We were first introduced to the Cybex Aton Q at the 2013 ABC Kids Expo where it won the JPMA Innovation Award. The Q has safety features other rear-facing only seats don’t have, as well as a sleek Euro design that makes it appealing for parents who want a top-end look. Cybex took the same easy-to-use base from the original Aton, added a load leg for energy management, and greatly redesigned the Aton carrier to make the Q a seat that competitors look to for ideas. By adding the Q, Cybex created a tiered system of products: Gold (Aton), Silver (Aton 2), and Platinum (Aton Q), with each level adding extra safety features and allowing consumers to purchase an Aton in their price range.
Aton Q Specifications and Features
- Weight limits: 4-35 lbs.
- Height limits: 30” or less and with a min. of 1” above head
- No re-thread harness with 8 height positions from 7.5” to 12.5”
- 1 buckle slot position
- Load leg built into adjustable base
- Telescopic Linear Side-Impact Protection™ transfers crash energy to the carrier shell
- Energy-absorbing EPS foam
- Specially designed Perfect Positioner™ fabric insert stays in the carrier to help properly position small infants
- Recline positions for 2 weight ranges: 4-22 lbs. and 22-35 lbs.
- Carrier can be installed both standard-style and Euro-style without the base
- Measured Carrier weight: 11.3 lbs.
- Dimensions: 17¼” at widest part of handle, 14 7/8″ at widest part of base (just past belt path)
The Aton Q is available in 5 can’t-miss colors: Autumn Gold (reviewed here), Charcoal, Storm Cloud, Ocean, and Lollipop.
As for safety, the Q comes equipped with a couple fairly unique safety features:
Telescopic Linear Side Impact Protection
On either side of the carrier near the child’s head are two telescoping arms that come out from the seat that are designed to absorb crash force energy before it reaches your child and disperse it throughout the flexible carrier shell. Consider this Linear Side Impact Protection “active” protection since you have to “actively” engage it vs. “passive,” like EPS foam, which protects your child without you having to do anything at all (Where have you heard these terms before? That’s right! Airbags and seat belts: airbags are passive protection while seat belts are active protection since you have to put them on yourself. Darn if I’m going to teach you something yet!).
Since the L.S.P. is for side impact protection, it’s only extended on the side closest to the vehicle door. Don’t extend the L.S.P. when using the Q in the center seating position or you’ll impale whoever sits next to the seat. That can be deadly. And of course, you don’t want it whacking you in the thigh, so push it back in when it’s out of the car.
Q Base with Load Leg
The base is one of only 2 on the market now that has a load leg built-in. The benefits of load legs are vast and include greatly enhanced energy management. When the load leg is engaged, downward rotation is limited to only 30%. This means there’s less ramping up of the child into the harness in the carseat, which reduces the stress on the child’s head, neck, and spine. And that’s the entire goal of rear-facing, isn’t it? Another benefit of the greatly reduced downward rotation is that since all that energy is dispersed, there’s little left for pushing it to rebound.
Because the load leg stopped the downward rotation of the carseat into the vehicle seat cushion, the cushion doesn’t push the carseat back up (physics! Newton’s Third Law: for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction).
If the text is too small to read after clicking this graphic, you can click the X with the arrows in the upper right corner to expand it to full size.
Installation/Fit to Vehicle
Installation with Seat Belt
Installation with the vehicle seat belt is pretty easy. I believe in my first review of the original Aton I said it could be the easiest base to install. It might not still have that rank anymore thanks to rigid LATCH, but it’s still pretty darn easy. Thread the seat belt under the belt tensioning plate, remove any slack from the belt, and close the belt tensioning plate. If your seat belt is on the thicker side, it will require some force to get the belt tensioning plate closed and if you removed too much slack from the seat belt (making it too tight), the belt tensioning plate won’t want to close either. And there’s the issue that the plate doesn’t act as a lockoff so you still need to lock your seatbelt at the retractor if your vehicle has this feature.
