INNOVATIVE

Cybex Sirona

Cybex are the leaders in their field, and this seat shows why: it offers superb collision protection and superior comfort for kids of up to four. It can be connected using a seatbelt or ISOFIX system and – this is the good bit – it rotates 360 degrees, meaning your little one can face forward or backward. It also reclines for a comfortable ride – and even better, it can be turned to the side for easy entry and exit. No more swinging struggling toddlers into their seat at a right angle.

 £375; cybex-online.com

VALUE

Diono Radian5

The first of its kind, the Diono Radian5 is a car seat that caters for your tinies from birth all the way up to seven years of age. It can face forwards or backwards (the latter being the safer option, of course) and has a steel and EPP foam construction that makes it both super strong and comfortable. It’s also a little narrower than many car seats, without compromising on space for baby – which means it won’t be so cramped in the back seat of your car. Add to that a lifetime warranty, and you’ve got one very tempting option…

 £295; uk.diono.com

LIFETIME INVESTMENT

Graco Milestone

Designed to cater for your kiddywinks from the earliest days to 12 years of age, the Graco Milestone starts out as a rear-facing Group 0 seat and ends up a forward-facing Group 3 bad boy with a special high-back booster for total support and travelling comfort. The harness system has a special no-rethread design to avoid unnecessary fiddling, while the the ten-position headrest can be adjusted in tandem with the harness – and with just one hand. A steel-reinforced frame completes the picture – and helps keep your little ones from harm.

  £179.99; graco.co.uk

DESIGN

Nuna Rebl

An object lesson in how to tick every box (and then some), the stylish Nuna Rebl is suitable from birth to age four. It features top-notch side impact protection thanks to patented ‘tailortech’ memory foam technology, newborn inserts to ensure maximum comfort and security, a seven-position headrest and easy, one-click installation using the ISOFIX connectors. It can also be installed using a seatbelt, the seat rotates 360 degrees and it comes in four tasteful shades, from coffee to caviar. Good-looking, but with some superior stuff going on under the skin.

 £395; nuna.eu

 LUXURY

Silver Cross Quantum

The Rolls Royce of child car seats – or rather the Aston Martin, as that’s the car marque upon which its styling is based – the Quantum is a Group 1 seat with a vegetable tanned leather finish. But the looks are just the start of the story: the seat also boasts a patented ‘shock absorber automatic tensioning system’, which uses hydraulics to reduce the impact of a collision while also employing a mechanical tilting system to keep your child secure. The result? Up to a 30% reduction in impact. Impressive.

  £649; silvercrossbaby.com

NEWBORN

Silver Cross Simplicity

With a dual focus on safety and ease of use, this Group 0 car seat – which includes superior side impact protection, a large sun shade and a handy wedge-shaped seat cushion for newborns – is a cinch to fit. Whether you’re using a seatbelt or ISOFIX connections, it’s straightforward to secure and has a five-point harness that can be loosened or tightened with one hand. Compatible with Silver Cross Surf and Wayfarer strollers, too. A breeze and perfect for that first trip back from the hospital.

 £135; silvercrossbaby.com