Baby car seat cover: waterproof or breathable?

The car seat is one of the places where babies spend the most time: school runs, outings, trips… along with dribble, milk, biscuits and the odd nappy leak. That is why one of the questions you ask us most is whether there is a waterproof car seat cover. Before looking at our car seat covers, let's clear up that question.

In this guide we explain what is best for your baby, why our covers are not fully waterproof and how to keep the seat protected and always clean.

Waterproof cover or breathable cover?

A 100% waterproof cover works like plastic: it keeps liquid out, but it keeps air out too. Babies sit strapped into the harness for a long time, often with their back pressed against the seat, and if the fabric does not breathe, heat and sweat get trapped between their skin and the seat.

That is why our covers are not fully waterproof: we decided this on purpose, so as not to block breathability. We would rather your baby stays cool and comfortable, and deal with little accidents another way, as we explain below.

A knitted fabric that works like a nest

Our covers are made from 100% organic cotton jersey knit, the same soft, stretchy kind of fabric as a baby T-shirt:

• It moulds to the body: the knit is stretchy and wraps around your baby like a cosy nest, with no stiffness.
• It breathes: it lets air circulate, so your baby stays cooler in summer and does not sweat on long journeys.
• No static electricity: unlike many synthetic fabrics, organic cotton does not build up static, so there are no little shocks or hair standing on end when you lift your baby out of the seat.
• Gentle on the skin: the prints are certified to OEKO-TEX Standard 100.

How our covers work

Jyoko covers do not replace the original cover of your seat: they go on top of it. That way the seat looks like new again and the original cover is protected from everyday wear.

• Made to fit your model: we pattern every cover model by model in our workshop in Barcelona, and we already have more than 1,000 seat models. You can find yours in car seat covers.
• Easy to clean: when it gets dirty, you take the Jyoko cover off and put it in the washing machine, without having to dismantle the seat or its original cover.
• Care: machine wash at 30 °C on a gentle cycle, without heat.

For example, we have the cover for the Cybex Sirona M2 i-Size in organic cotton, and if you also want to protect the harness straps, the harness protector cushion is sold separately.

For leaks: the absorbent cushion

If what worries you is nappy leaks or the first days without a nappy, the answer is not to seal the seat in plastic, but to add an absorbent layer exactly where it is needed. That is what our absorbent car seat cushion is for:

• It absorbs up to 250 ml of liquid.
• It has three layers: on top, against your baby's skin, 100% GOTS organic cotton; in the middle, an absorbent felt; and underneath, a waterproof layer so liquid does not reach the cover or the seat.
• It is reusable and machine washable.
• Its universal design works in the car seat, the stroller and the high chair.

Combined with the cover, you get the best of both worlds: a breathable seat that is protected against little accidents.

More ideas for your baby's seat

If your baby is very small and still "floats" in the seat, we explain how a reducer helps in car seat reducer: what it is for and when to remove it. And now that the cold weather is here, don't miss a winter coat in the car seat?

Frequently asked questions

Are Jyoko covers waterproof?

Not fully, and that is on purpose: a fully waterproof cover does not let your baby's skin breathe. For leaks, combine it with the absorbent cushion.

Does the cover replace the seat's original cover?

No. It goes on top of the original cover, which stays in place.

Does it fit any seat?

Each cover is made to fit specific models. Find the one for your exact seat in our car seat covers section.

How do I wash it?

Take the Jyoko cover off the seat and machine wash it at 30 °C on a gentle cycle, without heat.

In short

For the car seat, a fabric that breathes is better than one that seals everything in. A made-to-measure organic cotton knit cover keeps your baby cool and the seat looking like new, and the absorbent cushion takes care of leaks.