Installation without the Base
A growing number of parents are educating themselves on how to install their carriers without the base and that’s great. Did you know that infant seats didn’t always have bases? If you’re around one of us techs long enough, you’ll hear us ask, “Can you do a Euro install with it?” So, what does that mean? Kecia explains and demonstrates it nicely in her blog, but briefly, it means taking the shoulder belt and wrapping it behind the carseat when installing without the base. It helps secure and stabilize a rear-facing carseat that can be installed in that manner. So, can you do a Euro install with the Q? Sure. It’s a fine German carseat last I checked, and it’s actually Cybex’s preferred baseless installation method. But why would you want to do a baseless install? Well, you might want to travel on a plane and not drag a heavy base along in your suitcase. Or you might want to go with a friend in her car to eat lunch. Or you might want your mom to pick up your child from daycare. Doesn’t the list grow exponentially when you know you have the option?
I had no problems achieving a Euro install in my MDX. The shell of the Aton Q is very rounded, so while it’s easy to install, the Q likes to roll like a ball under the seat belt. A few noodles or a rolled towel would hold it in position. My dh’s Tesla has much shorter seat belts in the back seat, so I can only do a traditional baseless install in that car. That’s an acceptable install as well.
Standard baseless install
Installation with LATCH
Can I just say “ditto?” Nah, guess not as that would be cheating. The lower LATCH connector strap is built right into the belt path, so all you have to do is open the belt tensioning plate and remove the connectors from their secret storage space by extending the recline foot all the way. Take the connectors out, then adjust the recline to where you need it to be for your child’s weight. The Aton Q comes with deluxe push-on lower connectors where you simply push them onto the lower anchors in your vehicle seat bight (fancy word for the crack in your seat). Like the seat belt installation, pull the tension out of the LATCH belt and close the belt tensioning plate down on top of the LATCH belt. That’s it!
Center LATCH installations with Non-Standard Spacing:
Cybex allows center LATCH installation only if the vehicle manufacturer specifically allows it.
Inflatable Seat Belts
Cybex has determined that the Aton Q cannot be installed with inflatable seat belts.
Front Vehicle Seat Interference
Cybex allows the Aton Q to touch the vehicle seat in front of it, but only if the vehicle manufacturer allows it and if the recline angle of the Q isn’t affected.
Load Leg
Once you’ve completed the actual installation of the base, now you’ll turn your attention to the load leg. Hopefully you’ve remembered to leave that load leg hanging down; of course, that’s not hard since its natural position is to hang down. Squeeze the adjustment handle until the leg extends and locks into place. You want the load leg to be straight to the floor and not pushing the base up off the vehicle seat. If there is some incompatibility with your vehicle or the seating position you need to use —for instance, if there’s a “waterfall” blocking the load leg from the floor or a hump that pushes it up too high—tuck the leg back under the base and install without.
Angle Indicator
This is what I wish the angle indicator looked like (angle altered from the manual to match my actual pic):
This is what the angle indicator actually looked like:
The white text on a green background is just too hard to read. Replacing the white text with black text would be better or even enlarging the font size. I don’t think we need both pounds and kilograms on each side of the indicator; I’m able to read upside down (and have even been known to read the Spanish labels when the English labels are on the opposite side of the seat).
The vehicles I used for installation included my 2011 Acura MDX, my dh’s 2013 Tesla Model S, and a 2014 Kia Rio. The only thing that really varied in installation was the recline angle and position of the front passenger seat. Due to the compact shell shape of the Q, I had 2” of space behind my normal driving position in my MDX. I did have to move the passenger seat up a bit in the Tesla, but not much.
Cybex Aton Q vs. Nuna Pipa
Chances are that if you’re looking at the Q, you’re also considering the Pipa because they’re currently the only rear-facing only seats with load legs. Both are lovely seats and if you can’t make a decision, buy one of each! Hey, I never said I wasn’t an enabler ;). My dh will gladly share with you that I have a carseat problem. Anyway. Kecia wrote a review of the Nuna Pipa, so I don’t need to go in that direction. I will, however, share some pictures and comparisons.
Despite appearances, when I measured (quad- and quintrupled checked), the Pipa is only 1/4″ longer than the Aton Q when both are on their bases on my floor. When installed in a vehicle, of course, this may change.
But look how much longer the Pipa base is than the Q base.
These pictures were taken in a 2014 Kia Rio. The driver’s seat was placed in a position where I was comfortable driving. Notice that the passenger seat is further back for the Q. From the back window, the Pipa sits up higher as well.
