An Expert Guide to Nuna Car Seats

The number one thing as parents that we want to do for our children is to protect them. It starts as soon as we leave the hospital. The first car ride home can be exciting and anxious all at the same time. Having the right car seat can help ease those first ride home fears! Nuna is redefining the way car seats are designed, providing top safety-rated features along with being simple, fast, and easy to use.

The first car seats were nothing more than burlap sacks that hung over the passenger seat headrest by a drawstring. Car seats were mainly designed to lift the child higher, allowing them to see out of the window while keeping them secure in one place during the car ride. It took about 30 years before people considered car seats as a safety device. It wasn’t until the early 1970s that safety regulations and laws started to be enforced. As of 2022, the car seat age recommendation for children is from birth to 8 years old, and brands are working hard to keep our little passengers safe.

Leading these technological developments, Nuna has redefined car seats by introducing a steel-reinforced frame with a redesigned seatbelt lock-off with an open belt path to all of the Nuna car seats, along with a steel stability leg (load leg) to the infant car seat base that has five settings to accommodate different vehicles. Inspired by Dutch design, Nuna is durable and built to last while maintaining comfort and keeping safety a priority. Nuna has even received more than 320 awards in car seat safety and design since 2009.

Not only does Nuna want to keep your baby safe but they also care about the planet, offering clean and safe products that are GreenGuard certified. This means the materials that Nuna uses in their products do not release hazardous chemicals or VOCs (volatile organic compounds) into the air and their products meet the rigorous chemical emissions standards of UL, a global independent safety science company. Having products that are GreenGuard Gold certified keeps indoor air clean, providing a safe haven for you and your baby. Furthermore, all of the fabric material is premium micro-knit, machine washable, and extremely easy to take off and put back on!

Nuna has thought of everything to provide you with simplicity while ensuring you that your baby is comfortable and safe. They offer lightweight car seats for each stage in your growing child’s life from infant carriers, convertible car seats, all-in-one car seats, booster seats, and travel systems.

Which car seat is best for you? Take a moment and think about your child’s age, weight, and height. Once you have that information, what is your vehicle like? Where in the car do you want to place the car seat? The placement is important, especially if you have other children that have car seats. Always measure your seat space as each car and car seat differs.

Nuna Infant Car Seats

Pipa

The top-rated Pipa infant car seat is split into two categories: the Pipa car seat and the Pipa Lite car seat. The Pipa car seat offers two types of bases, the original Pipa base and the Relx base which offers more adjustability to fit a larger range of vehicles. Both of the base series are steel-reinforced and can be installed within five seconds.

Giving you peace of mind, Nuna made the Pipa car seats compatible with strollers from dozens of brands aside from Nuna. The entire Pipa line is designed for babies weighing from 4 to 32lbs and up to 32in tall. These infant car seats are made for easy transfer between cars, in taxis, and when traveling.

Each car seat is made with high-performance lightweight materials such as Aeroflex foam, side-impact protection, flame-retardant-free fabric that is naturally flame resistant, and their steel-reinforced True Lock base installation with rigid latch connectors. The True Lock installation makes installing your car seat faster and easier while ensuring you that your baby is locked in safe! Say goodbye to those bubble levelers—The rigid latch connectors on the Relx base can be set in four positions to remove or help reduce the space between the car seat and the vehicle seat.

Pipa Lite

The fashionable Pipa Lite is available in four different variations: Pipa Lite, Pipa Lite R, Pipa Lite LX, and the Pipa Lite RX. The Pipa Lite car seat is one of the lightest infant car seats on the market, weighing only around 7lbs. No more having to haul around a giant heavy car seat from your car to inside the grocery store!

Do note that the Nuna Pipa Lite, Pipa Lite R, and the Pipa Lite LX are not compatible for use in every car without the designated Nuna car seat base installed, unlike the Nuna Pipa or the Nuna Pipa Lite RX car seat.

