Ickle Bubba Nimbus i-Size car seat + ISOFIX base review

The Ickle Bubba Nimbus i-Size car seat + ISOFIX Base is a rear-facing infant car seat. Suitable from birth, the seat rotates 180° to make lifting your child in and out easier and safer.

Thoughtful design features include a sun hood with UPF 50+ protection, as well as magnetic buckle pads that keep the straps aside for a more fuss-free experience for parents. The seat is also designed with pop-out panels that bring extra side-impact protection to every journey. Despite all the features, the car seat is surprisingly lightweight. At 4.7kg, it means you can transition your child in and out of the car without too much effort.

The seat can be used by children up to approximately 15 months old (until they reach 87cm) and comes with a snug removable newborn insert to provide extra comfort in the early days.

The Ickle Bubba Nimbus i-Size car seat and base retails at £349, making it a more affordable option than comparable infant seat bundles, such as the Cybex Cloud T with Base T (around £429). This positions the Nimbus as a competitive option for parents looking for a rotating newborn car seat with base included as a complete package from the outset.

How easy was it to install the Ickle Bubba Nimbus and ISOFIX base?

From start to finish, the car seat took about three minutes to install and I found it really simple. The enclosed manual was diagram-only in terms of installation instructions but due to past car seat experience, I found it pretty self-explanatory.

The green display on the ISOFIX base – which switches into view once the car seat is safely installed – is a handy design detail for parents who are nervous or unsure about installing car seats. The green indicator removed any need for second-guessing and made it a lot simpler to know if the car seat was appropriately locked into place.

How easy is the seat to remove from the ISOFIX base?

It was really easy to attach and remove the car seat from the base; all you have to do is squeeze the lever and it lifts off with minimal fuss.

Did the 180° spin make it easier to put baby in and out of the car seat?

I’ve long pondered the value of being able to spin my baby around in a car seat: perhaps it’s because I don’t have a huge amount of space in my car, but I’ve never really seen the need for it. However, now that I’ve tried it, I can definitely see how much easier it makes putting my baby into her car seat, as well as removing her from it.

I did find the rotation a lot easier to do if I’d pulled my own seat forward before getting out of the car (I think this is due to the size of my car as much as anything). It wasn’t a big deal, but it’s worth being aware of if you do have a smaller car.

How simple was the harness to use?

The harness is really straightforward to use. It was easy to adjust in terms of length – I had to make it longer to accommodate my baby – and it clipped together with no fuss. I really liked the magnetic element of the buckle-up area: there was no rummaging under my child to find the harness, as the magnets meant it sat neatly in place.

How easy was it to adjust the headrest and harness as baby grew?

The harness was very easy to adjust. A button underneath the seat needed pushing in to extend the straps, and then the strap between my baby’s legs could be gently pulled to tighten the straps into place.

How heavy/light did the car seat feel?

In my experience, all car seats are bulky and a bit awkward to carry. However, in terms of weight, this car seat actually feels pretty light compared to others I’ve found myself hefting around in the past.

Was it comfortable to carry?

As comfortable as a car seat can feel – while it’s bulky, it doesn’t feel too heavy to carry. The handle feels reassuringly sturdy and it wasn’t as intrusively knee-banging as some I’ve tried in the past have been.

How comfortable is it for your baby?

I had no concerns about my baby's comfort or security when she was in the car seat. She seemed content and snug, and happily dropped off to sleep while we were driving. We used the newborn insert and she looked incredibly snug and comfortable.

She slept really well in the seat. She usually sleeps well in the car but can be prone to waking up and crying if we stop for too long in traffic. However, she seemed to stay asleep more consistently than usual when in the Nimbus i-Size.

Did the seat feel sturdy and protective in use?

Yes, it did. Despite being lightweight, it still felt solid and robust, as well as carefully and considerately constructed.

The padding of the seat, the design of the straps and the solidity of the shell add up to a car seat that I felt confident to use. It definitely had a high-quality feel to it as well, which I appreciated: nothing about it felt cheap or flimsy. Everything from the carry handle to the buckle felt premium.

Details such as the newborn insert and the UPF 50 hood add further to the seat's thoughtful design.

The Side Impact Protection is a relatively small detail on paper, but it's reassuring to know your baby is as protected as possible.

How easy is it to clean the car seat?

I found this car seat really easy to wipe down. My baby is prone to spitting up her feeds, and several milky patches were easy to spray and wipe away.

The covers are removable but Ickle Bubba only recommends hand-washing with detergent in warm water. I found the covers quite fiddly to remove, but luckily spot-cleaning seemed to work well.

What’s in the box?

• Car seat
• Instruction manual
• Newborn liner insert (this was already fitted)

Was the packaging minimal and recyclable?

Yes: the seat was delivered in a large cardboard box and was wrapped in a plastic bag. The handle was wrapped in protective foam. I don’t think it could have been packaged much better.

Is it worth the money?

I think this car seat does seem expensive but it offers a reassuring combination of safety and practicality that's hard to put a price on. It’s also – crucially – easy to use, which, as I’m sure any parent will agree, is a blessing when you’re transporting a small baby!

If I had an Ickle Bubba pushchair base to attach it to and create a travel system, I would absolutely love it. But even as ‘just’ a car seat, I was impressed by its various thoughtful details and strong, sturdy construction.

Where can I buy the Ickle Bubba Nimbus i-Size car seat?

It is available from Ickle Bubba, Pramworld and Amazon

MadeForMums verdict:

I would definitely recommend the Ickle Bubba Nimbus i-Size Car Seat + ISOFIX Base. It impressed me in several ways and made me feel reassured that my tiny daughter was both comfortable and safe while we were driving. The spinning feature is impressive – especially if you have a larger car – and details like the installation indicator and magnetic buckle area add to the subtle wow factor that this car seat offers.

I think it would work really well for any household. In terms of value for money, it makes sense if you can pair it with an Ickle Bubba pushchair base to really get the most out of it. But as a car seat for a busy family – whether first-time parents or old hands – it slips perfectly into busy everyday life.

Read more:

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• Best car seats from birth
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