In our tests, which are conducted at higher speeds and stronger forces than the standard requires, this car seat gets a poor safety rating. R129/i-Size seats are easier to fit, provide better protection from side impacts and can keep children rear-facing for longer. They’re also fully compatible with ISOFIX cars (see above). I tested them all the way from when Jasper was born until now, as he approaches one. I also spoke to our mums with older children to get their input. As you can see in my TikTok video above, I installed the seats myself to gauge how fiddly they were, resisting the temptation to make my fiancé do it. There was, as a result, much huffing, puffing and profanity on my part.

Which? has been at the forefront of independent safety testing of child car seats for more than fifty years. Each car seat had passed the minimum requirements for the car seat regulations, however in the Which? tests – which are conducted at higher speeds and stronger forces than the standard requires, safety issues were spotted. All car seats have to be rigorously tested in accident simulations before they can be sold. ECE R44 was the original European standard. ECE R129 is a more rigorous test, sometimes called i-Size because it takes into account the baby’s height and not just their weight when classifying car seats.The main issues with this car seat are when used for older children as a group 2/3 seat. Our lab experts noticed there were safety issues during the side-impact crash tests.

Its built-in swivel base also enables 360-degree rotation, making it simple to switch from rear to front facing and for getting your child in and out of the car. Also noteworthy is its unique anti-escape harness system, which makes it nigh impossible for toddlers to wriggle out of. There’s a good reason the Doona has such a cult following (every celebrity and high-profile mum-influencer seems to have one, Millie Poppins included). It’s the only product of its sort; a car seat that flips Transformers-style into a stroller at the pull of a lever, with no extra frame or chassis to contend with, meaning you don’t have to transfer your (often sleeping!) baby from your vehicle into a pram. This was the car seat we used to take Jasper home from the hospital and the one we used constantly until he was about 8 months old. From September 2023, retailers in the EU and Northern Ireland will no longer be able to sell R44 car seats. At the moment, there is no agreed end date to R44 sales in the rest of the UK. What is a group 1, 2 or 3 car seat? verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ I struggled with the idea of buying any seat that only lasts up to 15 months, but there’s a lot to be said for models designed specifically for this age group and if you’ll be using your car a lot during the newborn stage, it’s probably worth it. With deep side wing panels, four recline levels and several layers of plush energy-absorbing (in case of a collison) cushions which you remove as your child gets older, it appeared to be super comfortable for Jasper as well as extra safe. It’s actually crash-tested beyond the standard R129 requirements.

Silver Cross, the trusty British brand that has been serving the Royal Family for more than a century, won the contest hands down with its Motion All Size 360 model, which will take your baby all the way from newborn to 12 years of age. Available in four colours, with top quality finishing touches, it’s the best-looking of the lot, and the one Jasper appeared to find most comfortable on long rides. Our lab experts spotted the same issues seen in the Chicco Seat4Fix, so both car seats get the same score and safety rating.'

Until Jasper was eight months old, the key criteria was being able to get him in and out of the car without strain or stress. After that I was looking for more features, specifically recline, 360-degree spin and continuing comfort as he grew. Of course, it was Jasper who had the last say on comfort, and there were clear winners on this front.