Brief Start/First Impressions
Installing the base is incredibly easy with the ISOFIX base.  You can also easily install the car seat without the base using a seat belt.  The car seat itself is easy when it comes to putting Hamish into the seat and using the three point harness.  The harness system is adjusted via a lever at the top of the head wing section. Choose a harness height, buckle your baby up, tighten the straps via the webbing tail by your baby’s feet and off you go!  To loosen the harness, press the lever above the webbing tail, and pull on the harness straps.

The newborn padding included with the Cloud Q fills some of the space in the bottom of the car seat so that smaller babies are at a better angle in the seat. The padding also lifts the baby up a bit to make sure the lowest harness position is below baby’s shoulders.  The Cloud Q car seat can be used with many Cybex strollers as a travel system.  We went for the Cybex Balios S and I couldn’t have been more chuffed.  It can also be used with many other brands. The Cloud Q fits on Maxi Cosi car seat adapters, so most stroller models with Maxi Cosi adapters can be used with this car seat.

Features and Benefits
The Cybex Cloud Q infant car seat is the first on the market to have a recline flat feature so your baby can nap more comfortably outside of the car. There’s a lot more to love about this car seat than just the recline, though! It also has a load leg on the car seat base, a unique side impact protection system, and a super cushy seat with inserts for newborns and smaller infants.

• Rear-facing only infant car seat
• Car seat weight (without base) – 13.5 pounds
• 3 point harness 
• Lays flat when it isn’t in the car
• Large sun canopy
• Available in 17 different colour combinations

Pros
The lay flat recline feature is unique among infant car seats. When the car seat is off the base, you pull a lever on the back of the seat, behind baby’s head, and it slides the back down and forward. Babies aren’t supposed to stay in a car seat for more than a couple of hours at a time because the angle isn’t good for them. However this seat addresses this issues in a unique way. When reclined, the car seat acts like a stroller bassinet.  While babies can usually get comfy no matter where they are and what position they’re in, it’s probably more comfortable overall to sleep while laying down.

The other exciting feature is the linear side impact protection system. A telescoping piece on either side of the car seat pulls out when the seat is installed in an outboard position. If a side impact crash happens, it will take the impact and transfer the force throughout the car seat shell. The system works along with the foam car seat liner and head wings to provide side impact protection.

Cons
The car seat is heavy thanks to the recline mechanism. It feels like it would withstand just about any collision, which is its purpose in life, but carrying around a 13.5-pound car seat plus the baby inside may not feel great for long.

It’s also a very expensive car seat.  But as I wasn’t paying extra for the travel system, I was happy to pay this and I’m happy I did! The car seat excels in every way. 

Always read the instructions, without the instructions this seat and base would be hard to understand and put together.  

Overall Feedback 
The Cybex Cloud Q is a great car seat with lots of unique features. It will do well for many families as long as they’re willing to read the instructions carefully and pay the hefty price tag. 

Much love
Rebecca