If there’s one parenting subject littered with confusion, it’s car seats. Over the last 30 years, they have arguably evolved more than almost any other parenting product, with new safety standards, fitting systems and design features meaning parents have had to continually educate themselves on what is safest, legal and most suitable for their child. From Isofix bases and clearer fitting indicators to extended rear-facing seats, lie-flat positions, side-impact testing, rotating bases and the newer R129 safety standard – often known as i-Size – today’s car seats are a world away from the models many of us grew up with. But how do you choose the best car seat for your family?
In the UK, including Northern Ireland, children must normally use a suitable child car seat until they are 12 years old or 135cm tall, whichever comes first, this is in line with the newer R129 Regulation, introduced in 2013. The older R44 Regulation, launched in the early ‘80s, classified seats by weight groups, and while you can still use them in the UK, you should no longer purchase.
Janice James MBE from Good Egg Safety, the UK's specialists in child seat fitting and practical guidance, explains: “This newer regulation was designed to make child seats easier to use and offers increased safety benefits. To gain approval, all R129 seats crash tests must include side-impact testing. Unlike R44 seats, belt routing guides are the same colour – green – whether rear or forward facing, to help reduce misuse. In Europe the sale of R44 seats ended in September 2024.”
So if your child is going to be travelling in a vehicle, understanding the different car seats available to you is paramount. Of course safety and adhering to regulations is non-negotiable, but fortunately protection, practicality and comfort work harmoniously across a range of car seats. Fear not, I’ve done the hard work and tested the best on the market.
Read more: Best lightweight strollers for travel, tried and tested
The best car seats for 2026 are:
- Best overall – Maxi Cosi emerald 360 pro: £399.99, Maxicosi.co.uk
- Best budget buy – Baby Plus pixi i-Size car seat: £149.99, Ebebek.co.uk
- Best forward-facing – Cybex anoris T2 i-Size plus: £519.95, Cybex-online.com
- Best for moving between cars – Joie iBold: £160, Halfords.com
- Best for newborns – Cybex cloud T i-Size: £199.95, Cybex-online.com
Read more: Best travel cots for families on the go
Maxi Cosi emerald 360 pro
Best: car seat overall
Why we love it
- Easy to use
- Brilliant slide function great for tight driveways
- Rear-facing until four years
- ADAC tested
Take note
- Tightening straps a little stiff
- Bulky and heavy
Maxi-Cosi is often a brand at the forefront of parents’ minds when it comes to car seats, and a brand close to my heart as we brought our baby home in our beloved Maxi-Cosi pebble. With the bar set high, we were hopeful the emerald 360 pro was a similar calibre.
Firstly, this is the only car seat you’ll ever need, covering newborn to 12 years, the longevity is fantastic. And the comfort and safety of different stages have been considered, there are 15 headrest positions, five reclines for the glory in-car snooze days, and you can even store away the harness within the seat, once your child is four and moves onto a seatbelt.
There are visual indicators for correct and safe installation, and much like the FamilyFix base (although this car seat comes with the base already attached), you can slide the car seat towards you – 17cm closer to be precise – and your back will truly praise you for it, it’s also helpful if you’re trying to not disturb your sleeping mini passenger. The recline is easy to adjust, and you can rotate it in any recline position with the spin levers obvious to locate. We also love the simple button to adjust the strap length, but tightening them could be a little workout at times as you have to pull hard but the harness does stay open for easy access.
Maxi-Cosi’s ‘G-Cell’ side protection structure is already built into the car seat’s side panels and headrest, spreading the impact and reducing injuries in the event of a side collision, and it feels incredibly well made. If looks are important to you, rest assured you’d welcome this car seat into your car with soft eco materials and fancy metallic detailing. Our only negative experience was during the heatwave our toddler seemed very clammy after napping in this, but it was an exceptionally hot period.
Key specifications
Buy now £399.99, Maxicosi.co.uk
Baby plus pixi i-Size car seat
Best: budget car seat
Why we love it
- Alarm buckle system
- Affordable
- Long life span
Take note
- No support leg for extra stability
- Installation indicators could be clearer
- Spinning feature clunky
Opening its first store in the UK in 2024, Turkish retailer Ebebek launched in 2001, has seen first-hand how car seats have developed over time. The retail giant has its own range of products, including Baby Plus, its affordable range.
