Maxi-Cosi Ambra Infant Car Seat

$399.99

Price on Amazon.com as of 2026-11-02 17:39 UTC, and subject to change.

An infant car seat with one mode: rear-facing harness (infant carrier) 4 to 30 lb, up to 32 in.

At a glance

  • Fits children from 4 to 30 lb
  • Up to 32 in tall
  • Rear-facing harness (infant carrier) only
  • Load leg
  • Anti-rebound protection
  • Seat weighs 7 lb
  • 8-year usable life
  • Certified for aircraft use
Check the current price

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Specifications checked against Maxi-Cosi’s US site and manual on . Not hands-on tested. How I research

Who is the Ambra Infant Car Seat for?

The Maxi-Cosi Ambra is a rear-facing-only infant carrier for babies from 4 to 30 lb who are 32 inches or less, with the top of the head at least 1 inch below the top of the headrest. The base installs with rigid LATCH or the vehicle belt, the carrier can be belted in without it, and it expires 8 years after manufacture.

Reasons to consider it

  • A carrier listed at 7 lb without canopy and inserts
  • A base with rigid LATCH connectors or a vehicle belt with lockoff and TensionFix indicators
  • A 7-position headrest and harness that adjusts without rethreading
  • Aircraft use, which the manual certifies, installed without the base

Things to weigh up

  • Rear-facing only, so a convertible seat is needed by 30 lb or 32 inches
  • The load leg must reach the vehicle floor and cannot rest on a storage compartment
  • The magnetic chest clip carries a warning for children or caregivers with implanted electronic medical devices
  • Neither the product page nor the manual gives the carrier's width

My take on the Ambra Infant Car Seat

The Ambra suits parents who will lift the carrier often and want a base with rigid LATCH, a belt lockoff and an optional load leg. Maxi-Cosi lists the carrier at 7 lb without the canopy and inserts, which weigh about 1 lb more. The closest sibling, the Peri 180, has the same 4 to 30 lb range but rotates on its base and is listed at just under 8 lb.

A research summary of Maxi-Cosi’s published specifications and manual, read . Not a hands-on test or a crash-safety rating.

Who the Ambra Infant Car Seat fits

This seat covers one stage. Maxi-Cosi gives it a 8-year life from the date of manufacture, so check the date label before using a hand-me-down.

Rear-facing harness (infant carrier)4 to 30 lb · Up to 32 in
The child faces the back of the car, which keeps the head, neck and spine supported in a frontal crash. Keep this mode as long as the child fits it.

What are the Ambra Infant Car Seat weight, height and age limits?

Maxi-Cosi Ambra Infant Car Seat limits by mode
ModeChild weightChild heightMinimum ageConditions
Rear-facing harness (infant carrier)4 to 30 lbUp to 32 inNot publishedRear-facing only; manual states 32 in or less in height

A child must meet every limit for the mode they use. The labels on your seat and its manual are the final word.

Ambra Infant Car Seat specifications

Seat weight
7 lb
Width
Not published
Usable life
8 years
Aircraft use
Certified for aircraft (see manual for which modes)
Base weight
10.75 lb
Recline positions
5
Headrest positions
7

How the Ambra Infant Car Seat installs

Rigid LATCH
Rigid LATCH (base). Rigid connectors click straight onto the vehicle's lower anchor bars, which removes the strap slack that causes loose installs.
Recline
5 recline positions. The recline angle is what keeps a young baby’s airway open, so set it before tightening the install.
Harness
7-position no-rethread headrest/harness. Check the harness height at each growth spurt: at or below the shoulders rear-facing, at or above them forward-facing.

Every install is a fit between one seat and one vehicle. Read both manuals, and use a free inspection station if anything is unclear.

An empty car seat installed on a back seat, seen through an open car door

Will it fit your car?

Maxi-Cosi does not publish a width for this seat, so measure your back seat and compare it with the seat in a store before buying. It weighs 7 lb, which matters if you will move it between cars or carry it through an airport.

  • Check your vehicle manual for lower anchor positions and any head-restraint rules.
  • Rear-facing seats need front-seat room: try the install behind the driver before you commit.
  • Certified for aircraft use, so it can travel as a seat rather than checked baggage.

What features does the Ambra Infant Car Seat have?

  • Load leg
  • Anti-rebound bar
  • Rigid LATCH (base)
  • TensionFix belt tension indicator
  • 7-position no-rethread headrest/harness
  • 5 recline positions
  • Magnetic chest clip
  • Baseless (belt) installation

Colors listed in the US

Truffle, Caspian Caviar, Escargot.

Ambra Infant Car Seat colors and prices

3 colors are listed on Amazon right now. Every color is the same price today. The fabric is the only difference between them; the shell, harness and limits are identical. Prices were retrieved Nov 2, 5:39 PM UTC and can change.

