Silver Car Seats

FAQ

What car seat should I buy?

Whatever the age or size of your child, CYBEX has a car seat that fits. See below for a summary of what we have to offer:

Infant Car Seats
From birth up to approx. 18–24 months*
Suitable for children measuring between 45 cm and 87 cm (UN R129), and weighing up to 13 kg (UN R044/4 & UN R129)
Our CYBEX Cloud and Aton infant car seats are specially designed to protect babies from day one. These offer special features such as lightness, easy adjustment to fit a growing baby, and the ability to be mounted on a stroller to easily continue your trip outside the car.
* The Cloud Z i-Size, the Aton M, the Aton M i-Size and the Aton B are designed to be used up until the child is 24 months old. All other CYBEX infant car seats can be used for children up to approx. 18 months old.

Convertible Car Seats
From birth up to approx. 4 years
Suitable for children measuring between 45 cm and 105 cm, and weighing up to 18 kg* (UN R129)
Our Sirona range of car seats can be used rear-facing until the baby has reached a minimum age of 15 months, and then either rear-facing or forward-facing thereafter**
* Sirona M2 i-Size is suitable for children weighing up to 19 kg
* Sirona Z i-Size R can only be used rear-facing

2-in-1 Car Seats
From approx. 9 months up to 12 years
Suitable for children weighing between 9 kg and 36 kg (UN R44)
The Pallas series are 2-in-1 car seats that can be converted into high-back booster seats when your child has grown big enough.
When your child weighs between 9 and 18 kg (from approximately 9 months to 4 years) they are secured using an impact shield. Some Pallas seats are also installed in the vehicle using an ISOFIX base. When the child grows bigger the impact shield and base (if applicable) are removed and the child is secured using the vehicle’s 3-point seatbelt.

High-Back Booster Seats
From approx. 3 years up to 12 years
Suitable for children measuring between 100 cm and 150 cm (UN R129), or weighing between 15 kg and 36 kg (UN R44)
Our Solution range of high-back booster seats allow your child to sit comfortably in the car, while including safety features such as Linear Side-impact Protection and a reclining headrest to prevent their head from falling forwards.

What are Group 0+/1/2/3 car seats?

Under the UN R44/04 regulation car seats are organized into groups. Many car seats can be used for more than one group, often adjusting as the child grows.
• Group 0+ car seats are for children weighing up to 13 kg (0 – approx. 18/24 months old), for example our Aton series of infant car seats.
• Group 0+/1 car seats are for children weighing up to 18 kg (0 – approximately 4 years).
• Group 1 car seats are for children weighing between 9 and 18 kg (approx. 9 months – 4 years).
• Group 1/2/3 car seats are for children weighing between 9 and 36 kg (approx. 9 months – 12 years), for example our Pallas series of 2-in-1 car seats.
• Group 2/3 car seats are for children weighing between 15 and 36 kg (approx. 3 – 12 years), for example our Solution series of high-back booster seats.

What are the age ranges for car seats?

CYBEX car seats can cover your child’s travel safety needs from birth to approximately 12 years old. See below for a summary of the age ranges that CYBEX car seats use. Please note that all the age ranges are approximate only—you will need to consider your child’s height or weight to find out whether a car seat is suitable for them:
• From birth up to approx. 18–24 months*

Infant car seats are available in the Cloud and Aton series. These are designed to support children from 45 to 87 cm in height, and up to 13 kg in weight.

* The Cloud Z i-Size, the Aton M, the Aton M i-Size and the Aton B are designed to be used up until the child is 24 months old. All other CYBEX infant car seats can be used for children up to approx. 18 months old.
• From birth up to approx. 4 years

The Sirona series of car seats can be used rear-facing from birth up to 15 months of age, and then either rear-facing or forward-facing up to four years of age*. These are designed to support children from 45 to 105 cm in height, and up to 18 kg in weight**.

* Sirona Z i-Size R can only be used rear-facing
** Sirona M2 i-Size can support a child weighing up to 19 kg in weight.

• From approx. 9 months up to 12 years

The Pallas series have height adjustment allowing them to grow with your child until they are approximately 12 years old. These are designed to support children from 9 to 36 kg in weight.

When your child weighs between 9 and 18 kg (from approximately 9 months to 4 years) they are secured using an impact shield. Some Pallas are also installed in the vehicle using an ISOFIX base. When the child grows bigger the impact shield and base (if applicable) are removed and the child is secured using the vehicle’s 3-point seatbelt.

