Graco has been manufacturing the Nautilus 65 LX car seat since 2007, with minor modifications and improvements along the way. The Nautilus 65 LX 3-in-1 provides parents with a 5-point harness car seat, highback booster seat, and backless booster seat all in one. If your child is over 22 lbs then you can invest in this car seat and use it all the way until children are grown.
Graco also makes available a similar Graco Nautilus 65 version that does not have the increased weight limit up to 120 lbs. This increased weight limit lets parents delay the transition to a regular seatbelt and instead leave children buckled safely into the car seat longer. Parents won’t find much difference in the design of the two seats, and the difference in price is usually fairly negligible.
Child size limits for the Graco Nautilus LX 3-in-1
Parents love the convenience of moving their newborn baby around in an infant carrier, but often the awkward size and heavy weight of the car seat can make that difficult. Cybex has built a reputation for providing parents a solution to this with streamlined, lightweight infant carriers that are easy to carry. One of our favorite Cybex car seats is the Aton M.
The Cybex Aton M is a solid step up from another good seat we liked from Cybex, the Aton 2. The Cybex Aton M weights a little bit more at 10.9 lbs, but it boasts a robust safety feature set and is still one of the lightest weight car seats available to parents. The Cybex Aton M is also a bit narrower than other car seats, so it gives parents some more room to work with in the back seat.
Here are some of the key features of the Cybex Aton M:
Energy-absorbing shell
Integrated XXL sun canopy
Adjustable headrest (11 positions)
Load Leg for extra stability and safety
Linear Side-Impact Protection for optimal lateral protection
Extra-wide 3-point belt with soft pads
Removable and washable cover
Easy installation in a car or taxi without a car seat base
Travel system ready with CYBEX and other strollers using a car seat adapter
Included SafeLock Base features anti-rebound design and LATCH system
Available in multiple color combinations including black, grey, blue, and red
How safe is the Cybex Aton M Infant Car Seat?
Cybex is a market leader in safety features and the Aton M is one of the few car seats that has a standard load leg included on the base. Cybex packages this feature into their SafeLock base alongside a unique anti-rebound design.
Load legs are safety features more commonly found in Europe. They are designed to spread the energy from an impact away from the car seat and down into the floor of the vehicle. Load legs also help prevent car seats from rotating forward in the event of a crash. Some parents worry that load legs might be difficult to install, but Cybex makes it easy with good instructions. The car seat has highly visible indicators that change from red to green when the baby carrier is installed properly.
The infant carrier is equipped with an energy-absorbing shell and uniquely boasts a Linear Side-Impact Protection system that reduces impact forces (up to 25%) and offers your child optimal lateral protection in the event of a side-impact collision. The LSP is an actual piece of plastic that extends up from the car seat and lodges against the vehicle door to better secure the carrier. In the event of a side impact, the LSP blocker arm takes the initial brunt of the force.
Is the Cybex Aton M comfortable?
Some baby car seats with a heavy focus on safety are too stiff and provide an uncomfortable ride, but that is not the case with the Cybex Aton M. The car seat has a very firm shell but also ample padding to provide children with a cozy seat. It also has a height-adjustable headrest to grow with your child and help ensure a proper fit in the seat. No rethreading is necessary when moving the headrest, which helps improve safety by eliminating the chance of user error.
The belts on this infant carrier are extra-wide, Y-shaped belts with soft pads on them. Children can get buckled tightly into this car seat and still feel comfortable over long drives. Also, the recline on the car seat is easy to operate with just one hand and a leveling ball ensures safe positioning.
It also comes with a UPF 50+ protection XXL sun canopy that folds out to cover almost the entire seat and protect your child from any bright sunshine.
How big is the Cybex Aton M Infant Car Seat?
