16 best car seats for every age and stage, tested by experts and parents

Score: 94/100

Maxi-Cosi is a trusted name in the world of car seats, and the Pebble 360 took the overall top spot in our tests.

When used with the FamilyFix 360 Pro base, it rotates and slides out of the door, making it easier to get your child in and out of the car – and saving your back in the process. Our parent panel loved this stand-out feature, and helpfully, the base can be used with larger seats (lasting up to four years).

It can be fitted using your car’s ISOFIX and a foot prop, with indicators to confirm proper installation. Or you can belt fit it with intuitive green belt guides.

The seat reclines in both the car and pushchair, and with the help of adaptors, fits various different pushchair brands, including Maxi-Cosi. It comes in three colours, is made from recycled bottles, and the seat features a "ClimaFlow" ventilation system with aerated panels and breathable foam to prevent overheating. There’s also a comfortable handle and easy-open harness, with a large UPF 50+ hood that covers the whole seat.

Overall, a worthy winner to transport your little one comfortably and safely.

Score: 92/100

This premium car seat comes in a wide range of soft fabrics and colours and fits the Priam pushchair that scored 89/100 in our best pushchairs test. It also has a UPF 50+ hood, which retracts neatly when not in use.

With good leg support and padding, the seat holds your baby up to almost two years; and it’s easy to get them in and buckled up. Planning a few long journeys? The reclined position is almost flat in both the car and pram, and the headrest has an impressive 12 positions; for small babies, there's also a newborn insert.

It’s worth noting that the large rotating base – while easy to install – is heavy and it took practice to align the seat with the base. However, the green safety indicators help, and it was a doddle to remove the seat from the base. The base can also be used with Cybex’s next size car seat once they’ve outgrown this one.

One drawback: the multi-piece cover is tricky to clean, so keep snacks limited to the highchair!

Alternatively, for a seat with a little more longevity, the Cybex Pallas B i-Size Car Seat (available exclusively at Halfords) is suitable for children up to 12 years old! While we haven't tested this one in the lab, we road-tested it with our four year old and found it comfortable (and escape proof!).

Score: 91/100

Nuna’s innovative car seat comes with a built-in ISOFIX system, which means there’s no need to spend money on an expensive base (it can be fitted with a seat belt too). This makes it a real gamechanger for those who rely on taxis or use relatives' cars.

It’s super lightweight and compact, clicks onto Nuna’s pushchairs for a complete travel system, and is airline-approved. When out and about, the large, ventilated hood will keep baby cool and there’s a “dream drape” shade for snoozing.

It looks great too, with a leatherette grip, moisture-wicking merino wool and Tencel fabrics. Easy to use and comfy, this is a great choice for baby’s first year or so.

Score: 90/100

BeSafe’s standout feature is the almost lay-flat position, which returns to upright in the event of a crash. It can also be used on several pram models – including Bugaboo, Nuna, Thule, Uppababy, iCandy, Joie, Joolz and more – as well as on a plane.

We recommend using it with its lightweight swivel base, though the tight fit against the car seat can make turning challenging. Again, green indicators show when the seat is safely installed, and a spirit level lets you know when the base is at the right angle. Placing the seat on the base is easy – just line up the yellow indicators, turn to face the rear, and it clicks into place.

Our tester loved the generous canopy and liked that the handle can be adjusted with one hand. There are 10 positions for the headrest and harness – although the shoulder pads and seat base are a little skimpy on the padding.

The release button on the buckle is clear to see but it's quite easy to break a nail on and the one-pull harness adjuster is easy to use (though in a different place to other seats).

Score: 90/100

If the thought of having to upgrade your car seat after 12 short months fills you with dread, you might want to consider this model by Thule, which can last up to around four years.

It offers extended rear-facing, and is easy to swap between cars thanks to the intuitive Thule Alfi ISOFIX base – green lights appear when it's safely installed. It’s quite unique in that the seat can be docked at any angle, providing easy access to your child. There’s also a safety lock to prevent you from accidentally turning the seat to face the front – but watch your fingers don’t get caught (we speak from experience).

The seat is well-padded, with a large headrest and clever magnets to hold the straps out of the way while you get your child into position. There’s an insert for smaller babies, which offers a flatter position and three recline options, as well as plenty of leg room for older kids. The cover also proved easy to wash and change should it need a spruce up.

Score: 90/100

There’s no denying this is a large, heavy and expensive car seat; however, the massive bonus is that it will carry your child rearward (which is the safest way to travel) until they’re seven years old. And it’s unlikely you’ll be lifting it often anyway.