Compare Ambra Infant Car Seat colors side by side
Compare colorsCaspian CaviarCheck priceEscargotCheck priceTruffleCheck price
Price$399.99$399.99$399.99
AvailabilityIn stockIn stockIn stock
Price checkedNov 2, 5:39 PM UTCNov 2, 7:45 PM UTCNov 2, 7:45 PM UTC

Prices and availability shown are accurate as of the time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

What to know before you live with it

Three ways to install it

The base installs with its rigid LATCH connectors or with a lap or lap/shoulder belt routed through the base belt path, then closed under the lockoff. TensionFix indicators on the base turn completely green when the belt is tight enough. If red shows, the manual lists fixes such as pulling the belt tighter or changing seating position, and if red still shows, it says to use rigid LATCH or install without the base. The base must not move more than 1 inch side to side at the belt path. Never use rigid LATCH and the vehicle belt together. Without the base, the carrier belts in directly, using the level line to set the angle.

Source: Maxi-Cosi Ambra Infant Car Seat user guide (PDF)

The load leg is optional, with conditions

The load leg is stored under the base and is described as an optional feature for both LATCH and belt installs. The manual says load legs reduce downward rotation and limit rebound in a crash. When used, it must be perpendicular to the vehicle floor. It must not be used on top of a vehicle storage compartment, or if it does not reach the floor, and it must not be used to adjust the base angle. Check your vehicle owner's manual for load leg guidance before relying on it.

Source: Maxi-Cosi Ambra Infant Car Seat user guide (PDF)

Fit, inserts and outgrowing it

The child outgrows the Ambra at 30 lb, at 32 inches, or when the top of the head is less than 1 inch below the top of the headrest, whichever comes first. The head and body pillows are for smaller infants up to about 11 lb, and the head pillow must not be used without the body pillow. Harness covers come out if they stop the chest clip sitting correctly. The headrest and harness move together through 7 positions with one hand, so there is no rethreading as the baby grows.

Source: Maxi-Cosi Ambra Infant Car Seat user guide (PDF)

Washing the fabrics

The seat pad set and accessories go in the machine separately on a cold, gentle cycle, then tumble dry separately for 10 to 12 minutes on low heat. Take the foam out of the headrest pad first and do not wash it; the manual warns the foam must go back in before use. Harness straps, the buckle and the shell are spot clean only, and the buckle must not be submerged. The canopy is hand wash only, then line dry. Remove the canopy before taking off the seat pad.

Source: Maxi-Cosi Ambra Infant Car Seat user guide (PDF)

Is the Ambra Infant Car Seat recalled?

No campaign in the current NHTSA child-restraint data names this model family, and I have not run a separate review for it. Check your seat’s model number and date of manufacture before use.

NHTSA recall search · Recent car seat recalls

Ambra Infant Car Seat: common questions

What are the Maxi-Cosi Ambra weight and height limits?

The manual gives 4 to 30 lb and 32 inches or less, rear-facing only. The top of the child's head must also be at least 1 inch below the top of the headrest.

Maxi-Cosi Ambra Infant Car Seat user guide (PDF) (opens in a new tab)

How much does the Ambra carrier weigh?

Maxi-Cosi lists it at 7 lb without the canopy and inserts, which weigh about 1 lb. Add the baby's weight when you think about carrying it.

Maxi-Cosi Ambra Infant Car Seat (IC399) product page (opens in a new tab)

Can the Ambra be used on an airplane?

Yes. The manual says it is certified for aircraft use, installed with the vehicle belt steps for use without the base, on a forward-facing aircraft seat. It suggests a window seat and a belt extender if the lap belt is too short.

Maxi-Cosi Ambra Infant Car Seat user guide (PDF) (opens in a new tab)

When does the Ambra expire?

The manual says not to use it more than 8 years after the date of manufacture, which is printed on a label on the side of the seat.

Maxi-Cosi Ambra Infant Car Seat user guide (PDF) (opens in a new tab)

Which strollers does the Ambra fit?

Maxi-Cosi says it is compatible with select Maxi-Cosi strollers and travel systems, and sells it in Oxford Cabin and Oxford Modular bundles. I would confirm the exact stroller and adapter before buying separately.

Maxi-Cosi Ambra Infant Car Seat (IC399) product page (opens in a new tab)

How is the Ambra different from the Peri 180?

Both take babies from 4 to 30 lb and up to 32 inches. The Peri 180 rotates on its base, has a 6-position headrest and is listed at just under 8 lb without canopy and inserts.

Maxi-Cosi Peri 180 Rotating Infant Car Seat product page (opens in a new tab)

Answers refer to the model and manual version on this page. Check the instructions supplied with your seat.

Before you buy

  1. Weigh and measure your child. The limits above are the manufacturer’s, and a child has to meet all of them for the mode they will use.
  2. Confirm the exact version. Colors, retail exclusives and model numbers change limits more often than you would expect; Maxi-Cosi lists 3 colors of this seat.
  3. Read the manual before you buy, not after. It is linked above and holds the fit rules, the install methods and the expiry.
  4. Check recalls by model number and date of manufacture, and register the seat with Maxi-Cosi so you hear about the next one.

Sources

Other Maxi-Cosi infant car seats

ModelTop child weightSeat weightWidthUsable life
Ambra Infant Car Seat (this seat)30 lb7 lb—8 years
Mico Pro Infant Car Seat30 lb9.7 lb—8 years
Mico Pro+ Infant Car Seat30 lb9.7 lb—8 years
Mico Luxe Infant Car Seat30 lb——8 years
Mico Luxe+ Infant Car Seat30 lb——8 years