• From approx. 3 up to 12 years

Our Solution high-back booster seats allow your growing child to sit comfortably and safely in the car. These are designed to support children from 100 to 150 cm in height, or from 15 to 36 kg in weight.

Where should I install a car seat in my car?

The safest place for an infant car seat is on the rear seat behind the front passenger seat.
It may be possible to install a CYBEX car seat on other seats in the vehicle. You can find this information in our vehicle Type List which is available either online or along with the product when it is purchased.

Can I put a car seat in the front seat of a car?

The safest place for an car seat is on the rear seat behind the front passenger seat. If there is no other option than placing it on the front passenger seat, be sure to deactivate the airbag if you are using a rear-facing car seat. For other types of car seats check the user manuals of both your car seat and your vehicle to find out if you should deactivate the airbag.

How can I clean my car seat?

Car seats can usually be cleaned using a vacuum cleaner or damp cloth. We recommend wiping the area between the seat and base with a damp cloth. Sand or other dirt beneath the cover can also be removed in this way.

Please note that a car seat should never be dismantled for cleaning. Please always refer to your car seat’s user manual when carrying out care and maintenance on your car seat.

Should you wish to clean a car seat more thoroughly than recommended above, you will have to have it cleaned professionally. Please ask the retailer who sold you the car seat to refer you to a professional service.

CYBEX Products Only: Always refer to the user guide for your specific product for detailed instructions. Newborn inlays have their own user guide which should be individually referred to. Generally the seat covers are usually machine washable at a maximum temperature of 30˚C on a delicate cycle. If you wash them at a higher temperature, the cover fabric might lose its color or shrink. Please wash the cover separately and never dry it by machine or in direct sunlight. (Warning: Only the cover of the car seat can be machine washed. The car seat itself is not allowed to be washed.)

To clean the plastic parts of the car seat wipe them with a cloth using a mild detergent and warm water. (Warning: Please do not use chemical detergents or bleaching agents under any circumstances.)

What is the best car seat for toddlers?

If you’re buying a car seat for a child of toddler age (between approximately 12–36 months), CYBEX offers two options. Always consider your child’s height or weight when choosing a car seat.
Sirona Series: Capable of being used in both rear-facing and forward-facing positions*, Sirona seats can be used in the safer rear-facing position up until the child is approximately four years old. They can support children from birth up to 4 years old (45–105 cm in height, and 0–18** kg in weight).

* Sirona Z i-Size R can only be used rear-facing
** Sirona M2 i-Size can support a child weighing up to 19 kg in weight.

Pallas Series: These are 2-in-1 car seats including impact shields which can be converted into high-back booster seats when the child has grown big enough. These can support children from approximately 9 months old up to 12 years (9–36 kg in weight).

Should I use a booster seat?

We do not recommend using booster seats without a backrest for your child. When compared to seats with a backrest, booster seats pose a higher risk of injury. The main problem is the missing side protection.
A booster seat with a backrest has side protectors that prevent the child from hitting the window in the case of a side impact collision. With a booster seat, however, the vulnerable parts of the child’s body are not sufficiently protected. Additionally, the routing of the seat belt cannot be adjusted to the height of the child so that the belt is often too close to the neck. Due to the compact design of a car seat with a backrest, the child not only sits much firmer in the seat itself but is also much better protected due to the correct position of the seat belt.
For children that have reached a weight of 15 kilograms or a height of 100 cm (approximately four years old), CYBEX has the Solution series of high back booster seats. These allow growing kids to sit comfortably in the car, while including safety features such as Linear Side-impact Protection and a reclining headrest to help prevent your child’s head from falling forwards and becoming vulnerable in the event of a crash. In order to assure the safety of your child, we highly recommend using our Solution series.

Can my child lie flat in the car seat?

Our Cloud Z i-Size car seat offers an ergonomic lie-flat position outside the car.
However, none of our car seats can be used in a lie-flat position inside the car. The baby’s position in the infant car seat is designed in such a way that the forces arising in a collision can be absorbed by the seat, providing your baby with optimum levels of protection.

Do you need a newborn inlay for a car seat?

Yes, a newborn inlay is necessary to help very young and small babies lie in a safe and comfortable position in the car seat. These are specially designed to meet the anatomical requirements of newborn or very small babies.