Given this is the cheapest of the car seats I wasn’t sure how much comfort and safety this car seat could provide, but it ticks a lot of boxes. The seat offers plenty of padding, you can recline with five angles (but this does depend on the vehicle), spin 360-degree albeit this feature isn’t as smooth as the more high end car seats, and adjust the headrest up to 26cm. There’s also added side protection and a built-in alarm if the belt isn’t buckled properly or gets unclipped during travel, but there isn’t a support leg and the green indicators are on the smaller side on the belt and isofix. The fabrics don’t feel quite as plush, and everything isn’t quite as slick when directly comparing to better known brands such as Maxi-Cosi and Cybex, but it all feels intuitive, sturdy and easy to use. While we wouldn’t like to see much bigger than a seven year old in this car seat, for value for money it really offers everything you could need.
Key specifications
Buy now £149.99, Ebebek.co.uk
Cybex anoris T2 i-Size plus
Best: forward-facing car seat
Why we love it
- Airbag impact shield
- Speedy onboarding
- Sun canopy
- Light up LED indicator
Take note
- Heavy
- Can’t rearface
- Expensive
Cybex is known for pushing car seat innovation, most notably with the anoris T i-Size, which became the first car seat to feature an integrated full-body airbag built into the impact shield, scooping an ADAC award. The anoris T2 i-Size plus is the second generation, and having lovingly used its predecessor for over a year, we’re waxing lyrical, again.
The impact shield is now 25 per cent smaller than before, but still housing a full-body air bag for supreme safety plus you can now easily adjust the depth, so there’s zero weight on the child’s tummy. In the event of a front crash, the C-shaped shield inflates to protect the head, neck and body in milliseconds. The fabric has had a makeover too and now boasts all-round air ventilation, which makes a huge difference, while the added sunshade not only adds protection from the sun but creates a darker, sometimes nap-inducing environment.
The installation is simple and wonderfully reassuring thanks to the light-up indicator but ultimately, the best thing about this car seat is that it affords the child all the advantages of a forward-facing seat – more legroom, and the ability to enjoy eye-contact – without any compromise on safety.
Key specifications
Buy now £519.95, Cybexonline.com
Joie iBold
Best: for moving between cars
Why we love it
- Long age span
- Affordable
- Lighter than many multigroup seats
Take note
- Only forward facing so no spin
Out of all the car seats our toddler tester hopped in and out of, this was the seat that he often requested to go in. While he couldn’t articulate why – it could be simply the cup holder – we concur that there’s a lot to praise. First up, the quick-to-adjust headrest and harness is easy to use, and this adds Guard Surround Safety pod, which you add to whichever side faces the car door. With use from 15 months, there are three recline positions, which are adjusted at the base and great for car naps.
Installation is straightforward via Isofix and top tether, and the removable cover is easy to wash and feels comfy, too. It’s well made and super affordable given the large age span. We did find the belts twisted a few times, but this is something we’ve experienced with many car seats, the shoulder pads are satisfactory, and the strap adjustment could be a little stiff at times. While this doesn’t spin, it offers great value for money combining comfort and safety and a brilliant lightweight option if moving from car to car.
Key specifications
Buy now £160, Halfords.com
BeSafe Beyond2 360 and base
Best: car seat for safety
Why we love it
- Can be rear-facing until 6 years
- Brilliant installation system
- Wide and comfy seat
- ADAC tested and Swedish Plus Tested
Take note
- Expensive
- Not suitable from birth
BeSafe is a big fish in the car seat market, the Scandinavian brand was founded in 1963 and was the first brand to pass the Swedish PLUS test back in 2009. Since then the company has continued to protect children in cars, often bringing new features to life. And this is highlighted in the Beyond2 360. It’s the first seat to take a child up to six years on a rotating base with Isofix, although you will have to purchase the Beyond Base. Typically rotating Isofix seats have been limited to around four years because Isofix has a maximum approved load, BeSafe has smartly reduced the weight of the seat (weight just 6KG) without compromising on comfort or safety, allowing this to be used rear facing until your child is 125cm; the highly documented safest way to travel.
