Joie Calmi R129 car cot review

What were your first impressions of the Joie Calmi R129 car cot?

Upon opening the box, the Joie Calmi car cot comes completely assembled and is really user-friendly. With its plush cushioning, it looked so cosy I felt like climbing in it myself! As it’s from Joie’s premium Signature range, I was expecting it to look stylish, but I was blown away by how lovely and luxurious it felt. I couldn’t wait to pop my baby in there and take her for a spin.

How easy is the Joie Calmi R129 car cot to install?

I’m using it with the i-Base Encore, £190, which is really easy to install and took me about 10 minutes in total. The base simply clicks with ISOFIX connectors, which have colour coded guides that turn green to notify you that the base and car cot have been properly installed. What’s more, the Calmi car cot slots in and out easily using one release button. The instructions are quite long but easy enough to follow, with Joie also making a step-by-step video to aid the process.

How do you install the Joie Calmi R129 car cot?

When it comes to installing the Joie Calmi car cot efficiently, you need to follow the simple steps below:

• Attach the ISOFIX guides to the car’s ISOFIX anchor points (see vehicle owner's manual).
• Unfold the load leg from the storage compartment.
• Press the ISOFIX adjustment button to adjust the ISOFIX connectors. Line up the ISOFIX connectors with the ISOFIX guides, and then click both ISOFIX connectors into the ISOFIX anchor points.
• There should be 2 audible clicks and the colours of the indicators on the both ISOFIX connectors should be completely green when the base is fixed properly.
• After placing the base on the vehicle seat, extend the load leg to the floor. When the load leg is installed correctly, the load leg indicator will show green. Red will be shown when installed incorrectly.
• Install the lie-flat car cot onto the base. The child restraint indicators should turn green when the lie-flat car cot and base are securely connected.
• Check that the lie-flat car cot is locked onto the base by lifting the handle.
• Press the ISOFIX adjustment and push the base back until it comes in contact with the vehicle seat backrest.
• To remove the lie-flat car cot, squeeze the infant carrier release button on the base, then lift the lie-flat car cot up.

Can you install the Joie Calmi R129 car cot using seatbelts?

No, you cannot install using seatbelts. It is important to note that when using the Calmi R129 car cot, it must be installed using either the Joie i-Base LX2 or the i-Base Encore. However Joie boasts that when purchasing the Encore, you get 1 base, with 3 car seat options and 4 years of use as your child grows from the Calmi to the i-Level Recline infant option and i-Harbour toddler seat, which are all in their Signature range.

How does the Joie Calmi R129 car cot compare to similar products such as the Maxi-Cosi Jade or Nuna Cari?

In comparison to similar car cots on the market, the Maxi-Cosi Jade car safety cot, which was the first of its kind, is slightly more expensive £229, but is nearly twice as heavy as the Calmi (3.6kg), weighing in at 6.05kg. Add a baby to the equation, and I can see it being quite tricky to carry and manoeuvre.

At first glance, the Nuna Cari looks incredibly similar to Joie’s Calmi car cot, as they both weigh 3.6kg and have a UPF 50+ canopy and a tan, leatherette handle. Unlike the Calmi, the Nuna Cari also has an extendable mesh drape which pulls down for all-season comfort. Both are available in 3 colours, whereas the Maxi-Cosi Jade is available in 7. The Nuna Cari also has a 3-point harness and plush cream cushioning inside. Retailing at £250, it’s also £50 more than the Calmi.

All 3 car cots require ISOFIX bases to install into the car and they all meet the highest safety standard R129 and will last from birth to 6-months or 9kg.

What are the key safety features of the Joie Calmi R129 car cot?

Whether you’re cruising in a car or going for a stroll, the Joie Calmi car cot is safer for on-the-go snoozes than traditional car seats. Thanks to its 180° lie-flat design, the car cot provides better oxygen flow and is preferable for spinal development. As it is lateral facing, the baby’s head is at the safest position in the car and the cot meets the highest safety stands. What’s more, the deluxe newborn insert and 3-point harness supports your little one’s neck and spine so they sleep snug and safely. The soft, padded 3-point harness can be swiftly and safely adjusted using the easily accessible release button on the side of the cot.

Is the Joie Calmi car cot R44 or R129 classified?

The Joie Calmi car cot is R129 classified and meets the highest safety standards. It also boasts of side-impact protection thanks to being lateral facing, with your baby’s head positioned at the safest point in the vehicle – and the farthest point away from the back passenger doors.

In 2013, the R129 standard was introduced to make travel for babies and children safer. It's newer than the ECE R44 standard and follows more detailed tests for improved head and neck protection. Current child car seat laws mean it is legal to use either an R44/04 or an R129 car seat. The base i-Size certification for safety can be depended on through the next 4-years.

What age range is the Joie Calmi R129 car cot recommended for?

The Joie Calmi R129 car cot is suitable for newborns lateral facing from 40-70 cm and lasts up until your baby is 6 months old or 9kg, whichever comes first. My daughter weighs 11.5lbs (5.2kg) and has plenty of room inside. Judging by this, I think it’s likely it will last until she is 6 months old, that’s if she hasn’t grown tired of laying flat by then.

Does the Joie Calmi R129 car cot rotate?

No, the Calmi car cot doesn’t rotate but the Encore i-Base does — meaning once your baby outgrows the Calmi car cot, the one-hand swivel base spins compatible car seats 90° and compatible toddler seats 360°, making life easier for loading and unloading. Many of these can be used up until 4 years old, giving you some longevity if you were to purchase the Encore base separately.

What are the Joie Calmi R129 car cot’s unique features?