Installation is simple and quick with numbered steps, though its size and weight make it difficult to get in, especially in the three-door car we used. There’s a SIP (side impact protection) pod and a recline button between your child's legs – but this is hard to use once they're in the seat. And, when fully reclined, it takes up a lot of space, making it better suited to larger cars. Our tester also jammed their fingers in the slide mechanism that allows more leg room.

Getting your child in is easy, with magnets to keep straps out of the way, and the well-padded shoulder pads have a silicone-like texture to keep them in the correct position. There’s a seat insert for newborns for a snugger, flatter position too. The headrest and harness adjust easily, and washing and replacing the covers was simple too.

All in all, this is a seat with great longevity, but best for larger cars.

Score: 90/100

Billed as the lightest car seat on the market, this is the ideal model if you switch cars a lot or want to use it as part of a travel system.

Developed with physiotherapists and child development specialists, it places your child in a flatter position to ensure their airways aren't impeded. There are inserts for newborns, and a SIP pod – which is a good feature – but be careful not to mislay it.

Made from a breathable cotton blend to keep your baby cool, the covers are easy to remove for washing and simple to get back on. Though the button to extend the harness is quite hidden, it has a positive lever that’s easy to use and a one-pull tighten mechanism. The shoulder and crotch pads are soft, and the seat side and base padding is good, but one slight downside is the small hood.

We found the ISOFIX base easy to fit, with helpful images on the base itself. Green safety indicators are displayed and a sound beeps when it's fitted properly. It's easy to remove and has useful adjustments if your car's seat is inclined.

It can also be belt-fitted, though it’s fiddly to get the lap belt in. There’s a two-year warranty, which is extendable to 10, and a generous replacement scheme should your seat be involved in an accident within two years.

Score: 88/100

This seat comes in five colours, matching the Uppababy’s range of pushchairs such as the Vista, which scored 91/100 during our testing. It can also be used on the Cruz and some other Uppababy prams using adaptors.

One surprising standout element was this seat’s silver harness, which is highly visible at night – a feature you don’t realise is invaluable until you have children!

Though it has adequately padded sides and a headrest featuring EPP foam (Expanded Polypropylene foam, see glossary below), of all the first stage car seats we tested, this felt the least premium. However, it's perfectly functional and ideal if you're keen on creating an Uppababy travel system with the pram. It has a nice canopy that tucks away neatly when not in use, but it feels like a missed opportunity that it only has a UPF 25 rating, not the highest 50+ that many other car seats have. However, it’s well-ventilated to prevent your baby overheating.

The harness is easy to use, with a hidden release button and the headrest and harness adjusts smoothly as your baby grows. There’s also a newborn insert.

It fits most cars, with an easy-to-install base and reassuring electronic indicators to confirm it's set up correctly. Alternatively, belt-fitting is simple with blue guides, though the rear strap can be tricky to remove.

Best of all? It comes with a lifetime guarantee.

Score: 88/100

If you know you’ll be taking a lot of long journeys, and are concerned about the two-hour rule, this premium seat is the one for you. Its almost flat recline position (157 degrees) means it's exempt, keeping your baby’s head, hips and spine in a good position for development.

It’s made with heat and moisture-controlling merino and Tencel and fits the Nuna Triv Next Stroller, which scored 87/100 in our pushchair tests.

The seat fits with a belt or base using green guides, which may be hard to spot at night. There’s a generous hood, with a mesh panel and flip-out visor, shock-absorbing memory foam to keep your baby safe, and a newborn insert. The three-point harness has 10 positions, which move seamlessly with the headrest for a comfortable ride.

The base is easy to fit (though a little bulky for smaller cars) with good indicators to tell you when it’s safely in place; clicking the seat into the base takes a little practice, though. The seat can spin, so you can turn your baby towards you to get them in.

Score: 88/100

Both this and the Elm (above) use the same Alfi isofix base, saving you money, and it fits the Thule Urban Glide, which scored 84/100 in our tests.

Use it reclined or upright on all Thule pushchairs with car seat adaptors, and upright in the car, which is safer in the event of a crash.

It will fit your little one until they’re 75cm (around 12 months) and thanks to the clever base, it’s easy to attach from any direction. It also has useful guides, including one with a tape measure, so you can keep an eye on your child’s height.

There’s an easy-to-insert newborn wedge, which creates a flat backrest from hips to head. The UPF50+ hood keeps your baby shaded, and the harness pads are thick, soft and easy to use – though it’s tricky to lengthen the straps with the hidden button, it takes one pull to tighten. Adjusting the headrest also proved slightly trickier than others.

Washing the seat covers is easy but the instructions provided were a little sketchy, though there’s more online if you get stuck.

Score: 88/100

This car seat offers a good recline for a flatter position, which is ideal for longer journeys, though our expert thought the button was tricky to find, and therefore best adjusted pre-installation.