Other features we love are the magnetic tabs for easy in-and-out access, which have good strength and stay in place, it’s wonderfully wide and has a built in ergo cushion which our toddler tester lapped up, he even commented on how ‘lovely and soft’ the soft breeze fabric is a testament to the seat. This seat also sat a little higher, and our tester loved a better window view. The leg space is brilliant in rear face mode, with extendable legroom up to 16cm.
Paired with the BeSafe Beyond Base, if you’ve ever worried about installation, your fears are alleviated, beyond the green light indicators, it also has a spirit level that makes it possible to always install at the correct and comfortable angle with the support leg, regardless of the angle of the vehicle seat, which can really differ on car type. Although we recommend installing on a flat surface.
The price tag, of course, did make us wince as the most expensive out of all the car seats we tested, but the superior safety, comfort and exceptional features truly stand out here.
Key specifications
Buy now £623, Naturalbabyshower.co.uk
Cybex cloud T i-size
Best: car seat for newborns
Why we love it
- Eco fabric made from recycled bottles
- Compact folding
- British design
Take note
- Check country laws on car seat use when using abroad
- Child sits much lower
- Bright designs won’t suit all
The Cybex cloud T i-size is one of those products that immediately feels premium, from the quality of the materials to the clever features that genuinely make life with a newborn easier. Designed for babies from birth up to approximately 24 months (45-87cm), it's undoubtedly an investment, especially when paired with the base T (£199.95, Cybex-online.com), but after testing it, I could see exactly where that extra money goes.
One of the first things I appreciated was just how straightforward it was to install. The car seat itself comes ready to use, while the base took me around five minutes to fit. I particularly liked the built-in safety indicators – once everything was installed correctly, the base sounded a reassuring beep and displayed three green lights, while incorrect installation is flagged with red indicators. It gave me real confidence that everything was securely fitted before setting off.
Although the cloud T can also be installed using your car's three-point seatbelt, I'd recommend opting for the ISOFIX base T if your budget allows. Not only did it feel noticeably more secure, but it also made everyday use far simpler. The seat clicks effortlessly into place and releases at the touch of a button, while the 180-degree rotation quickly became one of my favourite features. Being able to swivel the seat towards the car door made lifting my newborn in and out so much easier and was a welcome relief for my back during those early weeks.
Comfort is another area where the Cloud T really shines. The padding throughout the seat and harness is beautifully soft, and my baby always looked well supported and content. The standout feature, however, is the ergonomic lie-flat position, which can be used outside of the car when attached to a compatible pushchair. Combined with the generous XXL UPF50+ sun canopy with breathable mesh panels, this was an excellent travel companion during warm weather, keeping my baby cool and well shaded throughout the summer.
Safety is, of course, the priority, and Cybex has packed this seat with reassuring features, including an energy-absorbing shell, extendable linear side-impact protection and stabilising load leg on the base, which all contribute to impressive crash protection. The removable covers are also machine washable at 30C, which is always a welcome bonus after the inevitable spills and milk mishaps.
Between the simple installation, rotating base, outstanding comfort and impressive safety credentials, I found it one of the easiest and most reassuring infant car seats to use.
Key specifications
Reviewed by Sarah Jones
Buy now £199.95, Cybexonline.com
Cosatto on the go i-Size travel car seat doodle fays
Best: car seat for travel
Why we love it
- Rotating base makes getting baby in and out effortless
- Lie flat position
- Excellent safety features
- Straightforward installation with visual and audible safety indicators
Take note
- Expensive once you add the base T
- Slightly heavier than some rival infant carriers
Given how lightweight this car seat is (5.7KG) and that it’s been designed for travel – airline compliant for hand luggage, with car hire in mind, we thought this may be a super basic occasional car seat, but to my delight it’s packed with features too.
