Best sites for buying baby equipmentBest sites for car seats

A good child car seat will be easy to install correctly

Choosing a child car seat

A child car seat is an essential piece of kit. We have tested and reviewed more than 50 seats to help you make sure your child has the best protection possible.

Our independent child seat crash tests are the best in Europe and more stringent than official tests. Visit our child car seats reviews to find out more. For your child’s safety you can’t afford to ignore the results, especially as there are five seats that we recommend you avoid.

To be a Best Buy, a child seat must protect the child in severe front and side crashes when installed correctly. It must have no major weaknesses that might lead to it not protecting your child properly in a crash - like being very difficult to install correctly, for example. Once you've bought one, check out our video guide to fitting a child car seat. 

Best sites for child car seat deals

Below we list sites where we found good deals or extras on child car seats. If you buy goods online you have the same rights as you do when shopping on the high street. We cover your rights when buying online in another section of this guide. To ensure you are paying a good price, compare prices before buying. We cover the best sites for comparing prices online in another part of this guide. If your choice of child car seat isn't widely available, go direct to the manufacturer's website to buy or for suggested stockists. 

We chose the sites that we list below on the basis of price and the range offered - we haven't done any customer satisfaction surveys on them. We'd welcome feedback to which@which.co.uk.

Argos

Argos offers a large nursery range with major brand names represented, all at value-for-money prices. You can also take advantage of end-of-catalogue sales when the new catalogue is due. Delivery charges apply, or you can order items online for pick-up in your local store to save money.

Particularly good for: ordering online but picking up locally to save delivery costs, end of catalogue sales

Asda

Some larger Asda stores contain a baby department, and Asda Direct offers nursery products in its Babyshop online. Items on sale appear on the top of any product page you search. Delivery charges range from £5 for small items to £19 for large items.

Particularly good for:  larger stores let you try before you buy, items on sale are highlighted as you search for products online

Babythings4u

Babythings4u offers a decent range of car seats specialising in the brands Cosatto, Obaby, Petite Star, Maxi Cosi, and Bebe Confort. A special offers page lists everything on sale at a given time. A delivery charge applies if your order is less than £50.

Particularly good for: good range of car seats, offers page highlights sale items

Boots

You can order a wide selection of larger baby items on the Boots website. Its highly popular Parenting Club offers a joining present, double points when you buy certain products and mailouts with hints and tips for new parents. Free delivery for orders over £40, otherwise a £5 charge applies.

Boots isn't the only shop to offer a loyalty scheme. We've highlighted some of the best schemes in another section of this guide.

Particularly good for: a wide selection of larger baby items online, Boots Parenting Club

John Lewis

John Lewis has a good reputation for upmarket nursery products and accessories. You can order online and online buying guides are available. It offers free standard delivery, or a £6 charge applies if you want to specify the delivery day and time.

Particularly good for: good reputation for upmarket nursery products, standard delivery is free

If you need more than one child car seat, you can save money by buying online

Kiddicare

Kiddicare  is the sort of site that experienced parents mention as a tip-off to parents-to-be. It stocks a wide range of well-known brands of nursery items, is consistently competitively priced and offers many discounts. It has a price-match promise - if you find the same product at a lower price elsewhere Kiddicare will beat it. Delivery is free for orders over £50, otherwise a £6 charge applies.

Particularly good for: stocks a wide range of baby products, consistently good deals

Mamas & Papas

Mamas & Papas is a major nursery goods manufacturer with a wide variety of products and brands for all types of products. It also offers an extensive range of own-label products. Delivery charges apply.

Particularly good for: extensive range of both own-label products and those from other brands

Mothercare

Mothercare is the largest and best-known nursery chain. The Mothercare Mothercard offers reward points, as well as bonus point promotions and special offers. Delivery charges apply unless you order more than £150 worth of goods, or more than £100 for Mothercare Mothercard users.

Particularly good for: wide range of baby products, Mothercare Mothercard

Tesco

Tesco carries a range of baby products in larger stores and online at Tesco Direct. Delivery costs £5, or £7 if you want to specify a date and time. For those paying with a Tesco credit card there is a 'buy now pay later' scheme, offering six to 12 months interest-free on certain items.

Particularly good for: visit larger stores to try before you buy, buy now, pay later scheme