I am really excited to do this review, because it’s rare that I’m blown away by something these days. I think it comes with age doesn’t it? Bill finds a pretty pebble on the floor and it’s the best thing he’s every seen, but when you’re a grown-up mother of two, the best thing you can usually think of is sleep!
But this is one of my favourite baby products that I have used with Daisy in the past six months, and I will honestly be a bit gutted when she grows out of it.
If you hadn’t already guessed, this is the Doona™ – the next generation car seat. And I think it can own that claim quite well actually.
Now, we all know that, when we are pregnant, one of the key things we need to buy before the baby arrives is a car seat. In fact, they don’t tend to let you leave the hospital without one, for safety reasons. And I think we can all remember how it feels to finally leave hospital with a car seat holding the most precious cargo you could imagine.
And then there’s that first car journey home, where your other half will drive as slowly possible, wincing at every bump in the road, while you sit lovingly in the back, gazing at your tiny baby.
And that’s just the beginning isn’t it?
But the one issue with car seats is that they are heavy things, and can be difficult to use out and about. You usually need to make sure yours will adapt and work as a travel system, which means, as well as the car seat and all of your baby items, you need to fit the chassis of your pram in the boot as well. Which doesn’t leave room for much else if you’re planning a shopping trip or going away for the weekend.
And this is where the Doona™ comes into its own.
So what is the Doona™?
The Doona™is a car seat that is not only approved and safe for your baby to use, but it also comes with inbuilt collapsible wheels, which convert it from a traditional car seat, into a mobile one. So you can take baby from car to wherever you like – it’s with you from A to B.
Not only is it extremely functional, and designed with the needs of parents in mind, but it’s also gorgeously designed, and you know it’s a Doona right away when you spot one, even when the wheels aren’t in use.
The specs
The Doona™also features a five point harness, is made from approved baby-safe materials, complies with the highest EU, US and even some local standards. And, in frontal collisions (the most common type of crash) it scored a high, five-star rating.
If you would like to know more about the safety of the Doona™ I would recommend visiting the Doona™ website as they have a lot of safety information available to put your mind at ease.
Suitability (EU)
Rearward facing infant car seat
Group: 0+
Infant Weight: 1.8-13Kg (approximately 28 pounds – so that could be from around nine months to a year or even more, depending on your baby)
Product weight: 7kg
Installation
You can secure and fix it to your car by using the seat belt, as with many standard car seats, or the Doona Isofix Base, defending on whether or not your car has isofix points.
This is really simple to do, either way, and we’ve had no issues fitting the Doona™into our car – we have a Ford Focus if that helps! It fits easily with plenty of space.
Comfort
The Doona™ was developed over several years, with the key focus of making sure that baby was comfortable and safe, both inside, and outside of the car. The Doona™ is designed to achieve maximum protection for baby when in the car, performing to all safety regulations. It also has a design that is inspired by the position of a baby in its mother’s arms, making it much more comfortable for quick trips out and about in the stroller function. It also comes with an infant insert, to make sure your baby is safe and secure from birth onwards. This supports your baby’s posture by mimicking a natural position – which is useful to know when they seem so fragile in those early days.
While the key thing about the Doona™ is the ability to go beyond the car, it’s worth noting that, as with any stroller, car seat or other such device, medical professionals agree that a baby should not be restrained for long periods of time. So this wouldn’t be the choice for a long day trip out, unless you were planning on taking the baby out for a break, regularly.
Colour options
Usability
- Anti-rebound – while in the car.
- Upright – as a carrier.
- Push – extended handle, while the wheels are down and in use.
Accessories
Our experience
We have had it for over six months now and it’s been an absolute life-saver for us. And I’m aware that sounds dramatic – and it is, this is me we are talking about here – but I’d like to explain.
Example one – hospital
When Daisy first came home, we didn’t really get the chance to sink into family life, close the door on the world, and enter a bubble like we had hoped and intended to, after so long of waiting. We were on a limit as to how far we could travel by car while she had a breathing tube in, and the furthest we could go is hospital. Which is just as well, as we went there a lot.
The hospital where Daisy was born (and where Bill was born) can be notoriously bad when it comes to parking. And no matter how early you arrive for your appointment, you can guarantee you will spend ages looking for a space. And you end up flying through the hospital doors, a blur of baby, muslins and dummies, rushing to get to the right department on time.
But with the Doona™, even if I only had minutes to spare, I was able to just lift Daisy out of the car and let the wheels down, and I was good to go. There was no faffing with the boot, fiddling around with the chassis and adaptors, and I just went on my way.
It also meant I was able to fit easily in waiting rooms, and wasn’t taking up too much space, and I was even able to collapse the legs and go up and down stairs without hanging around for the busy lift.
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This was outside the hospital on one of those many trips! Look how tiny she was! |
Example two – school run
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This was a nursery run actually – before Bill started school – but you get the idea! |
Example three – public transport
Example four – visiting family
What’s the verdict?
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What's in my baby's hospital bag? What to pack? - Write Like No One's Watching
6th February 2018 at 6:40 pm[…] Our car seat – the Doona (see our review here). […]