Aprica Euroturn review

What we Love

Wow - what a seat! First impressions alone will tell you it’s not your average run-of-the-mill car seat. It may look a bit over the top, but there is a valid reason behind all this padding and technology; it’s based on extensive research into protecting babies from oxygen de-saturation (when oxygen levels fall to the extent that not enough oxygen reaches vital organs), which may occur when babies are ‘scrunched up’ in a more upright position. It also protects their developing spine, which in the early months is straight.

The super-soft padding and patented Marshmallow head cushioning has been designed to absorb the impact of any jolts and knocks to the head. My daughter Elsie looked more then happy to be engulfed in this sumptuous fabric but I half expected her to over heat. She didn’t, but if you want total piece of mind regarding temperature control you can shell out an extra £200 for the HiDX model. This has the added feature of the Thermo Ventilation System, offering better ventilation around the baby’s head.

The extra padding provides excellent side-impact protection and the easy-to-use five-point harness, which clips together with a reassuring ‘clunk’, offers optimum safety. Once the base is secured to the ground this seat feels sturdy and safe. With all this gadgetry it’s hardly surprising that the instruction booklet is a weighty read. But if there was ever a case of not judging a book by its cover, this is it: this seat really is simple to install and simple to use.

It’s well made, easy to swizzle round and the supreme padding provides extra support and comfort. Indeed, Elsie was so comfortable she dozed off within minutes on every journey. The lie-flat position takes the worry out of travelling long distances and the new colours and refinement of the original padding and base have definitely made it more aesthetically pleasing. But it’s the overall feel of quality and safety that makes this stand alone amongst car seats suitable from birth.

What to watch out for

Saying this, all that padding and bulk does come with its downside. It takes up quite a lot of room in the seat so bigger babies may grow out of it quickly. Weighing 14.5kgs means you have to be quite strong to fit it properly, but once in the car, you won’t have to do that again for four years.

This too comes with its disadvantages as cleaning can be tough. You can’t remove the covers to clean, they’re wipe-clean, and after four years of baby and toddler abuse I can image it would look pretty grubby. It’s also not very portable. You need the muscles of Popeye to carry it out to the car, and it cannot be used as part of a travel system. It’s also an expensive option.

Who is the Aprica Euroturn Delux best for?

Safety-conscious parents who frequently drive long distances.

MadeForMums verdict

With your baby cocooned in a soft, spongy fabric in a lie-flat position, this is a faultless seat in terms of engineering, quality, safety, comfort and ease of use. But all of this comfort is at the expense of portability.