From a poll I did on IG, baby gear deals was by far one of the top categories you guys wanted me to cover from the NSale! We’ve done tons of research on baby gear over the past 2 years (in particular on infant and toddler car seats), so hope this post saves fellow parents some time and headaches.
We’ve owned several of these items for a while now (purchased at full price), so will share honest opinions below!
1. Stokke High Chair Bundle
We chose the Tripp Trapp because: 1) it came highly recommended by several child feeding specialists as an ergonomic high chair (with proper leg & feet positioning for posture while eating), 2) it grows with your child, and 3) it looks nice and minimalist! We started using it ~ 8 months for Nori (see my post on introducing solids) and hope to for many more years. Several readers have shared that they used this high chair for 5+ years per kid!
We’ve lowered the foot rest several times now as she grows, and the entire chair has been easy to clean. We also like removing the tray and pulling her chair up to the dining table for family meals.
One regret I have is not getting the cushion insert, which likely would’ve allowed her to start using this chair earlier at ~6 months. The cushion is usually sold separately, but one is included in the NSale bundle along with the tray!
Stokke Tripp Trapp Bundle $259 (Save $100)
Full price colors sold at Target, Amazon, Nordstrom. The Anniversary sale color is a classic walnut wood finish with gray tray, and the bundle comes with baby seat attachment, tray, and baby cushion. (I purchased the pieces for our white one at full price all separately, and I’ve yet to see that color go on sale).
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. In our research, Nuna stood out with excellent features for both safety and baby’s comfort (receiving the highest “best” rating by Consumer Reports’ independent crash testing). As an added bonus, Nuna infant car seats are compatible with most major stroller brands including UPPAbaby and Babyzen (using adapters sold separately).
However, their many car seat options can be confusing, so I hope this mini-guide breaks them down more clearly!
Note: the only Nuna infant car seat model in the Anniversary Sale is the Pipa Lite LX.
The most important question when choosing a Nuna infant car seat
- Do you want to be able to use the car seat in other vehicles (i.e. Ubers, rental cars, your 2nd car, grandma’s car, or an airplane)?
Like most infant car seats around this price point, Nuna ones have 2 pieces – 1) the seat itself (the top part that baby sits in) and 2) a base that gets installed and you leave in your car. The base makes it super quick and easy to pop the carseat in and out of your vehicle securely, all while keeping baby buckle in (and hopefully napping!) the whole time.
What’s the difference between the Nuna Pipa “regular” & Pipa Lite/Lite LX?
The Pipa Lite is the lightest weight car seat on the market, almost 3 lbs lighter than the standard Pipa. However, as a tradeoff – the Pipa Lite series CANNOT be used in a vehicle or airplane without the base (which most people do not want to lug around separately), whereas the Pipa can be strapped in using a seatbelt without the base.
Times have changed now with Covid, but since we knew we wanted to travel during Nori’s first year, that was a deal breaker for us and why we chose the standard Nuna Pipa instead of the Lite. At $299, its the lowest priced and best value (in our opinion) amongst Nuna infant car seats. We absolutely loved it for Noris first 12+ months, and the standard Pipa is still lightweight compared to most competitor car seats – I was able to lug it up and down 4 flights of stairs with a newborn on a daily basis! It also has 2 slots for crotch belt adjustments vs. 1 on the Lite, so it can be a little more comfortable as baby grows.
What about the “regular” Pipa vs. Pipa RX?
The Pipa RX is the latest version of the standard Pipa, and 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 is easier to install more securely, especially in the middle seats of a car. The new Relx base is compatible with any car seat in the Nuna Pipa / Pipa Lite family.
And the Pipa Lite vs. Pipa Lite LX?
The LX has the Dream Drape, a feature that we used daily! It’s a magnetic drape that unzips from the canopy, and easily pulls down to shade your little one for naps, car rides, or stroller walks when it’s too hot for a full cover.
If getting a Nuna infant car seat, I would HIGHLY recommend getting one with this clever feature. So for me, the Pipa Lite with no Dream Drape is not really a contender.
Nuna Pipa Lite LX $314.90 (Save $85+)
There are several versions of the Pipa Lite, but the LX is the only one with Nuna’s unique magnetic “dream drape” which we absolutely LOVED for napping and shade. See non-sale colors here.
Key Differences Between Nuna Infant Car Seats
Nuna Pipa
Retail $299
8 lbs
standard base
can use in a car without base
dream drape
Nuna Pipa RX
Retail $349
7.5 lbs
new relx base
can use in a car without base
dream drape
Nuna Pipa Lite
Retail $349
5.3 lbs
standard base
canNOT use in a car w/o base
NO dream drape
Nuna Pipa Lite LX
Retail $399
5.7 lbs
standard base
canNOT use in a car w/o base
dream drape
Btw, if you do need 2 car seat bases (for your second car, grandma’s car, etc.) this Pipa Lite lX with two base bundle is part of the Anniversary Sale, and comes with a regular base + a Relx base (their newest upgraded base). A potentially more cost effective option for families with 2 primary cars, though, is to get a convertible car seat like the Nuna Rava right out of the gate as your “second” car seat. More on those in the next section!
3. After They Outgrow the Infant Car Seat…
As the next stage car seat after our Nuna Pipa, the Rava was on our shortlist after it was by far the top recommendation when I polled fellow mamas online.
The Rava, and most convertible car seats, CAN actually be used from birth, but for us it didn’t make sense to do so. We wanted the portability and ease of an infant car seat during those first 12+ months, and in hindsight it was 110% worth it. 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 trying to adjust straps on a teensy infant.
Nuna Rava $374.90 (Save $75+)
If you’ve been considering this convertible car seat, this is THE best baby gear deal from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale in my opinion (coming from someone who bought it at full price due to poor planning ahead). A tried & true parent favorite product at a sizable discount.
Last year, we tested a few convertible car seats in 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!
Note however the Rava is not a travel-friendly car seat, but being heavier is part of what makes it feels so durable and safe. For travel, we got the Cosco Scenera thanks to many recommendations by fellow mamas. Just by touching the two you definitely feel you get what you pay for with each. The Seneca is very lightweight in comparison and great for toting on your shoulder through an airport, but it’s literally thin padding on top of a plastic frame – in comparison, the Rava feels indestructible.
FYI – 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 mom-favorite strollers on sale
The newest versions of 2 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 in-depth about both of these strollers and this years newest features in an upcoming post, along with photos next to my frame for size reference!
Single-converts-to-double seater stroller: UPPAbaby Vista V2 Set $726 (Regular $970)
If you have twins or plan on having 2 kids closer in age, the Vista is a mom-favorite for 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 2020 $549 (Regular $749)
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 & beautiful combo that’s compatible right out of the box. This latest version of the MIXX folds up a little smaller than before, AND it comes with the ring adapter (we had bought ours separately for $50), making it very easy to pop your infant car seat on and off the stroller.
I will also be sharing videos on my Instagram stories about the different features of the 2020 models of both of these strollers, so be sure to tune in there if interested!
If you own any of the above gear, feel free to share your thoughts and likes / dislikes!
from Extra Petite https://ift.tt/3fzkSZC
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