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Choosing a stroller and a carseat as a parent-to-be is a freaking mission. No joke, I think I could write an entire thesis paper on the options for infants and how to select the right one for your lifestyle. As a mom-to-be via adoption, I have spent a little way too much time researching this stuff. After all, in the waiting period of adoption (and I would imagine pregnancy as well), there’s not much else to do. So about a month ago after extensive research I finally decided to take the plunge with Nuna Baby’s PIPA urbn + TRIV next travel system ($1,100) — and quickly found out why the word on the street was that it was the best in its class.
We like
- Car seat is extremely lightweight (7 lbs)
- No base needed, making it easy to install the infant car seat in any car
- The entire travel system has a minimalistic, modern look
- The TRIV Next folds up nice and compact for small spaces
- Safety is always top of mind
We don't like
- The TRIV Next stroller does not convert into a double for multiple children
- Price point is unmistakably high
- The PIPA Urbn car seat must be purchased with a travel system, it's not a standalone product
The Nuna Kid on the Block
Though the brand has technically been around since 2007, it feels like Nuna has been gaining some serious traction with parents (and parents-to-be) around me lately. Inspired by the “ingenuity of Dutch design,” Nuna believes in excellent craftsmanship, clean lines, and thoughtful solutions in each of their products, which run the entire baby and child gamut. From strollers to car seats to swings, Nuna is a one-stop shop for parents searching for high-performing, safe gear for their kids.
From a safety perspective, Nuna believes in going beyond the world’s minimum standards for safety. To ensure the safety of all of the kiddos and future kiddos that will live in the gear, the brand invests in testing the gear at independent, accredited labs. Beyond this, they use high-quality materials that abide by CPSIA standards (for the US) and EACH and EN71 standards in Europe.
Safety, design, and quality were really important to me in my search for a stroller and car seat, but perhaps one of the things I desired the most was the stamp of approval of parents who have gone before me. Nuna’s gear is designed by parents — meaning they actually get the needs of new parents like me. Beyond this, they try to accommodate different environments and lifestyles with a variety of products, which I really appreciate.
2-Second, Base-Free Install
In my research of car seats and strollers, I surveyed a few parents and scoured the Internet. I learned that many car seats are compatible with a bunch of different strollers from other brands, meaning you can really mix and match here. Personally, I am so Type A it hurts; for my sanity, I needed my stroller and infant car seat to match. Not only that, I just really had no interest in paying $50+ for an adapter to a car seat I was going to use for only five or six months. All of this led me to looking at Nuna’s travel systems, which are a combination of an infant car seat (for babies anywhere from 4-22 lbs), a “regular” stroller seat (for children up to 50 lbs), and the stroller itself.
I live near downtown Detroit, meaning we take a lot of Ubers and switch around cars a lot. This made Nuna’s baseless car seat (meaning there's no base needed in the vehicle), the PIPA urbn, really appealing to me. How sweet, I thought, that our baby could easily go with us to dinner via Uber and then the next day hop in Grandma’s car without all the fuss of reinstalling or carrying around a base. Sure, I could buy every grandma and grandpa a base, but that gets pricey, and I liked the simplicity the PIPA urbn infant car seat offered. Beyond being easy to get in and out of cars easily, the car seat is just 7 pounds, which in the car seat world, is ultralight.
Our journey to becoming parents is strange, in the sense we could get a call to come get a baby at any point now! No joke, we might only have a few hours' notice that we’re becoming parents. With that in mind, we quickly got to installing the car seat in the car once it arrived. Unpacking was super easy and everything was so nicely pre-assembled. We took the carseat out to the car and, within seconds, installed it using the steel-reinforced rigid latch installation. I thought “2-second install” had to be an exaggeration — until I did it. Sure, I didn’t have a crying baby inside to deal with, but it is actually as simple as pushing it into the metal bars in your car and leveling it.
Safety and ease-of-use are highlighted by Nuna’s Global Car Seat Advocate. Credit: @nuna_usa
Getting it out, at first, proved to be a little trickier. It took a second for us to find the latch to remove the seat from the metal bars, but once we did, it was also very simple and quick. Another favorite feature of mine is the magnetic clip holders on the sides of the car seat. With my niece, I have learned that I am so awful at strapping babies into car seats because the straps go everywhere; not with this car seat! It also comes with a “Sky Drape” to shield the baby from the sun and create more privacy, plus it's also built-in so there’s no chance you can lose it.
They See Me Rollin’…
The PIPA Urbn is not sold separately from the TRIV next, which at first worried me. It is a big price tag after all, coming in at $1,100. That being said, it does fall in the luxury stroller category and might make for a great “group gift” on your registry. Paired with the TRIV Next Stroller System, this means you’re purchasing a stroller that’ll support your baby while they’re in the infant car seat (4-22 lbs), as well as up to 50 lbs within a “normal” stroller configuration.
The TRIV next fulfilled all of our criteria, from lasting for multiple children in different stages to looking modern (no '90s baby gear for me, please.) At just 18.4 lbs pounds (without insert, arm bar, or canopy) , the stroller is incredibly lightweight and folds up with just a one-handed pull, no matter which of the 4 configurations you have it in. It stands up on its own when folded (ours is tucked away well in our mudroom) and feels pretty durable to the touch. Beyond that, it is easily adjustable for height, has an easy braking system, and per my husband’s request, all-wheel suspension and large rear wheels that “promise easy maneuverability through varied terrain.” Stay tuned on that one to see what types of terrain my man takes our future babes on *nervous laughter.*
Without a baby in tow yet, we took this puppy around the neighborhood for a test drive. I know that sounds weird, but it was not only to get a good feel for it, but also to help train our puppy dogs to respect the stroller. Overall, it was quite a successful mission – all two humans and two pups approved of our new style of family walks. I think it’ll adapt nicely to our park strolls once our sweet baby is with us!
The Premier Stroller for City ‘Rents
As an urban parent (to be), I’m stoked about our future with this stroller. While we’re excited to soak in baby snuggles, we don’t plan to slow our lives down a whole lot on account of this baby. So iIf you’re looking for a travel system that’s going to keep up with your busy life, consider your search over. The Nuna is it.
Keep your little ones (and your sanity) intact with Nuna Baby here!
