Hello, we are expecting our second baby and are starting to think about big purchases. We are keeping our pram from first time around a Joolz Day as we could fault it other than being slightly bulky but we want to upgrade on our maxi cosi pebble car seat as it is 3 years old now. We only used by our son for 1 year so I know we could make do with it but the 3 point harness made me anxious first time around as I really thought it should have been a 5 point harness like the next stage up and the isofix is already in use for our sons next stage carseats so we would still have to spend £175 on another one just to get 1 year out of it.
I am deciding between the Doona or the Nuna Pipa. I think the Doona would be more practical in terms of negotiating car parks etc with a 3 year old in tow as it appears to be so quick and easy to get out of the car and get going. However, it is expensive with the isofix combined and they don't sell the next stage car seat so we couldn't use the base again so the whole thing would last 1 year max.
I like that the Nuna has a very large sunshade which would be ideal not to wrestle with the parasol especially as we are having a summer baby. We would also use the base for the next few years as we would get the Nuna 360 carseat once baby outgrows the first stage carseat. We can clip this into our Joolz but I remember from last time it being heavy and bulky doing this and made a quick trip into Sainsbury's very hard work!
Also with having a large pram already, the Doona would mean we also have a light weight buggy for quick trips. Before people start on the whole babies should be in flat prams and not carseats debate I am a second time mum and already know the guidelines and wouldn't use the Doona in replacement of a pram for days out and long shopping trips etc. I would simply be using it to pop from the car to the supermarket or from the car to a baby group or friends house and then get the baby out just like I did with my first son who was very much fine with this.
The Doona seems easier but is more expensive and we wouldn't get much use out of the base. The Nuna is cheaper and we would get 5 years roughly out of the base as we would buy the Nuna second stage carseat after the baby outgrows the first stage carseat but is a lot more lifting and unlifting onto the wheels of the pram and time spent getting everyone and all the gear in and out of the car. Opinions would be greatly welcomed please as would other recommendations but I am looking for a carseats with a 5 point harness. Thank you!