15 best car seats, tried and tested to keep your child safe, secure and comfortable
For new parents, there’s a lot you need to learn in a short period of time. From feeding schedules to nappy changes, there’s much to consider and remember. But you’ll also find you acquire a wealth of knowledge about everything from Cocomelon to car seats, and it’s the latter we’re here to help with.
Any child travelling in your car is going to need a car seat, even if you’re just babysitting. There is, of course, no need to get multiple seats, as you can switch them between cars. And UK law states that children must travel in car seats from birth to the age of 12, or once they reach 135cm – whichever happens first.
There are two different types of car seats: i-Size, which are based on a child’s height, and those that are based on a child’s weight. I-Size seats will have your child rearward facing until they’re at least 15 months. Rearward travel is thought to be the safest way for a child, as it minimises impact in case of any collision. They also all come with isofix as standard – that means they attach to the chassis of your vehicle, rather than just being held in place with a belt.
Whenever you purchase a car seat, always check on the car manufacturer’s website what type of seats are compatible with your ride.
While car seats have been designed to be comfortable for babies and children, it’s recommended infants don’t sit in their car seats for longer than two hours at a time. This includes time that they’re sat in their seat attached to the pram, or out of the car. There are now some car seats that lie totally flat for infants, which is another option.
How we tested
We tested a range of ages and stage car seats to find the very best of the market. We installed and uninstalled the car seats, asked children for their feedback (where they were able to provide it). Points were awarded for comfort, durability and extra safety features. We were looking for premium fabrics and how much room they took up in both a large family car and a compact car. Here are the ones we clicked with.
The best car seats for 2023 are:
- Best car seat 2023 overall – Silver Cross motion all size 360 car seat: £395, Silvercrossbaby.com
- Best 360 car seat – Joie i-harbour car seat: £250, Johnlewis.com
- Best carrycot car seat – Nuna Cari next lie-flat carrycot seat: £250, Johnlewis.com
- Best car seat for newborns – Cybex cloud Z2: £229.95, Cybex-online.com
- – Chicco fold & go i-Size
