The Cybex Cloud T i-Size is a premium infant car seat offering superb safety, a clever lie-flat recline, smooth 180° rotation and excellent comfort. With outstanding test results, thoughtful design touches and seamless travel system use, it’s a top choice for parents who want practicality without compromising on quality.
Quick Summary: The Cloud T i-Size combines class-leading safety, an ergonomic lie-flat design, smooth 180° swivel, breathable fabrics and pushchair compatibility. It’s pricier than some rivals, but its convenience, comfort and long-lasting fit make it one of the best infant car seats available.
Whats good?
- Exceptional Comfort: Ergonomic lie-flat recline (in car and on stroller) means healthier naps and posture for baby. Newborn insert and plush padding keep even tiny babies secure and comfy.
- Easy Access: 180° swivel on the base makes it so much easier to get baby in and out of the car without back strain. No more stretching or bumping baby’s head on the car door frame.
- Top Safety Ratings: i-Size approved with advanced side-impact protection. Scored very high in ADAC tests and won safety awards, giving you extra confidence on the road.
- Travel System Ready: Simple to click onto pushchair frames for a seamless car-to-stroller transition. The near-flat recline outside the car is almost as good as having a carrycot. Perfect for keeping a sleeping baby undisturbed during outings.
- Quality Build & Materials: Sturdy, well-engineered design that feels built to protect. Premium fabric choices, with machine-washable covers (standard versions) for easy cleaning. Plus models have breathable mesh for hot weather comfort. The XXL UPF50+ canopy is one of the best on the market for coverage.
- Long-Lasting & Adaptable: Suitable from birth up to ~2 years (13 kg/87 cm) meaning you’ll get a lot of use before needing the next seat. The 12-position headrest and adjustable harness accommodate growing babies. Modular Base system extends the value – use the same Base T for the Cloud T and later the Sirona T toddler seat. Also, you have the flexibility of installing with a seatbelt when needed.
Whats not so good?
- Pricey Investment: This seat is on the higher end of the price spectrum. When combined with the Base T (highly recommended to get the full benefits of rotation and recline), the bundle can be quite expensive. It’s a worthwhile investment for many, but not every family’s budget will stretch to it.
- Limited Aircraft Use: Unlike some infant carriers, the Cloud T is not certified for airplane travel. If you were hoping to use it on flights, you’ll need an alternative plan.
Introduction
Choosing the right infant car seat is a big decision for any parent. The Cybex Cloud T i-Size is a premium baby car seat designed to make life easier while keeping your little one safe and comfortable from birth up to about 24 months (45-87 cm, max 13 kg). As the successor to the award-winning Cloud Z2, the Cloud T i-Size comes packed with innovative features like a full recline, 180° swivel rotation, and travel system compatibility. In this review, we’ll give you a rundown of the Cloud T’s best features, how it compares to other car seats, and our honest pros and cons.
Key Features and Benefits
Ergonomic Lie-Flat Recline: One of the standout features of the Cloud T is its innovative recline system. When attached to the Base T (ISOFIX base, sold separately), you can recline the seat in-car for a more comfortable ride. The backrest and leg rest flatten simultaneously into an ergonomic near-flat position, preventing your baby’s head from falling forward and ensuring unrestricted breathing. Outside the car, the Cloud T can be fully reclined to a true lie-flat position, almost like a carrycot, which is ideal for naps on the go in a travel system. This lie-flat design promotes healthy spinal development for newborns and lets you use the car seat on a pram without worrying about time limits. We found this feature incredibly useful, no more feeling guilty about letting baby sleep in the car seat during a café stop or walk, since they can lie flat and breathe easy.
180° Swivel for Easy Access: With the Base T, the Cloud T i-Size rotates 180° toward your car door. That means you can swivel the seat to face you when loading or unloading your baby, a true back-saver for parents. The rotation mechanism is smooth and sturdy, so you can lift your infant in and out without awkward twisting. While some rotating seats spin a full 360°, a 180° rotation is all that’s needed here because the Cloud T is rear-facing only. In daily use, this swivel feature is a game-changer. It lets you buckle your baby in comfortably and ensures you don’t wake a sleeping infant with clumsy manoeuvres.
