Treatment with umbilical cord blood (UCB) for cerebral palsy (CP) remains promising but experimental and unproven. An updated meta-analysis is needed to assess the efficacy of UCB mononuclear cells (MNCs) in comparison to UCB-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) to clarify future directions in the use of UCB to treat CP. An updated systematic review of published controlled clinical trials to November 2024 was conducted and identified ten trials (621 patients; 71% of all patients from 7 trials received UCB-MNCs). Three trials administered UCB-MSCs (30%) and one study compared UCB-MNCs to UCB-MSCs. In one study, MNCs were administered with or without erythropoietin. Eight studies (80%) administered allogeneic cells. Dosage and route of cell administration varied. Clinical outcome reporting was variable, but allowed for meta-analysis of change in GMFM motor scores at 12 months (included 9 groups across 7 studies). Using a random effects model, the standardized mean difference in GMFM scores between baseline and 12 months was higher in the intervention group compared to controls (M= 0.5828, 95% CI=[0.19,0.98], P-value= 0.004). Subgroup analysis using a random-effects model revealed no statistically significant difference in GMFM scores from baseline to 12 months compared to controls in the MNC group (M _A = 0.3225, 95% CI = [-0.19, 0.84], P -value= 0.22), whereas in the MSC group, GMFM scores improved more significantly compared to controls (M _B = 0.9192, 95% CI = [0.33,1.50], P-value = 0.002). In conclusion, infusion of UCB-MSCs appears promising, with improved GMFM scores at 12 months for patients with cerebral palsy. Larger randomized controlled trials that examine MSCs derived from cord blood and other tissues appears worthwhile. Longer follow-up addressing the breadth of relevant clinical outcomes in CP are needed to confirm potential benefits for patients with CP.