The Doona Car Seat & Stroller is a product I’ve come to rely on, especially as a mom who’s always on the go. It’s both a car seat and a stroller, which makes life with a baby infinitely easier—but like anything, it’s not without its quirks. In this review, I’ll share my firsthand, unpaid, and unsponsored experience with the Doona and help you decide if it’s the right fit for your family.
The Doona is an infant car seat that transforms into a stroller with the push of a button. Instead of lugging a heavy car seat and separate stroller around, this 2-in-1 system makes life so much easier. It’s great for busy parents or anyone tired of wrestling with bulky gear. It’s also excellent when you have multiple children to wrangle because the less gear, the better.
In car seat mode, it clicks right into most vehicles using the included base or the car’s seatbelt (I’ll explain the base vs. going base-less below). When you’re ready to stroll, simply press the handle on the back of the seat and the wheels pop out, turning it into a lightweight stroller. Switching between modes takes seconds.
The Doona doesn’t come cheap—it’s priced around $550–$600, depending on where you shop. But for the convenience and quality, I think it’s worth it. I’ll share more details below.
We bought our Doona from Amazon, but you can order it online at Pottery Barn, Nordstrom, and of course, from Doona’s website.
The Doona is a lifesaver in many ways, but whether it’s a good fit for you depends on your lifestyle. Here’s my breakdown of what I love (and what drives me a little nuts).
It’s so helpful when I’m juggling my baby and toddler. Transitioning from car seat to stroller is seamless, and I love that I don’t have to get a stroller out of my truck whenever we arrive at our destination. Especially if I’m running quick errands!
I used to dread lugging a car seat around, but the Doona eliminates that completely. It’s better on my back and just a more comfortable experience.
It was a lifesaver when we flew to Utah. No need to drag multiple pieces of gear. I did rent a base on one trip that was over a week long and that is much easier than the seatbelt installation. But for short trips, using it without a base is fine.
I actually feel excited about getting out of the house because the Doona simplifies everything. And if you know how challenging it can be to leave the house with a newborn, you know this means a lot.
When carrying a car seat or wearing my baby wasn’t an option after my C-section, the Doona allowed me to more easily take Charles to appointments. If you have a C-section scheduled, read this post with my C-Section essentials.
As someone petite, it’s been a relief to avoid lugging heavy car seats as my son grew. IYKYK.
Getting it in and out of my compact car can be a bit of a hassle.
While I’m not carrying it far, I do notice the weight when lifting it. The nice thing is that you don’t need carry it far since you can turn it into a stroller almost immediately when you take it out of the car. And that is amazing, especially as your baby gets heavy. We also have an UppaBaby Mesa, and I could barely lift that with Charles in it as he got bigger, so the Doona was amazing.
While the Doona is great for a million things, it’s not my favorite for longer family walks. It’s more of a convenience option (and yes, it will definitely go around the block with you), but for longer walks, I prefer the Uppababy Vista (read my Uppababy Vista stroller review here), and I also have a separate jogging stroller since I love to run. Read my Thule jogging stroller review here.
It works, but threading and clipping the seatbelt can be a pain, especially on longer trips. More thoughts on this below.
I struggled to get the base level and secure in my car initially.
Some babies outgrow it faster than others. This is another reason you’ll also want to invest in another stroller like the Uppababy.
My in-laws — and husband — struggle with switching between modes. But once you get the hang of it, it’s super easy, I promise.
It’s definitely an investment, but for me, it’s been worth it.
If you’re planning to travel with the Doona, you can use it without the base, but to be honest, it’s not my favorite. For shorter trips, it’s fine to use the seatbelt installation method, but threading the seatbelt and making sure it’s clipped in properly can be annoying, especially since every car is different. For example, when we went in my sister-in-law’s Ford Explorer, we barely got it installed since her car had padded seat belts that made it extra tricky to thread.
For longer trips, I recommend taking your base or renting one through a service like BabyQuip. The base makes life so much easier, especially if you’ll be in and out of the car a lot. When we flew to Utah for a weeklong trip, I rented a base (along with a crib), and it was absolutely worth the extra cost. You could also check it.
Switching between stroller and car seat mode is a breeze once you’ve practiced. At first, it took me a few tries to get it right, but now it’s second nature. While it’s not perfect for rough terrain, it’s a dream for errands, parking lots, and airport terminals.
If you plan to use it without the base, just be prepared for some frustration. The seatbelt installation isn’t the easiest, but it’s manageable for short trips.
The Doona has been a game-changer for me, especially during nap time. If my baby falls asleep in the car, I don’t have to worry about waking him up when transferring him to a stroller. That alone makes it worth it for travel and errands.
When we went to Utah, I felt so much less stressed knowing I had one compact system that worked in the car and on the go.
I was hesitant to buy the Doona because of the price, but before our trip to Utah, I finally caved—and I wish I had done it sooner. Carrying a traditional car seat was getting harder as my baby grew, and the Doona made life so much easier.
While the seatbelt installation without the base can be annoying, the convenience of having a two-in-one system far outweighs the hassle for me. If you’re on the fence, consider how often you’ll travel or need a compact, all-in-one solution. For me, it’s been worth every penny.
The Doona is designed for babies up to 35 lbs or 32 inches, which usually means it lasts until they’re around 12-15 months old. Just remember that car seats, in general, aren’t meant for extended use—try to limit stretches to two hours at a time. My son just turned one year old and we switched him to the Nuna Rava convertible car seat.
Yes! The Doona comes with an infant insert that provides newborns with head and neck support. I especially wish that I’d had it since day one with my second baby since I had a lot of doctor appointments given some complications after my C-section, and it would have been a lot easier to take him with me if we’d had the Doona.
It’s all about convenience. The Doona eliminates the need to juggle multiple pieces of baby gear, making life easier for parents. For me, it’s also been a huge confidence booster—I actually feel excited about leaving the house because I know I can handle it with less stress. Game changer!
The Doona Car Seat & Stroller is great, but it’s not perfect. If you value convenience, travel frequently, or have limited space, it’s worth the investment. For longer trips, I highly recommend using the base, either by taking yours or renting one. For shorter outings, the base-free option works, but be prepared for a little extra effort.
Ultimately, the Doona is an investment in your day-to-day ease and confidence as a parent. If you already have one, what’s been your experience? Let me know—I’d love to hear your pros and cons!
Since you’re shopping for strollers, you might also be looking for clothes for littles! I shared my favorite places to shop for little boys clothes here.
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