Car Seat
weight
height
length
width
Dimensions
10.9 pounds
22.25 in
26 in
17.3 in
Compared to other top car seats, the Cybex Aton M is a rather compact car seat that is a bit narrower. The seat is also not as long as other car seats that offer similar safety features. Drivers with cars that have limited legroom and small back seat space could get a few more inches of room by using this car seat instead of other models.
What are the child-size limits of the Cybex Aton M Infant Car Seat?
The Cybex Aton M Infant Car Seat is only to be used in the rear-facing position so your child will outgrow it in their first few years.
Rear-Facing Harness
Weight range
4 – 35 pounds
1.8 – 15.8 kg
Height range
Max of 30 inches
43 – 76.2 cm
Note: The top of the child’s head must be a minimum of 1” below the top of the car seat.
The Cybex Aton M also includes an Infant Insert and a Newborn Inlay. The newborn inlay is a specially-designed foam piece that parents place beneath the seat cover at the bottom of the carrier. It properly positions newborns for their first few months. The manual recommends using the inlay until your baby is 11 lbs, which is around 3 months old.
The Infant Insert provides more stability for a young infant’s head and torso, and it also gives a better harness fit for smaller babies. The manual recommends using the Infant Insert until your baby is 22 lbs, or until your infant needs more room. Once the insert is pushing your baby’s head forward, then you can remove it.
Is the Cybex Aton M easy to install in vehicles?
Parents can use the Cybex Aton M with or without a base. If the car seat is installed without the base, it’s easy to thread a lap belt across the car seat. Blue guides on either side of the car seat hold the lap belt in place, and you simply click the belt into your vehicle’s buckle. The shoulder belt threads behind the car seat where it is held in place by another guide.
Installing the Cybex Aton M car seat with its base is slightly more complicated. This is due to the Load Leg that must be installed, the leveling foot that must be engaged, and the belt positioning plate that must be opened. The base does have LATCH anchors which makes installation faster.
Installing the Linear Side Impact LSP protection is another easy installation step. The blocker arm on the LSP extends out to the vehicle door or side panel and has an audible click when opened.
The Cybex Aton M website has an installation video that can help you understand the manual’s directions when installing this car seat. We recommend watching the video, especially if you’re unfamiliar with a Load Leg.
SensorSafe Technology
The Cybex Aton M car seat is available with or without integrated SensorSafe safety technology. The SensorSafe system is an electronic clip that attaches to the harness and provides notice to parents when children unbuckle their clip. The system also has an alarm to help prevent parents leaving children in the car seat too long or in too hot of a vehicle.
The alarm or notice comes to an app on the parents phone. Some parents like the added peace of mind from SensorSafe but it is an expensive accessory that can add +$100 to the cost of the infant carrier.
What do parents think about the Cybex Aton M?
Parents agree that this car seat has a slew of innovative safety features that make the ride safer when installed properly. Like any car seat, some parents are going to struggle with installation and extra steps or features like the load leg and side protection do make it a bit harder. Still, many parents found installation was easy and that the visual ‘green’ click in place signals are a great feature.
Common complaints are that this is a newborn focused baby carrier and kids will outgrow it quickly. It definitely does not have as much useful life as a convertible car seat, but it is ideal for newborns. Parents also complain that removing this car seat from the base can be tricky since it clicks in so tight.
Parents love the oversized canopy and how it lets little ones snuggle into the car seat to sleep. Care and cleaning of the Aton M is also easy with a removable seat cover that can be machine washed on COLD, delicate cycle with mild detergent. To avoid shrinking do not tumble dry or iron. Note that washing this type of car seat in temperatures above 85 degree F can cause discoloration. Also always wash separately.
BestCarSeatHub’s Final Verdict
Optimal side protection
Engineered in Germany
Adjustable headrest in 11 positions
No Rethread Harness
Load Leg
Integrated XXL sun canopy
Linear Side-Impact Protection for optimal lateral protection
Fits in smaller cars
Lightweight
Pricier than other seats
Multiple safety features to install
Releasing infant carrier from base can be tricky
Final Thoughts
With the Aton M, Cybex has built an outstanding infant carrier that provides best in class safety and comfort to newborns. Parents will be hard pressed to find another car seat that offers an integrated load leg, linear side impact protection, and strong energy absorbing shell all as standard features. It just speaks to the quality of the Cybex offering and the company’s commitment to importing European style safety standards into the USA market.
