Maxi-Cosi has recently added to its very popular car seat range with the new Rock. We're going to take a look at this latest i-Size infant carrier.
Quick Summary: If you don't want to spend quite as much money on an infant carrier as the Pebble Plus, then the Rock is a great alternative. Though it isn't quite as feature heavy as the Pebble Plus, it is really easy to use and is still i-Size tested when used with the 2WayFix Base. You can be assured of the best safety, including the side impact protection within the shell of the seat. It may be an issue for taller bodied babies that there is no height adjustment on the harness. To fit this seat correctly, between the heights of 45 and 75cm, the harness needs to be level or just below the child's shoulders.
Whats good?
- Can be fitted with base or vehicle seat belt
- Baby-Hugg inlay included
- Lifetime warranty
- Simple to use
Whats not so good?
- No adjustment for harness
Things we love…
If you’ve looked at infant carriers, you will definitely have come across Maxi-Cosi’s range. The Rock is the brand’s mid-range car seat that sits between the CabrioFix and the Pebble Plus.
The Rock is an i-Size compliant infant carrier, that needs to be used with the 2WayFix Base to go along with the i-Size regulations and testing. It is handy that you can also use the car seat with the vehicle’s own seat belt should you need to, whether that be on public transport or in a relative’s car. When using it with the 2WayFix Base, it is so easy to install! The base has green light indicators and sounds at each point during fitting, making it virtually impossible to get anything wrong. It will beep at you and flash red if the ISOFIX isn’t attached, the support leg isn’t adjusted to the floor or the infant carrier isn’t placed on correctly.
The included Baby-Hugg inlay is moulded on the bottom and sides with memory foam and offers a head support and thick base to keep a small baby in the optimal position. It’s then removable once your baby outgrows it at around 60cm. Newborns can be quite sicky, so we love that the fabrics of the infant carrier can be completely removed and machine washed at 30°!
Sure of the car seat’s safety and build, Maxi-Cosi offers an amazing lifetime guarantee on the Rock if registered online! This is way more than you see on most car seats, so definitely says something and gives the parent great reassurance.
Things to look out for…
The Rock is suitable up to 75cm in height, which is around 12 months. As i-Size was designed to support rearward-facing travel until a minimum of 15 months, it would be great if this seat could last you that long. To get to that age with this car seat range, you would have to purchase the Maxi-Cosi 2WayPearl, which is the next stage seat, to use on the same base. It does work out expensive if you add the Rock, 2WayFix Base and 2WayPearl together, but you will have a car seat system that allows for extended rear facing up to 105cm or around 4 years old.
The Rock has an extendable 3-point harness, with the length adjusted by pressing the small button at the front of the buckle. The height of the harness is static, though, in its position above baby’s shoulders. Instead of actually being able to move it up or down, there is automatically an inch difference for a larger baby once you remove the newborn inlay.
Our verdict
If you don’t want to spend quite as much money on an infant carrier as the Pebble Plus, then the Rock is a great alternative. Though it isn’t quite as feature heavy as the Pebble Plus, it is really easy to use and is still i-Size tested when used with the 2WayFix Base. You can be assured of the best safety, including the side impact protection within the shell of the seat.
It may be an issue for taller bodied babies that there is no height adjustment on the harness. To fit this seat correctly, between the heights of 45 and 75cm, the harness needs to be level or just below the child’s shoulders.
