I never thought I could enthuse about a car seat, but I’m about to prove myself wrong. We all know that car seats are a dull, but necessary evil – an unavoidable expense that’s likely to give you backache at least once in its lifetime and one’s much the same as another, right? Well, Kitty’s been lent a Cybex Sirona to test and I have to say it’s revolutionised my thinking. When I initially saw that it swivelled round for you to put your child in I assumed it was a bit of a gimmick, but it really does make life easier, especially when you’re dealing with a pretty hefty toddler. The rotation is activated via a button/handle under the seat and clicked into place – it took me a while to get used to it, but now I’m not sure I could go back to a normal seat – it really does spare you the usual contortions.
Ok, so here’s the science bit… The Sirona is suitable from birth to about four years (depending on the size of your child) and can be used rear-facing until your little one runs out of legroom, then forward-facing with the safety cushion (from about nine months). It has a height adjustable headrest, one-handed reclining function with seven settings when rear facing and five when forward facing and a host of safety features, including telescopic side impact protection. It is secured with Isofix, which is simple, but if your car hasn’t got it, this is not the car seat for you, unless you want to shell out to have it installed. The Sirona comes in ten colours, from cool neutral with neon accents to eye-poppping orange, in a durable (and easily wipe cleanable) fabric and it seems really comfy – Kitty often naps in hers and, because it reclines so well, is never slumped over. Its curvy form is rather aesthetically pleasing – reminds me of Arne Jacobsen’s Egg chair – and the additional bits (such as the safety cushion) come in a handy bag, so you’re less likely to lose them. A newborn insert and summer cover are available to buy as extras.
In summary, it’s not cheap (£375), but considering it could potentially (if not in any accidents) last you from birth to four, it’s a good investment. There’s been a lot of research into rear-facing car seats lately and they do seem to offer the safest option for little ones, so it’s a good idea to keep them rear-facing as long as you possibly can. A comfortable seat like the Sirona is more likely to convince wriggly toddlers that they don’t mind not facing the front. And if you can’t convince them, you can just rotate it to be forward facing, without having to buy a whole new seat, or even take it out and reinstall. Available from Mamas and Papas and Mothercare amongst others.
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