The Best Car Seats To Buy Right Now

From baby to toddler, we round up the best car seats on the market

Choosing from a never-ending selection of baby kit can be a minefield. Here’s everything you need to know about baby and toddler car seats, and where to buy them.

In the UK, children are required to use a car seat until they are 12 years old. The first you’ll need to buy is a Group 0+ infant car seat, suitable from birth up to 15 months old – or 13kg – whichever happens to come first. As your baby grows into a toddler, you’ll want a convertible or a new Group 1 seat.

Things to Consider When Buying a Car Seat

• Do you need one with an Isofix base?

• Do you want one that rotates? It’s a useful feature for getting baby in and out of the car, but it means you won’t be able to attach this car seat to your pushchair. It’s also useful for switching between forward-facing and rear-facing positions.

• It might sound obvious, but does it fit in your car?

• Is it suitable to use on an aeroplane?

Forward-facing seats provide impact protection and an integral five-point harness, with a vehicle three-point seat belt or an impact shield to hold the child in place

Isofix is the alternative to securing your car seat with seat belts. Seats are secured by two attachments at the base embedded within the vehicle seats.

A rear-facing seat is required until 15 months and is the safest way for baby to travel.

What is i-Size?

I-Size is the European-wide standard for car seats, which came into force in 2015, making rear-facing travel mandatory for children up to the age of 15 months. When buying an i-Size seat, the child’s height is used to determine if the seat fits the child, rather than their weight.

You can only use an i-Size if your car has Isofix connectors. I-Size seats fit all i-Size-certified cars and almost all cars with Isofix, but it’s worth checking with your car manufacturer beforehand.