Maxi-Cosi Pebble Pro i-Size car seat review

This latest version has proved popular with parents - receiving an average score of 8/10 from MFM parents when surveyed.

Tested by:

Tara is a full-time working mum of 2 girls muddling through the world of parenting. This car seat was tested by her 4-month-old daughter in an average family hatchback.

What were your first impressions of the Maxi-Cosi Pebble Pro i-Size?

I was the happy owner of a Maxi-Cosi Pebble with my first child so using the Pebble Pro felt like being reunited. I loved the look and feel of the Pebble Pro; it appeared safe, robust and comfortable for my baby with good padding and materials.

I decided that the sun canopy was not as nice as on the Ickle Bubba Mercury i-Size that I use, but by no means a deal breaker.

For me, Isofix installation is a must so I was pleased to see the 3WayFix base features indicator lights for easy installation.

How does it compare to other infant car seats?

The Pebble Pro is not unrivalled in the car seat market. Maxi-Cosi itself has a wide range of Group 0+ car seats including the popular CabrioFix, but this doesn't comply with i-Size. There's also the super lightweight Tinca (3.2kg) and near lie-flat Marble.

When it comes to other brands there is the considerably cheaper Joie i-level (£225 RRP including base) which is also i-Size compliant and, unlike the Pebble Pro, has a lie flat feature. We've also rounded up our pick of the best tried and tested baby car seats, so you can compare across brands.

I also recently tried the Mercury i-Size car seat by Ickle Bubba (RRP £319 with base). Although I still preferred the Maxi Cosi Pebble Pro for its comfort fit and ease of installing the base, the Mercury i-Size is still a worthy car seat that looks and feels robust with a lower price tag.

How is the Maxi-Cosi Pebble Pro i-Size different to the Maxi-Cosi Pebble Plus, and the Maxi-Cosi Pebble?

The Pebble Pro retails at the same price as the Pebble Plus and you’d be forgiven for thinking there is no difference between them. The main difference is the baby-hugg inlay. The Pebble Plus uses a one-piece inlay while this has been updated as a 2-part piece for the Pebble Pro; an inlay for baby’s body and an adjustable headrest. This is to allow for better fit as one part may be removed without the other.

The Pebble Pro is i-Size compliant when fitted with an Isofix base and is part of the 3WayFix family, unlike the Pebble.

The harness is also different to the Pebble; the straps can be lengthened or shortened and the shoulder sections can be moved up or down. The straps on the Pebble Pro can only be lengthened when the harness is undone which is as simple as pulling the straps down, while the Pebble features a button in the seat (under the buckle part) in order to release the straps.

What age is the Maxi-Cosi Pebble Pro i-Size suitable for?

This car seat is suitable for babies up to 75cm in length, which is roughly 12 months. Of course, this depends on the individual and some may be in it for longer than others.

The maximum weight for this car seat is 12kg – this refers to the 95th percentile weight of a child of 75cm. This means that only 5% of the children will be over 12kg by the time they reach 75 cm, according to Maxi-Cosi.

My daughter tested the car seat at 4 months old with the baby-hugg inlay still in place, she is an average weight and length, and looked comfortable with the inlay. Maxi-Cosi suggest that the insert is usually removed between 4-6 months of age/60cm tall.

How easy is it to install the Maxi-Cosi Pebble Pro i-Size?

The car seat did not require assembly, as the inlay was already in place. It can be installed using the 3WayFix Isofix base (sold separately) or with a seatbelt. Though, with a seatbelt, this means it will no longer be i-Size compliant. Both methods can be done with ease and are illustrated with helpful diagrams on the side of the seat.

I found the Isofix base very easy to install and had no trouble attaching the base to the Isofix brackets. The light indicators and audible alarms are incredibly useful here and provide reassurance that the base is fitted correctly. There are 3 lights for each stage of installation, so if something goes wrong the relevant indicator light and alarm alerts the user to the right problem straight away.

Attaching the car seat to the base really is as easy as ‘click and go’ and can be released with ease by pushing one of the memory buttons on either side of the base and lifting the seat up.

How secure does the Maxi-Cosi Pebble Pro i-Size feel once installed?

The Pebble Pro definitely feels secure once attached to the base in the car – naturally there is less wiggle room than with seat belt installation but I would feel comfortable with either.

If the car seat is not properly attached to the base, the third light on the base flashes red and alarms, though it seems unlikely this would occur during your journey, it does mean you won’t set off without it being properly attached in the first place.

How sturdy and safe does Maxi-Cosi Pebble Pro i-Size feel?

For me, the most important aspect of a car seat is safety. I certainly felt that Maxi-Cosi ticked all the boxes here. The seat looks robust and well-built with good quality materials. Combined with the added protection of the inlay, I felt this car seat offered maximum protection for my baby.

The Isofix installation left me feeling confident that the car seat was correctly in place, which is a big factor in car seat safety.

How easy is it strapping your child into the seat?

Strapping my baby into the seat was no problem at all, the straps simply pull down to extend then once buckled in can be pulled tighter. The shoulder pads looked comfortable and stop the straps from rubbing on baby, as does the padding around the buckle.

I found the harness fitted well and was and easy to use. A simple push of the red button releases it.

How comfortable is the Maxi-Cosi Pebble Pro i-Size for your child?

Of the car seats I have tried, the Maxi-Cosi Pebble Pro i-Size looked the most comfortable owing largely to the baby-hugg inlay. The shoulder straps are also soft and offer some padding to protect baby from rubbing and cutting in.

I had no complaints from my 4-month-old tester who slept peacefully on her journey.

Are there different seat positions?

