The Doona car seat stroller is increasingly popular, especially in the US, and rightly so. It’s not every day you find a car seat that doubles as a stroller—and it sounds like a must-have for you and your baby.
However, before you order this item, how about considering its pros and cons? It will help you make an informed decision instead of simply following the crowd.
Here’s everything you need to know about the advantages and disadvantages of this baby car seat-cum-stroller.
What are the Pros of the Doona Stroller?
The Doona car seat stroller comes with these top benefits.
1. It’s a Stroller and Car Seat
It’s rare to find an infant car seat that also functions as a stroller, making this Doona product a solid investment.
On top of that, you can fold the Doona car seat into a stroller in just a few seconds. The same goes for when you’re flipping it back from stroller mode to car seat mode.
Plus, you don’t need to take out your baby before converting the car seat.
First, place the car seat on a flat surface and adjust the handle. Then, unlock the wheels and lift the stroller until they lock in place—it’s that easy!
2. It’s Portable
This Doona product features a car seat base, making it easy to take it in and out of your car.
If you have several vehicles, you might want to get an extra base to move the car seat stroller between vehicles without issues.
Similarly, since you have a car seat and stroller in one place, you don’t need to leave room for two items. Placing it in your car means you’ve successfully placed away your stroller and car seat.
3. Lightweight and Compact
When you think lightweight, think Doona. After all, this item only weighs 16.5 pounds. Most baby strollers weigh about 20 pounds and above, making the Doona stroller one of the most lightweight on the market.
Besides being lightweight, Doona is also a compact stroller, so it doesn’t take up a lot of space. Therefore, you should have no issues navigating tight areas like restaurants and stores.
This feature makes Doona ideal when traveling with your baby. You can take it anywhere, from running errands in your car to commuting on out-of-town trips.
In addition, this car seat and stroller combo can fit into any vehicle with limited storage space, including taxis and Ubers that don’t have a car seat base.
Note that not all car seats can be used without a base, and this sets Doona apart from others.
4. Ideal Travel System
If you plan to travel with your baby, then Doona is a suitable infant carrier.
For one, it’s FAA-approved and can be installed without the base using the lap belt on most airplanes. Plus, you should have no issues moving the stroller down the center aisle of a plane.
Airline experts advise that parents should place their kids in car seats when traveling by air, making Doona an ideal solution. And you can easily move it around the airport before boarding the plane.
In addition, using Doona means you don’t need to travel with a separate car seat and stroller—you have both in one place!
5. Easy to Maintain
You can’t stop your child from making a mess in their car seat. Thankfully, Doona’s seat cover, canopy, and shoulder pad are washable. They’re also easy to dismantle, allowing you to wash and disinfect each part without any hassle.
6. Additional Features
Buying a Doona car seat stroller includes head support, an infant insert, and a vehicle seat protector.
The head support features shock-absorbing materials that provide impact protection, especially for newborns, while the insert offers high comfort and ensures safety.
It also comes with a latch car seat base, allowing you to attach the car seat to your vehicle smoothly. An adjustable handlebar also serves as an anti-rebound bar in your car.
These features make the Doona car seat an essential travel item for your baby.
You can also get other accessories with the car seat, such as wheel covers, rain covers, travel bags, handlebar covers, and so on.
7. Stylish Design
You might not think much of it, but this infant car seat is as stylish as they come. It should be at the top of your list if you want your baby to travel in style.
It’s available in different color options, so you can find one that fits your style. Overall, this Doona product is a showstopper, and you’ll certainly turn heads when you see this stroller.
What are the Cons of the Doona Stroller?
As great as the Doona car seat stroller is, it isn’t without some faults, some of which are outlined below.
1. Heavy Infant Car Seat
At 16.5 pounds, Doona’s a lightweight stroller but not a lightweight car seat.
Most car seats weigh 8-11 pounds, making Doona heavier than other options on the market. So, while you might enjoy its weight as a stroller, the same can’t be said when you’re using it as a car seat.
2. Short Lifespan
The lifespan of most car seats is a year, and your child’s growth rate can also determine how soon they stop using the carrier.
Plus, Doona’s limit is 32 inches and 35 pounds, so your baby outgrows the stroller once they pass it. Once your child gets bigger than the seat, you can hardly use it as a stroller.
Most strollers have a longer life span than this, which is a minus for Doona. You can also get a Doona travel bag which is sold separately.
3. Lack of Storage
One other issue you might have with the Doona stroller is the lack of storage space, a feature that most strollers possess. This is because its double function as a car seat means that its wheels take up the space meant for storage.
You might need an extra bag for your baby’s essentials if you’re using a Doona car seat and stroller.
4. Short or Small Features
The Doona stroller features smaller wheels than regular strollers.
Although this isn’t an issue if you’re using it for travel, the wheels make it challenging to navigate rough terrains. So you might want to limit this stroller’s movements to smoother surfaces.
Furthermore, the handlebar on this item is relatively short. Yes, it does come with several adjustable heights, but even the tallest one still falls on the shorter side.
The max height on this Doona stroller is 38 inches, which isn’t ideal for tall people.
5. Expensive
Doona car seat is quite expensive. We know you’ll get a car seat and stroller in return, but the financial commitment is still heavy.
For the same amount, or even less, you can get a separate stroller and car seat that could serve you better and for longer.
6. Restrictive Features
Another problem with the Doona car seat is that you can’t recline or adjust the seat, so your child can’t sit up at any point, even when they’re old enough to.
In addition, it’s designed to face the parent, even in stroller mode.
These features only work perfectly for newborns but not young toddlers. This is because as babies age, they become more curious and want to know what’s happening around them.
So you can imagine how frustrated they’ll feel when they don’t get that chance. The same goes for when they can’t sit upright due to the no-recline feature of the car seat.
Summary
With these pros and cons, is the Doona car seat and stroller worth it? Well, it depends on you and your baby’s needs and how this stroller meets them.
For instance, if you have a small car with limited storage or most of your walking activities involve smoother surfaces, Doona is a safe bet.
However, considering the short lifespan and other restrictive features, you might be better of with more practical strollers.
Plus, you should note that the Doona car seat is considered illegal in Canada because it doesn’t have the Canadian “National Safety Mark.” Keep that in mind if you have plans to visit that country.
