If your child is approaching the end of their extended rear-facing journey and you're starting to think about what comes next, the Axkid NextKid is a name that comes up again and again — and for good reason. It's a thoughtfully designed high back booster seat from a brand that has built its reputation on taking child safety seriously.
In this review, we'll walk you through what the NextKid offers, who it suits, how it compares to other seats in the Axkid range, and whether it could be the right choice for your family.
What Is the Axkid NextKid?
The Axkid NextKid is a high back booster seat designed to offer long-term comfort and safety as children grow. It's certified up to 150 cm, which means it can potentially see your child through to an age when they no longer legally need a car seat at all — making it genuinely one of the last seats you'd ever need to buy.
It's priced at £199 and comes in a choice of colourways — check with us at Saunders & Smalls or directly with Axkid for the current options available in the UK. Both are available new and in stock from Axkid directly, and we can also help you source and fit it here at Saunders & Smalls.
Key Features
- Adjustable headrest that grows with your child
- Adjustable side wings for impact protection as your child gets taller
- Premium soft textiles — this is a seat that genuinely feels quality in person
- Simple installation using the vehicle's seatbelt
- Certified to 150 cm in height
The side wing adjustment is worth calling out specifically. As children grow, side-impact protection becomes increasingly important, and the NextKid's adjustable wings ensure that protection remains in the right position — not just when you first install the seat, but year after year.
Safety note: For full details on how the NextKid installs and how your child is restrained in the seat, we'd recommend checking the installation guide and confirming the specifics directly with Axkid or your retailer. We always recommend having any new seat checked by a specialist.
Who Is the Axkid NextKid For?
The NextKid is a high back booster seat suited to children who have moved on from rear-facing travel. In the UK, car seat law sets out the requirements for child restraints — we'd recommend checking the current rules on GOV.UK or with a trusted specialist to make sure you have the most up-to-date guidance — though most safety experts recommend keeping children in a high back booster well beyond the legal minimum wherever possible.
Because the NextKid is certified to 150 cm, it's well suited to:
- Children transitioning out of an extended rear-facing seat
- Families who want a single seat that will last through the primary school years and beyond
- Parents who want premium build quality without constantly upgrading
If your child is currently in an extended rear-facing seat and you're wondering when the right time to move them is, our guide on rear-facing car seat placement goes into this in more detail.
How Does It Compare to Other Axkid Seats?
Axkid makes a small but well-curated range of car seats, and it's worth understanding where the NextKid sits within that family.
Axkid NextKid vs Axkid Minikid 4
The Axkid Minikid 4 is a highly regarded extended rear-facing seat — one of the most well-regarded rear-facing seats available in the UK, and a seat we know and love here at Saunders & Smalls. It holds the Swedish Plus Test certification. For the most accurate and up-to-date information on what that certification means and how it compares to other standards, we'd recommend checking directly with Axkid or a specialist retailer.
The NextKid, by contrast, is a high back booster seat. These are fundamentally different products at different stages of a child's journey. If your child is still within the weight and height range for an extended rear-facing seat, we'd strongly encourage you to keep them rear-facing — the safety case for extended rear-facing travel is widely recognised across the child safety community, and we'd encourage you to speak with a specialist or check with a trusted source before making the move forward. When the time does come to move on, the NextKid is a natural and considered next step within the Axkid family. If you'd like a deeper look at the Minikid range, our Axkid Minikid Core review covers what makes these seats stand out.
Axkid NextKid vs Axkid Move
The Axkid Move is another seat in the Axkid range. For specific details about its design, dimensions, and suitability for different vehicles, we'd recommend checking with Axkid directly or speaking to a specialist — specs can vary and it's always worth confirming before you buy. It's not a direct comparison to the NextKid, but it may be worth exploring if you're still in the rear-facing phase and haven't found the right fit for your vehicle.
We've written about the Axkid Movekid if that's relevant to your situation.
Installation and Compatibility
The NextKid features an ISOFIX connection for installation. For full details on how to install the seat correctly in your specific vehicle — including how the seatbelt is routed and used — we always recommend reading the manual in full and, where possible, having the installation checked by a specialist. If you have any questions about the installation method, we'd recommend confirming the specifics directly with Axkid or your retailer.
Because getting the installation right matters so much, here are a few practical tips:
- Read the manual fully before your first installation. It sounds obvious, but the manual contains guidance specific to the NextKid that generic advice won't cover.
- Check your vehicle's handbook to confirm which seating positions are approved for child car seats.
- Ensure the seatbelt routes correctly through the guide paths on the seat. An incorrectly routed belt can significantly reduce the seat's effectiveness in a collision.
- Check the seat is stable before every journey — give it a firm push in all directions once your child is buckled in.
In terms of compatibility, every vehicle is different, and seatbelt geometry can vary significantly between models. If you're unsure whether the NextKid is a good fit for your specific car, we're always happy to advise — just get in touch with us and we'll help you work it out.
Expert tip: Even if a seat is technically compatible with your vehicle, it's worth having the installation checked by someone who knows what to look for. A seat that looks secure isn't always installed optimally — and small adjustments can make a meaningful difference.
Why Buy From a Specialist?
The Axkid NextKid is available from a number of UK retailers, but there's a real difference between buying from a general marketplace and buying from a specialist who understands child car seats in depth.
At Saunders & Smalls, we only stock seats we genuinely believe in. We're extended rear-facing specialists based in Wincanton, Somerset, and we take the time to understand your family's specific situation — your car, your child's measurements, your daily routine — before making a recommendation. We're not here to shift boxes; we're here to help you make the right decision with confidence.
Smalls Install Plus
If you're based in Somerset or the surrounding area, we offer our Smalls Install Plus fitting service. This is a dedicated appointment where we'll check your seat is installed correctly, walk you through the installation process, and answer any questions you have. Appointments need to be booked in advance — you can find all the details on the Smalls Install Plus page.
If you're further afield, please get in touch and we'll discuss the best way to support you — we work with families across the UK and are always happy to help remotely where we can.
Our Verdict on the Axkid NextKid
The Axkid NextKid is a well-made, thoughtfully designed high back booster seat that earns its place as a long-term solution for growing children. The certification to 150 cm is genuinely impressive, the adjustable side wings show that Axkid has thought carefully about sustained protection over time, and the premium textiles make it a seat that children are likely to find comfortable on long journeys too.
It won't be the right seat for every family — if your child can still rear-face comfortably, we'd encourage you to keep them rear-facing for as long as possible. But when the time is right to move forward, the NextKid is one of the strongest options in its category.
If you'd like to know more, or you're weighing up the NextKid against another seat, we'd love to help. Browse our full range or get in touch — we're always happy to talk car seats.