Travel System Compatibility: The Cloud T doubles as part of a travel system, clicking on to a wide range of compatible pushchairs with adapters. We easily attached it to our Cybex stroller frame, and you can also use it with many other brands’ pushchairs. This makes transitions from car to pram seamless, great for running errands or when baby falls asleep in the car. With the Cloud T on wheels, you also benefit from its lie-flat mode outside the car, which essentially turns it into a carrycot-like cocoon for your baby. This flexibility is a huge plus for busy parents and is one of the features that sets the Cloud T apart from many other infant seats (some competitor seats either lack a lie-flat option or aren’t as simple to integrate into a travel system).
Optimal Comfort and Ventilation: Cybex has clearly focused on baby’s comfort. The Cloud T’s plush padding and newborn inlay create a snug, secure environment for even the tiniest babies. The included newborn insert ensures proper support and nearly flat positioning for newborns (and should be removed once your baby is over 60-61cm tall). The seat’s materials feel premium and soft, and Cybex offers both standard “Comfort” fabrics and a Plus fabric option. The Plus versions feature 3D mesh inserts for all-around ventilation, making it up to six times more breathable in hot weather. This is a fantastic feature for keeping your little one cool and less sweaty in summer months. In practice, the ventilation works well - air can circulate through the seat, and even the extra-large canopy has a mesh window for airflow. Parents who live in warmer climates or who have ever dealt with a fussy, overheated baby in a car seat will really appreciate this. And speaking of the canopy: the Cloud T has a retractable XXL sun canopy rated UPF50+ to protect your baby from sun or wind. It pulls down far enough to act like a cosy cocoon, which we loved for shielding our baby during naps or from light rain. A little peek-a-boo mesh section in the canopy allows you to check on your baby and adds ventilation (note: the mesh parts aren’t UV-proof).
Safety First (i-Size and Side-Impact Protection): Safety is paramount, and the Cloud T shines here. It’s fully i-Size (UN R129/03) compliant, meaning it meets the latest and strictest EU safety standards for frontal, rear, and side impacts. The seat features Cybex’s L.S.P. (Linear Side-impact Protection) system, which are energy-absorbing pods on the side of the shell. When used on the car-door side, the L.S.P. extends and can reduce crash forces by up to 25% in a side collision, working together with the energy-absorbing shell to protect your baby. We hope to never test this feature in reality, but it’s reassuring to know it’s there. In fact, the Cybex Cloud T scored excellent safety results in independent testing - it was the ADAC 2023 test winner in its category, with an outstanding score of 1.3 for safety (1.7 overall), making it one of the safest infant car seats on the market. It also earned the MadeForMums Gold Award 2024, highlighting its real-world parent appeal.
Adjustable as Baby Grows: The Cloud T is built to last from newborn up to around 18-24 months (though the exact usage will depend on your child’s size - more on that below). It has a height-adjustable headrest with 12 positions, so as your baby grows taller, you can raise the headrest and the harness will move up in unison. Adjusting it is quick and easy, just squeeze a lever and slide it to the right height; the harness length automatically adjusts, meaning no re-threading hassle. We found that the highest couple of headrest positions are what allow the seat to accommodate an older infant or young toddler. However, note that while Cybex markets it up to ~24 months, realistically very tall or heavy babies might outgrow it closer to 15-18 months. Still, it offers better longevity than many infant carriers (which often last only about 12-15 months).
Harness & Buckle: The 5-point harness is well-padded (including the buckle cover) and easy to buckle without fuss. The straps don’t twist easily and can be kept out of the way - we were pleasantly surprised that strapping our baby in was less of a “wrestling match” compared to some other seats. There are small loops at the sides (near the shoulder area) that hold the harness open while you position your child, which is a thoughtful touch. Overall, the Cloud T feels robust and secure once baby is strapped in. Despite the solid construction, the seat itself weighs only 4.5 kg, which is pretty standard for a feature-rich infant carrier. Carrying it with a baby inside is manageable, though as with any infant seat, it can feel heavy over longer distances - something to keep in mind if you’ll be lifting it often, especially post-partum.
