Maxi-Cosi Rock review

This i-Size ready car seat is suitable from birth to 13kg (around 12 months) or when baby is 45cm to a maximum of 75cm tall.

First impressions of the Maxi-Cosi Rock car seat:

As you would expect from Maxi-Cosi, the Rock comes well packed and ready to go out of the box. You can buy the Rock as a stand-alone car seat (i.e without the base) for £165 from most retailers.

However, it is worth noting, right from the start, that if you want to make it i-size compliant, you will need to buy the car seat i-Size 2wayFix Car Seat base separately for an additional £179 and the Maxi-Cosi 2Way Pearl seat (£225) to take you past the required 15-month mark of an i-Size seat.

Always remember to check your car seat fits your car before you buy it, you can see all the compatible cars for the Rock on the Maxi-Cosi website Fitting List checker.

So, if you do want an actual i-size seat that will last up to 15 months, it’s likely to cost you £569.

Compare that to true, single i-Size car seats like the Joie i-Level (£250), Jané Matrix Light car seat (£300), Britax Baby SAFE i-Size car seat (£190) or Kiddy Evo-Luna i-Size (£389) you’re spending a lot more on the Maxi-Cosi option to make it last longer and be i-Size compliant.

That said, you can tell the Rock is a well-made piece of baby kit, you can buy the Maxi-Cosi Rock from Amazon.

What else does the Maxi-Cosi Rock have?

The car seat has side-impact protection, a 3-point harness, multi-position carry handle that can fold right down at the back to stabilise the seat when not in the car, and a clever integral sunshade.

You can buy the Maxi-Cosi Rock car seat at John Lewis,

What is the difference between the Maxi-Cosi Rock and Pebble Plus car seats?

There really aren’t many points of difference for these two car seats, they are both:

• Suitable from birth to 12 months (45cm to 75cm)
• Compatible with the i-Size 2wayFix Car Seat base
• Can be installed in a car with a seat belt
• 44cm wide
• Airplane approved

Where they differ is the Rock is slightly lighter at 3.9kg, than the Pebble Plus 4.5kg. The Pebble has a one-pull 3-point harness, but the Rock has an incredible lifetime guarantee, as opposed to the Pebbles two-year guarantee.

The Rock does not have an ‘One-pull,easy-in harness’ or harness that adjusts simultaneously with the headrest, which the Pebble does. An ‘Easy-in’ harness means it doesn’t fall into the seat of the carrier, it is sort of suspended over the seat and means you’re not fighting with a wriggly child and gravity when trying to strap him or her in.

Why would you choose the Rock over the Pebble Plus car seat?

The Rock is the better option if you’re on a budget as it’s slightly cheaper than the Pebble Plus, by around £50 to £30. Also, the lifetime guarantee is certainly a better appeal than a two-year guarantee.

• Full review of Maxi-Cosi Pebble Plus infant car seat
• Full review of the Maxi-Cosi CabrioFix
• Full review of Kiddy Evo Lunafix infant car seat
• Full review of Britax Baby-Safe i-Size car seat

How does the Maxi-Cosi Rock install in the car?

It’s simple to install. The instructions are the ‘picture-only’ variety and I prefer words and pictures with my instructions.

Saying that, the pictures are colorful and very clear and it’s also very easy to install an ISOFIX base and slot the car seat into the base.

As with most ISOFIX car seats, they come with a base and the bases are usually cololur coded. And the Rock base and seat when coupled with the base, is no different. You can see when the base and seat is fitted correctly as it will have green indicators, and you’ll see red coloured indicators when not fitted correctly.

With the seat belt there is less colour indication, but it still only takes 2 mins to install. The blue seat belt guide at the back is bigger and less finicky than I remember my old one being.

Will it work with cars with short seat belts, do you think?

Now, this might seem like a weird question, but it is an observation a few parents have had with certain baby car seats. Not all seat belts will fit around all seats. And with infant car seats getting bulkier with the addition of bases, you may come across difficulty of fitting a bigger car seat in a smaller car.

You could check your car manual for the length of the car seat belt, but I always recommend before you buy any car seat, you check it fits your car on the car seat manufacture website. Maxi-Cosi have a fantastic car seat/car checking service on its website. In fact, most brand do. This really only applies if you don’t have ISOFIX in your car, or can’t afford a car seat base.

But if you’re following the i-Size law, you would be using the ISOFIX base anyways.

What kind of base will it fit into?

The Rock only fits onto one Maxi Cosi base, the 2wayFamily base.

How is strapping your child into the Rock?

It is easy and quick. It has a three-point harness which is easy to fit together and easy to adjust and tighten so there is no ability to pinch the harness.

The carry handle is comfortable in-hand as well and has multi-positions, shame you need two hands to adjust it.

How comfortable is the Maxi-Cosi Rock?

As it’s our son’s 1^st car seat, he doesn’t really know any different, but he seems really comfy and of course, drops to sleep when travelling in the car.

The seat comes with a head and biddy hugger that’s idea for little babies, so he is snug in it at all times.

I would like the integrated sun canopy to be bigger so it could shade him completely, but hardly any car seats have that function.

Does it have a rocker function?

Not a rocker function as such, but due to its shape it cab rock. But as we only use the car seat for travelling and not a place to rest our son, we wouldn’t be holding out for this type of function anyway.

Is it easy to clean?

Thankfully, the covers on the Maxi-Cosi Rock can be machine washed! Exactly what every parent wants to hear, and unlike the CabrioFix, which is hand-wash only.

The straps and shoulder pads also wipe well, which is where most of the mishaps occur. Note the cover is easier to remove than put back on.

Is it travel system compatible?

Yes. It fits onto so many makes of pushchairs, including most Maxi-Cosi pushchairs and many other brands too.

You will have to spend £20-30 for adapters, but they vary depending on the pushchair you use.

What’s in the box?

Maxi Cosi Rock car seat

Optional extras?

• 2WayFix base £179
• Raincover £20
• Footmuff £50
• Cover £47
• Summer Cover £35
• Mosquito Net £9.99

Is the Maxi-Cosi CabrioFix car seat affordable?

It’s not a cheap option – You can buy the Rock as a stand-alone car seat (i.e without the base) for £165 from most retailers.

However, if you want to make it i-size compliant, you will need to buy the car seat i-Size 2wayFix Car Seat base separately for an additional £179 and the Maxi-Cosi 2Way Pearl seat (£225) to take you past the required 15-month mark of an i-Size seat.

So if you do want an actual i-size seat that will last up to 15 months, it’s likely to cost you £569.

MadeForMums verdict:

If you just have to have a Maxi-Cosi and don’t want to fork out the extra £50 or so for the Pebble Plus, then the Rock may be the best option for you. It’s easier to clean than the CabrioFix and comes with a lifetime guarantee, as opposed to the Pebble’s two-year guarantee.

You’ll know you’re using a trusted brand, that’s safe and easy to use, particularly with the base. But the fact it only lasts 12 months and have to move to a bigger car seat soon than other i-Size infant car seats, it’s not the best value for money.

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