The Best Travel Systems for City Life and Tr – The Baby Cubby

When you have a baby, it can be easy to feel isolated at home–especially in those newborn days. For me, I didn’t really love leaving the house because it meant packing loads of baby essentials and lugging around a heavy infant car seat, the combination of which made me dread outings and vacations. But just because you’re a new mom doesn’t mean you have to miss out on all the fun that’s to be had! With innovative baby gear like the Doona and Nuna PIPA Urbn travel system, you can get out on the town once more- without feeling overwhelmed!

The Doona and the Nuna PIPA Urbn are both packed with features that make life on the go a breeze. Whether you are planning to travel with your baby often in their first year, you enjoy busy city life, or you just need to move your car seat between vehicles frequently, the Doona and Nuna PIPA Urbn are built for easy install and removal from your car. And their ability to transform seamlessly into travel systems ensures you’re ready to go as soon as you step onto the sidewalk.

Let’s take a look at what makes both the Doona and the Nuna PIPA Urbn great choices for new parents, and compare and contrast each one so you know which product is best for you!

The Doona

If you’re looking for a one of a kind product, the Doona is where it’s at! This stroller/infant car seat combo allows parents to effortlessly go from car seat to stroller in seconds. Not only does this save you time, eliminating the need to grab a stroller from the trunk and latch the car seat into place, but it also saves you space in your trunk! This is a huge perk for those with small vehicles. 

If you are planning to travel in the first year of your child’s life, the Doona also prevents you from having to bring along a separate stroller, again saving you space. So if you like to travel light, the Doona is a great pick.

When it comes to style, the Doona is both sleek and modern. With 9 different colors (at The Baby Cubby), parents are sure to find a style that meets their needs. Doona also occasionally comes out with limited edition styles, such as the limited edition Midnight and Gold Doonas, for parents that want something extra special. The limited edition Doonas even come with a bonus baby essentials bag that can be hung from the handlebar, allowing you to keep everything you need within hands reach.

Doona Limited Edition Gold

How It Works

One of the biggest perks of the Doona is its ease of installation. You can install the Doona with the included base using the LATCH system OR the vehicle seat belt, or without the base using the vehicle seat belt and the European belt path on the back of the car seat.

When putting the Doona into your car, the legs tuck up and under the infant car seat. When installed in the vehicle, the handlebar rotates down and acts as an anti-rebound bar, providing additional stability in the event of a crash.

When you’re ready to turn your Doona into a stroller, remove the car seat from the vehicle and push the button on the back. This releases the legs from their locked position. You can then adjust and extend the handlebar to your desired height, and you’re on your way. 

Overall, the Doona is a great choice for parents that want something that is extremely simple to use and that eliminates the need to bring along any additional gear in the first year of your child’s life! 

Stats

Price: $550

Colors: Blush Pink, Flame Red, Racing Green, Limited Edition Gold, Limited Edition Midnight, Grey Hound, Nitro Black, Royal Blue, Desert Green (All currently available at The Baby Cubby)

Fabrics: Breathable bamboo fiber textiles (anti-bacterial, hypo-allergenic, humidity and thermal regulating)

Purchase Includes: Doona car seat/stroller, LATCH base, infant insert, head support, and a vehicle seat protector; (The Essentials Bag is also included with the limited edition Gold and Midnight Doonas)

Height/Weight Limits: 32 inches; 4 to 35 pounds (Stop using your Doona when your child maxes out the height or weight limit–whichever comes first)

Car Seat Weight: 16.5 pounds

Base Weight: 10 pounds

Features

Installation: Rear facing only (as is the case with ALL infant car seats); 3 installation methods–base with LATCH, base with vehicle seat belt, baseless with vehicle seat belt

Stroller Mode Handlebar Height: 38 inches

Safety Features: Handlebar acts as anti-rebound panel, baby-safe fabrics, side impact protection, European belt path

Travel: TUV and FAA aircraft approved

Infant Car Seat Expiration: 6 years from the date of manufacture

Warranty: 2 year manufacturer’s warranty

Favorite Things About the Doona

• All-in-one stroller/car seat design

• Ability to install with or without a base

• Handlebar provides added anti-rebound protection in the event of a crash

• The height and weight limits are higher than many other infant car seats, allowing you to use it much longer than other car seats

• Ultra soft, breathable fabrics

• Modern and sleek design

Things to Consider

• Not made for all terrains, as it has no all-wheel suspension

• Tall parents may find it uncomfortable to push, as the handlebar height extends to a max of 38 inches (while Nuna strollers have handlebar heights of 42 to 45 inches)

• Will need to buy a new stroller once your child maxes out the infant car seat height and weight requirements (normally when your baby is about a year old)

• Due to the stroller/car seat combo, the Doona is much heavier than standard car seats, so it may not be ideal if you live in an apartment and need to carry it up stairs often

• No undercarriage basket for storage

• Smaller canopy

Doona Frequently Asked Questions

How long can I use my Doona?

You can use your Doona until you max out either the height or weight limit, whichever comes first. 

Are the Doona fabrics machine washable?

