Recommended Seats: EU
Choosing a car seat is tough! One look at the options in the car seat aisle can make your head swim — from height and weight limits to unique bells and whistles on each seat, it’s hard to know which is the best seat for your child?
The safest car seat is the one that fits your child, fits your vehicle, and can be used correctly 100% of the time. To get a sense of how to find that safest seat for your family, consider the height and weight limits printed on the box. But they often do not tell the whole story.
The height of the car seat’s shell, harness heights, and shoulder belt guide positions, plus ease of use and comfort features all factor into when the child will outgrow the car seat.
For our friends over the pond, we’ve compiled a list of commonly recommended car seats along with some of their their pros and cons. Though laws and products vary, the laws of physics remain the same the world around, and the same best practices guidelines apply: if you’re not sure which type your child should be in, start with our best practice guide through the four steps of car seat safety.
Seats are generally listed from least to most expensive, but prices do fluctuate often so please check your retailer for the current price.
Types of Car Seats
- Group 0/0+: Rear facing only seats – up to 10 or 13kg
- Group 1: Harnessed seats – up to approximately 18kg
- Group 2: Harnessed seats or high back booster seats – up to 25kg
- Group 3: High back boosters or booster cushions – up to 36kg
i-Size: Newer regulations have introduced i-Size seats, which are currently on the market alongside older R44/04 seats. For ease of use we have grouped both types of seats together.
Different groups can be combined in one seat. For instance, a 0+/1/2 convertible seat can generally rear face, forward face, and become a booster. A 1/2/3 seat will usually forward face with a harness and then turn into a booster.
Group 0/0+ Rear Facing Only Seats
Joie Gemm ![]() | Rear facing limits: 0-13kg i-Size? No Five point or three point harness? Five | Pros: Flight approved, two loop settings on harness helps ensure a better fit for smaller and bigger babies Cons: Base must be purchased separately. | Cost: £80 at John Lewis, Mothercare |
Maxi Cosi Cabriofix![]() | Rear facing limits: 0-13kg i-Size? No Five point or three point harness? Three | Pros: Readily available to try before you buy, has a tall shell which takes most children to around 15 months at least, flight approved (contact Maxi Cosi to request proof of flight approval if your seat didn't come with proof) Cons: Base purchased separately, only two harness heights, and a rethread harness | Cost: £99 at Mothercare, Argos, John Lewis |
Britax Baby Safe Plus SHR II![]() | Rear facing limits: 0-13kg i-Size? No Five point or three point harness? Five | Pros: Flight approved, easy removable cover, no rethread harness Cons: Heavy, base sold separately | Cost: £140 at Mothercare, Kiddicare, Halfords |
Maxi Cosi Pebble![]() | Rear facing limits: 0-13kg i-Size? No Five point or three point harness? Three | Pros: Readily available to try before you buy, has a tall shell which takes most children to at least 15 months, flight approved Cons: Base purchased separately | Cost: £145 at John Lewis, Kiddicare, Mothercare |
Nuna Pipa![]() | Rear facing limits: 0-13kg i-Size? No Five point or three point harness? Five | Pros: Base can be used with both isofix OR the seat belt (2 or 3 point belt), level line on the side to let parents know which recline the seat requires Cons: Base must be purchased separately | Cost: £150 at Kiddicare or Mothercare |
Cybex Aton Q![]() | Rear facing limits: 0-13kg i-Size? No Five point or three point harness? Three | Pros: Fits smaller babies well Cons: Base must be purchased separately | Cost: £175 at Mothercare, Mamas and Papas |
Britax Baby-Safe2 i-Size![]() Read CSFTL Review | Rear facing limits: 0-13kg; 40-83 cm i-Size? Yes Five point or three point harness? Five | Pros: Flight approved, no rethread harness, Flex base features angle indicator and easy angle adjustment Cons: Heavy, base sold separately, can be difficult to buckle at first | Cost: €200 in Europe; due to be released in the UK in 2019 |
Maxi Cosi Pebble PLUS![]() | Rear facing limits: 45-75cm or 0-12kg i-Size? Yes Five point or three point harness? Three | Pros: No rethread harness Cons: Has a lower maximum standing height than most i-Size infant seats | Cost: £190 at Mothercare and John Lewis |
Group 0+/1 Seats
Group 0+/1/2 Seats
Group 1/2 Seats
Group 1/2/3 Forward Facing Seats
Group 2/3 Booster Seats
Britax Adventure![]() | High back booster: 15-36kg i-Size? No | Pros: Lightweight for easy transfers between cars, easy to adjust headrest, easy to use belt guide, available in most high street stores either in shop or online Cons: No armrests (armrests are not a safety feature, but a child may prefer them) | Cost: Around or under £35 from Mothercare, Halfords, Kiddicare |
Joie Trillo![]() | High back booster: 15-36kg i-Size? No | Pros: Low-cost Isofix high back booster Cons: Not as padded as some of the higher priced seats | Cost: £40-80 at Mothercare and Halfords |
Diono Monterey 2![]() | High back booster: 15-36kg i-Size? No | Pros: Expanding side wings have multiple settings, soft Isofix to keep it in place when not in use, well padded Cons: Can't expand the side wings while it's installed | Cost: £120 at Mothercare and Amazon |
Britax KIDFIX boosters![]() Read KIDFIX II XP SICT Review Read KIDFIX III M Review | High back booster: 15-36kg i-Size? No | Pros: Extensive line of high back boosters with a variety of features available, headrest isn't flush with the back of seat which accommodates some difficult vehicle headrests, SecureGuard on some models helps prevent submarining and gives a better belt fit, Isofix to keep it secured when not in use Cons: No armrests (not a safety concern, but a child may prefer them), XP pad on some models is a bit bulky, can be a bit narrow for children with wider shoulders | Cost: £90-230 at Mothercare, depending on model |
Maxi Cosi Kore![]() Read Kore Pro Review | High back booster: 100 to 150 cm i-Size? Yes | Pros: Pro version has lights to illuminate buckle, well padded, good for three across, easy to buckle, expands in width as well as height, rigid Isofix, no weight limit Cons: Shorter top belt guide position than some other boosters | Cost: £170-200 at Amazon, depending on model |