Other features include an extended rearward facing mode, adjustable headrest and newborn insert, a side-loading position – which makes it easier for you to strap your baby in – plus a five-point safety harness and Side Protection System (SPS). As such, car seat experts from the likes of Good Egg Car Safety recommend never buying a secondhand car seat. What we looked for when testing the best car seats for 4-year-olds Key specs – Group: Children 4-12 years or 150cm in height; Item weight: 7.5kg; Attachment method: Isofix; Additional features: Adjustable headrest

They come with 4,5,6,7,8, or 9 recline positions which add to the comfort of your children. And you can also convert the orientation of the seats as your child grows older. Can You Recline Booster Seats? The Joie i-Level additionally comes with an Isofix-compatible base and the seat is suitable from birth up to 15 months (or 13kg/29lb). Our baby would drift off almost the second we got moving when he was in this car seat and we were disappointed when he outgrew it. The seat itself has pretty thin padding, but the optional pad that’s included can be used for the life of the seat and gives a nice cushy ride One of the narrower options and the cup holder is removable, so it’s possible to fit three-across in many carsSafety is the most important thing, and all car seats must conform to R44 or R129 regulations. Bigger brands often conduct their own safety testing too. We spend hours researching, speaking to parents, analysing data and listening to experts before we test out the products on our shortlist. Tammy is a distinguished researcher and writer in the field of child safety, with a notable focus on the critical domain of car seats. Her extensive expertise and commitment to child safety have made her a trusted authority in providing comprehensive insights and guidance to parents and caregivers looking for the right car seat for their children. As a mum to an eight-year-old, Tammy has personally tried and tested numerous car seats over the years, across all age categories. About the editor i-Size includes a side impact test to ensure that the seats provide better protection from side impacts.

One of the narrower options and the cup holders fold up, so it’s possible to fit three-across in many cars Guard Surround Safety™ panel provides extra side protection and can be individually activated for extra room in vehicle A convertible car seat does not generally require a base as infant car seats do, but some do come with a detachable front portion that allows you to install the car seat as rear-facing. A booster seat will not be effective if you do not use it properly. Make sure it will fit in your car comfortably and that you will be able to secure it down safely. This is more of a concern for families with compact cars, but it is worth everyone having a look at. You would need to consider a narrow convertible car seat for smaller cars or if you have more than one child to strap in. One of the narrower options and the cup holders can be rotated inward or removed, so it’s possible to fit three-across in many carsConforming to the new R129 regulations, the only other seat we tested to do this was the much more expensive BeSafe iZi Flex Fix i-Size. Maxi-Cosi's lifetime warranty is also something none of the other manufacturers offer – and is something to bear in mind when considering the car seat's longevity.

In the UK, children are required by law to travel in a booster seat up to the age of 12 (or 135cm in height – whichever comes first). Axkid’s Nextkid is designed for this transition, with a comfortable padded seat with four-step expanding side wings, an adjustable headrest and super-soft fabric.

Our kids like arm rests, and you’ll find that most booster seats have them… but a few don’t! On some harness booster seats the arm rests don’t extend far enough in harness mode to be truly usable. We don’t think this is a deal-breaker, but good arm rests probably make a booster seat more comfortable for a long drive. Choosing a car seat can be a challenge—but at Smyths the Baby Room, you can find a wide range of child car seats for every age, stage and budget. R129 regulations are currently running in parallel with R44 so you can buy car seats that adhere to either guidelines. At some point, R44 car seats will be phased out of the shops – but it's unclear exactly when this will happen. What are the differences between R44 and R129? Key specs – Group: 0-3; Item weight: N/S; Attachment method: Isofix; Additional features: 360-degree rotation, removable inserts To rate the group 2/3 car seats within our roundup, we based our recommendations on testing, our experience of using multiple car seats, the latest research and several factors. Some of the factors that we took into consideration included the ease of installation, recline and headrest positions, build quality, additional features, weight, warranty and value. Best Group 2 3 Car Seat Overview