Firstly, you can recline it; the angle is super subtle but there are five settings, an exclusive, patented five point plus anti-escape system, the deep side wing panels make them feel more cocooned, the adjustable head support with 12 settings, and it’s got great potential longevity, switching to a high-back booster with seat belt from around four years.
It’s a doddle to install, and you certainly can’t miss the top tether strap with the bright colouring. We did find the seat has limited depth which was fine for our toddler, in fact he looked so comfy often with his feet up on the seat, but we can’t see it being quite so comfy as your child grows. The portable nature of this car seat is where it shines with a brilliant fold, you can simply store it away in the provided travel bag.
Key specifications
Buy now £179.95, Cosatto.com
iCandy cocoon 360 baby & beyond seat + base
Best: car seat for strap adjustments
Why we love it
- Prevents early forward facing
- Strap adjustment button
- Plush fabric
- Rotates on recline setting
Take note
- Spin tabs could be clearer
- Have to align the seat to dock the base
I loved testing the iCandy pip in our lightweight stroller review, but car seats are a recent addition for the heritage brand, and the cocoon 360 baby & beyond seat is only the second seat from iCandy, so this line of products is still very much in its infancy.
While you don’t purchase a car seat for its looks, it’s a smart choice, which wouldn’t look out of place in a Ferrari, with its sporty geometric side impact pod and super padded black fabric. But what does it offer in terms of function? While attaching the base to our car was straightforward and clearly indicated, some functions took longer to grapple. The spin works seamlessly, but the rotation button could be clearer as we were often fiddling around for it, similarly with the seat docking, as there’s a particular alignment required. We did love the strap adjustment on this seat, with a simple, visible push button, and it was easy to pull tight. There’s also a safety switch to ensure you don’t turn the seat before 15 months, and the three reclines offered good variation, including a near flat of 165 degrees but this does depend on the position of the front seats. The built-in side protection felt reassuring as did the general high-quality nature of this car seat, offering our toddler a super comfy yet safe, ride.
Key specifications
Buy now £338, Icandyworld.com
Graco energi i-Size R129
Best: lightweight car sear
Why we love it
- Easy to store
- Built-in side protection
- Lightweight
- Easy to wash covers
Take note
- Have to assemble two parts
- Basic materials
- Only forward facing
Car seats can be painfully expensive but Graco proves you can have a safe and easy to use Isofix design which will see you from 15 months, through to 12 years. The car seat arrives in two parts and you’ll need to push them together with a bit of force, but it’s straightforward to attach using the green-light indicators on the Isofix and additional top tether. Because there’s no base on this car seat our toddler seemed frustrated at times with limited viewing being a bit lower, but it does make lifting them in a lot easier.
Given the price tag, the fabrics aren’t as soft, but they feel hardwearing and there’s plenty of padding for comfort. While there’s no recline features, there are 15-position headrest, which are easy to adjust and we found the five-point harness easy to use. You can also store the straps away inside the car seat, and the covers are easy to remove and can be bunged in the washing machine.
At 7.2KG this car seat is one of the lightest we tested, so if you’re often swapping vehicles this will make it a much lighter task.
Key specifications
Buy now £100, Gracobaby.eu
Silver Cross motion 3 all size 360
Best: car seat for multistage
Why we love it
- Easy to use
- Rear-facing until 4 years
- Well priced
- Hydro Protect liner
Take note
- Adjusting straps is fiddly
Silver Cross is one of the best known heritage parenting brands, and while famously associated with its Balmoral, arguably one of the best known pushchairs in the world, since launching its first full range of car seats in 2019, they continue to turn heads by parents and rigorous crash testing, alike.
While somewhat associated with a premium price tag, its recently updated motion 3 all size 360 – with much loved ADAC awarded features – has an attractive price at less than £300. And there’s a lot to love beyond the affordability. Firstly, the materials are not only excellent but considered. For those early days you have soft hypoallergenic bamboo insert, and as you reach toddlerhood, parents will praise the hydro protect liner, which is leakproof, and the waffle jersey material kept our toddler cool, even during stuffy journeys. There’s also some brilliant accessories with this car seat, including a spare liner which is designed for the warmer months but doubles up as a handy spare, a sunshade which just sticks to the window and a plush belt pad for older use.