The seat includes a removable newborn insert, and is made from breathable bamboo-cotton fabrics, to ensure excellent ventilation to keep your baby comfortable. Attaching it to the base is simple, with buttons for rotation and a well-placed release button for removal. And Inglesina’s helpful videos make fitting and removing the base a breeze – even for smaller cars.

For added safety, the seat features two rear belt guides to prevent rotation during accidents, and the green seatbelt guides are easily visible. The car seat attaches effortlessly to its base or pram without the need for adaptors.

With 15 chic colours available, and added accessories, including a summer cover, mosquito net, rain cover, or foot muff, this seat blends style with practicality. It’s compatible with the Inglesina Aptica System Quattro pushchair, which achieved an impressive 86/100 on test. An excellent travel system for modern parents.

Score: 87/100

This lightweight, compact seat pairs with the Vario 5Z ISOFIX base (which can also be used with Britax’s next stage car seat), and is ideal for cars with inclined seats. The adjustable angle keeps the seat in an ergonomic position, ensuring your baby’s airways remain open for safety and comfort. Best of all, the recline function can be used both on the pram and in the car.

There are energy-absorbing foam pads in case of an accident, a nicely padded headrest, large canopy and a newborn insert. That said, adjusting the headrest from the rear is less seamless than some. The seat rotates on the base for easy access, but it can be tricky to position it correctly.

Green indicator guides help with belt fitting, though they’re hard to spot. The harness adjusts easily, with a hidden release button, and while we felt the shoulder pads were a bit mean, the crotch pad is soft, and the buckle is nail-friendly!

Score: 85/100

While the Thule Elm (above) scored higher overall as a baby seat that lasts for up to four years, this heavier model (with integral base) is ideal if you’ll be leaving it in-situ. It’s worth checking it fits your vehicle though, as it was a tight squeeze in our three-door car.

There are comprehensive fitting instructions on both sides of the base, plus a handy QR code to see the full instructions. The ISOFIX and support legs have green indicators to show the seat is correctly fitted; however, the one at floor level can be hard to see.

The easy-to-extend silver five-point harness has one-pull tighten, plus there are generous chest pads and a newborn insert, although the seat itself felt a little harder than others tested.

We were happy with the range of reclines on offer and the easy swivel feature is a plus, but watch out when unbuckling as we snagged our fingers!

Score: 84/100

A cost-effective, lightweight car seat for the first year that doesn’t skimp on safety. Graco’s SnugLite model can be used as part of a travel system with some Graco pushchairs, or with other models using Maxi-Cosi adaptors.

It’s simple to use, without the frills of some more expensive models. However, the SnugTurn rotating base makes it easy to get baby in and out. It also has a small, neat hood, and we found the carry handle comfy. Fitting with a belt is also easy with clear routing.

It’s probably best for shorter journeys, as it doesn't recline, but we found the padding adequate and the seat deep enough for bigger babies, with good leg support and easy-to-wash covers.

There’s also a handy QR code that takes you straight to a video showing you how to fit it, so you won’t lose the instructions.

Score: 79/100

This seat is an inexpensive way to carry your child from birth to seven years, switching from rear to front-facing as they grow.

The seat is easy to turn with one hand, and the two-click system prevents you from accidentally front-facing too early. The well-padded seat has 12 reclines, there’s a removable SIP pod (don’t lose it!) and the ISOFIX base installs in one click with green safety indicators.

It’s easy to adjust the harness and headrest, and little loops keep the straps out of the way, making it easier to get your little one in and out.

Sure, it’s big and heavy – so probably best suited to larger cars – but for a leave-in seat, it’s a top budget choice.

Score: 77/100

If you’re frequently hopping from the car to the pavement, this innovative seat-to-stroller is for you, combining the best of both.

The Doona X has some improvements on the Doona + and Doona i including a reclined seat in stroller mode and a generous, removable hood. It can be used with the base or a seatbelt and is airline-approved which could come in very handy when travelling. We've also reviewed this as a pushchair, where it scored 75/100.

It fits your little one up to around a year and has an easy-to-adjust harness and headrest that move in one piece as your baby grows. The shoulder pads attach to the headrest, so they are always in position, and there’s a magnetic SIP pod.

Unfortunately, it can’t recline in the car, and isn’t as well-padded as others, so we’d recommend it for shorter journeys. However, in stroller mode, the recline position is almost flat.

The ISOFIX base is heavy and tricky to install but once in place, it’s secure and easy to slip the seat onto, while the five-point harness is a doddle and, like others, it comes with a newborn insert.

It’s worth noting that as a stroller, there’s no storage space, though you can add a snap-on storage bag (£29.99). There are other accessories too including a sunshade extension and rain cover.