Doona recommends spot cleaning or hand washing fabrics. 

The Nuna PIPA Urbn Travel System

The Nuna PIPA Urbn was released in 2022 as the newest addition to the popular Nuna PIPA infant car seat line! But what truly sets the Urbn apart from its predecessors AND other infant car seats on the market is its built-in LATCH system! This completely eliminates the need for a car seat base, so all you need is your car seat and your baby! This is a huge advantage for travelers and city dwellers alike (as its name implies!)

In addition, the PIPA Urbn features some incredible, hig- end features that make it comfortable for baby and convenient for parents! The extra-large, fully-extendable canopy provides ultimate coverage from the sun and rain, while the full size peek-a-boo panel makes it easy to check in on baby. When nap time comes, the incorporated Sky Drape can be pulled down from the canopy, providing complete coverage and darkness for the best snooze your baby will have all day. The Urbn also has magnetic buckle holders and soft, high end fabrics. And all that while weighing in at only 7 pounds!

How It Works

The Nuna PIPA Urbn has one of the simplest installations of any infant car seat. With the pipaFIX™ rigid LATCH system built into the shell of the infant car seat, all you need to do is extend the latches and click them into place! The indicators will turn from red to green when it’s been installed correctly. If your car does not have a LATCH system, you can also install the Nuna PIPA Urbn with the vehicle seat belt with the integrated European belt path! (Check out how to install the Nuna PIPA Urbn here!)

The Nuna PIPA Urbn is also extremely simple to remove/uninstall from the vehicle. By clicking the release button on the back of the PIPA Urbn, the latches are released, and you can then gently pull the seat away from the vehicle seat and remove it from the car. You can then click your Urbn onto your Nuna stroller, and you’re ready to go!

Nuna PIPA Urbn Travel Systems

Although the Nuna PIPA Urbn doesn’t transform into a stroller like the Doona, the Urbn easily clicks into Nuna strollers, creating a travel system that is right for you! The PIPA Urbn can be purchased with the Nuna TRVL, the Nuna TRIV Next, or the Nuna MIXX Next, so you can pick and choose what you want your travel system to look like! Not only does this give you ultimate control, enabling you to pick something with the features you need, but it also allows you to get either a travel or modular stroller depending on what will work best with your lifestyle.

Let’s check out the differences between each of these strollers systems!

Nuna TRVL Stroller and PIPA Urbn Car Seat Travel System

If your priority is compact, lightweight, and travel-friendly gear, the TRVL is made for you! The Nuna TRVL has a 2-second, one-handed, self-standing, compact fold, and weighs in at only 13.6 pounds. The TRVL is currently available at The Baby Cubby in 3 colors: Caviar, Hazelwood (featured below), and Lagoon.

The TRVL also does not require any adapters to click your infant car seat into place, so no need to keep track of any additional pieces!

Nuna TRIV Next Stroller and PIPA Urbn Car Seat Travel System

The TRIV Next is another compact option for parents (although it’s not as compact as the TRVL). The TRIV Next has a modular seat, allowing parents to turn the seat world- or parent-facing, a perk for kids that have a preference one way or another. The seat also has a one-handed, self standing fold, and can be folded with the ring adapter in place (which is required if you want to click the Urbn into the stroller.)

The TRIV Next is currently available in two colors, Caviar and Ocean (featured below), and weighs 18.4 pounds.

Nuna MIXX Next Stroller and PIPA Urbn Car Seat Travel System

The MIXX Next has all the bells and whistles when it comes to strollers, making it a premium pick! The MIXX Next seat is modular, allowing you to rotate it forward or backward. The seat also features a removable lining that reveals a mesh layer to keep kids cool in the summer, and the completely flat recline makes it a perfect nap spot for sleepy toddlers. 

The stroller also has a relatively compact fold and folds with the ring adapter for easy storage. The MIXX Next currently only comes in Caviar and weighs 28.3 pounds without the seat insert or armbar.

With the Nuna PIPA Urbn, you get a more tradition travel system with a car seat that clicks into a stroller. But the ability to select between 3 different strollers gives you a lot of freedom, and being able to use the stroller as your child grows is a huge perk!

Stats

Price: W/ Nuna TRVL $900; W/ Nuna TRIV Next $1,100; W/ Nuna MIXX Next $1,200

Colors: Caviar, Hazelwood, Lagoon (w/ TRVL); Caviar, Ocean (w/ TRIV Next); Caviar (w/ MIXX Next); (All currently available at The Baby Cubby)

Fabrics: Environmentally friendly Merino wool and TENCEL™ branded lyocell fiber blend (FR Free and GREENGUARD Gold Certified)

Shell: Aeroflex foam with integrated side impact protection

Purchase Includes: Stroller (TRVL, TRIV Next, OR MIXX Next), Nuna PIPA Urbn Infant Car Seat, Anchor Guides, Ring Adapter (with MIXX Next and TRIV Next only), Travel bag (with TRVL only)

Height/Weight Limits: 29 inches; 4 to 22 pounds (Stop using your PIPA Urbn when your child maxes out the height or weight limit-whichever comes first)