Best infant car mirrors for safe journeys

For those looking for a safe and reliable solution from a trusted brand, Mamas & Papas delivers with this fabric-framed baby car mirror.

Although it doesn’t come with added extras like a light or baby toy, it does meet the expert safety recommendations (to be as soft as possible) thanks to its fabric frame, which fits securely in most cars without adding any bulk.

Parents who’ve tried this mirror report that it’s simple to fit using a simple clip at the back of the mirror, with multiple fitting and adjustment options. It also features a wide-angle mirror, which will help you get a good view of your baby even though the mirror itself is fixed flat to the headrest and can’t be angled. Together, the safe and good quality construction and simple fitting mechanism make this a great overall pick.

Read next: Best toddler car seats

At only £10, this offering from Argos’s in-house baby brand gets the seal of approval from parents for more than just its price tag.

They like the generous wide-angle mirror and 360 rotation, as well as the ease of set-up. Multiple adjustable straps help you fit it securely around most car headrests.

Although there’s the odd report that this mirror can be a bit fiddly to adjust due to the stiff ball joint, that should be something you only have to do occasionally (if switching drivers or if your child moves to a new seat). It’s also worth noting the mirror comes with a one-year warranty, so if anything goes wrong you’re covered.

For families that do a lot of night-time driving (or, let’s be honest, anyone driving in winter in the UK), this mirror comes with built-in LED lights that make it easier to check on your baby in the dark.

The lights are switched on and off by remote control, so you don’t have to reach over the seat when the sun sets, plus you can easily switch the lights off if your baby falls asleep.

Due to the integrated lights, this is a heavier and bulkier mirror than models like the Mamas & Papas soft-framed design, but it fastens using multiple straps for a secure fit, reducing the risk of it moving or being removed by curious toddlers. The wide-angle mirror can also be angled for a precise view.

The downside is it requires batteries – lots of them. The mirror itself takes 3 x AA batteries and the remote control a further 2 x AAA. Remember to pack spares if you go on a long journey.

Read next: Best car sunshades for babies

If you’ve got a baby who likes to be entertained at all times, this baby car seat mirror has built-in toys that swing around when the car is on the move, giving them something bright and colourful to focus on.

The mirror itself has a soft construction, and has been crash-tested by the manufacturer to ensure it won’t become a dangerous projectile. The only thing to watch is the angle at which you fit it: some parents reported it didn’t fit some headrests (a Honda and a BMW 1 Series were specifically cited). Others reported that the swinging toys can partially obstruct your view. 

Still, for something that offers both entertainment for your baby and a safe way for you to check on them, we think this is a great find if it does fit your car.

Although most car seat mirrors claim to be wide-angle, Maxi-Cosi goes the extra mile with this generous oval-shaped mirror with an extra-wide angle designed to help parents see up to two car seats at once.

Installation is with multiple straps for a good fit. One parent reported this is a bit fiddly, but your own experience is likely to depend on your vehicle and the shape of its headrest.

This mirror does have a solid plastic frame, making it heavier than the fabric mirrors in our list, but Maxi-Cosi has crash-tested it to ensure the fittings are sturdy. The brand is well-known for producing good value, high-performing car seats so we’d expect no less of the complementary accessories.

Read next: Best car seats for 4-year-olds and beyond

Once your children are ready to move to a forward-facing car seat, the other mirrors on this list become obsolete. To see your forward-facing kids, you’ll either need to turn around while driving or temporarily reposition your rear-view mirror.

Neither of these are safe to do while driving, so the solution is one of these clip-on mirrors, which hugs the edges of your rear-view mirror, dangling just below it, to give you a secondary viewpoint to the back of the car.

This does mean obstructing the windshield slightly, and drivers will need to ensure they look at the right mirror while driving. That makes this a slightly more specialist item – many families can probably get away without it.

But there are plenty more who may find it reassuring to have an easy way to check on children frequently: perhaps they get car sick, have additional needs, or maybe you just take a lot of long journeys without any other adults in the car. If so, this is an affordable and easy way to give yourself some reassurance.

If you’re worried that a car seat mirror is just another throwaway item you only use a handful of times, you might be tempted by this 2-in-1 option, which converts to a tablet holder for older kids.

As a mirror, it has a fair amount in common with our overall favourite, the Mamas & Papas In Car Baby Mirror, being a fully fabric design with adjustable straps, although the mirror itself has a more basic construction.

Although it’s only suitable for kids’ tablets up to a specific size (25 x 18cm) that includes popular models like the Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids’ Pro tablet and the 11-inch iPad, so it’s a pretty flexible holder. Just note that anything much smaller may slide out and become dangerous, especially when travelling at high speeds.

Read next: Best car seats to take on the plane

One of the concerns some parents have about car seat mirrors is that the time you spend looking at your baby is time spent with your eyes off the road. Royal Rascals’ design aims to minimise that thanks to the bold yellow trim of the mirror itself. 

The colour contrast means you can focus on your child quickly, and it’s especially useful if both your car interior and your car seat are the same colour (the ever-prolific grey or black). 

The mirror itself is the same slim plastic construction as a number of others on the list, with four adjustable straps for fitting. Parents who have the mirror complimented the instructions and said it was easy to fit and use. They also liked the supplied ‘Baby on board’ badge as a little extra which adds to the overall value.