Doona Car Seat and Stroller Review 2024

Very little baby gear is actually critical. But for most people, the car seat is one of those must-have pieces of equipment. In most states in the US, you’re required by law to have a car seat in order to leave the hospital with your newborn.

If you live in a major urban area and don’t have your own car, though, the car seat can pose something of a problem. You’ll have to install and remove the car seat every time you get in and out of a car with your little one, so you want something that’s easy to handle. But, of course, you don’t want to compromise on safety.

If those are your main criteria, you’ve almost definitely come across the Doona+ Car Seat & Stroller ($550) in your searches. It’s one of the only car seats out there that has wheels built into the seat itself, so you don’t have to struggle with a separate, collapsible stroller base. When I started telling my city friends I was pregnant, it was always in the list of gear recommendations they’d send my way, named as an assumption rather than a suggestion: “And you’ll get the Doona, of course.”

Reader, I got the Doona. Or, rather, the brand generously sent me a Doona Car Seat and Stroller to try out. A year later, I can share my honest thoughts about whether it’s worth it.

What’s the Criteria For a Good Car Seat and Stroller?

When it comes to car seats, the main factor to consider is safety. In addition to that, individual circumstances come into play. I live in New York City and don’t own my own car, so I knew any car seat I got would have to be easy to install and uninstall, since I’d mostly be using it in rental cars and ride shares. In addition, a convertible stroller option was a must. If I took an Uber to another neighborhood, I couldn’t be left with a car seat and a stroller to wrangle; the car seat had to become the stroller.

What I Like About the Doona Car Seat and Stroller

The Doona really is easy to install and remove. My husband and I took our newborn home from the hospital in an Uber. While we’d obsessively watched videos in the weeks leading up to my due date, going-home day was our first time actually installing the Doona IRL. That meant our days-old newborn was in the Doona while we were securing it in the car, which was idling curbside on a busy city street — talk about a high-pressure situation.

But I can honestly say, the install went seamlessly, as did the removal. And since then, we’ve been able to click the Doona in and out of the various cars we find ourselves in with ease. We’ve even used it on multiple flights.

I also like that you have the option of using a base or strapping the Doona in via a seatbelt. When we’re renting a car for more than a day, we use the base, which attaches to the car seat attachments behind the car seat cushion for extra stability; otherwise, we use the seatbelt so we can travel light.

I appreciate that the Doona can be used with children from four to 35 pounds and up to 32 inches. That means we’ve been able to use it for his entire first year, and will be able to continue for a bit longer. (It comes with an infant insert we removed once our child passed the 11-pound mark, as recommended.) Our infant has always seemed comfortable and supported by the seat, even as his legs have gotten longer; he falls asleep in it like a dream.

As a stroller, the Doona works great. It’s easy to pop out and fold up the wheels, even while the baby is in the car seat. It’s become a great, smaller stroller options for short visits to spaces like a doctor’s office or restaurant, where I might be in tight spaces, even if I won’t be traveling via car.

What to Consider Before Trying the Doona Car Seat and Stroller

While we were able to figure out installation and removal based on Doona’s helpful how-to videos alone, I’d recommend practicing as much as possible before using it with a baby, since practice definitely makes it easier.

When using the Doona as a stroller, the handle is a little short for my 6’3″ husband, even when fully extended.

And while the Doona FAQs have a ton of great information, there are a few safety guidelines to be aware of: the Doona should be installed using the vehicle’s seat belt or the LATCH base, never both. Also, while all of the fabric parts of the Doona can go into the washing machine (on a cold, delicate cycle) to be washed, the harness should only be spot-cleaned or rinsed with warm water.

Additionally, Doonas (like all car seats) also expire; they typically “last” for about six years after being manufactured, but each car seat will have a sticker with an expiration date. (Kids typically size out of the Doona by age 2 if not sooner, but this is good to know if you’re using it with multiple little ones.)

Who the Doona Car Seat and Stroller Is Best For

I consider the Doona Car Seat and Stroller a true must have for fellow parents of infants who don’t have their own car. The ease is simply unparalleled —there’s no stroller system to lug around, just the Doona. For parents with cars, it’s more of a nice to have.

Additional Details About the Doona Car Seat and Stroller

Where Is the Doona Car Seat and Stroller Available?

You can buy the Doona+ Car Seat and Stroller on doona.com, and other stores including Nordstrom, Pottery Barn Kids (where you’ll find an exclusive color, warm stone), and Bloomingdale’s.

Mirel Zaman is the health and fitness director at PS. She has over 15 years of experience working in the health and wellness space, covering fitness, general health, mental health, relationships and sex, food and nutrition, spirituality, family and parenting, culture, and news.