Cybex Z or Maxi Cosi 360

[NewMamma21]

We’re trying to decide between the Cybex Cloud Z then Sirona Z or the Maxi Cosi Pebble 360 then Pearl 360.

I like the lay flat on a pram option of Cloud Z but it seems heavy & I like that the Sirona Z looks spacious for a 3/4 year old.

I like the airflow and impact dispersion feature of the Pebble & that it’s lighter but the Pearl looks like it would be a bit small when baby gets to 3 or 4 years old.

I’m not sure if one would take up a lot more room in the car than the other. I’ve heard some people say the isofix bases can mean the front seat can’t be pushed back fully but I can’t see how to check measurements of that.

It’s fine looking at them online & seeing them in a shop but does anyone have any opinions from actually using them?

Thanks!!

I bought the cybex because of the lie flat option as well as swivel. I agree it's heavy but I can handle it, just depends if you have the arm muscle / leverage to carry with baby inside, but husband will probably do most of it

I have a Pearl for my first and she rear faced in it until she was just shy of 4 when she moved into a high back booster. In terms of heaviness - once you’ve got a chunky baby in the seat, they are all heavy! 🤣 the pebble felt heavy with a 5 month old in it, trust me 🤣
The pebble and Pearl are both solid options. I have a Ford Focus estate and the Pearl when rear facing did hinder me being able to push my seat right back... but if it hadve restricted me, she could’ve gone behind the passenger seat.

My sister had a lie flat car seat (years ago) for her first. It was fine when she only had one baby... but totally impossible as the family grew as it took so much space!! I’m sure technology has improved over the intervening years mind you!

Those were our final two choices. We went for the Cybex in the end because the lie flat option is helpful and because the shape of the seat looked more comfortable for baby when in the car configuration (as opposed to lie flat) - plus the shop we bought from had an offer on the Cybex but not the Maxi Cosi! I found the Maxi Cosi easier to get onto the base, there was more of a knack to the Cybex, but we were getting good with it after only a few minutes so I don't think that's a problem. Baby isn't here yet so I can't comment on how they are in practice, but I would say you're not going to go wrong with either.

Thanks everyone.
@Nesski I’m sure hubby will help when it gets too heavy!

@SillyBry good to hear your little one was happy in the Pearl until 4, I wasn’t sure how long little ones would fit in it.

@biscuitcat we’ve found a deal where we can pick either of the combos for the same price so we’re stuck trying choose!

They go by height these days I think - and go up to 1.05m... by which point, your kid is ready for a high back booster.
I had a lot of comments about the fact I rear faced my daughter until she moved into the booster. (Despite being HEAPS safer, people still have to put their oar in and say "gosh, she must be uncomfortable!" or "how can she see?" She never complained - so I was very happy for her to be much safer personally. You might wonder where their legs go as they get taller, but they have an amazing capacity to fold them up!) Don't rush to move them to a high back booster (you can from 3.5) because you lose the 5 point harness and it becomes MUCH easier for them to escape!!! ;-)

We have a Cybex Sirona s, but brought as second car seat when baby 6 months. We love the cybex but it does take up quite a bit of room when rear facing fine when going frontwards but is super easy to get them in and out and the reclining feature is very useful. I would recommend.

I got the cloud Z then going to get the sirona. Hadn’t tried any in a shop due to lockdown when I ordered them but I was surprised by how heavy the cloud Z is. In saying that I do really love it and don’t think I could live without the lie flat feature so I’m glad I picked it

Thanks everyone.
It feels like such a hard choice before baby is here & isn’t something you can return. I guess we just need to pick as both sound suitable!

We've got all cybex. Had the cloud for when they were babies. It is heavy, but all car seats are. And I found that I didn't take it in or out terribly often, but when I did it was usually to go straight on pram, in which case lie flat was very helpful.

Currently using 2 Sironas (DC are 2 & 3), MIL bought one too. The swivel is the best thing ever! Makes it really easy to strap them in properly and make sure they are tight (especially since I'm 30 weeks pregnant with number 3).

We've even bought second hand Cybex high back boosters as they were some of the only ones we found that had isofix. Will be transitioning DC1 to that when baby arrives (due 2 weeks before her 4th birthday). Just need DH to check that we can get all 3 car seats side by side.

P.S. I think I am also one of the few people at nursery that still has my 3 yo rear facing, but the idea of her turning round is terrifying.