Fit to Child
The Aton Q comes with a built-in insert that you adjust as the baby grows. When baby’s a newborn, the headrest is adjusted to one of its lowest positions and the insert must be folded under itself in order to fit properly in the seat. This helps boost baby up to ensure his shoulders will fit properly to the harness slots. Remember that on a rear-facing carseat, harness slots must be at or below shoulders. The design of the Q is also such that as the harness positions are moved down, the interior bottom of the seat is raised up by 1″. What this does is places the baby at a more reclined laying angle inside the carrier, which helps open up a newborn’s airway. On the flip side, it can be really rough for a noob with reflux who needs to sit more upright.
Because the minimum weight limit is 4 lbs., I put my Huggable Images preemie doll in the seat with the harness adjusted to the lowest position. In this position, the insert is folded under so the doll’s shoulders are boosted to the harness slots. Because of the rounded design of the inside of the carrier, the baby will lie right up next to the buckle, eliminating the need for rolled washcloths. Fit on the preemie doll was nice, but not ideal, and the chest clip is just too big. The harness covers are on the long side for the preemie doll and need to be tucked into the cover in order for the chest clip to be placed at armpit level. The harness straps fit just above the preemie doll’s shoulders. I’m not going to sweat that fit because it is a pretty close fit and because preemie parents aren’t typically hauling their preemies all over the place in the car. Their little babes will grow into the harness very quickly and the chance of them ramping up in this carrier if the load leg is used is low. Fit is better with the harness pads in place (tucked into the cover), but I generally prefer leaving the pads off such small babies.
Fit of my larger doll, Romeo, who is about the size of an 8-9 lbs. 1 month old (or the size of my newborns, lol), was excellent. I even put my Huggable Images 16 mo. old doll in the seat, even though he’s an inch taller than the limits. With the doll, it’s a tough call because of the flat shape of his head, but his head ends up even with the top of the shell. According to the manual, he must have at least an inch of shell over his head. His feet hanging over the edge of the seat are not a safety issue.
Canopy
Integrated canopy offers SPF 50+ sun protection and is larger than the canopy on the Aton and Aton 2 models.
Cover/Maintenance/Ease of Use
The Q’s cover attaches with snaps and is a tight fit for that nice, Euro look. Because of the fit, it’s not super easy to remove for cleaning, but I wouldn’t classify it as difficult either. I took my time removing it because I didn’t want to damage the EPS foam in the headrest or along the sides. The material is soft and reminds me of polyester jersey. I took the Q to a tech class and it got a bit “tech-handled,” so I washed the cover following directions: machine wash on gentle cycle with cool water, hang to dry. It cleaned beautifully and the pen marks came right out. I actually took the cover off a few times and each time it was an easier process for me and only took a couple of minutes.
Removal from Base
I’ve seen comments that some parents are daunted by the dual-step process (Cybex calls it a dual action release) of pushing 2 buttons in succession to remove the carrier from the base. Let me reassure you that this process is an easy one and even my somewhat klutzy 14 year old ds can remove the carrier quite easily. You know the saying: if he can do it . . .
Manual
The manual is well-written and offers good up-to-date child passenger safety advice. On the welcome page, the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines for rear-facing to age 2 are listed in easy-to-find print, not buried in warnings or an installation section. The Safe Car Practices after the Care and Cleaning section is great!
Extra Bases
If an extra base is needed for another car, the Q will fit on any Aton base. The Aton 2 base is identical to the Q’s base whereas the Aton base doesn’t have a load leg.
FAA-Approval/Lifespan/Crash Guidelines
The Aton Q is FAA-approved, but only if you use the carrier. Leave that heavy ol’ base installed in the car and practice up on your carrier-only installs. Think about it: the airplane seat belt buckle would interfere with the belt tensioning plate on the base.
The Q has a 6 year lifespan. That’s pretty standard for rear-facing only seats.
After a crash, Cybex wants you to replace the Q. The load leg is attached to a metal plate within the base, which can be damaged in a crash. The EPS foam and L.S.P. can also be damaged in a crash, not to mention the plastics.
