The agony of disturbing a sleeping baby by lifting it out of a car seat and into a buggy - or vice versa - may be solved by this neat and nifty bit of kit. Sister product to the DOONA X and DOONA +, this is an innovative hybrid car seat and travel system all rolled into one, transforming from car seat to stroller at the touch of a button. Perfect for urban living, this unique space-saving and time-saving system is ideal for quick trips out and for those short on storage in the car boot or at home.
Practical and compact, the DOONA is great for vehicles of all sizes as well as being suitable for use on public transport including aeroplanes. In the endeavour to design a two-in-one stroller/car seat, safety hasn't been compromised. It meets all safety standards and the extendable handle of the buggy doubles as an impact bar when in carseat mode. An ISOFIX baseis available but sold separately.
Our Mother&Baby reviewer Holly is a mum of two. We asked her to put the DOONA i through its paces with her youngest to see if it lives up to the promise. Read on for her full review.
Pros
- Space saving in both car and house
- ISOFIX is an option (base sold separately)
- versatile 2-in-1 carseat and buggy system
- Feels safe and secure and meets all safety regulations
- No assembly necessary
- Suitable from newborn
- For air travel it's TUV and FAA approved
Cons
- No under-carriage storage basket
- Not great on grass/uneven surfaces
- Relatively heavy when carried compared with other car seats - to be expected given it's a 2-in-1 system
| Age | From newborn to 13kg |
| Car seat direction | Rear facing only |
| For air travel | TUV and FAA approved |
| Warranty | 2 years manufacturer's warranty |
| i-size compliant | yes |
- Adjustable headrest
- Five-point harness
- All wheels are quick release
- Infant insert included
- removable and washable material covers
Tried and tested by our mum reviewer
I am a mum of two, learning to navigate the world now having a pre-school ‘threenager’ and a young baby. Exploring and adventuring together, I am always looking for ways to make life that bit easier.
Fresh from the box, the DOONA is ready to go and does not require any assembly - bonus!
You can install the DOONA with or without the isofix base, making it suitable for all vehicles. It is a great space saving system for smaller cars. As the owner of a Ford Fiesta, I really struggled to get a traditional pram to fit into the boot - or when I did there wasn’t any space left for shopping! The DOONA takes away the space issue as my babies 'wheels' and carseat are rolled into one, so now we can shop until we drop!
As a car seat: the DOONA feels safe and secure with a 5-point harness. There is a padded new born insert which baby fits snuggly into and the harness feels robust but comfortable. The system takes up no more room than a standard car seat and is fairly simple to install either on the Isofix base or with a seatbelt (after a bit of practice). When using with the Isofix base there is a green line to indicate that the seat has been securely fastened which offers peace of mind.
The DOONA can be used as a carrier, the handle has a good grip and can be adjusted. The downside is that it is quite heavy and awkward to carry compared to other carseat-carriers on the market such as the maxi-cosi.
As a stroller: The DOONA converts from a car seat into a pram in seconds. Granted, it did take a few attempts to get use to it at first, but once you grasp the technique it makes travelling so much easier.
As a pram, the DOONA feels sturdy, glides and rolls nicely along on the pavement, through shops and on smooth roads. However, it certainly isn’t practical for off-roading; the ride is pretty bumpy on uneven surfaces and hard to push on grass - it is definitely not practical for walks with the dog. However, taking the DOONA around the town centre makes shopping a breeze. It’s great for nipping into shops and cafes, the only downside being there is no basket for holding shopping bags or storing baby bit-and-pieces so your hands become full.
It's great for parents with smaller vehicles and those looking for a convenient and nippy travel system to navigate the city.
The final verdict
The product delivers what it says on the tin and is an easy alternative travel system. It is great for quick trips out and certainly aids those short on space. The cover was straight forward to remove and can be machine washed on a cool cycle. The canopy and the padding on the straps can also be removed and cleaned - I was very impressed that it was so easy to clean.
Although quite pricey, I think the DOONA i is good value for money as you are getting a quality 2-in-1 system. A very nicely designed and practical investment for city and town dwellers.