Doona Car Seat Review

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Written by: Fatima O. Millers, CPST

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Have you heard about the Doona car seat? It’s getting some mixed reviews.

The cool thing about the Doona is that it’s a wheeled car seat that can instantly switch to a stroller whenever you need it out of the car. Super handy, right?

If you’re thinking about getting one but not sure if a car seat stroller combo is the way to go, no worries. We got you covered!

In this review, I’ll reveal all pros and cons of having a Doona car seat, so you can decide if it’s the right fit for you.

Let’s dive in! 🚗👶🏻

Doona Overview

  • Child weight and height limits: 4 to 35 lbs; up to 32″ in height
  • Orientation: Rear-facing only
  • Weight: 16.5 lbs
  • Dimensions: Stroller mode (17.4″ x 32.3″ x 39″), Car seat mode (17.4″ x 26″ x 22.4″)
  • Color options: Red, grey, black, blue, olive green, bright green, and Midnight Edition (for an extra $100)
  • Price: $550
  • Made in: 
  • Lifespan: 10 years 
Doona Infant Car Seat
$550.00
Ease of Installation:
4.0
Ease of use:
4.0
Comfort:
4.0
Safety features:
4.5
Durability:
3.0
Overall rating:
3.9
Pros:
  • It’s a car seat and a stroller in one
  • Robus impact protection
  • Compact and great for frequent travelers
  • It saves you money of buying a stroller
  • TUV and FAA aircraft approved for travel
  • Breathable & Baby Safe materials
  • Removable and washable cover
Cons:
  • It’s outgrown in two years only
  • It has a rethreaded harness strap
  • Rear-facing only
  • 5-point harness
  • Overpriced
  • Not enough storage in the stroller
  • No recline options
Buy from Amazon
10/01/2023 06:01 pm GMT

Is a car seat with wheels better than a regular car seat? 

Car seats with wheels, also known as “stroller car seats” or “travel systems,” offer both the option of being used as a car seat and a stroller at once. And the Doona is one of our favorite car sear with wheels.  

There are mixed reviews about these types of car seats but what everyone agrees on is that they can be really convenient.

Doona car seat
Image credit: Doona

They are not necessarily better or safer but when finding the right wheeled car seat, it makes life a lot easier. 

However, both choices are considered safe as long as it’s the right car seat for your child’s age, fits properly in the back seat of your car, and is installed correctly.  

Is Doona Car Seat Safe to Use?

Is Doona safe? Yes, it is. Is Doona the safest car seat on the market? No, it isn’t. 

Doona, like other popular car seat brands, has been tested to meet international standards for car seats. 

And since it can also be used as a stroller, it has been tested for that purpose as well. That’s why we believe that Doona is very safe to use as long as it is used correctly.

Also, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has previously given the Doona Infant Car Seat a rating of 5 out of 5 stars (“excellent”) for overall ease of use.

When it comes to using the Doona as a car seat, it is equipped with 3-layer side impact protection, a superior 5-point safety harness, and an ergonomic infant insert.

The Doona also features an adjustable handlebar that acts as an anti-rebound bar in case of a collision or accident. 

How long can a baby use a Doona?

You can use the Doona infant car seat until 35 lbs and up to 32 inches in height. 

This means that most children will outgrow the Doona by the time they reach two years old.  

In some cases, a child may still be using the Doona a little bit after their second birthday. But also, some children may need to move to another car seat before they turn two. And this is one of Doona’s downsides.

How easy is it to use the Doona?

One of our favorite things about Doona is how easy it is to use and install in the car. 

When this car seat first came out, we were a bit skeptical about how easy the car seat-stroller transition would be. Luckily, switching from a car seat to a stroller and back is one of the simplest things to do. 

Just pull the lever in the back and the wheels will drop down. And to switch to the car seat mode, pull the same lever and give the wheels a small push to retract. 

Doona car seat stroller combo
Image credit: Doona

The whole switching process takes a few seconds only once you learn the technique. Check out Doona’s youtube page to see how to fold, unfold and use this car seat- stroller combo. 

The Doona is also equipped with well-functioning brakes. We like the double-pedal system that works wonders with just a gental push with your feet. 