Stroller Compatibility
In addition to being able to attach to the Cybex Gold line Callisto and Onyx strollers, the Aton Q is compatible with a variety of strollers and uses the Maxi-Cosi adapters. In combining the Q with a stroller, you have a nifty, custom-built travel system.
| Stroller | Model |
|---|---|
| Baby Jogger | City Mini |
| City Mini Double | |
| City Select | |
| Britax | B-Ready |
| Quinny | Buzz |
| Stokke | Xplory |
| Mamas & Papas | Urbo |
| Mylo |
Advantages
- Broad weight range of 4-35 lbs.
- Compact shell means it fits in small back seats
- No re-thread harness with 8 height positions
- Built-in fabric insert adjusts with harness height to position small infant up to harness slots
- Sleek Euro-style canopy that completely hides away
- Recline positions for 2 weight ranges
- Loaded with EPS foam
- Linear Side-Impact Protection™ adds another layer of crash protection to the carrier
- Carrier can be installed Euro-style without base
- Base has load leg to reduce downward rotation in a crash
- Manual is well-written
Disadvantages
In all fairness, these aren’t necessarily problems but I list them here to inform potential consumers of specific Aton Q issues
- Price, currently $299.99 at BuyBuyBaby
- Fit on 4 lbs. preemie doll is not ideal; chest clip could be smaller
- Carrier is on the heavy side
- Angle indicator is hard to read in poor lighting conditions found in vehicles
- No lockoff for installations with seatbelt
- Made in China
Conclusion
The Cybex Aton Q has taken the bar for safety features on rear-facing only seats and lifted it to the clouds. Child passenger safety technicians used to drool over seats with load legs; now that we have load legs, we’re drooling over Linear Side-Impact Protection™ that channels side impact crash energy into the seat shell. The unique no re-thread harness that automatically adjusts the seat depth so that newborns lay at more of a reclined angle internally without having to adjust the base angle is something we haven’t seen before. Cybex pulled out all the stops for the Aton Q and came up with an impressive seat for parents who are willing to spend the money for it. For the improvements, the Q earns a place on our Recommended Carseats List as well.
If you’d like to see the official Aton Q website, here it is: http://cybex-online.com/us/carseats/atonq.html.
Thank you to Regal Lager for providing us with the Cybex Aton Q for our review. No other compensation was provided. All opinions expressed are those of CarseatBlog.
Updated May 2019
We installed the Cybex Aton Q infant car seat yesterday and then driving with it could constantly hear a rattling noise when the car passed through any rough spots on the road . Feels like the infant seat was rattling or wobbling in its base . Is it normal. The base is installed pretty perfectly .
Hi John. Every infant seat does have a certain amount of movement in its base, so it’s not uncommon. As long as it attaches easily to the base and doesn’t pull up when you give it a soft tug, it’s normal.
Hi Heather,
Thanks for this great post! I’m expecting #3 in January and am deciding between the Aton Q and Nuna Pipa. (I had a Keyfit 30 for my older kiddos that has expired and I want a load leg this time). We will have a 2018 Odyssey and a 2014 Highlander with captains chairs–baby will go in a captains chair and 6 yo will move to 3rd row I think. I’m leaning toward the Nuna since it should last longer if I have a tall baby and bc of the dream drape.
I was wondering if you ever found an answer to the snap n go compatibility question? I had the Chicco Caddy previously and it was a dream for wheeling the car seat around stores etc. I’ve found mixed reviews on how well these seats work with stroller frames. I’m told they both may work with the Baby Zen YoYo (though reviews on compatibility are also mixed), but I’m hesitant to spend $500 on yet another stroller….
Unfortunately no stores close to me sell any of these products so I’m hoping to get some additional info as to what might work best. The last thing I need is the car seat to get stuck in a stroller as some of your commenters have mentioned!!
Thanks!!
Both the Aton Q and the Pipa will work with the Maxi-Cosi Maxi Taxi (http://amzn.to/2koQPwo), but it appears both will take a bit of finagling to get the seats off the adapters. I’m not familiar with the Baby Zen YoYo, but both carseats take the Maxi-Cosi stroller adapters, so if they fit on that, then it should work.
We purchased a European Cybex Aton Q with the European base. Can we use an American base with the Eurpean car seat?