This car seat caters to newborns and provides them a quality, comfortable ride. As children age this seat fits more snug and it won’t be long until parents are shopping again for a new car seat. That frustrates some parents who expect a car seat that lasts longer when spending this type of money.
Overall the Cybex Aton M is not an inexpensive car seat, but parents that are looking for extended safety features and a comfortable ride for newborns are often happy with this choice.
Parents shopping for an affordable high back booster seat often settle on the TurboBooster HighBack Booster Seat from Graco. This low price option provides a safe, high back booster seat for children over 40 lbs. As children grow larger this highback seat easily converts into a backless booster seat.
Booster seats elevate children higher up in the back seat of a vehicle so that their seat belt fits correctly. A safe booster seat should move the shoulder belt away from the child’s neck and over towards the shoulder blade. Similarly, the lap belt should move off the soft abdomen area of your child and over onto the large bones of their legs and hips. Graco accomplishes this while still providing your child a comfortable ride with:
Head support that is height adjustable.
Padded armrests that adjust up and down.
Energy-absorbing, EPS foam.
Plush head and body inserts.
Open-loop belt guides to help buckling.
Graco fills the TurboBooster Highback Booster Seat with well thought out features that improve comfort and safety.
A top convertible car seat for parents to consider is the Chicco NextFit Sport. This car seat has a number of exclusive installation features and safety elements that set it apart from the competition. As a convertible car seat, the Chicco NextFit Sport easily switches from rear-facing to forward-facing so that it can accommodate your child from preschool all the way to middle school.
The NextFit Sport features quality components and construction from Chicco, a leading Italian manufacturer of quality baby products since 1958. The company focuses on building sturdy, premium products that parents can rely on. In addition to the base NextFit Sport model, they also offer a Zip model that makes cleaning the car seat easier, an Air model that uses more breathable fabrics, and a Max model for keeping children rear facing longer.
The most economical model is the NextFit sport and parents agree that it does a great job balancing costs and features. It does not have some of the extended feature set found in the other models, but it provides parents everything they need in a car seat at a reasonable price.
The Evenflo Chase Harness-to-Booster is a 2-in-1 seat that can convert from a forward-facing harness seat to a belt-positioning booster. It is a lightweight 5-point harness seat that parents find easy to install, adjust, and position.
This budget car seat has the features you need while saving costs by avoiding any frills. The seat does offer leading safety features like side impact protection and an auto adjusting belt path. It has been designed and crash tested at energy levels twice the federal standard.
The Evenflo Chase Harness-to-Booster can be utilized as a forward-facing harnessed seat for children of at least one year and 22 pounds (10 kilograms). It can also transition into a belt positioning booster for toddlers and preschoolers who are at least four years of age and 40 pounds (18 kilograms).
Infant carriers make it easy for new parents to transport their baby around, but many models are heavy and awkward. The Cybex Aton 2 Infant Car Seat is one of the lightest infant carriers on the market. It weighs just under 9 lbs, and it can hold babies from 4 lbs up to 35 lbs.
The Cybex Aton 2 with SensorSafe is not only lightweight, but it also fits in compact cars due to its slim size. The dimensions of the car seat are 18” x 17” x 26.2”, so it’s a bit narrower than some of the other popular infant car seat models. This can make a big difference in a small car.
The Cybex Aton 2 with SensorSafe also holds babies and toddlers from 4 lbs up to 35 lbs; whereas, some infant car seats only go up to 30 lbs. This allows you to keep your toddler in this seat longer, approximately up to 18 months of age.
