Downtown DC resident: is relying on Doona stroller a good idea?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The problem with the Doona is that a year is optimistic. Lots of babies outgrown them sooner. And then what do you do? Convertible seats are a pain for travel and putting in and out of cabs.

I recommend the Chicco Fit2 for your situation, plus the city mini stroller. There’s an attachment so you can snap the car seat right into the stroller. And kids fit in that car seat until they’re TWO on average - it’s the longest lasting infant bucket seat on the market. At two, you can switch to something lightweight and forward facing for cabs, like the WayB Picco.

I can’t believe that people use the Chicco Fit2 until 2. That strains credulity.

[Anonymous]

I live downtown with a now 2 year old and have an uppababy Cruz because we walk everywhere. I have a car but don’t drive nearly enough to need to be pulling the car seat in and out…I drive maybe 1-3 times per month. Never really take public transit either because everything is walkable where we are downtown. Much more useful to me to have a sturdy stroller with room for groceries and stuff underneath because we usually walk 3-4 miles a day going back and forth to daycare, grocery shopping, meeting friends, etc. I don’t even fold and store the stroller at home, we just park it in the entryway by the front door of our condo when we’re in for the night. I think it really depends on the amount of time you plan to use the stroller vs using the car seat aspect, and specifically downtown the stroller might be more important.

[Anonymous]

Not sure when you are due but evenflo is coming out with a seat similar to doona which comes with storage bag and cup holder.

https://www.evenflo.com/products/shyft-dualride-car-seat-stroller-combo-carryall-storage?trk_msg=GRQLCAU36CB4DBTP5LVL9PC9V4&trk_contact=F1DNFSG0HGICRQAE6THKJFNKOC&trk_sid=3GPRL65H9U9OUG80EG2R597G3G&trk_link=U1JOLNLKPO5K7EMSIF1DR8JT9O&utm_source=listrak&utm_medium=email&utm_term=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.evenflo.com%2Fproducts%2Fshyft-dualride-car-seat-stroller-combo-carryall-storage&utm_campaign=03.13.23_Shyft-DualRide-Presale&utm_content=03.13.23_Shyft-DualRide-Presale&fbclid=IwAR2m_xi41dXioyHUJT4OQF3bTMxsG8epr0gSiGhkQxAIkG03HYvsrI6evwk

https://csftl.org/evenflo-shyft-dualride-rear-facing-only-car-seat-review/?fbclid=IwAR2lufFGCZC1Gczi3uH-VUnsXvkueDM_T68knf-mOY5nTybM9K-ul35JlMQ

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Baby zen yo-yo+ with newborn attachment and attachments for car seat.

Unless you are planning to cab it everywhere and therefore would need a car seat—the babyzen yo-yo is great because it collapses down small and is easy to carry. When the metro elevator is out, or you get on bus and have to collapse your stroller, babyzen is where it is at

+1 The babyzen yoyo was great when I was in a tiny apartment. Get the newborn pack with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem with the Doona is that a year is optimistic. Lots of babies outgrown them sooner. And then what do you do? Convertible seats are a pain for travel and putting in and out of cabs.

I recommend the Chicco Fit2 for your situation, plus the city mini stroller. There’s an attachment so you can snap the car seat right into the stroller. And kids fit in that car seat until they’re TWO on average - it’s the longest lasting infant bucket seat on the market. At two, you can switch to something lightweight and forward facing for cabs, like the WayB Picco.

I can’t believe that people use the Chicco Fit2 until 2. That strains credulity.

I’m the PP. We moved my 1st out of it and into a WayB Picco when my 2nd was born - he was 19 months. A bit young for the Picco, but he was big for his age and we literally only used it for two round trips before he turned 2. My 2nd is still in the Chicco Fit2 now, at 18 months.

The thing is, we take so few car trips. The last time we were in a car with the kids was about a month ago? And no car trip up coming. I’d say we take maybe 5 round trips in the car a year. So yeah, I want something that lasts, and then at some point in the next six months, we’ll get a second Picco and make the switch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FWIW, the Doona has awful crash-test ratings. If you plan to use your Doona in the car regularly, it'd be reason enough to skip it.

All car seats pass federal safety standards. Those private crash test ratings you refer to are worthless.

I'm sure you have a house full on things where minimum competency is not your accepted standard.

That’s not the issue - the issue is the private crash tests are not valid and don’t mean anything. Bad methodology leads to bad and misleading results. Bogus data is bogus data.