Jason, I’m not familiar with the European version and any differences there may be so I can’t comment on that.
Hi Heather,
I am considering the Aton Q instead of the Chicco Key Fit 30. The Chicco car seat that we currently have has a material with reviews of making babies sweat too much. Another unsatisfactory review on the Chicco is in response to the car seat canopy. It is very difficult to move and does not extend even mid way over the car seat. How are the reviews on the Aton Q regarding the material and babies sweating because of it and on the car seat canopy? Also is the Aton Q adaptable to the Options Elite Contours 2016 Double Stroller? I did not see the Contours listed on your site as a compatible stroller, but on the Buy Buy Baby site it does list Cybex as a car seat that will fit on it. What car seat adapter would I need with it for the Contours stroller?
Thanks so much!
I have the Aton Q and my LO is now 11 weeks old. He was 11 lbs at 2 months so we removed the newborn inlay but now his head falls forward Amy and I worry it’s in a dangerous chin to chest position to often. Is there something else I can do to the seat to fix this?
The Q now comes with the newborn inlay? I thought only the Aton/Aton 2 had the inlay, but I haven’t felt inside the Q in a while. If his head is falling forward, it’s a problem with the angle. Check the base recline angle indicator. It has some range to play with, so you can adjust it until it’s right at the edge of all the way reclined.
Hi, which would fit better behind the passenger seat of a 2016 Dodge Journey? Adult is 5’4, but doesn’t want to be close to the dashboard. We aren’t able to test them out as we’re stationed overseas.
Thanks
Hi Erica. That’s tough since you’re not able to try seats out. The Atons are a good bet since they’re short front-to-back. The KeyFit is another one that is relatively short front-to-back.
Hi
This is a question for heather. We currently use cyber Aton q. My son is 28.7 in in height. If we want to switch to a bigger car seat since Aton q only goes upto 30 in with 1 inch clearance needed for head. What is a good car seat? Especially if we want to stay with cybex line of products? Also what are other similar options. Thanks in advance
Hi Zee. Cybex doesn’t have a convertible line of carseats in the U.S. Similar options would be the Britax Boulevard or Advocate ClickTight models, the Clek convertibles, the Chicco NextFit/NextFit Zip, or the Peg Perego. We have reviews of all these seats here: https://carseatblog.com/reviews/.
With adapter should I use with cloudQ and city mini GT single?
Cynthia, Cybex uses the Maxi-Cosi adapters.
Hello,
I just purchased the Aton Cloud Q and I have a City Select stroller. I cannot for the life of me get the car seat to click onto the adapters. Any suggestions?! Is the cloud q wider than the q? I can’t figure out what I’m doing wrong. Thanks!
G, check and make sure you’re using the correct Maxi-Cosi adapters. It should just slide on.
Hi,
We are expecting our second child in the fall and are struggling with the best carseat solution for us. For our first child (born 2014) we used the Chicco Key Fit 30 for our infant seat. We both drive Audis (A4 and Q5 – both only have latch in the outboard seats so we have always used seatbelt installation). The Chicco fit in the center seat when we just had one car seat to deal with, but now we will have two. Our older child is currently rear-facing in a Clek Foonf, but that only fits rear-facing in the center seat, so we will almost certainly have to move it to forward-facing behind the driver’s seat with rigid latch (older child will be 2.5).
So the question is whether we try to stick with the key fit and use it behind the passenger seat (but I am worried this will render the passenger seat uncomfortable) or to get a new, smaller infant seat. Based on the information above, the Nuna Pipa appeals to me because it is lighter, cheaper, and has rigid latch (but does this additional safety feature mean as much rear-facing as forward facing?) and because it seems like it will be more compatible with a stroller adaptor (per the complaints above and a friend who has the Aton Q), but the Aton Q is appealing because it is smaller and also has good safety features. In looking at the dimensions, I don’t get a good sense of the size difference between the Pipa and the Aton Q, plus I understand that fit in the car makes a difference as well. Do you have any guidance on weighing the differences between these three seats? Thank you!
I see you show disassembling the seat to wash the cover, but how do you put it back together again! My daughter threw up in her seat so I took it apart to wash and I am seriously struggling to get it back together again…!
