The dual functionality of the Doona car seat makes it one of the most highly sought-after infant car seats in the world. It is a joy for parents to easily transition from a car seat to a stroller without breaking a sweat.
No doubt, the Doona car seat is a great product every parent should desire to have, but how long can you use the Doona car seat stroller? Is Doona for infants only or can it be used for toddlers?
In this write-up, we shall answer every necessary question parents need to know about the Doona car seat. Ultimately, you will know who the Doona is meant for, how long you can use it, what car seat to use next after Doona, etc.
Read this first: Does the Doona car seat fit in shopping carts?
Table of Contents
Is The Doona Car Seat Meant For Infants Only?
Yes, the Doona car seat is specially made for infants only. According to Wikipedia, infants are babies less than or about 12 months old, and these are the set of kids that the Doona car seat stroller is meant for.
The Doona car seat is designed for babies from birth up to 35 lbs or 32 inches, whichever limit is reached first. Following these weight and height limits means that you can only use Doona for at most 15 months.
We have seen or heard some parents say their kids outgrew the Doona car seat in the tenth month. We have also heard of babies outgrowing the Doona car seat in the fourteenth month.
Therefore, from all indications, it is right to say that the Doona car seat is suitable for infants only.
Related: Can you wash the Doona car seat? (Quick fact!)
Is Doona Car Seat Rear-Facing?
The Doona car seat is rear-facing and babies should ride on the rear-facing throughout the usage of the Doona car seat.
According to the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA) and the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics), children should stay in a rear-facing car seat from birth until about 3 years old.
Going by the recommended age range for riding rear-facing (0 to about 3 years), the Doona car seat falls under the rear-facing mode.
Why is it essential that infants and toddlers stay rear-facing up to around 3 years old? During this stage of a baby’s life, the head, neck, and spine of a baby lack support, it is the rear-facing car seat that will provide support and absorb most of the crash forces.
Related: Is the Doona car seat good?
Can The Doona Car Seat Face Forward?
No, the Doona car seat is meant for rear-facing only because that is the best and safest riding mode for infants and toddlers.
Regardless of the brand of car seat you have, if you have a child within the age range of 0 to 3-4 years, do not go with the forward-facing mode. Doing so is against the traffic law and it is not safe for your little one.
Therefore, you cannot install the Doona car seat in a forward-facing position because the car seat is intended for rear-facing only.
Is There A Doona Car Seat For Toddlers?
There is no Doona car seat suitable for toddlers for now. The only Doona that is available is meant for infants only (from 0 to about 15 months old).
Toddlers are kids between 2 and 3 years old. If you are interested in having a car seat that can serve from birth up to 4-5 years, your best bet will be a convertible car seat.
Unfortunately, Doona doesn’t have convertible car seats, so, you can’t use a Doona for toddlers.
What Age Is Doona Car Seat For?
Typically, a Doona car seat is meant for babies from birth to around 18 months. From general observation, it can be used for up to 10 – 18 months. Some parents stopped at month 10, some at month 12, some at 15, etc.
The growth rate of kids is different, hence, the difference in when to stop using the Doona car seat. But in all, there is hardly any child that will use the Doona car seat for more than 18 months.
Since there is no specific age to stop using the Doona car seat, the best way to know when to stop is through the weight or height limit. Once your child reaches 35 lbs or 32 inches (whichever comes first), you should stop using the Doona car seat.
Recommended: Is Doona a heavy car seat? (Read this first)
Would There Be A Need For Another Car Seat After Purchasing The Doona Car Seat?
Of course, you will need to buy another car seat after using the Doona car seat. The Doona car seat is meant for use for just about 12 months, which means your child will need another car seat once he/she outgrows Doona.
Once you have a Doona car seat, you don’t need to spend money buying another infant car seat for your child. When your baby outgrows the Doona car seat, the next car seat to use is a convertible car seat.
Top 3 Best Convertible Car Seats To Use After The Doona Car Seat
Doona is meant to be used for infants only. Therefore, there will be a need for any parent with the Doona car seat to have another car seat that can be used for a longer period.
After using the Doona car seat, the next car seat to consider buying is a convertible car seat. The market is flooded with dozens of convertible car seats and it could be daunting for new moms to choose one.
Below are our recommended best convertible car seats to use after the Doona car seat:
Graco 4Ever DLX 4–in-1 Car Seat
Your child can use the Graco 4Ever DLX 4-in-1 up to 10 years old. With this car seat, you won’t be needing any other car seat until your child starts using the vehicle’s seat belt.
Here’s a link to the car seat on Amazon
Nuna RAVA Convertible Car Seat
Everything you need in a car seat is available in the Nuna Rava car seat. Once your child reaches the maximum weight or height limit for rear-facing mode, the forward-facing mode can accommodate a child weighing up to 65 lbs.
The easy installation and rear-facing weight capacity of 50 lbs are two of the numerous advantages of this car seat.
Here’s a link to the Nuna RAVA convertible car seat.
Britax One4Life ClickTight All-In-One Car Seat
Our third recommended convertible car seat to use after the Doona car seat is the Britax One4Life convertible car seat. Your child can use this car seat up to 10 years old – there won’t be any need for a booster car seat.
Here’s a link to the Britax One4Life car seat on Amazon
Note: There are other top-notch convertible car seats available on the marketplace. However, to make the selection process easy for you, picking any of the three car seats above will be an excellent buy.
Can You Use Doona As Your Only Stroller
No, you can’t use the Doona stroller as your only stroller because your child will outgrow Doona in 2 years or less. You will need to buy a regular stroller if you want to go on long walks with your little one.
The Doona stroller is for the short term – it makes life easier for parents for the first 12 – 15 months after childbirth. But as your child keeps growing, you will need a bigger stroller with height weight and height limits.
