Silver Cross Motion All Size 360 car seat review

The Silver Cross Motion All Size 360 is a new rotating all-stages car seat. The first of its kind to meet the latest R129 (i-Size) regulation, it's suitable from birth to 12 years, offering extended rear-facing up to 4 years. A removable newborn insert, 8 headrest positions, 3 recline positions and naturally anti-bacterial bamboo fabrics offer the best in comfort. Motion All Size 360 is simple to fit, while the rotating function makes securing the child in the seat safe and easy. It's supported by the Silver Cross Car Safety App which offers a simple step by step fitting guide.

We spoke to these real parent testers to get their review...

How did this product make your life easier?

Sarah: Now my daughter has reached the ‘terrible twos’ she soon lets me know when she doesn’t want to do something – like being strapped into a car seat.
Our previous car seat didn’t rotate and it was a real battle at times to get her in. Being able to spin this car seat to face me has made it so much easier, saving me time and energy on the nursery run. The seat is very easy to rotate – you just have to press one button. I also find the straps easy to alter as the adjustment button is more visible than on our previous car seat so no more rooting around to find it. My daughter looks super comfy in this seat – there is plenty of padding and the bamboo fabric is lovely and soft (Silver Cross claims it is both anti-bacterial and hypoallergenic). However, you do pay a premium for the superior materials.

Maria: The 360 capabilities is revolutionary. I know friends of mine who 7/8 years ago said this feature on a car seat was unheard of, so I feel very lucky to have this type of car seat on the market during my young children’s lives. I love that I can pop my LO in and out of the car without having to strain my back and especially during postpartum recovery, it’s an additional help – I can see all the straps directly in front of me and am able to secure LO into her seat as safe as possible and without the stress of leaning into the car.

Sophie: My life is easier with this car seat as it gives me the ability to place my daughter into her car seat when she is asleep and also remove her when she is asleep with less chance of disturbing her. I also find it easier to place my daughter in the seat when in tight spaces for example in a car parking space, small driveway etc.

Would you recommend this to other parents?

Sarah: Yes, depending on their budget and whether their car is compatible with the Silver Cross motion (you can check on the Silver Cross app, which also has a step-by-step guide to fitting the car seat). This is one of the pricier car seats on the market but from what I’ve seen, all seats which meet the latest safety regulation (R129) are more expensive than seats which meet the older R44 (non i-Size) regulation and it lasts from birth to 12 years so you benefit from longevity rather than having to buy a car seat at different stages. However, I would advise other parents to check whether their car insurance policy covers the cost of a replacement car seat if it's involved in an accident and how much their insurer would payout. Otherwise, it could make a birth to 12 years car seat a more expensive purchase.

The other factor to consider with a 0-12 years car seat is that they tend to be big and heavy – and this is no exception. I did manage to carry it to the car and fit it myself but it would be awkward if I needed to move it between cars regularly. The main reason I would recommend this car seat, aside from longevity, is safety. It allows my daughter to be in the rearward facing position until she reaches 105cm (about four years old) and that’s the safest position to be in in the event of a collision. (Forward facing is also possible with this seat from 15 months, if parents prefer). As it meets the latest R129 crash test regulation I know it has been side impact tested (car seats under the older R44 regulation don’t have to) and using Isofix means it’s more likely to be fitted correctly - there are several indicators on this car seat that change from red to green to make it really clear.

Roxeanne: I would most definitely recommend this product to anyone. When I had my little boy in 2018 I was looking for a car seat that would last him years and I never found anything. So now there is finally an Isofix seat which looks as though it will last up to 12 years for my little girl. It’s not a small seat, and you can feel the quality of it as soon as you take it out of the box, it’s chunky but well-built and the 360 feature of it is perfect to help any parents back as lifting babies and toddlers in and out of cars isn’t easy. The 360 function worked well, though I did need to use both hands to push the button and turn the seat which took a little getting used to as was different to our Joie set we already have. I tried the seat with my baby girl (5 months) and boy (3 years) old and it’s super easy to adapt the seat for each child.