Installation Flexibility (Base or Seatbelt): Cybex gives you two installation options. For maximum convenience and safety, use the Cloud T with the Base T (the ISOFIX rotating base). The base installs in your car with ISOFIX connectors and a load leg for stability. Once the base is fitted, clicking the Cloud T on and off is a breeze; just drop it into place and it locks on, with indicators to confirm correct attachment. The Base T also enables that handy swivel feature. An added bonus is that the Base T is part of Cybex’s modular system, meaning it also fits the next-stage Sirona T i-Size convertible seat. This allows you to use the same base for roughly the first four years of your child’s travel (infant seat + toddler seat), which adds value to the investment. If you prefer not to buy the base, or need to use the seat in a taxi or second car, you can also install the Cloud T with the vehicle’s 3-point seat belt. Belted installation is straightforward; just thread the seat belt through the clearly marked guides. It’s great that Cybex offers this flexibility, though we recommend the base for everyday use if possible, since it adds the recline/rotation features and an extra layer of safety (with the load leg). Keep in mind the Cloud T is not approved for use on aircraft (many infant seats are, but this one isn’t, likely due to its base-dependent features). Not a deal-breaker for most, but worth noting if you plan to travel by plane with baby.
How Does the Cloud T Compare to Other Car Seats?
The Cybex Cloud series has always been a front-runner in the infant car seat market, and the new Cloud T continues that trend. Compared to its predecessor (the Cloud Z2), the Cloud T offers similar core features with a few refinements. It maintains the in-car recline feature introduced with the Z2, and it uses a new Base T (though interestingly, the Cloud T is also backward-compatible with the older Base Z2 base). This is great news for families who might already own a Base Z2 - you could use your existing base with the new seat. Both the Cloud Z2 and Cloud T are top-tier in safety and convenience, but the Cloud T edges ahead with updated fabrics (improved ventilation in Plus models) and that extended usage up to 24 months claim, whereas the Cloud Z2 was generally considered up to ~18 months. In practice, both seats fit a similar size of child; the Cloud T’s extra headrest position might give a little more growing room.
When stacking the Cloud T against other premium infant seats on the market, a few competitors come to mind: the Maxi-Cosi Pebble 360 (and 360 Pro) and the Nuna ARRA. The Maxi-Cosi Pebble 360, for example, also rotates on its base, but it does not have a full lie-flat recline outside the car. The Nuna Arra offers a lie-flat function even inside the car, but it doesn’t swivel on a base. The Cloud T uniquely combines rotation + recline + travel system use all in one. This combination of features is what makes the Cloud T a real standout. It essentially takes the best of all worlds: you get the convenience of a rotating seat (like the Pebble 360), the ergonomic flat positioning of specialty lie-flat seats, and the style and safety Cybex is known for. In terms of safety, few seats can match the Cloud T’s test results, which gives it a strong edge if safety ratings are your top priority.
One thing to be aware of: the Cloud T is a premium-priced car seat. If you purchase the seat and the Base T together, it can be an expensive package (often around £400+ for both). Some other brands’ infant seats can be more budget-friendly, but they may lack the Cloud T’s high-end features. If budget allows, we feel the Cloud T i-Size justifies its cost with the convenience and peace of mind it provides. And if you plan to use the modular base for the next stage seat, it becomes a better long-term investment.
Conclusion
In summary, the Cybex Cloud T i-Size is a fantastic infant car seat that truly lives up to its “ultimate all-rounder” claim. It offers a rare combination of comfort, convenience, and top-notch safety. The ability to recline and rotate makes everyday parenting tasks, like transferring a sleeping baby or adjusting the harness, so much easier. We especially love the Cloud T’s focus on ergonomics: knowing that our baby can lie flat for healthy sleep on the go gives great peace of mind. The build quality and design are premium, from the luxurious fabrics to the sturdy shell and cleverly engineered base. Cybex has also thought of the little things, like breathable mesh panels and a hassle-free harness, which make a difference in daily use.
Of course, all these features come at a higher price, and the Cloud T i-Size isn’t the lightest seat out there. But if it fits your budget and lifestyle, we think it’s worth every penny for the comfort and stress-free experience it provides. It’s clear why this seat has won awards and high praise, it genuinely aims to make parents’ lives easier while keeping babies as safe and snug as possible.
Our Verdict: The Cybex Cloud T i-Size is an outstanding choice for parents who want the very best for their newborn’s first car seat. It’s ideal if you value cutting-edge safety, need the flexibility of a travel system, and appreciate thoughtful features that simplify your routines. As pushchair experts (and parents) ourselves, we highly recommend the Cloud T i-Size for the smooth and comfortable ride it offers both you and your baby. It truly feels like a luxurious cocoon on the road, and it sets a new standard for infant car seats in 2025.
