9 of the best car seats for newborn babies 2024

DO YOU NEED A BABY CAR SEAT?

In the UK the law requires children up to the age of 12 (or 135cm tall) to use a car seat. So if you are travelling by car with a baby, you need a car seat.

The only exemptions to this are if you’re travelling in a taxi or minicab or if the baby is on a short unexpected journey, for example, any emergency travel. In both cases, they must be in the rear seat and not be wearing a seat belt.

Car seat size for newborn babies

Car seats come in different sizes and a newborn will need the Group 0 or Group 0+ size. The seat should be rear-facing until your baby is 15 months old.

Car seat features explained

Isofix car seats: This system is the alternative to using a seatbelt to secure the car seat. They lock the seat directly onto the chassis of your car using connectors. Many also have a foot prop (base) and/or a top tether for extra security. All cars manufactured after November 2014 have Isofix fittings but you’ll need to check if your car is older than this. You’ll also need to check that your car and child car seat are compatible because of the different types of Isofix.

The benefits are that there is very little chance of the seat being installed incorrectly and it’s very easy to get the seat in and out of the car. However, they are more expensive.

A seat that can be installed with either a seatbelt or Isofix gives you more flexibility.

i-Size car seats: i-Size is a European regulation created with the intention that eventually all child car seats will fit all cars. The regulation requires that they use Isofix to attach them to the car.

They have additional side impact protection and the child must be rear-facing in an i-Size until they are at least 15 months old.

The size of the seat used is determined by the child’s height not weight and they are tested by a new and improved crash test dummy, which is designed to behave like a child in an accident.

In the EU and Northern Ireland, all car seats must be i-Size from September 2024. In the UK there are no plans yet to end the sale of non-i-Size seats.

Rear-facing seats: By law, a child must sit in a rear-facing seat until they are 9kg (around 9 months) but if it’s an i-Size seat they must stay rear-facing until they are 15 months old.

A rear-facing car seat will give your baby or child much better protection if there is a front collision, which is often the most serious type of crash. This is because the force of any front impact will be distributed more evenly over their body. This is important as a child’s growing body has a disproportionally large head and a relatively weak neck.

Many now believe that a child should stay rear-facing until at least four years old.

Swivel seats: You can buy car seats that swivel so it’s easier to get your baby in and out. These are particularly useful if you have any back problems. They can also make it easy to change between rear and forward-facing, once your child is older.

Flat or near-flat recline position: It’s recommended that a baby shouldn't spend longer than two hours in a car seat as it’s believed that this position is bad for their developing spine and could possibly cause breathing issues. For newborn and pre-term babies, it should be a maximum of 30 minutes. However, there are some car seats that lie flat and some can be reclined to a flat or near-flat at the end of a journey to extend how long they are used. This can be useful if you don’t want to disturb a sleeping baby.

Light car seats: To avoid disturbing sleeping babies, it’s good to be able to easily carry the car seat.

Travel system car seats: These can be clicked on to the pram chassis (by using the correct adaptors) to make an easy transition from car to pram.

can a baby car seat go in the front seat?

Yes, legally it can. But:

• Not if there is an active passenger airbag. This is illegal and could be very dangerous. So make sure it has been deactivated.

• Accidents more commonly affect the front of the car so your baby will be safer in the back.

If you find it disconcerting not being able to keep an eye on your baby when you drive, you can get a child-view car mirror. These attach to the back seat headrest and enable you to see the baby through your rearview mirror. 

car seat safety

A baby should never wear a thick coat or pramsuit/snowsuit while strapped into their car seat. This is because the puffiness of the material prevents the safety straps from being close enough to their body and they may not restrain them effectively in an accident.

If they are cold in the car you could use a car seat footmuff, a car seat cover, or a blanket or put their coat on them back to front over the straps.

THE BEST BABY CAR SEATS UK

This list has been narrowed down to the very best with thorough research and the following considered:

• Consumer reviews

• Best-seller lists 

• Recommendations from industry experts

• Award-winning products

• Personal experience and the products loved by other parents.

The list is updated annually. It was last updated on 6 January 2024. 

If you buy through a link, we may earn a small affiliate commission. 5% of profits are donated to UK Baby Banks to help parents in need of essentials.