Used. But for travel it stands out: It has a European belt path that makes it easier to get a secure install without the base than for many car seats, and its cheaper than other seats that have this belt routing option. Like all car seats sold in the US, the Pico was self-certified by WAYB to pass NHTSA standards (PDF) for safety testing. Fills a niche for safe vehicle transportation of baby for parents who frequent taxis and Uber, The Doona infant car seat is a unique product that can transform into a. Place your car seat, rear-facing, on the rear vehicle seat- never the front seat near an airbag. Basically, it all depends lol. The Doona is a group 0+ rear-facing car seat. If you need to travel with a convertible car seat, you can bring the one you already have to the airport and onto the airplane with the Britax Travel Cart. Storage Compartment on front of the base. Always check that the brake is fully engaged. Several Wirecutter staffers use or have used the Cosco Scenera Next, appreciating its low cost, low weight, and small size. SensAlert is powered by the Doona app, and uses a cloud-based system to call and send messages, so it does not depend on the phone's signal or status. NEVER use the Doona Car Seat on a passenger seat with an active frontal airbag! To rotate the handle into a stroller mode, press both white buttons simultaneously (located on both sides of the handles) and then rotate the handle to rear facing stroller position. The Doonas wheels are fully integrated and at the touch of the button, the wheels will unfold converting the car seat into a stroller and can be simply folded away again within seconds. Ensure the shoulder straps are inserted through the shoulder strap slots at or just below the childs shoulders. Then they work to create a solution for the problem that makes life easier. Most airlines allow at least one car seat to be checked for free but doing so has several potential problems. Disconnect the shoulder straps from the metal harness plate located at the back of the car seat. With easy installation and automatic Bluetooth connection, SensAlert provides the ultimate solution for car seat safety via the Doona app. Our experts have tested thousands of baby products, which we buy ourselves to assure our independence. Also, a car seat safety expert we consulted noted that the design of the seat may encourage a child to use bad posture while theyre sitting in itin an effort to find a more comfortable position, the child may tend to scoot forward, moving the slick-bottomed seat along with them, which could pose a safety concern. Select 'Rest of the World' to find your nearest Doona distributor, or choose a supported location. Included in the Box - Doona Infant Car Seat, Doona Bamboo Infant Insert, Doona Bamboo Head Support, Doona Vehicle Seat Protector, Doona Car Seat Base. The Doona handle is designed to prevent misuse, therefore it can be extended only when the handle is in rear facing stroller position. SensAlert automatically connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth and operates seamlessly with other devices without interference. 2023 Wirecutter, Inc., A New York Times Company. Providing ease of use and simplicity right from the start. In the unlikely event that you may need to replace any part of your Doona then please contact CuddleCos customer service where we have a full range of replacements available: customerservice@cuddleco.co.uk. All Rights Reserved. When installing the Doona in the car, with or without a base, tilt the handle toward the vehicle seat in an anti-rebound position. This product weighs 16.8 lbs, making it the heaviest in the group by far. The Doona LATCH Base is compatible with the Doona Infant Car Seat and is intended for rear-facing use only. Weight of seat: 6.8 poundsOrientation: rear- or forward-facingWeight range: 5 to 40 poundsHeight limit: 43 inches. Your ideal travel companion for baby's first year, the Doona is ready to go wherever your travels take you. Like the Britax travel cart, the Torevsior cart has hooks for LATCH straps, to secure a car seat onto the cart so that your child can ride in it as youre moving through the airport. But if you plan to be jet-setting with your baby, it may be worth the additional $50 or so to get a better on-the-go install from the start. How to Babyproof the House before the Grandkids Visit. *You help support BabyGearLab's product testing and reviews by purchasing from our retail partners. It has hook latch straps that arent particularly easy to useyou really have to tug on the latch straps to get a tight fit, and getting them off can be an even bigger challenge. The Doona car seat, launched early in 2014 the Doona has been described as the "next generation car seat", as it has integrated wheels, which means it transforms into a travel system at the touch of a button. We strongly prefer the (heftier) Graco Extend2Fit for everyday use. There is also almost no padding on this seat, merely a polyester cover, but for short rides, our testers didnt complain. The charts above show the Doona test results (in black) compared to the competition with the best crash test results for each sensor (in green), both for chest and head. In the event of turbulence or rough air, a child is much safer if strapped in. If the second alert is not deactivated, we will call and SMS the emergency contacts listed in the app. Doonas unique double wall structure, which enables the folding of its wheels into the Doona body, deliver an additional significant safety benefit. Before you shut the door to the car make sure the seat is tight (no more than one inch of wiggle in any direction), level (check your car seat manual to see what the visual on the car seat should look like), and that the seat belt is locked. We liked the Graco RightGuide booster seat because it was small enough to fit inside a carry-on or backpack. 