And when it comes to installing the Doona infat seat in your car, the base makes the task effortless. The Doona comes with its ISOFIX (LATCH system) base that you can install in your car and click the car seat into in whenever you need.

But if you are using Taxis, Ubers or flying with the seat, you can use the seatbelt installtion.

Can the Doona be your only infant car seat?

Yes, you don’t need to purchase another infant car seat after the Doona. The Doona is designed for children from birth to 35 pounds and 32 inches in height. 

This means that it can be used for about the first 2 years of a child’s life. After that, you will need to purchase a convertible car seat that’s designed for older children.

Best Convertible
Graco Extend2Fit 2-in-1
4.9
$234.99 $199.99

Best compact convertible car seat for small cars

Buy from Amazon
10/01/2023 05:55 pm GMT

a Doona Car Seat and Stroller worth the money?

The Doona is definitely a unique car seat that we recommend but not for everyone. 

With a price tag of over $500, this car seat-stroller combo car not cheap. So, if you are a family that doesn’t travel much and you don’t get in and out of your car with your baby very often I doubt this car seat is for you. 

However, if you are a on-the-go family the Doona can make your life easier. Instead if buying a car seat and a separate stroller. You get a 2 in 1 travel system. 

On the flip side, Donna in a stroller doesn’t provide the amount of storage a full-size stroller provides. 

There are some accessories that you can buy to help with that, like a storage mesh that you can attach to the stroller. This storage bag can hold up to 7 pounds only. 

Another downside of the Doona is having to rethread the harness. This means that as your baby grows, you need to unhook the harness and rethread it through the desired slots. This is not bad because you don’t have to do it often. 

What’s it like to use the Doona Car Seat and Stroller?

We found the Doona to be the easiest car seat-stroller combo to use. Switching from the Car seat to the stroller and back is done in seconds. 

When used as a stroller, it’s easy to push and it works well for city walks. The handle can be extended so it is convenient for tall parents like my 6-foot husband. 

The Doona is however not an outdoor stroller. If you are an outdoorsy parent that likes the beach and hiking better go for a stroller wagon or jogging stroller.  

Another essential thing to keep in mind is that unlike regular car seats and strollers the recline angle on the Doona is set and you can’t change it. 

We believe it’s comfortable for your baby as it is but if you are looking for a car seat with recline options, this may not be for you. 

Reasons We recommend the Doona Car seat

We believe that this car seat-stroller combo is ideal for on-the-go parents, city living, or families that rely on public transport for their travel. 

The biggest advantage of the Doona is as mentioned earlier, convenience. You don’t have to carry a heavy car seat outside the car but rather pop the wheels out and you are ready to go. 

Plus, the Doona is also a great car seat for air travel. It’s FAA approved and makes traveling with a car seat in the airport a breeze.  

Reasons We Do not recommend Doona car seat

One of the big reasons not the buy the Doona is obviously the price. For a starting price of $550, the Doona is not on the cheap side. And just to explain the price, for $550 you will get the car seat and the base only without any accessories. 

And you pay more to get additional accessories like a Doona storage bag ($30 to $60 depending on size), Doona sunshade ($45), Doona rain cover ($40), and Doona travel bag ($50). 

10/01/2023 05:40 pm GMT

Good to know: We noticed that there are other stores on Amazon that sell accessories that are compatible with the Doona at a slightly cheaper price. We havent tested any of them with the Doona but feel free to explore if you want to save some bucks.

In addition to being overpriced, many parents find the Doona to be heavy to carry in and out of the car, especially with the baby in it.

It’s also important to note the wheels make the car seat bulky and hard to fit in small cars. So, if you have a small car, better go for a regular car seat instead of a wheeled one. 

Bottom Line

Yes, the Doona is an awesome product with lots of perks into it but it’s definitely NOT a must-have.

Buying a Doona or another car seat stroller combo depends on your priorities and lifestyle. 

If you don’t mind spedning $500 to $800 on a cool travel system to use for about 2 years or less, by all means do, Doona is worth trying especially if you are planning to have more than 1 child.

But if you are looking for a long lasting solution, buying a convertible car seat and a separate stroller is what we recommed.

About Fatima O. Millers, CPST

Founder and Editor-in-Chief, Fatima delivers insightful car seat reviews and recommendations. Combining her CPST expertise with an engineering background, her advice is both safe and practical.