All CYBEX infant car seats include removable newborn inlays. Usually these can be removed when your child has reached a height of 61 cm, however always refer to the user guide provided with the product to ensure it is removed at the appropriate time.

When can I turn a car seat forward-facing?

UN Norm R129 states that children must travel in a rear-facing position up until they exceed the age of 15 months and a height of 76 cm. However, given the current state of child restraint technology we recommend placing a car seat in the rear-facing position until the child is four years old, or as long as this is possible. The reason for this is as follows:
At the beginning of their lives children generally have relatively weak neck muscles and large heads in relation to the rest of their bodies. The older they get, the stronger their neck muscles get. Additionally, the difference in size between the head and the body evens out. However, in the event of a collision in the early years of development these two factors create a large amount of strain on their necks, making car crashes statistically more dangerous for this age group. Therefore, physicians, accident researchers and consumer and health organizations recommend the transport of babies and toddlers in rear-facing child seats for as long as possible, but at least until they are 4 years old.
If the child is travelling in a rear-facing position, the forces of an impact are distributed evenly over the large area of the car seat shell. The strain on the neck, head, and chest is significantly reduced, reducing the risk of injury when compared to a forward-facing car seat. Therefore, physicians, accident researchers and consumer and health organizations recommend the transport of babies and toddlers in rear-facing child seats for as long as possible.

What kind of clothing should my child wear when seated in the car seat?

Thick clothing prevents the harness/vehicle belt or impact shield from lying tight against the body. Only a correctly adjusted restraint system can offer maximum protection. For this reason, your child should wear thin, well-fitting clothing. Thick clothing such as winter jackets and clothing with hoods (hoodies, teddy suits, etc.) as well as hats should be avoided. Once your child has been positioned in the seat, he or she can be covered with a blanket for warmth.

When I install a car seat do I have to disable my car’s airbags?

If you use a rear-facing car seat on the front passenger seat, you always have to deactivate the main airbag. Check the Type List in the car seat manual to find out whether the head and/or side airbags also have to be deactivated.
For other seating positions, whether or not the head and side airbags in your vehicle can remain activated depends entirely on the specifications provided by the manufacturer of the vehicle, and the recommendations in the user manuals of both the vehicle and the car seat. If your manufacturer states that this is possible, then the head and side airbags can indeed remain activated without further concern. In this context, if your car seat has an extendable Linear Side-impact Protection System it is important that this is used in accordance with the descriptions in the seat manual even with activated side airbags.
Prior to buying a car seat, we generally recommend testing it in your own car to see whether it can be installed easily and in compliance with the instructions. This also gives you the opportunity to have the installation process and other features demonstrated to you. Please always follow the recommendations of both the manufacturers of the car seat and the vehicle.

Can I use a car seat after an accident?

No, it is not safe to do this. To ensure the future safety of your child it is essential that you no longer use a car seat and base after an accident.
In a collision, huge forces act on both the car and the car seat. This can cause hairline cracks that are invisible to the naked eye. Through daily use, exposure to the sun and large fluctuations in temperature, an initially harmless hairline crack has the potential to trigger complete material failure in the event of a second collision. In this instance, your child would no longer be protected. Therefore, you should not under any circumstances use the car seat any longer, and should purchase a new seat.

Why do car seats have an approximate lifespan?

Nothing lasts forever. As soon as a car seat is installed in a vehicle, it may be exposed to high temperatures and high levels of light intensity. As a result, even high-quality and extremely age-resistant plastics such as those used by CYBEX can display certain age-related alterations. To ensure the safety of your child, we strongly recommend that the seats are not used for longer that the prescribed usage periods.
A car seat will be designed to keep your child safe for a specific period in their development, for example from birth to approximately four years old for a Sirona Series seat. Sometimes they can be used for longer, for example our products for babies and toddlers can also be used for a sibling.
To find out the approximate lifespan of your CYBEX car seat, refer to the user manual or contact our Customer Service.

Do the Group 2/3 seats equipped with the ISOFIX Connect System also have to be secured in the vehicle with a Top Tether?

No, since the ECE-R44/04 standard only covers the ISOFIX anchorage system for Group 0-1. Group 2/3 child safety seats do not fall within this standard. The system, used by the CYBEX Group 2/3 seats, is referred to as ISOFIX-Connect and serves as additional anchorage for the car safety seat in the vehicle. The child is secured using the vehicle´s retractable 3-point safety belt.