On top of that there’s all the key ingredients for a multi-stage car seat; the seat is easy to install, you can rotate 360-degree in any of the three recline settings using the large button on the base and one hand on the seat, built-in side protection and extended rear facing until around four years - depending on your child’s height.
Longevity, is of course, the large appeal here, and the car seat feels sturdy and comfy to see through the childhood years, and our toddler had no qualms spending time in this car seat, often snoozing on longer trips, but there are fewer headrest positions when comparing to Maxi-Cosi emerland 360 pro (nine vs 15) but it’s easy to adjust and we can’t deny the comfort. We’re a little dubious with the usage of a 12 year, particularly considering that 145cm is smaller than the average, and we did find adjusting the straps a little fiddlier with the button placement a little hidden under the fabrics.
Key specifications
Buy now £275, Silvercrossbaby.com
Thule elm toddler car seat bundle
Best: car seat for separate base
Why we love it
- Swedish Plus Tested and ADAC tested
- Dock the seat at any angle
- Machine washable covers
- Prevents early forward facing
Scandinavian design is regarded as some of the best in the car seat business and the Thule elm has gone beyond the crucial R129 protocol scoring well across Swedish Plus Test and ADAC. And just to install this seat, it feels incredibly well built, from the digital green light up display offering peace of mind, to the chunky headrest and side system shields; it was one of the easiest and most reassuring to install. I love the base handle lever which tightens the base pushes towards the seat, rather than pushing and shoving the whole base, and you can also dock the seat from any angle and there’s a lock to prevent early forward facing.
This seat truly excels in the comfort department too, while there’s only three reclines the variation of angle is great, and the seat is so comfy I wanted to jump in. Soft to the touch, there’s a great level of padding on the straps as well as the seat itself and it can easily be bunged in the washing machine. The buckles are a little fiddly at times, and we often struggled to line up the magnets to hold the straps in place when putting our toddler in. We can’t deny safety and comfort here, but the timespan is frustrating as you can’t use it until six months old and you’ll need a new seat come their fourth birthday, and at over £550 when factoring in the base, it’s costly.
Key specifications
Buy now £568, Naturalbabyshower.co.uk
Maxi Cosi coral slide pro and familyfix pro base
Best: car seat for baby sleeping
Why we love it
- Super light
- Innovative carrier mode
- Can attach to pushchair
- Slides out from bas
Take note
- Can’t forward face
- Carrier should be used with additional stra
- Expensive
I’m not sure I’ve yet recovered from carrying an infant car seat more than 12 steps, because what the adorable new-baby pictures don’t show you is how heavy the seat is once you’ve a baby in it. Car seat favourites, Maxi-Cosi have overcome this with its new coral slide pro. Simply press the button the side and the seat comes out of the shell, weighing a far more manageable 2.5KG. It’s worth noting that while this is a brilliant feature, the built-in straps aren’t comfortable to carry, to take full advantage you’ll need to purchase a separate strap, which does feel like a bit of an ask at this price point.
An equal favourite is the slidetech feature which we praised in the emerald 360 pro, but with this version – where there’s a separate upgraded base – you’ll get an extra 10cm, sliding out 27cm – a godsend in those early recovery days, and for not disrupting a sleeping baby – which our nine month old tester, did on every journey in this car seat.
We also praise the full lie-flat position on the coral slide pro, creating a safe but super comfy position for dozing dwellers, which is elevated by the soft eco textiles – made from 46 recycled PET bottles – and plump padding.
Key specifications
Buy now £499.9, Pramworld.co.uk
Axkid minikid core
Best: rear-facing car seat
Why we love it
- Superior safety
- Extended rear facing
- Plush seating
- Swedish Plus Tested
Take note
- Very difficult to tighten harness
- Fiddly to adjust strap length
- May limit legroom in front seats
Swedish Plus Test approved, the Axkid minicore is safety personified, and it’s what we’ve come to expect from the innovative Scandinavian brand. Unlike other car seats we tested, the minikid core is belt installed with a support leg and adjustable anti-rebound bar. There’s no Isofix or tether strap required, and we were impressed with the superior stability. While the installation is straightforward with clear instructions, it takes some maneuvering of your front seats to check the support leg is green.