Nico, it’s tight because of the Euro look. Try using something like a dull knife or screwdriver to help you guide it back into the slot around the seat. And I should put a note in the review about never taking the canopy off. Never. I still haven’t been able to get mine snapped back on.
Hi is the Cybex Cloud Q Car Seat compatible with the nuna MIXX stroller?
And if it is, what adapters do I purchase to use both together?
Thanks!
I’m working for an answer for you, Eva! I’m clearly not a stroller person, lol, but we do need to know about adapters.
I’m sorry if this question has been asked before (but I can’t seem to find my answer online!) but we have the Aton Q and are trying to find a frame stroller (Snap n Go type) that will work with it. I’m trying to stay on the inexpensive side since this will be a temporary solution until we move to a bigger stroller later down the line. It appears that there are mixed reviews about whether or not the Aton Q will fit in the Universal Snap n Go. Anyone able to comment on this or provide a recommendation for a relatively inexpensive frame stroller that will work with the Aton Q? From my understanding, the adapters (either Cybex or Maxi-Cosi) are for use with true strollers (that a kiddo could sit in without the infant seat) but not for the frame-type strollers. Thanks in advance!
Hi Karen. I’m looking for an answer for you!
I should’ve specified in my 2 questions that I’m on quoting sbout the Ckoud Q specifically.
TI
Diane, I am looking into your question!
Another question:
does anyone know if there is sided by side, double that 2 of these can adapt to and be used simultaneously?
TIA
Hi! i am expecting twins in the summer. Im trying to decide on seats and strollers. I had anticipated using a “snap and go” type stroller (grace, joovy, etc) but i want to make sure that there are adapters for the AQ for any of this style stroller. and also need to make sure that i can fit 2 of the AQ seats on the stroller at the same time.
Also where can i find crash test info on the AQ? Has consumer reports or the like tested it?
Thanks for all this info and help!
Hi Diane. I’m not sure about adapters–let me check on that for you. The Cloud Q is different from the other Atons and uses a different base. There is no crash test info on the Cloud Q and it’s too new for CR to have tested yet.
Thank you! Would love to know that you find out about the adapters.
😃
Hi, My baby is 6.5 months old now and weighs around 17lbs. Do we remove the newborn insert from the Aton Q or it is built in and cannot be removed? I feel my son feels too constricted in it. Also, till what age can we use this car seat and at that point needs to be replaced with a convertible one?
Hi Esha. You can’t remove the insert since it’s a part of the headrest. There’s no age limit on using the Aton. The only limits on it are the baby must be less than 30″ tall and have at least 1″ of carseat above his head and he must be 35 lbs. or less. You can switch at any time you like, though. Convertible carseats aren’t any safer nor are they any less safe, but there is a huge convenience feature to the Aton. If you switch to a convertible seat and your son still fits in the Q, you can keep the Q in your trunk and use it in restaurants and stores for a place to hold him if you don’t babywear or he’s not sitting on his own yet.
I’m expecting twins this spring and deciding between the Aton 2 and Q. Originally I wanted the nuna but we tried installing the base into our car and because of the rigid latch, it made it very difficult to get 3 car seats across the back seat (we have a forward facing britax Blvd in the center with latches) we have an 2016 Acura MDX and was surprised by this. So now we are switching to cybex because of the smaller base and adjustable latch straps.
The Q is more appealing because of the bigger canopy and non thread strap adjustments. Also because they may be smaller at birth I’m thinking the self adjusting infant insert would be better?? But the weight and price of the 2 is also appealing. Do you have a preference between the two??
Thanks for your input
Jaime, I’m so sorry I missed your comment! I know it’s very late, but just in case you’re still around . . .
I do like the rigid LATCH of the Nuna and do prefer using it, but when you have a 3-across, sometimes it won’t work to install it that way. The center LATCH of the MDX is off-set, which creates all kinds of problems with installation. The best way to install a carseat in the center of an MDX is with the seat belt, even though it’s a bit more challenging. Doing it that way will make it possible to install the side seats with LATCH.
I prefer the Nuna over the Q because of the simple plug-in of the rigid LATCH and I think the carrier itself is easier to use. However, it is a longer seat, so if you’re tall people, the Q will fit better and it comes in such lovely colors. You can still get a great installation with the Q in the MDX too, so that’s not an issue either.