Emma: I would absolutely recommend this Silver Cross motion to a friend/fellow mum. It was so easy and quick to install, straight out of the box and in the car in less than 5 minutes. I was confident that it was installed securely and correctly with all the green indicators showing as well as little to no movement in the chair. The quality of the fabric and general make-up is of a high standard, reassuring me it will last my son for the next 9-10 years – unlike my daughter's seat which is a cheaper brand and definitely won't last the 6-7 years I would like it to. Silver Cross boasts that the Motion All Size 360 leads the way by meeting the very latest R129/03 standard, ensuring the best fit for all stages, offering first-class comfort and most importantly - safety. From what I have seen so far during our trial, and in comparison to the other car seats we have and have had I am confident that this is an accurate statement.

Would you choose this product above all others on the market?

Sarah: If my daughter was a newborn and not a toddler I would stick with our previous 0+ car seat (birth to 85cm or 13kg). It was very portable and could be fitted onto a pram for a complete travel system (this seat can’t). It was also i-Size so had the same safety benefits and it could lay flat, which is the best position for a sleeping baby (this seat has three recline positions and does not lie flat). Now she’s older though and on the move, I’m quite happy to have a car seat that stays in the car so I think this is the ideal car seat for the toddler stage and beyond. What sets it apart from others on the market is that currently, it’s the only car seat that is suitable from birth to 12 years, has 360-degree rotation and meets the latest crash test regulation. (There are other seats that meet the latest regulation and have 360-degree spin, however, the range is limited from birth to 4 years.) No doubt other manufacturers will soon follow but at the time of writing there is nothing else like it.

Kelly: I do feel that this product matches other similar products on the market in many ways so I would find it hard to separate this product as a stand out above the rest. I have experience using the Joie 360 and I have found both models to be very similar. I would perhaps say that the Silver Cross Model offers a slight edge in terms of comfort. My daughter seems to be sitting in a better position and as the product / Isofix isn't as chunky she has more room to stretch out our legs.

Samantha: The two major advantages that this Silver Cross motion seat has above others for me is the superior safety features and the exceptional quality of the seat, it looks and feels like the best of the best. The seat looks sturdy and secure when fitted. The seat material is just beautiful and soft, it is exceptional quality and both my children who tested out the car seat loved it. For me the safety of the seat is paramount, and I have previously spent hours researching the best car seats when purchasing for my own children. This car seat has both of the features that I would look for which is extended rear-facing and the R129 Isize regulation fit, so I can be confident that my child will be safe, and the seat has gone through rigorous crash testing. After hearing many horror stories about cheap car seats, I would recommend spending as much as required on a safe and secure seat. It is your child’s life and well worth paying extra to keep them safe and give you peace of mind.

What changes would you make to this product?

Sarah: I would prefer the Silver Cross motion seat to have more recline positions and it would be helpful if there was an indicator for the different positions. I like the fact the seat is black as it won’t date and there are enough details to keep it interesting (such as the nod to Silver Cross being a British brand with the Union Jack on the shoulder pad) but other parents might prefer to have a choice of colours.

Maria: The cushioned pad surrounding the buckle between LOs legs pops right off, I’ve taken baby out of the Motion All Size 360 and that almost always comes out of the car with LO. It’s inconvenient to take any child, let alone a newborn, out of a car seat then bend down to pick up that pad constantly. So it would be great to see that permanently fixed/stitched to the car seat in some way. I’d also love to see the button which allows me to move the chair positioned either directly in front of me or perhaps under the seat, under where the baby’s feet rest, to allow easier movement. Currently, I use one hand to push the button in and the other to manoeuvre the chair. With the Joie 360, I use with my 2-year-old son, the button and seat can be moved in one hand, so I can bring baby out to the car in one hand and use the other to seat around and pop LO in much easier than the Silvercross. It may sound like a small gripe, but it makes all the difference being able to use one hand here.

Sophie: The depth of the product is very deep, we have a large family car and the passenger seat has to be moved very far forward to accommodate the seat. I also think it would be handy to have a removable bar attachment to allow for toys to be added to keep smaller babies entertained, my daughter really missed this feature.

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