But, if you don’t want to switch car seats every few years, and want one from birth, it’s a great choice – gorgeously padded and machine washable, it can be used from day one until your child is seven, in the safest rear facing position. It does come with some stress points though, which revolve around the harness. Once you’ve a pair of wriggly legs to contend with, tightening the straps is more laborious than we’d like, and we also faced similar frustrations with lengthening the straps as the button is hidden under the fabric. You also have to manually rotate the base to change the recline setting and you can’t rotate to face the door, a feature you might expect at this price. It is approved for use in both front and back seats, and in many vehicles, its slim profile allows for three seats to fit across the rear, but beware how much spare you’ll get in the front.
Key specifications
Buy now £350, Johnlewis.com
Your questions about car seats answered
What is the best car seat?
It may not be the lightest seat we tested, but the Maxi-Cosi emerald 360 pro impressed as a brilliant all-rounder for family life. Designed to last from birth to around 12 years, the 360-degree rotation and SlideTech pull-out function make everyday lifting, strapping in and adjusting far easier, while offering brilliant safety features, with extended rear-facing until four years and supreme comfort all at a well-rounded price.
If budget allows, we highly commend BeSafe Beyond’s safety features which have been rigorously independently tested, beyond regulation. However, if you have a smaller spending plan the Baby Plus pixi iSize is our recommended budget buy.
How we tested car seats
With help from baby and toddler testers under the age of three, we put a range of car seats through their paces, and we only used models adhering to R129 UK safety standards as a minimum, flagging any published ADAC or Swedish Plus Testing the car seat has undergone. During testing, we considered the following criteria.
Your questions on car seats answered
For extra information about car seat safety standards and more, Fran Vaughan, managing director of Ickle Bubba, answered our questions...
For extra information about car seat safety standards and more, Janis James MBE and Doug Sheriffs from Good Egg Safety, the UK's specialists in child seat fitting and practical guidance has provided their advice, the answers have also been supported by Dr Neale Kinnear, a parent and behavioural scientist specialising in road safety.
Safety standards explained
Car seats used in the UK must meet an approved safety standard; two child seat regulations currently run alongside each other in the UK: the older R44 Regulation, from the early 1980s, and the newer R129 Regulation, introduced in 2013. R129 is the current standard for new child car seats and is often referred to as i-Size.
The key difference is how seats are classified. Older R44 seats are grouped by a child’s weight, while R129 seats are chosen primarily according to your child’s height. R129 was designed to make child seats easier to use, while also offering increased safety benefits for parents and carers. Children using R129 seats must travel rear-facing until they are at least 15 months old, and all R129-approved seats must include side-impact testing as part of the approval process.
R129 seats also use green belt-routing guides whether the seat is rear or forward facing, helping to reduce the risk of misuse. Some older R44 seats allowed children to travel forward-facing from 9kg, and some could be fitted using the vehicle seat belt, which may be useful in cars without Isofix. However, R44 does not include the same side-impact testing requirements as R129. Existing R44-approved seats may still be used if they are suitable for your child, correctly fitted and in good condition, but parents buying a new car seat today will look at an R129-approved model.
What is Isofix?
Isofix is a fitting system that allows a car seat to be secured directly to your vehicle, rather than relying on the seat belt alone. It was designed to make installation easier and reduce the risk of fitting errors, which can affect how well a car seat performs in the event of a collision.
Car seats with Isofix have connectors that slot into the Isofix anchor points built into your car, usually found between the vehicle seat back and seat base. Many seats and bases also feature green indicators, lights or visual guides to show when the seat has been fitted correctly, giving parents extra reassurance before setting off.
Because Isofix attaches the car seat or base to the structure of the vehicle, it can provide a secure and stable fit. Depending on the model, a support leg or top tether may also be used to help prevent the seat tipping or rotating forward in an impact.