This car seat line is GreenGuard Gold Certified and offers a heavy-duty shell without the weight. The shelter canopy is fully removable and is UPF 50+ to protect your baby from harsh sun rays while out on a stroll or sitting next to a window.

Pipa Lite RX

The Pipa Lite RX is the only car seat of the Pipa Lite car seat line that offers the versatility to use the seat in any vehicle without a Nuna base installed, which makes it perfect for city living. The Lite RX is also ultra-lightweight at only 7lbs! This is the top-of-the-line infant car seat from Nuna, offering the most luxurious ride for your baby.

This infant car seat has Merino wool inserts and head support and magnetic buckle holders to help you strap in your baby without the hassle of clips everywhere. This car seat has a full coverage eyeshade with Nuna’s game-changing Dream Drape that attaches to the end of the car seat with magnetic clips to keep your baby asleep with little interruptions.

The Pipa Lite RX also has a height-adjustable headrest with a five-point, no-rethread harness that grows with your baby in all stages. That's right! No need to rethread the harness straps, allowing you to spend more time where it matters most and less time adjusting your car seat!

Nuna Convertible Car Seats

Convertible car seats are designed to last through all of your baby’s car seat stages, from rear-facing to forward-facing use. Rear-facing convertible car seats are designed for children who weigh 5-50lbs, less than 43in in height, and up to two years of age. The forward-facing convertible position is designed for children 25-65lbs under 43in in height, and the suggested use is two years and older.

Nuna offers three convertible car seat options: the Nuna Rava, the Nuna Exec, and The Nuna Revv.

Rava

The Nuna Rava is a great option if you are transferring from an infant car seat to a convertible car seat! The Rava offers forward and rear-facing positions, a five-point no-rethread harness, and is GreenGuard Gold Certified.

The Nuna Rava is ready for any stage your growing child is in with its 10-position headrest and removable infant head and body inserts so the seat can grow with your baby. The Rava is ready for long road trips, designed with ventilation panels within the shell and material that is breathable (and machine washable!) to keep your child comfortable the entire time. The Rava is a great budget-friendly option that ensures safety and is easy to install.

With this car seat, you can even have your child rear-facing up to 50 lbs which is perfect for any child that is under two years of age and is smaller than 49in tall. When installed with the seat belt path, this car seat is recommended for children that weigh 5-50 lbs, and with the lower anchor belt installed, it’s recommended for children that weigh 5-35 lbs. If you are planning on using this car seat in the forward-facing position, it is recommended that your child is two years of age or older and smaller than 49in tall. When using the forward position and installing the car seat using the seat belt path, Nuna recommends that your child weighs 25-65 lbs, but if the car seat is installed using the lower anchor belt, Nuna recommends that your child weighs 25-40 lbs.

The Rava is built with an all-steel frame and belt path for superior protection for your baby while on the road. It also provides an extra two inches in the rear-facing position, offering more legroom and comfort for your growing child. You will also find this car seat is made with energy-absorbing foam and Side Impact Protection pods that offer additional protection for your baby.

Revv

The Revv is the newest addition to Nuna’s convertible line and is truly revolutionary with Nuna’s world debut rotate technology! This is the most versatile car seat on the market, allowing you to rotate the seat a full 360° to allow you to switch from rear-facing to forward-facing with no stress! This also makes it much easier to take your baby in and out of the seat—forget those painful head bumps and awkward stances to unbuckle your baby!

This car seat is designed for newborns up to two year olds, weighing 5-40lbs and up to 43in tall for the rear-facing position. The forward-facing position is perfect for children who are at least two years old, weighing 25-40lbs, and shorter than 43in.

Comfort at its finest, this car seat features magnetic buckle holders, a no-rethread five-point harness, and Merino wool infant inserts. You can also choose from five different reclining positions in both the forward and rear-facing directions, and ventilation panels in the shell ensure a comfortable climate for any car ride.

The Revv has maximum safety features, including an integrated rebound bar that helps prevent the car seat from rotating during an impact which can also be used as a handle when switching cars. Another safety feature is Nuna’s Steel Strength technology which is a top-of-the-line material used in the seat’s heavy-duty, durable shell and all-steel frame.

