gb Idan infant car seat review

The gb brand is relatively new to the parenting world. It's the brainchild of the founder of Cybex and two high-end car and furniture designers.

The gb Idan is a striking, high tech, group 0+ infant car seat. It’s suitable from birth to 13kg (approximately 18 months) and offers a near lie-flat position for smaller, premature babies and newborn babies. The Idan is also fitted with linear side-impact protection (LSP), one of the latest safety features for infant car seats.

As the sister company to Cybex, gb’s new Idan seat (£150) is a tad cheaper than its stablemate’s Aton Q (£175) infant car seat.

Meanwhile, the Cybex Cloud Q is pricier at £220, but offers a lie-flat position outside the car.

Other competitors in the infant car seat market include the ever-popular Maxi-Cosi Pebble Plus (£170), and the Kiddy Evo-Luna i-Size car seat, which costs £360 but does include the base.

You can buy the gb Idan from Natural Baby Shower

First impressions?

Cool egg-shape design. It looks expensive, but feels heavy-ish. The bright, two-tone colours and soft-feel fabric reminded me of Cybex.

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Is it easy to install the GB Idan car seat?

There’s no fiddling or messing around installing the Idan. The blue belt guides are still easy to use despite being on the sides and not on top.

And the belt guide at the back spans the seat so it’s easy to use in a hurry. The Idan’s rounded shape makes finding the seat belt lock much easier as opposed to most car seats that have more blocky, square ends.

For ISOFIX installation, you can also use the IDAN Base-Fix (£110) which is sold separately.

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How does it compare to the Maxi-Cosi CabrioFix car seat?

Both are rea-facing, Group 0+ car seats suitable from birth to 13kg. However, the glaring differences between these seats are price and compatibility. The Idan is £150 while the Maxi-Cosi Cabriofix can be found for as little as £99, but is usually priced at £129.99.

As the Cabriofix is one of the oldest and well-known infant car seats on the market it is compatible with most of the popular buggy brands, to be used as a travel system. While the Idan is still very new and has a more limited choice when paired with buggies.

The Idan is slightly bigger, a little longer in depth and over 1kg heavier, as the Maxi-Cosi Cabriofix weighs 3.35kg compared to the Idan at 4.9kg.

They both have a rocking function, can be installed with ISOFIX bases and have newborn inlays. They both also use the same Y-harness though the Idan straps are wider. The Idan’s UPF50+ large, sun canopy provides more protection.

While neither have a recline you can get a near lie-flat position for premature and newborn babies with the Idan newborn inlay in place or you can get the Cabriofix in a more upright position with the Maxi Cosi Family Fix base. There’s no headhugger on the Idan but it does have a headrest that adjusts.

How is strapping your child in?

Very easy especially if you’ve ever used a Maxi-Cosi car seat. The Idan uses the same Y-harness including the locking system and strap adjustment.

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Moving handle positions can be a little tricky. Firstly, you need two hands to simultaneously press the release buttons, either side of the chair. Secondly, the handle’s a little top heavy so sometimes it drops when you want the opposite. But it’s a minor that you can counteract easily.

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How does the adjustable headrest work?

The headrest smoothly moves up and down with just the pull of a plastic loop at the top of the headrest. GB boast it has 11 positions.

But as there are no fixed incremental settings that’s not so apparent. Nonetheless it’s impressive that the headrest height adjusts taking the chair from 37-57cm.

Is the gb Idan comfortable for baby?

The deep, luxurious padding is great for Isabella. I’m yet to hear her whimper or cry when she’s put in the Idan. With other seats she’s had to adjust. The extra large, concertina canopy shields her eyes from the sun well.

Having the ability to adjust the headrest as Isabella grows makes the Idan a perfect fit. Though with no head support sometimes her head droops down when asleep – not that she minds.

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What’s the Idan like to carry?

If you make quick trips and like to carry your baby around in the car seat then the Idan might not be your first port of call.

At 4.9kg the Idan is sturdy but also one of the heavier 0+ seats on the market. The equivalent group seats from Silver Cross, Maxi Cosi and BeSafe are all lighter – some as much as 1kg lighter. When last weighed Isabella was in the 75^th percentile, and you really feel it carrying her around in the Idan. Even my husband noticed it and felt the strain.

What buggies is the gb Idan compatible with?

The Idan’s compatible with the gb Maris without the need of an adapter and is also compatible with the gb Qbit and other Cybex strollers with an adapter (sold separately).

Is it easy to clean?

Yes. Wipes work a treat with spillages and milky or mucky moments or both. It’s double thumbs up for the Idan as the seat cover is removable and machine washable at 30 degrees.

The gb Idan has Linear-Side Protection, what is it?

Linear Side Protection is one of the latest safety features in car seat design and technology. It comes in the form of a plastic wing on the Idan.

Right or left you clip out the wing nearest the door side. You don’t need to do it in the middle seat. It works by transferring more crash energy into the shell of the car seat and taking the brunt of the force away from the baby.

Looking at it, it’s hard to see how but in the US manufacturer testing has showed that the LSP system increases safety by as much as 40% in a side-impact collision.

What do you think of the design?

Stunning. The egg-shape shell, two-tone styling and silver detailing gives this car seat the wow factor. I’ve had a few head-turns and overheard some mothers’ complimentary whispers. I have the Posh Pink but also comes in Seaport Blue (navy), Lizard Khaki, Dragonfly Red, Capri Blue (turquoise), Daydream Black (all black) and Monument Black (stripy two-tone with grey).

The ergonomics of the Y-harness straps, rocking function, concertina canopy and LSP are good but the handle could be better-shaped for a comfortable carry. If I had to find any fault it would be when the canopy is fully extended and the handle is upright at carry position, they seem to knock into each other.

What’s in the box?

• Idan car seat (with newborn inlay)
• Isofix guides x2

Optional extras

• Idan footmuff £70
• gb Isofix Base Fix £110
• gb Maris adapters £30
• gb Qbit adapters £25
• Summer cover £45
• Rain cover £20
• Insect net £20

What’s the best age child for this car seat and why?

The Idan is best for premature and newborns. They practically lie-flat with the inlay, it wouldn’t be as weighty to lug around and the headrest would properly surround the baby’s head rather than it sitting above.

MadeForMums verdict:

It’s the stylish design, striking colours, fool-proof installation with or without the Base-Fix and the latest technology in car seat safety that make the Idan really stand out.

You’re sure to turn heads wherever you go and get much satisfaction using it too. But for that price, I just wish it was compatible with more of the market-leading buggies, no matter how tempting buying the compatible travel system gb Maris or Qbit it might be.

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