Isofix has been common in many new cars since the mid-2000s and became a legal requirement for new cars sold in the UK from 2014, although some older vehicles may also have Isofix points. Many R129 and i-Size seats use Isofix, particularly baby and toddler seats, although some R129-approved seats can also be fitted with a vehicle seat belt. As always, it’s important to check the fitting method for the specific car seat and make sure it is compatible with your vehicle before buying.
How do I know when my child is too big for their car seat?
Figuring out when your child is ready for the next stage of car seat depends on the type of seat you are using. With R129 seats, it’s based on your child’s height and age. The exact height range varies by model, so always check the manufacturer’s guidance, but common examples include:
For older R44 seats, seat sizes are based on weight and go up in groups:
Age also matters because children’s bones and muscles develop at different rates. Always follow the manufacturer’s height and weight limits and avoid moving them to the next stage too soon. Ideally rear face until at least the age of four.
There are some excellent multi-stage seats available and they can represent very good value. Not all perform equally well in every configuration, however, so look for good independent crash test results and always prioritise fit for your child and your vehicle over convenience or longevity.
When should children stop rear facing?
Rear-facing travel is much safer for babies and young children. Travelling rear-facing is up to five times (or 500 per cent) safer for young children than forward-facing. Good Egg Safety’s advice over the last 25 years remains the same – children should ideally rear face until at least four years old. There are many excellent seats which can rear face children up to around six or seven years old, which offer extended enhanced safety protection as well as value for money.
What is the Rear Face for Safety Campaign?
Rear Face for Safety is encouraging parents to keep children rear-facing until at least four years old – supported by real-world evidence that children can be significantly better protected when travelling rear-facing. In a frontal collision, the most common kind, rear-facing seats offer enhanced protection for a child’s head, neck and spine by distributing crash forces across the back of the child car seat.
There is a vast difference between what is legal and what is safest. There has been decades of research on the safety benefits of extended rear facing (ERF) particularly from Sweden where it is common practice. Research from Axkid in 2025 found that 83% of Swedish Parents rear faced their children until at least four years of age. Conversely only 22% of parents in the UK do. This campaign is designed to significantly raise that percentage.
What is the safest type of car seat and are there any features to look out for?
Beyond choosing a child seat that meets the minimum legal approval standards (R129 or the older R44), parents should also look for seats that perform well in independent testing, such as ADAC as it subjects child seats to more demanding crash tests. The Swedish Plus Test is the world’s most stringent test because it measures the forces placed on a child’s neck in a severe frontal collision. To date, only rear-facing child seats have been able to pass it. Unless you are buying an i-Size child seat which is guaranteed to fit if your vehicle is i-Size certified; always try the seat in your vehicle/s first before purchase.
In relation to features, some genuinely improve safety while others simply make life easier. Prioritise seats with excellent crash test results, extended rear facing capability, clear installation indicators, effective side-impact protection and a design that is simple to fit and use correctly every journey.
What budget would you recommend people spending?
Invest in the best seat you can reasonably afford. The safest seat isn't necessarily the most expensive, but there can be a real difference in crash-test performance, safety features and ease of correct installation. Spread over the years you'll use it, even a premium child seat costs surprisingly little each week and is one of the most worthwhile safety investments you can make for your child.
Can you buy a second-hand car seat?
Expert advice is simple: don’t, unless you know its complete history.
Passing a child car seat down to a younger sibling or close family member can be acceptable providing you know it’s never been involved in a collision, has been stored correctly, has all of its original parts and instructions, is within its manufacturer’s lifespan and remains suitable for both your child and vehicle.
With a second-hand seat from an unknown source, there are no such guarantees. It may have been involved in a collision, even a relatively minor one, leaving damage that isn’t visible to the naked eye but could affect how it performs in a future crash. When it comes to your child’s safety, it’s simply not worth taking the risk.
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
Rebecca Moore has been writing reviews for IndyBest since 2020. As a parent herself, she’s committed to bringing our readers honest, unbiased and thorough reviews of parenting essentials. She will only recommend products that pass her tests; products that will actually benefit parents and their children.
IndyBest’s assistant editor, Sarah Jones has years of experience rigorously testing family products, from the best toddler learning towers to the best Jellycat toys, and pregnancy products like the best stretch mark creams.
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