Republished & Updated July 2022. After using several of these items for a while now (bought at full price), we wanted to share honest assessments below! We’ve done tons of research on baby gear over the past 4 years, so hope this post saves fellow parents some time and headaches!
1. Stokke High Chair Bundle
We chose this high chair because: 1) it came highly recommended by several child feeding specialists as an ergonomic high chair for proper posture while eating, 2) it grows with your child and adults can even use it afterward, and 3) it’s solid quality and looks nice and minimalist. We started using ours ~ 8 months for Nori (see my post on introducing solids) and 6 months for Rio. Several readers have shared that they used this high chair for 10+ years!
We’ve lowered the foot rest several times now as the kids grow, and the entire chair has been easy to clean. I wipe the wood and cushion off with a damp cloth (I only machine wash the cushion every few weeks), and we put a bib on over the seat belt straps. Just make sure you are familiar enough and able to get baby swiftly out of the chair (bib, straps, and all) in the event of emergencies. If the tray gets stained by food, we leave it outside for an afternoon under hot direct sun after washing it and it gets “sun-bleached” clean.
Second time around I made sure to get the seat cushion (included with the baby bundle set) which helped Rio use this chair starting at a younger age more comfortably.
Stokke Tripp Trapp
The bundle comes with the original wooden seat, baby set, cushion and tray .
Note that the chair, baby seat, and tray can also be found separately.
2. Nuna Infant Car Seats
When I was pregnant with my first, I wanted to find the lightest weight infant car seat on the market that didn’t sacrifice any safety points. Nuna stood out with excellent features for both safety ratings, practicality (loove the dream / sky drape) and baby’s comfort. As an added bonus for us, Nuna infant car seats are compatible with most major non-Nuna stroller brands including UPPAbaby and Babyzen using adapters sold separately.
Key Differences Between Nuna’s Infant Car Seats
Nuna Pipa
8 lbs
standard base
can use in a car without base
sky drape
Nuna Pipa RX
7.5 lbs
new relx base
can use in a car without base
sky drape
Nuna Pipa Lite
5.3 lbs
standard base
canNOT use in a car without base
NO sky drape
Nuna Pipa Lite RX
6.9 lbs
new relx base
can use in a car without base
sky drape
Infant Car Seat 101 – What is a Base?
Like most infant car seats around this price point, Nuna ones have 2 pieces – 1) the seat itself that baby sits in and 2) a base that gets installed and you leave in your car. The base makes it quick and easy to pop the car seat in and out of your vehicle securely, all while keeping baby buckled in (and hopefully napping!) the whole time. See two photos down for a picture of the car seat next to its base.
What’s the difference between the Nuna Pipa “regular” & Pipa Lite/Lite RX?
The original Pipa Lite is the lightest weight car seat on the market. The original Pipa Lite CANNOT be used in a car or airplane without the base (which is heavy, and sonmething most people do not want to lug around). The original Pipa Lite also does not have Nuna’s signature sky drape, a magnetic sunshade that unzips from the canopy. This feature was amazing to shade our baby during naps, car rides, or sleepy stroller walks.
However, in 2021 Nuna came out with the Pipa Lite RX, which is now their lightest weight option without sacrificing either of these features. It *can* be used in a car without the heavy base and has the sky drape. But it’s also their priciest option, so we think the Pipa RX is the best value and weights just a little bit more.
What about the “regular” Pipa vs. Pipa RX?
The Pipa RX is the newer version of the standard Pipa. It’s gotten a few small upgrades like buckle clips and being a half pound lighter. The biggest difference is it comes with the new Relx base that has an adjustable recline angle and is easier to install more securely, especially in the middle seats of a car and also in BMW 3 series cars (which was apparently problematic using the original base!). The new Relx base is compatible with any car seat in the Nuna Pipa / Pipa Lite family.
If we were buying our infant car seat now instead of 2 years ago, out of all the options we would opt for the latest Nuna Pipa RX.
Nuna Pipa RX
This photo isn’t of the RX, but for new parents, I just wanted to show what a carseat base looks like. Many parents who use multiple cars regularly (or grandparents’ cars) will get an additional base for the other car, so the carseat snaps on and off quickly and easily and you don’t have to thread the seat belt through each time.
3. After They Outgrow the Infant Car Seat…
As the next stage car seat after our Nuna Pipa, the Nuna Rava (also sold at PBK) was on our shortlist after it was by FAR the top recommendation when I polled mamas online.
The Rava, and most convertible car seats, *can* actually be used from birth, but for us personally it didn’t make sense to do so. We wanted the portability and ease of a smaller infant car seat during those first 12+ months. Being able to buckle up our infant outside of the car, then pop the car seat on & off a stroller or car seat base saved a lot of frustration vs. being hunched over in a parking lot or narrow Boston street trying to adjust straps on an infant. If these are not concerns for your lifestyle, then this one car seat could technically suit your child for the first several years since birth.
FYI: most convertible and toddler car seats (like the Rava) are 1 large piece, and do not have separate base + seat pieces like infant car seats (like the Pipa). They are not meant to be taken in and out of your car with each use.
Nuna Rava
If you’ve been considering this convertible car seat, this is a tried & true parent favorite product at a good discount, and one that will be used almost daily.
Last year, we tested a few convertible car seats inside our car before deciding on one. The Rava stands out as known for being safe, comfortable, durable, and luxurious feeling, as well as relatively easy to install once you get the hang of it. We have zero complaints so far, and Nori actually looks forward to car rides in it! We also got a second one for Rio to use.
The second-most recommended convertible carseat by readers was the narrower Diono Radian series, as it’s one of few brands that you can fit 3 across in a back seat!
4. Two parent-favorite strollers on sale
The 2020 versions of two noteworthy and very popular strollers are part of the Anniversary sale – one single seater stroller, and one that converts from single to double seater.
This post has gotten very long, so I will share more about both of these strollers and this years newest features in an upcoming post, along with photos next to my 5′ frame for size reference!
Single-converts-to-double seater stroller:
UPPAbaby Vista
If you have twins or plan on having 2 kids closer in age, the Vista is VERY popular as a stroller that converts from single seater to double (with multiple configurations!) and the option for a third on the ride-along board, sold separately.
Single seater stroller:
Nuna Mixx Next
If you want to cross off all your baby transportation needs during the NSale, the Mixx Next plus a Nuna car seat is a solid way to go – you’ll have a safe & practical combo that’s compatible right out of the box. The latest version of the MIXX folds up a little smaller than before, and it comes with the ring adapter, making it very easy to pop your Nuna infant car seat on and off the stroller.
If you own any of the above gear, feel free to share your thoughts and likes / dislikes!
