A baby capsule was one of the absolute most important investments we made with each one of our three children. Whether it’s getting your baby home safely from the hospital or travelling around the world, it’s bound to become one of your most important pieces of baby travel kit.
The only downside we found with our infant capsule, in both hot and cold climates, the provided canopy built into our Maxi Cosi capsule (and all leading brands, for that matter) simply wasn’t enough protection from extremely bright light or against the cold in winter climates. Our babies needed something more to protect them from the elements.
By now, you should have decided what baby capsule you’ll be investing in (or you’ve already bought it and realised the canopy is not enough!) – so what do you cover it with?
Here are our 10 favourite picks for baby capsule covers for both summer and winter.
This post is part of our Tried and tested travel products series – we review everything you may need on the road from portable cots to the best collapsible strollers for fitting on a plane.
The Best Summer Baby Capsule Covers
NB – coming from Australia, we call them baby capsules but other parents around the world may call these infant car seats – either way – they are a rear-facing car seats for your baby under 12 months that can also be used connected to a travel system stroller or pushchair.
You want your summer capsule cover to protect again the UV rays, insects, and light breezes so your baby can continue to nap peacefully outside without distraction. Here are the top 5 designs we recommend:
Muslin Baby Car Seat Canopy by Metplus
Made of 100% cotton muslin material this is a great solution in hot climates with several pretty feminine and unisex designs. Rather than fitting snuggly to the seat like some, it is designed to be extra large and drape over the infant capsule, with two hook straps to securely lock your cover to the handle.
(NB for several years I was guilty of throwing a large muslin over my capsule and securing with a hair clip – this purpose-made design is a far safer solution)
Car Seat Canopy and Nursing Cover Up by Kids N’ Such
We love a versatile piece of baby kit that can serve more than one purpose! This hook on infant car seat canopy is a much safer solution than simply throwing a blanket over your capsule. It will snap around the carry handle for safety with a peekaboo opening.
It can also be removed and used as a bib-style nursing cover-up.
Baby Car Seat Cover & Nursing Cover Breastfeeding Scarf by YOOFOSS
Another versatile and very affordable multipurpose cover, the very stretchy material will give a snug fit over your capsule with a small opening for the carry handle. You can use it on your infant capsule, bassinet or stroller.
It can also be worn as a cover for nursing (though it’s a little snug, depending on your babies size as it’s a wrap-around, not a bib style).
Stretchy Baby Car Seat Covers by Acrabros
A universal car seat cover, this stretchy cover comes with two zipper openings allowing you to peep inside without waking your baby. It fixes on with four press snaps and can be folded back down neatly into its own carry pouch – at only 14 oz it will easily fit in your diaper bag.
Available in six attractive designs for male, female and unisex, this is a great summer and autumn style cover providing sun and breeze protection.
Baby Car Seat Cover/Stroller Cover by Bristin Baby
This universal car seat cover protects against light rain, breezes and the sun. It comes with a wonderfully snug fit, attaching on both the upper handlebar with velcro and with a fastener clip below the handles for one of the best fits.
The cover can be fully zipped up for maximum protection, or when you’re baby is awake and wants to see out, simply replace the cover with the mesh to protect against insects and bugs.
Best winter infant capsule covers
When the weather turns nasty outside, it’s important that your baby stays snug, warm, and dry when transferring between your car and pushchair/stroller.
We recommend adding your winter packing list one of these winter car seat covers for infants.
Skip Hop Winter Car Seat Cover
A super cosy winter baby capsule cover solution. This polyester and fleece-lined capsule cover fits snuggly around most car seats with a zip-off front and easy-lift flaps. You can also get the matching Skip Hop Footmuff for when you move to a stroller.
JJ Cole Car Seat Cover
This is a great infant car seat and baby capsule cover for winter climates. The weather-resistant nylon can deflect rain and wind, whilst the fleece lining keeps baby snug and warm.
With 5 attractive unisex colours to choose from, this is certainly one of the most stylish solutions for adverse weather, with a removable top for when the sun is shining.
Britax B-Covered All-Weather Infant Car Seat Cover
Protecting your baby from all sorts of weather conditions, it may not be as pretty as some of these designs, but it is utterly practical and a must if you are living or visiting somewhere with extreme weather conditions.
It blocks not only wind and rain but 98% of UV Rays with UPF 50+ material. It fits all Britax model infant capsules, plus most leading brands.
Cozy Cover Premium Infant Car Seat Cover with Polar Fleece by Cozy Cover Store
This polar fleece infant car seat cover will help protect your baby against the harshest of elements. A snug elasticated fit around your capsule leaves the handle-free for carrying – fitting all leading brands.
There are dual zips for easy access into your baby and an additional shield in a flap that can be pulled down over baby’s face in the harshest of weather conditions for complete coverage. Available in five bright colours.
MESA Infant Car Seat Rain Shield by UPPAbaby
Heading out on the rain with your car seat? You’d be surprised how few infant capsules or travel systems actually come with a rain cover supplied.
This Phthalate-free PVC plastic rain cover will help keep baby dry in their infant capsule. With a sung fit around your MESA infant capsule (and compatible with many other brands), it has a small opening to hold the carry handle, side mesh for ventilation and is easy to wipe clean.
Further baby travel gear reviews you may find helpful
If you are looking to travel with your infant capsule, or let’s be honest anywhere away from home with a baby, you may also like these product reviews and travel advice posts:
- The importance of using a car seat travel bag if you are checking your luggage (lesson learnt the hard way when we had our first infant capsule smashed to pieces on a luggage belt).
- Is your infant capsule allowed to be used on a plane? Car seat flying rules and the best types of car seats for flying
- The best travel diaper bags – we look at the designs that work best for frequent travellers.
- Nursing covers for on the go – when needs must in public you may need to cover up while feeding your baby, we share all our favourite designs – and yes some of them work with your baby capsule.
- Breastfeeding & expressing away from home – our top tips for keeping up your breastfeeding and pumping routines when you travel, including what to do on the plane!
Our full range of tried and tested travel product reviews for babies through to teens can be found here.
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