The Joie Calmi R129 car cot’s main USP is that it can be used as a car seat and a carrycot, so you can smoothly move your baby from car to kerb without waking them. While this function works perfectly, I can’t use the car cot if I’m travelling with my toddler as it takes up too much room and I can’t fit my son’s car seat in at the same time. This was extremely disappointing to discover as we drive an Audi A3 which isn’t a small car.

My mother-in-law had the same problem and her car is a spacious Volvo V60 estate. Because of this, we can only use it as a car cot when our older son is not travelling with us, which isn’t that often. I also liked that the Joie Calmi car cot had storage pockets on the inside and outside of the cot, which was good to use for my mobile phone, baby wipes or anything else you may need on the go.

Did your baby find the Joie Calmi R129 car cot comfortable?

Thanks to its plush cushioning and knit fabrics, the Calmi car cot is undeniably the most comfortable car seat my daughter has ever been in! We normally use a Maxi-Cosi or if she’s travelling with her grandparents, they have a Mothercare one. Generally, she’s very restless on long journeys in the traditional car seats but when using the Calmi car cot, she slept over 2 hours straight from Bristol to Birmingham, including a quick stop off at the services.

How do you rate the straps?

Joie boasts that a one-pull motion easily tightens the 3-point harness and I’d have to agree, as not only are the straps really plush, padded and comfortable, it’s the easiest harness I’ve ever adjusted. The release button on the bottom of the car cot is easy to use and adjusts them very smoothly. I hate faffing about with straps, so this is one of my favourite features.

Does the Joie Calmi R129 car cot feel robust?

Despite its lightweight feel, the Joie Calmi R129 car cot appears very robust and durable, perhaps thanks to its added safety features and head support which cradles even the smallest of babies. You can tell it’s a premium product as it’s so well-made. The cushioning feels luxurious and the materials used are plush.

How easy is the Joie Calmi R129 car cot to clean and keep clean?

The Joie Calmi car cot comes complete with a washable cover and hood, so it’s very easy to clean on a 30° wash and does not stain easily. Joie recommends cleaning the frame, plastic parts and fabric with a damp cloth, but do not use abrasives, bleach or store the car cot in a damp place. It also suggests wiping down the product with a soft, absorbent cloth after using it in rainy weather to ensure long-lasting use. As always, it’s advised to refer to the care labels attached to the fabrics for full washing and drying instructions.

How do you find the Calmi car cot to carry around?

The Joie Calmi car cot weighs 3.6kg without my baby inside, but it is easy to carry with her in it too. As it doubles as a carrycot, I often move it from pram to car and vice versa with no issues. The hood comes complete with a leather handle making it easy to hold on to when carrying around.

Can the Joie Calmi car cot be attached to a pushchair as part of a travel system?

Yes, the Calmi car cot is compatible with the Joie Versatrax, Finiti and Aeria using adapters, which are sold separately. Just pop the car cot off the base and onto your pushchair frame and off you go!

Does it have a sun hood and how effective is it?

The Calmi car cot has a UPF 50+ water-repellant canopy, which Joie claims provides privacy and protection in any forecast. However, I feel it could benefit from an extendable sun visor for extra coverage on hot days.

What’s in the box?

• Joie Calmi car cot
• Instruction manual

Are there any additional accessories you can buy?

Yes, the below extras are essential as you can not use the Calmi car cot without an ISOFIX base or adaptors if you want to use as a travel system:

• i-Base Encore £190
• i-Base LX 2 £145

Now you’ve tested the Joie Calmi car cot, what would you have wanted to know before purchasing?

While the Calmi car cot dimensions are widely available, I’m not sure many people really read the small print and would presume you can still fit other passengers in the back while using it, which sadly isn't the case. This limits its usage, especially if you have other children and car seats to accommodate. Also, seeing as the car cot is already priced at £200, I would also want to know beforehand that the i-Base, which starts at £145, is not included.

Who would the Joie Calmi car cot be most useful for?

The Joie Calmi car cot would be best suited to busy, on-the-go parents who often travel on long journeys and would benefit from the added sleeping safety features of a 180° lie-flat car cot which can easily be used as a full travel system. It would also be ideal for parents who only have one baby or a large, 7-seater vehicle to be able to fit the Calmi comfortably in their car and not having to worry about other passengers or children’s car seats.

Is the Joie Calmi R129 car cot worth the money?

It definitely feels like a well-made premium product which provides a safe little cocoon for my daughter, Eva. I love the fact that the baby is snug and safe in it and Eva sleeps like a dream when using it – be it strolling around the seafront or cruising along in the car. But bearing in mind it’ll only last until approximately 6 months old, and you have to spend up to £190 on a base, it could get quite costly when your baby outgrows it and you have to then buy a bigger car seat which would have to be from Joie’s Signature range to make it compatible with the base.

It would have been ideal if the designers could have made it a little more compact so you could still fit another passenger in the back (if you have a 5-seater). As a mum-of-2 who often travels with both of my kids, I can’t justify spending £200 on a product I will mainly use as a luxury carrycot.

Where can I buy the Joie Calmi R129 car cot?

It is available from Joie, Halfords and John Lewis.

MadeForMums verdict

There is no doubt that the Joie Calmi R129 car cot is a cleverly designed baby product and I love how it doubles up as both a car seat and carrycot, while also creating a safe cocoon for my baby. Thanks to its plush fabrics and stylish features, I felt every inch the yummy mummy pushing it along and received lots of compliments on its aesthetics.

However, as a busy mum-of-2 who often travels with both my children in tow, I can’t make as much use of the Calmi car cot as I would have liked as it takes up nearly 3 of my car back seats. To me, this is a major flaw and something which needs to be addressed. It's very disappointing as the product itself is beautiful and well-made but if I can’t use it in the car when I’m also travelling with my toddler, I personally wouldn’t buy it.