15 months (13kg). User Guides The best convertible car seat for travel: Cosco Scenera Next. It is a space for Doona to collaborate with experts and explore new ideas and designs, including technology, to impact our industry and the daily lives of parents. That way you have a seat that youre already comfortable installing. Comes fully assembled and ready for use, straight out of the box. Shop now, pay later with Klarna Learn more . If you want something to pair with a lightweight frame stroller, we recommend either the Chicco Keyfit 30 or the Chicco Keyfit 35. This reality makes ease of installation so important. Doona provides an intuitive and comfortable experience in every situation. Their key focus was ensuring that a baby is safe and comfortable both inside and outside the car. A smart design that ensures easy operation. Our testers also found that the chest clip on the harness wasnt as responsive or easy to use as those on more expensive seats. Still, we did take the relevant government safety data from NHTSA into consideration. Car seat base is included with purchase Can be safely installed in car seat without the base (making it very travel-friendly) Doona Cons It's expensive Can only be used for a. The Coscos harness is easy to use, though the chest clip doesnt feel as responsive as those on more expensive seats, and it doesnt have padding for extra comfort. When installing the Doona in the car, with or without a base, tilt the handle toward the vehicle seat in an anti-rebound position. buybuy BABY strives to simplify things and give parents the honest low . A snug strap should not allow any slack. Our infant and convertible picks are FAA-approved for use on a plane. Examine the seat for visible damage when it comes out at baggage claim, and be prepared to replace the seat if its broken or bent. The Liingo also comes with a latch strap that routes in the same spot as the lap beltthough we found this was not nearly as secure as the European belt path routing. The Doona is an FAA-approved infant car seat (rear-facing only) with built-in wheels that allow it to convert to a stroller. Stashes in a pocket under the bottom of the seat. After new testing, weve updated this guide with additional travel car seat picks, including the Chicco KeyFit 35 for infants and the Cosco Rise, a backless booster seat for older kids. In car seat mode, the Doona works either with or without an ISOFIX base (available separately), meaning it fits in any make or . Designed to help parents in their daily lives by providing them with extra security. But some people will prefer a dedicated travel car seat, as they can be significantly lighter than regular seatsas little as 7 pounds versus 20 to 30 pounds. When installing the Doona in the car, with or without a base, tilt the handle toward the vehicle seat in an anti-rebound position. And when youre at home, we love how easy it is to install the Liings base, which includes an added safety feature: a load leg. The 11 Best Car Seat and Stroller Travel Systems of 2023, Tested and Reviewed . Check if the baby has outgrown the Infant Insert and remove it. It arrives ready to go in car seat mode. However, because it isn't a standard infant car seat, the added weight is likely the stroller components that allow for pushing. But many kids will outgrow it before they reach the height or weight limit because of the low position of the shoulder straps. Most infant seats are FAA-approved for airplane use, should you decide to purchase an airplane seat for your infant. In addition, in case of an accident a child might be injected from the car seat, the 5-point harness ensures that the child is well secured and keeps the child in the safest position within the protective seat shell. However, depending on your circumstances, the Britax Travel Cart may outlive the expiration of many car seats (which are between six and 10 years), and could be used for future car seats, or passed along without as much consideration as a used car seat. And instead of purchasing a dedicated convertible car seat for travel, another option is to bring yours along with the Britax Travel Cart. Simple Parenting's primary goal is to improve and simplify parents' and babies' lives with innovative products. These cookies are necessary for the site function. Safety, Simplicity, Mobility. For correct installation of Doona in the car please refer to the User Guide: In September 2019, however, WAYB announced it was recalling 4,558 Pico car seats manufactured between March 1 and May 12, 2019, due to reports of breakage in the aluminum tube connecting the headrest to the seat. Infant car seats are outgrown once one of 3 limits are met - overall height, weight, and torso / head height (it's outgrown when the top of the baby's head is less . To rotate the handle, press both white buttons simultaneously (located on both sides of the handles) and then rotate the handle to the desired position. Weight of seat: 14.3 poundsOrientation: rear-facing onlyWeight range: 4 to 35 poundsHeight limit: 32 inches. This affordable and easy-to-use car seat weighs 6.8 pounds and can be used rear- and forward-facing. All of the guidelines for car seat care, use, and maintenance in our other car seat guides apply to travel car seats as well. This signals to the driver that you are ready to go. It does not press on the childs flesh or push the childs body into an unnatural position. Credit: Abriah Wofford Ease of Install - Without the Base The Doona has its highest installation score without the base, which helped it win an award. In certain positions, the handle can rub on the canopy, and you'll need to tuck the canopy under the handle. Best Infant Car Seat and Stroller Combo: Doona Infant Car Seat with Base. If a seat is easy to install, we believe there is a greater chance that parents will attach it correctly, potentially leading to fewer injuries. Ensure the shoulder straps are inserted through the shoulder strap slots at or just below the childs shoulders. You can also put a diaper or spare T-shirt over the buckle to make it a bit more comfortable. You can save on weight and bulk by leaving a car seat base at home when traveling. We're here to help. Always use the parking brake when placing and removing the child, or when standing still even for a few moments! Weight of seat: 2.2 poundsWeight range: 40 to 100 poundsHeight range: 43 to 57 inches. Its 6.4 pounds (Britax is 7 pounds), and extends up to 46 inches (Britax to 42 inches). Place your car seat, rear-facing, on the rear vehicle seat- never the front seat near an airbag. The childs rigid body parts (shoulders and hips/pelvis bone) can withstand the high load forces of a crash better than the soft body parts (lower abdomen). It does come with a traditional infant car seat base that allows for an easy click in and out of a car, but the extra width means it could be impossible to fit three across in a backseat. Verify that the shoulder straps are threaded in the correct height for the babys shoulders. Make your life a little easier with our list of the 11 best stroller and car seat combos from brands like Doona, Uppababy, Nuna, Graco, and Baby Jogger. To rotate the handle, press both white buttons simultaneously (located on both sides of the handles) and then rotate the handle to the desired position. The weight limit is also lower than the Britaxs, at 70 pounds versus Britaxs 100 pounds. Some testers feel the lock-off is challenging to use, while others find it only marginally more challenging than the competition.