If you are wanting to skip the infant car seat and go with an option that offers three car seat stages all in one, the Revv is perfect for you!

Exec

Do you need a car seat that can provide maximum space in the back seat for more than one car seat? How about needing a car seat that can carry your child from the moment you leave the hospital all the way through the toddler stage? The Nuna Exec might be a great fit! This car seat is an all-in-one car seat, from birth up to four years old or older with the booster position. The sizing also allows you to place up to three Nuna Exec car seats side by side in most midsize vehicles, which is perfect for those families that have multiple young ones.

The Exec has Nuna’s Steel Frame and reinforced belt path for superior protection, locking the seat belt in place. Compared to the average car seat belt path design, you instantly feel the difference in security and safety. With this car seat, your child can stay rear-facing for up to 50lbs! The Exec grows with your baby through every stage, ensuring safety when and where you need it most.

Nuna Booster Seat

AACE

Are you past the youngest stages and need a booster seat for your growing toddler? The Nuna AACE grows with your child from pre-school to pre-teen ages! One fun feature with the AACE is that your child can use the installed vehicle seat belt just like you, which could be a huge growth moment for them!

This booster seat has an adjustable headrest and an extendable and expandable seat with eight different reclining positions to provide complete comfort and safety for your growing child. You are also able to remove the high back to create a no-back booster seat.

Nuna designed this car seat for children 40-110lbs with the high back booster attached. If you want to remove the back, your child can use this booster seat from 50-120lbs, ensuring you peace of mind for as long as possible!

Nuna Travel Systems

First of all, you might be asking what a travel system even is! A travel system is a car seat and a stroller set that are fully compatible and attach to create ultimate comfort for your baby while out on a walk. Nuna offers a wide range of travel systems, providing everything you need from the first car ride home from the hospital to your trips to the park.

Expert Tip: It is always important to make sure your infant car seat and your stroller are compatible, because if they are not, your baby could be at risk for injuries. You can always reach out to a Baby & Toddler Expert here on Curated to see if your infant car seat and stroller are compatible if you are unsure!

Mixx Next and Pipa RX

The Mixx Next and Pipa RX travel system is the top of the line for Nuna’s travel systems, offering you the most comfort and safety for your baby. This option comes with the Pipa Rx infant car seat and easily clicks into the Mixx Next stroller when paired with the included Nuna Ring adapter.

The Mixx Next stroller has four different carrying modes—you can have the stroller seat facing you, facing the world, in bassinet mode, or add in the Pipa RX for complete protection from the elements. The stroller has five reclining positions that easily adjust with one hand, including the true-flat sleeper position that allows your baby to lay completely flat. The stroller provides plenty of underneath storage, and the canopy is water repellant with protective UPF that also has a ventilated window so you can check in on your loved one while out and about.

The Pipa RX does weigh more than the Pipa Lite, coming in around 10lbs, and when in use, without the car seat attached, the stroller weighs 28.3lbs (without the insert and armbar). The Pipa RX car seat is an infant carrier and is great for babies that weigh 4-32lbs and are up to 32in tall. This stroller can also be used without the car seat attached from birth up to 50lbs.

This travel system creates a safe haven for your baby and a stress-free outing for you. Nuna stands by its word of providing baby gear that is easy, simple to use, and provides ultimate safety for your baby.

Connect with an Expert

Whether you are needing a car seat for your newborn, more than one car seat that fits together perfectly in your back seat, or you are wanting a single seat that supports each stage, Nuna has set out to deliver the safest car seats for your little one, no matter their age! Do you need help deciding which car seat is best for you? Reach out to one of our Baby & Toddler Experts, and let us help you with any questions you may have during this process.

This content is meant to be informative and add to your understanding of this subject, but it is not definitive nor a replacement for your own sensibility. Neither Curated nor any Curated Expert is responsible for any liability resulting from information or advice shared here. Please consult with a medical professional for any health concerns.