This Maxi Cosi Pebble Pro i-Size does not offer any other seating positions, it simply clicks onto the 3WayFix base (if using) which is unlike the FamilyFix base (£125 on Amazon) that I used for my old Pebble, which does have different recline options. However, for an infant carrier such as the Pebble Pro the seat position is fine as it is.

How do you adjust the size of the Maxi-Cosi Pebble Pro i-Size as your child grows?

As your child grows the baby-hugg inlay can be removed. As it is now in 2 pieces, with the headrest separate, this can be left in for as long as you feel your baby needs it and is adjustable.

The shoulder straps can be moved up and down, and the straps extended or pulled tighter. This is all easy to do and should see your child through to the 75cm limit.

What are the main safety features of the Maxi-Cosi Pebble Pro i-Size?

The biggest safety feature of the Maxi Cosi Pebble Pro is that it complies with the i-Size regulation (ECE R129). This regulation was introduced to make car seats safer by improving side impact protection, making correct installation easier, and by keeping children rear-facing for longer. The i-Size regulation uses height to classify car seats as opposed to weight.

Maxi-Cosi boasts memory foam padding in the side wings of the Pebble Pro for superior side impact protection, with the baby-hugg inlay offering further protection here.

It is worth noting the car seat is only i-Size compliant when attached to the Isofix base, as with all i-Size car seats, as Isofix fitting reduces the risk of incorrect installation.

How large and heavy is the seat?

The Maxi Cosi Pebble Pro i-Size weighs 4.55kg, which is average for an infant car seat. I personally find all infant carriers bulky, but the Maxi-Cosi Pebble Pro is not more so than expected in this regard and the handle is easy to grip. Just be sure to leave enough room when parking to get the car seat out!

The easy installation makes swapping this car seat to another car not much bother, and the fact that it can also be installed with a seat belt means you do not have to remove the base each time if making just the odd journey in a different vehicle.

How easy is the Maxi-Cosi Pebble Pro i-Size to clean?

As previously mentioned, this car seat features machine-washable materials. The main car seat cover looks as though it would be fairly easy to wipe clean if you didn’t want to remove it completely, depending on the level of soiling, though I haven’t needed to yet!

What do you think of the design of the Maxi-Cosi Pebble Pro i-Size?

The design of the Maxi-Cosi Pebble Pro is practical with washable materials. It comes in a choice of 3 colours; black, grey, and sparkling grey. Not the most eye-catching of designs or with as many colour choices as the Pebble Plus, but the materials appear to be of good quality.

The sun canopy tucks away which is useful, however it is simply a piece of fabric that attaches to the handle leaving a gap in-between which may not provide the best coverage. Models such as the Joie i-Level or IckleBubba Mercury i-Size provide a better sun canopy and a similar sense of style.

Can the Maxi-Cosi Pebble Pro i-Size be used as part of a travel system?

Yes, like most infant car seats it can be used as part of a travel system with Maxi-Cosi, Quinny and most popular pushchair brands.

It’s especially useful if you want to move your child from the car without waking them, either to carry them inside or to attach to a travel system. As long as the child is not kept in the car seat for more than the recommended 2 hours.

What is your favourite feature of the Maxi-Cosi Pebble Pro i-Size?

For me safety is paramount, so the safety features of the Maxi-Cosi Pebble Pro, such as the side impact protection and baby-hugg inlay are what I like the most. The baby-hugg inlay would be great for newborn positioning too.

Since none of these features are much use without correct installation, I also loved the ease of installing with the 3WayFix base and the peace of mind offered by the indicator lights.

Does the Maxi-Cosi Pebble Pro i-Size offer good value for money?

The Maxi-Cosi is on the expensive side for a group 0+ car seat at £199 RRP. The base is sold separately at a further £199 RRP. When considering cheaper alternatives boasting similar safety features, such as the Joie i-Level, this does not seem to be the best value for money. It is also worth considering that other car seats may be suitable for longer, with extended rear-facing and the base included.

Ultimately it depends on what you want from your car seat, for example if attaching to a travel system is essential for you then the Pebble Pro would be a great option. Many car seats that offer longevity don't have this ability and tend to stay in the car once installed.

If you’re intending on purchasing the next class in the 3WayFix family (the Pearl Pro at £229 RRP) then you can use the same base which adds some justification to the purchase.

What’s in the box?

The Maxi-Cosi Pebble Pro car seat with the baby-hugg inlay, ergonomic headrest and instruction booklet. The 3WayFix isofix base is sold separately, and comes with the base and instruction manual.

Are there any accessories needed or available?

No additional accessories necessary, but Maxi-Cosi do sell car seat footmuffs and rain covers which could be useful for parents intending to attach their car seat to a compatible travel system chassis.

Would you recommend the Maxi-Cosi Pebble Pro i-Size?

I would recommend the Max-Cosi Pebble Pro i-Size for its safety features, including side impact protection and easy installation, which makes incorrect installation unlikely when using with the isofix base. I was also impressed with the comfort and positioning offered by the baby-hugg inlay and adjustable head rest.

If you’re torn between the Pebble Pro and the Pebble Plus, which should you choose?

Given the price tag is the same, and the Pebble Pro offers a more flexible car seat inlay that is now in 2 parts with adjustable headrest, it seems to be a no-brainer to opt for the Pebble Pro over the Pebble Plus, which is otherwise indistinguishable from the Pebble Pro.

MadeForMums verdict:

The Maxi-Cosi Pebble Pro is a robust car seat that left me feeling confident about my baby’s safety and comfort while travelling, with some solid features that meet the latest safety regulations. The ergonomic headrest is a welcome addition and the insert allows for comfortable and safe positioning of smaller babies. Installation is also a doddle with thanks to the Isofix base, though this does come at an extra cost.

Read More...

• Best rotating car seats
• Rear-facing car seats explained
• The best car seats from birth