Doona Stroller Review
As a traveler and a mom, I know it takes a lot of prep work to ensure a smooth, hassle-free trip. A major part of that is investing in your kiddo’s transportation. I have a unique perspective, having my son travel from 6 weeks old to present day, and can tell you what works, what doesn’t, and where to invest your hard-earned money. This is a full review of the Doona Stroller/Car seat.
Price:
This is not a cheap option, but it is a two-in-one. It is a stroller and a car seat, so keep that in mind. When I was gifted our Doona back in March 2023, it was $550 plus an additional $150 in accessories (Mosquito net, carry bag, & Rainfly). The current retail base model as of March 2026 is $650 (the mosquito net $30, rainfly $48, bag $60). It is at the high end of baby transportation and car seat options.
Lifespan:
The stroller is good for newborns from 4lbs up to toddlers who are 35 pounds and under 33 inches long. It lasted us as a stroller until my son was 17 months old and as a car seat until 19 months. At the current price with the accessories ($780), that works out to roughly $45 a month in use over 75 months. If you have a long kiddo, the lifespan would be shorter.
Function:
The convenience of having one piece of baby gear with an easy-to-use expand-and-collapse option, instead of balancing a stroller and a car seat, makes it well worth the price. Especially if you are dealing with a baby that is under 3 months old. The idea of taking a sleeping baby out of a car seat to put them into a stroller, or lugging around a car seat seems like a nightmare.
The Doona in the car seat function allows for two installation options. Option one, it comes with a base which gets installed into the car. The car seat itself snaps in and out of the base, making it ideal for all the doctors’ appointments in the first few months a newborn goes to. Option two, which is perfect for travel, is looping the seatbelt across the Doona, no base needed.
To transform it into a stroller, all you have to do is remove it from the car, pull the yellow latch in the back to release the wheels, and roll off. The same in reverse, while pushing in the front wheels to convert it back into a car seat. It isn’t hard or difficult. Handle height: I stand 5 feet 6 inches tall, and the handle was just fine for me. My mother, who stands 5 feet 10 inches tall, was able to push it as well.
Durability :
When I had our Doona stroller, we were expats living in Belize on the tropical Island of Caye Caulker. It handled amazingly well on the dirt/sand roads. In the humidity, none of the parts rusted or broke down. It handled really well in the rain as well. As for smooth terrain like museums, it handles like a premium stroller, with smooth rolling action and good handling. On rough terrain like rocks and grass, it handled fine as well. We went to Chichén Itzá, El Castillo in Tulum, Belizean road trip, Playa del Carmen, and took over 12 domestic flights in the United States, gate-checked without any issues. It is a very durable stroller and a perfect car seat for cars and vans in all weather conditions.
Pros:
· Great for urban environments with many rideshares or public transportation.
· Great for world travelers who want a simple one-piece solution so they don't have to lug a car seat around.
· Space saver, no wasted trunk space for a stroller or a separate chassis
· Safe with sturdy design and wheels that lock
· Good on multiple surfaces
· Travel-ready, complies with safety standards as a car seat in multiple countries.
Cons:
· The price is very high for most families
· The lifespan, is expensive for something that will not last even two years
· The weight, it is 16-18 pounds, much heavier than a traditional car seat
· No storage, you need to buy an add on bag or carry a backpack
· The height of the handle may not work for all parents; it is not telescopic
· Child positioning. As the child gets older, they will want to sit up, look out, and not at you.
Our thoughts:
I loved this stroller so much. It made travel very easy for us. On boats, New York City trains, Puddle Hopper planes, in rideshares and taxis, in foreign countries, in Los Angeles, in Mexico, in Belize. I used it until I couldn’t use it anymore, then sold it to another mom who travels. So, it is living on in great condition, might I add, after all our travels. As a car seat, it was perfect. When my son was an infant, I was able to get him ready in the house, strap him in, carry him out to the car, and snap him in safe and sound. When he was bigger, I was able to carry him to the car and put him in the Doona in the traditional car seat way.
When we got to our destination (many times it was a museum while in the states) it was very easy to take the Doona out, converting it to stroller mode. I strongly recommend the Doona only if you see yourself traveling a lot in the first 16 months of your kiddo’s life, or you use rideshares, or plan on doing a lot of moving and shaking getting in and out of the car. This was our everyday stroller and worked for us. It was my son’s first stroller coming home from the hospital and I have very fond memories of him and I with it.
