Maxi-Cosi Jade review

First impressions?

The Maxi-Cosi Jade is a really smart carrycot with a high-quality finish. I noticed immediately that it’s larger than a normal car seat, even though it’s only designed for young babies, and is so big that it has to sit sideways across the back-seat of the car on an Isofix base. It looks really cosy, with a comfy padded inlay and thick cover and hood.

What age is car seat suitable for?

The Maxi-Cosi Jade car seat is suitable for babies from birth to 6 months.

How easy is it to install the Jade in the car?

As this conforms to the new i-Size safety standards, the Jade can only be used with an Isofix base and Maxi-Cosi has two compatible ones - the BabyFix and the 3wayFix. Once the Isofix base is installed, it’s very easy to click the carrycot into place. The Jade mounts sideways across the car seats and - after clicking the carrycot onto the base - there’s a small lever which allows it to slide into position at the correct distance from the car door.

Removing the carrycot from the base is slightly fiddly as there are buttons which need to be pressed on either side of the base to release the locking mechanism. The carrycot needs to be lifted out of the base at the same time as you press these buttons. After a few goes I figured it out!

How easy is it to install the 3wayFix base?

If you’ve installed an Isofix base before then you’ll have no problem with the 3wayFix. As always, it’s occasionally fiddly to get the actual Isofix attachments unlocked and fully extended, but it’s very clear when they’re correctly clicked into place. This base beeps and a green light comes on when each stage of the installation is done correctly. It also gives a signal when the carrycot (or any other compatible seat) is correctly installed in the base.

Does the Jade feel secure once in place?

Yes, very. The mechanism that allows the Jade to be slid into the correct position is very secure – once the lever is released the seat is completely locked in place.

Is it easy to strap your baby in?

Like all car seats, it’s much easier to strap your baby into the Jade before putting it in the car. The cover is easily removed to give access to the belts, which are simple to adjust with a central strap at the foot.

What do you think of the Jade’s design?

It’s a great design that looks lovely on the Maxi-Cosi Lila buggy frame. The Lila seat isn’t fully lie-flat in the newborn position, so using the Jade carrycot means that your baby can lie properly. The leatherette handle looks really premium, too.

Can you adjust the Jade's seat position?

No, the Jade is lie-flat only.

How comfortable is the Maxi-Cosi Jade for your baby?

Because it’s lie-flat and very well padded, it’s very comfortable for my baby.

What are the main safety features of the Maxi-Cosi Jade?

R129, also known as i-Size, is the most recent European safety standard. The main points of it are that all seats must be secured by Isofix, seats should be rear-facing for as long as possible, chairs should be classified by the child’s height rather than weight and seats must be subjected to side-impact testing.

Although the Jade carrycot sits sideways and is not strictly rear-facing, it meets the R129 standards and boasts the extra comfort of a cot. The Jade is made of impact-absorbing material and the baby is securely held by a 3-point harness.

How easy is it to get in and out of the car?

The Jade is significantly bigger than a normal car seat, but it’s still quite easy to get it in and out of the car. The ability to slide the carrycot along its rails on the Isofix base also makes it easy to get it into position.

However, because the Jade has to plug into an Isofix base and can’t just be secured with a seatbelt, it gives you a bit less flexibility when travelling.

How much space does the Jade take up in the car?

As it mounts sideways along the back seats the Jade does take up a lot of space. Even in a large car there will only be space in the back seats for one other person.

Is the Jade easy to clean?

The Jade’s covers and hood can be zipped off and are washable.

How heavy is the Jade carrycot?

The Jade weighs between 5.6-6kg, which makes it around 1kg heavier than a regular baby car seat. It’s not ideal for travelling due its size and the fact you’d need to take the Isofix base with you, too.

Can the Maxi-Cosi Jade be used as part of a travel system?

The Jade works with most Maxi-Cosi buggy frames, including the Lila, Nova and Adorra, and plugs easily onto and off of the chassis. As a fully lie-flat carrycot, when it’s on wheels the Jade can be used as your main pram until your baby’s 6 months old.

What feature do you like most in the Jade car seat?

The best thing about the Maxi-Cosi Jade is that it’s a fully flat carrycot which doubles as a car seat, so you never need to wake a sleeping baby when transferring from the buggy to the car.

Is the Maxi-Cosi Jade good value for money?

The Jade isn’t cheap but it’s also quite unique. Other brands’ newborn packs tend to be cheaper, but don’t have the ability to be used as a car seat. It costs £199 so it’s the same price as the regular car seat, but it will only last you 6 months and you’ll also have to buy the Isofix base, which adds another £199. I do think the Maxi-Cosi system is reasonable value if you fully buy into it – for example, use a Maxi-Cosi buggy compatible with the Jade, and move from the Jade onto another seat which can use the same Isofix base.

What’s in the box?

The Jade carrycot, detachable and washable sun canopy and cover, soft-touch newborn inlay and soft mattress.

Are there any accessories needed or available for the Jade?

The Isofix base is essential if you intend to use it as a car seat and a Maxi-Cosi frame is required to use the Jade as a buggy. The rain cover is an optional – but probably recommended – extra.

What do you wish you had known before you got it?

It’s important to be aware of the size of the Jade if you’re going to use it as a car seat. It can only be mounted on certain Isofix bases and it fits sideways across two seats. If you have other kids in the car then make sure they can all fit before you buy it.

Would you recommend this car seat?

Yes. I can’t find any other lie-flat car seats that are R129 certified, so the Jade is a unique product.

Where can I buy the Maxi-Cosi Jade?

It is available from Amazon.

MadeForMums verdict

If you want a fully lie-flat carrycot that can be seamlessly transferred from a buggy chassis onto a car’s Isofix base then this is for you! It’s a cleverly designed product with an excellent, premium feel.

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