Axkid NextKid Review: A High Back Booster Seat Built for Growing Children
If you've been on an extended rear-facing journey for the past few years — and if you're here, chances are you have been — there comes a point where your child outgrows their rear-facing seat and it's time to think about what comes next. That transition can feel like a big deal, and honestly, it is. Getting it right matters.
The Axkid NextKid is Axkid's answer to that next stage: a high back booster seat designed to carry children through the years after rear-facing. For parents who've trusted Axkid for rear-facing, it's a natural next step — and at £199, it sits at a reasonable price point for a seat of this quality.
Here's everything you need to know.
What Is the Axkid NextKid?
The Axkid NextKid is a belt-positioning high back booster seat — which means it uses your car's own seatbelt (rather than a harness) to restrain your child. It's designed for children who've outgrown their rear-facing seat and are ready to use the adult seatbelt correctly.
It's certified to a high upper height limit, which means it can genuinely last for many years, through a significant portion of the booster seat stage. That's excellent value over time, and it's a strong argument for choosing a quality high back booster rather than a cheaper seat that might need replacing sooner. For the precise certification figures, we'd recommend checking directly with Axkid or your retailer, as specs can vary by market and production run.
It's available in a range of colours — check current options directly with Axkid or your retailer, as colourways can change over time.
Safety note: For the current UK legal requirements on when children must use a car seat, please check GOV.UK for the most up-to-date official guidance. A well-fitting high back booster is the correct seat for most children in this stage — for advice on booster types and what's recommended for your child's age and size, consult an approved car seat specialist or refer to official guidance.
Key Features of the Axkid NextKid
So what does the NextKid actually offer? Here's a breakdown of the standout features:
- Certified to a high upper height limit — designed to last well into the later booster seat years; confirm the exact certification with Axkid directly
- Adjustable headrest — grows with your child to ensure correct seatbelt positioning at every stage
- Adjustable side wings — for enhanced side-impact protection as your child grows
- Premium soft textiles — Axkid's upholstery quality has always been a strong suit, and the NextKid continues that tradition
- ISOFIX connection — the seat uses ISOFIX for securing to the car; always verify the full installation method with Axkid or a trained fitter to ensure correct use in your vehicle
The combination of the adjustable headrest and side wings is worth highlighting. Seatbelt positioning is everything with a belt-positioning booster — the belt needs to sit correctly across the shoulder and chest, not across the neck or face. The NextKid's adjustability is what makes that possible as your child grows, rather than requiring you to buy a new seat every couple of years.
Installation
One of the genuine strengths of the Axkid NextKid is how straightforward it is to install. The seat uses ISOFIX to secure to your car, with the car's seatbelt then routing through the seat to restrain your child correctly. For full installation details specific to your vehicle, we'd always recommend verifying the process with Axkid directly or having a trained technician walk you through it.
If you're in Somerset and want peace of mind, we offer our Smalls Install Plus fitting service, where one of our car seat specialists can walk you through installation and make sure everything is set up correctly. If you're further afield, get in touch and we'll do our best to help you find a fitter near you.
Fit in Common UK Cars
High back booster seats are generally less fussy about car compatibility than rear-facing seats, which is one of the relief points of making this transition. The Axkid NextKid has a reasonably compact footprint and should fit comfortably in most standard UK family cars.
That said, it's worth considering:
- Taller children will need adequate headroom above the seat — worth checking in cars with a pronounced roofline slope over rear seats (some hatchbacks and coupé-SUVs can catch people out here)
- Middle seat use — the NextKid can work on the middle seat in many cars, but check your vehicle's seatbelt configuration before assuming; our guide on where to position a rear-facing car seat covers some of the same principles for thinking through seat placement in your vehicle
- Two seats side by side — the adjustable side wings are a feature, but bear in mind they add some width; if you're fitting two booster seats next to each other, measure carefully
If you're unsure about fit in your specific car, please contact us before purchasing — we'd rather help you choose correctly than have you returning a seat that doesn't work for your situation.
How Does the Axkid NextKid Compare to Other Seats in the Axkid Range?
Axkid has built a strong and well-regarded range of extended rear-facing seats, and it can be genuinely confusing to work out where the NextKid fits. Here's a brief overview:
Axkid NextKid vs Axkid Minikid 4
The Axkid Minikid 4 is understood to be a rear-facing seat — a quite different product designed for an earlier stage of the car seat journey. If you're trying to get up to speed on how it works and what it offers, our guide to the Axkid Minikid 4 is a good place to start. For the precise specifications, installation method, and suitability details, we'd recommend checking directly with Axkid or your retailer, as the range includes several variants and specs can differ between them.
The Axkid NextKid is what you move to after a rear-facing seat — it's a forward-facing high back booster that uses the adult seatbelt. These seats serve completely different stages of a child's development, and they're not directly comparable in terms of safety approach.
Our view: If your child can still rear-face, rear-face. The NextKid is an excellent seat for the stage after rear-facing, but we'd always encourage parents to stay rear-facing as long as possible. Our guide to how long children should rear-face explains the safety case in more detail.
Axkid NextKid vs Axkid Move
The Axkid Move is another seat in the Axkid range, designed for a different stage of the car seat journey than the NextKid. If you're weighing up where it sits in the range, our Axkid Move review covers what it offers and who it's designed for in more detail. For specifications and suitability details, we'd also recommend checking with Axkid directly or speaking to a specialist retailer who can advise based on your child's current size and stage.
In short: the Axkid NextKid sits at the end of the extended rear-facing journey, not within it. It's the seat you graduate to when rear-facing is no longer an option.
Who Is the Axkid NextKid Best For?
The Axkid NextKid is a strong choice if:
- Your child has outgrown their extended rear-facing seat and is ready to move to a belt-positioning booster
- You want a seat that is certified to a high upper height limit — minimising future seat purchases; confirm the exact certification with Axkid directly
- You trust the Axkid brand from your rear-facing experience and want to stay within the range
- You're looking for a premium, well-made booster with strong adjustability and a comfortable fit for your child
It may not be the right choice if:
- Your child is still within the limits of their current rear-facing seat — in which case, please stay rear-facing
- You need to verify specific installation compatibility with your vehicle — always confirm current installation details directly with Axkid or a trained fitter before purchasing
Final Thoughts
The Axkid NextKid is exactly what you'd hope for from Axkid at this stage of the car seat journey: well-made, thoughtfully designed, and built to last. Its high upper height certification means it genuinely earns its keep over the years, and the adjustable headrest and side wings give you confidence that seatbelt positioning will remain correct as your child grows.
For parents who've spent years committed to extended rear-facing, choosing a high quality, reputable booster seat for the next stage feels like the natural continuation of that approach — and the NextKid delivers.
If you'd like to talk through whether the NextKid is the right choice for your child or your car, we're always happy to help. You can get in touch with us here, or if you're local to Somerset, book in with our Smalls Install Plus fitting service.