The doona is amazing. I personally have taking 2 mile plus walks with it with no issue. It is just so so convenient. So worth the money. And it’s safe.

(Don’t get their trike stroller though - that thing is a terrible stroller!!)

Private crash tests often come up with similar results. Product ratings include lots of stuff besides crash where applicable and safety. Start with the safest car seats, then what strollers can be used which each seat, brakes. Consider travel by plane. What can have the seat attached with the child in it, wheel to gate, fold and go in overhead?


I and others are old enough to remember crib bumpers. Cushion for the head but baby could get lodged or the breathability was limited. Now people are placing infants in solid material sided bassinets overnight. Sits on a stand then can put it on a stroller frame. No government safety standard for overnight or awake adult supervising when in use. https://www.babygearlab.com/reviews/nursery-furniture/bassinet/uppababy-bassinet-and-stand

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Baby zen yo-yo+ with newborn attachment and attachments for car seat.

Unless you are planning to cab it everywhere and therefore would need a car seat—the babyzen yo-yo is great because it collapses down small and is easy to carry. When the metro elevator is out, or you get on bus and have to collapse your stroller, babyzen is where it is at

+1 The babyzen yoyo was great when I was in a tiny apartment. Get the newborn pack with it.

I agree with the premise of these tweets (get a small, reliable stroller with a trifold that is super easy to collapse and carry) but just want to note that there are many more options in this part of the market than there were a few years ago, and I'd shop around. 4 years ago, the yoyo was your best bet. Now I'd look at:

Bugaboo Butterfly (my favorite)
Ergobaby Metro+
Uppababy Minu (extremely popular in my neighborhood, even more so than the Yoyo)
Joolz AER (I've met several people who love this stroller, I think very comparable to the Yoyo)
Cybex Libelle (dislike the handles but some people might like them)
GB Pockit (Same handle situation)
Mountain Buggy Nano (good option for less $$)
Zoe strollers (also lower price point, I see them around the neighborhood and they look like they handle well)
Baby Jogger City Tour (people love the City Mini, this is their smaller travel version, I know BJ strollers are pretty indestructible)

Just throwing this out there because I often see recommendations for the Yoyo on here and I think it's a great stroller but it's really not the only good option for something small, light, and functional. Also, the main advantage to the Yoyo is being able to buy the infant pack so you can lie flat for that stage, but I found that to be useless to me because I wound up just carrying my baby on me during that time (she vastly preferred it and I discovered that this short time when you can be 100% hands free as a mom was really liberating).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FWIW, the Doona has awful crash-test ratings. If you plan to use your Doona in the car regularly, it'd be reason enough to skip it.

All car seats pass federal safety standards. Those private crash test ratings you refer to are worthless.

I'm sure you have a house full on things where minimum competency is not your accepted standard.

That’s not the issue - the issue is the private crash tests are not valid and don’t mean anything. Bad methodology leads to bad and misleading results. Bogus data is bogus data.

The doona is amazing. I personally have taking 2 mile plus walks with it with no issue. It is just so so convenient. So worth the money. And it’s safe.

(Don’t get their trike stroller though - that thing is a terrible stroller!!)

Private crash tests often come up with similar results. Product ratings include lots of stuff besides crash where applicable and safety. Start with the safest car seats, then what strollers can be used which each seat, brakes. Consider travel by plane. What can have the seat attached with the child in it, wheel to gate, fold and go in overhead?


I and others are old enough to remember crib bumpers. Cushion for the head but baby could get lodged or the breathability was limited. Now people are placing infants in solid material sided bassinets overnight. Sits on a stand then can put it on a stroller frame. No government safety standard for overnight or awake adult supervising when in use. https://www.babygearlab.com/reviews/nursery-furniture/bassinet/uppababy-bassinet-and-stand

ALL car seats are safe.

Here is wirecutter's take on why private crash testing is not useful and can in some cases be misleading. Car seat for the littles also has the position that private crash testing is not reliable.
https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-booster-car-seats/#what-about-crash-testinghttps://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-booster-car-seats/#what-about-crash-testing

Ultimately the most important thing is to pick a car seat that works for you AND USE IT CORRECTLY!!

the doona is great because it has an easy seatbelt install and is very easy to use on ubers and taxis etc.

That actually makes it SAFER because people are more likely to install it correctly and use a car seat in these situation.