Hi! I am back. Thanks for your help on the convertible car seat 🙂
I decided to go with a Baby Jogger City Select as my single soon to be double stroller so I can click the new baby onto stroller in her infant seat and have my older child ride in a seat in front.
I thought I was set on getting the Aton Q but now I am not sure and have been looking at the Nuna Pipa.
What I like about the Aton Q is the all over foam, LSP, load leg. It can connect to my stroller. I am concerned about the canopy not extending that far because I won’t have a canopy on the stroller to cover baby so I can only rely on the car seat canopy and a blanket to throw over if needed.
What I love about the Nuna is the dream drape. Why can’t Aton have a dream drape??! Lol I am happy it has a load leg and appears to have some of the lower seat edges extend like anti rebound….but no LSP. It will also work with my stroller. Not sure about rigid latch, never used it. It only has the foam on the upper portion. With my oldest I often kept the canopy from the stroller up along with the car seat canopy to block sun or rain or just keep people from trying to mess with her in public lol
I am torn and looking for advice. They seem pretty similar.i just can’t decide. At the end of the month I am going to Orlando for an appt and I am going to stop at a store there that has them to see them in person and see if I can install them in my car to test each out. Calling the store in a bit to ask if they will allow this.
Also. I currently have the Britax Boulevard Click Tight installed rear facing using the seatbelt in the center seat of my Hyundai Santa Fe. I also have the anti rebound bar on it. When the new baby comes should she go in the infant sit behind one of the seats or should I move the convertible? I don’t have latch on my center seat.
Thanks for all your help!!
Overall, they are very similar in safety features. The EPS not going the full length of the carseat isn’t that big of a deal for me; there’s never actually been a study done on the effectiveness of EPS foam on a carseat. The only place you really want it to protect is the head and that’s where the Pipa has it.
Besides the harness, the most important safety feature of both of these seats is the load leg. The load leg is what absorbs the crash energy and basically keeps the carseat from moving. There was a study from many years ago that showed rigid LATCH (Pipa) was more stable in a side impact; it certainly installs more easily. Since the Santa Fe does well in side impact tests, I wouldn’t have a problem installing the Pipa or the Aton Q on the side.
One advantage the Pipa has over the Q is that the Pipa is a taller seat, which means it will last longer. If you have tiny kids, either will work well for you, but if you have giganto babies like me, stick with the Pipa.
Thanks! I was leaning toward the Pipa but felt kinda guilty like the Aton Q was safer.
Will check them both out this Friday and decide but Pipa seems to be the one.
Had my convertible checked today at a safety check station and it was installed perfectly. They said it was up to me how I wanted to set them up when the new baby comes. Now I’m thinking no one in the middle bc my daughter now likes to throw stuff (like her cup) so maybe I will have space between them.
I like features of the Pipa better than the Aton Q, but I also felt guilty in that the Aton Q seems to have more safety features such as the telescopic linear side impact protection. However, I am unable to find any statistics or crash test results that demonstrate that this feature actually increased the safety of the car seat and improves outcomes for baby in the event of a side impact collision. Do you know of any resources regarding getting this information?
Hi Regina, there are pretty much no studies at all on side impact protection features. In addition, there still isn’t even a government standard in effect for minimum side-impact safety standards. My opinion is that rear-facing is inherently so safe, that additional side impact protection features are probably icing on the proverbial cake, and may not be all that significant in terms of further reduction in risk. Between the Aton Q and PIPA, they are both such good products that I wouldn’t even try to choose between them based on safety. Features, ease-of-use and even fashions perhaps:-)
Regina, I’ve spent some time looking for a video that I know I’ve seen from Cybex touting the linear side impact protection but at this point, I think it was at a conference. What it showed was how the L.S.P. diverted the crash forces to the shell and the dummy really wasn’t affected because the EPS foam shielded it. But that’s what we have–side impact crash test footage from the manufacturer. Since, like Darren said, we don’t have a side impact standard in this country yet, it’s hard to say whether or not it’s a truly useful feature.
What I’m convinced of is the load leg and that’s a feature that both seats have. So be sure to use the seat in a location where you can use it.