Top sites for baby equipment deals Best 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've tested and reviewed nearly 100 car 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 nearly a dozen seats that we recommend you should 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, go to our video guide to fitting a car seat.

Best sites for car seat deals

Below we list sites where we found good deals or extras on child car seats. If you buy online you actually have more rights than you do when shopping on the high street, as you can cancel your order up to seven days after you receive your goods, without having to give a reason. We cover your rights when buying online in another section of this guide. 

We chose the sites listed here on the basis of price and the range offered - we haven't carried out customer satisfaction surveys on them. We list sites that tend to offer good deals, but to ensure you are paying the cheapest price, it's always wise to compare prices before buying. If your choice of child car seat isn't widely available, go direct to the manufacturer's website to buy or for suggested stockists. 

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 have a baby department, and Asda Direct offers nursery products in its Babyshop online - including a range of car seats and booster seats. Delivery charges range from £2.95 for small items to £18.95 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 as well as car seat accessories including rain covers. A delivery charge of £4.99 applies if your order is less than £50.

Particularly good for: Good range of car seats

Boots

You can order a wide selection of larger baby items on the Boots website. Its highly popular Parenting Club offers 10 points for every £1 spent on baby products within the baby area at Boots, special offers and a chance to receive free gifts if you regularly buy baby products at Boots. Free delivery for orders over £40.

Particularly good for: A wide selection of larger baby items online; Boots Parenting Club

John Lewis

John Lewis has a good reputation for up-market nursery products and accessories. You can order online and online buying guides are available. It offers free standard delivery on orders over £30.

Particularly good for: Good reputation for up-market nursery products; standard delivery is free for orders over £30

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. Delivery is free for orders over £29.99.

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, offering a wide range of baby products. Delivery charges apply unless you order more than £50 worth of goods.

Particularly good for: Wide range of baby products.

Tesco

Tesco sells a selection of baby products in larger stores (it even has a dedicated baby store in its Tesco Walkden branch in Manchester) and it also offers a range of baby products online at Tesco Direct. Delivery costs £5, or £6.85 if you want to specify a date and two hour time slot. For those paying with a Tesco credit card there is a 'buy now pay later' scheme, offering six months interest-free on certain items.

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