positions.

Group 4

The infant car seat rear facing car seat is the most recent addition to our list of the top infant car seats. It is slightly more age range than the previous groups and is aimed at children up to six years old. It can be used as a booster or in the rearward-facing position. We highly rated this seat for its versatility and the fact that it can be used without a base, making it ideal for taxi rides, fly-drive holidays or trips in hire cars or grandparent's vehicles. It is equipped with ISOFIX connectors that connect to the base of the vehicle with a satisfying clunk. It also has a range of features that make it perfect for babies, including the brand's hugging-style inlay an innovative ClimaFlow ventilation system and G-CELL side impact technology to ensure your child's safety as he develops.

Our team of testers has looked at various car seats for group 4 to determine the most suitable one for you and your family members. We evaluated each model in terms of its user-friendliness as well as the quality of materials used and comfort for your child. We also looked at the safety of each seat, taking into account whether it was iSize certified and its performance in crash tests. We took into account the safety ratings offered by independent safety experts, like the Swedish Plus test, which looks at the performance of a car seat in both high-speed collisions and short braking distances.

We also looked at the value of each model, since this is a crucial factor for parents of all ages. Our top-rated infant car seats have the lowest price and are easy to install and come with useful extras such as a sleeping bag that can be removed and a reversible covers.