Nuna PIPA vs Nuna PIPA Lite vs PIPA Lite LX | Car Seat Comparison

   The Nuna PIPA car seats have always been customer favorites at Magic Beans, and for good reason. They combine great safety features with ease of use and a lightweight shell that won’t break your back. With extensive stroller compatibility, they make a great option regardless of whatever stroller fits your lifestyle. But how do you know which Nuna PIPA is right for you? Today, we’re going to help you make that decision. 

   All three versions of the Nuna PIPA are rated for use with a child who weighs from 4 to 32 pounds and is up to 32 inches tall. The same base is used for each version of the Nuna PIPA, which is great because it provides superior safety features for your little passenger. The base is quick and easy to install using the ISOFIX latches found in your vehicle seats. All you have to do is rotate the rigid LATCH connectors towards the vehicle seat, line them up with the ISOFIX latches, and push to click it in! Unable to use your ISOFIX latches? Just install the base with your seatbelt instead. A tight installation can be achieved using the blue seat belt lockoff in the center of the base. The base also has an integrated load leg that stabilizes the car seat in the event of an accident and reduces the force of the accident by up to 40 percent. The base has an easy-to-read level and an angle adjuster so you can be sure that no matter what car you have, the seat will be installed at the proper angle. 

   All three Nuna PIPAs are also free from any added chemical flame retardants and are GreenGuard Gold certified so you can rest easy knowing nothing toxic is touching your baby. 

   The original Nuna PIPA infant car seat is the most versatile of the three car seats, but it is also the heaviest of the three at 8 pounds (still a very light car seat!). It is the only car seat in the Nuna PIPA line that can be installed without the base. Although extra bases can be purchased separately for additional cars, the option of a baseless installation makes it ideal for city dwellers who use Ubers and taxis, or for families who have secondary caregivers that don’t watch the baby frequently enough to warrant purchasing another base. The Nuna PIPA utilizes EPS foam, which is also used in bicycle helmets and car bumpers because it is extremely lightweight while also providing superior impact absorption. The fabric inside is made with a premium micro-knit that is soft and gentle on sensitive skin and has a removable infant insert (you can remove this when your baby is roughly 11 lbs). One of our favorite features of the Nuna PIPA is its magnetic Dream Drape canopy that provides both full coverage UPF 50+ protection and extra ventilation so your baby can be cool and comfortable. The canopy also has a velcro peek-a-boo window for added ventilation, enabling you to view your baby as you stroll. 

   The Nuna PIPA Lite is the lightest infant car seat currently available on the market, weighing in at only 5.3 pounds! Truly a featherweight car seat, this will be your best friend if you have back problems or have trouble lifting heavy objects. It’s also quite popular with grandparents due to the reduced stress it puts on their body. The Nuna PIPA Lite CANNOT be installed without the base, so it is best suited for families that don’t frequently use taxis. Additional bases are typically purchased for secondary cars or grandparents’ cars so that you don’t need to uninstall and reinstall your bases all the time or risk leaving the base in someone’s car and thus leaving yourself stranded. Instead of EPS foam, the Nuna PIPA Lite has Aeroflex EPP. This more durable foam is flexible in a collision, which reduces the risk of the foam cracking or splitting. The Nuna PIPA Lite has a more supportive headrest/infant insert (again, you can remove this once your child weighs 11 lbs) that will prevent the baby’s head from flopping to either side, but it doesn’t have the extendable Dream Drape or peek-a-boo window that the Nuna PIPA does. The infant insert for the Nuna PIPA Lite is made with GOTS™ certified organic cotton fabric and dye. To make your life easier, they’ve also added harness holders to the sides of the car seat so you don’t have to wrestle with the baby to get the harness out from behind their back - just lay them in the car seat, click the harness closed, and go!

   The Nuna PIPA Lite LX is the most luxe version of the Nuna PIPA, and still shares many qualities with the c. Like the Nuna PIPA Lite, the Nuna PIPA Lite LX an ultra-lightweight car seat at 5.7 pounds and also CANNOT be installed without the base. It is also made with Aeroflex foam, but the fabric is Merino wool and Tencel blend. The wool and Tencel are moisture and temperature regulating, as well as environmentally friendly. The canopy does have the coveted Dream Drape for full sun coverage, as well as the harness holders to improve ease of use. We recommend the Nuna PIPA Lite LX for parents who want the light weight of the Nuna PIPA Lite while still getting the benefit of extra coverage from the canopy. It truly is the best of both worlds!

   As we mentioned, all three use the same base (each car seat comes with one base, but you can always pick up an extra!) and they also use the same stroller adapters. Almost all strollers we carry either have an adapter specifically for the Nuna PIPA and it’s two siblings, or you can use a Maxi Cosi adapter.

   Still not sure which infant car seat is the right one for you? Have any questions about the fit in your car or on your stroller? Reach out to us anytime via email at questions@mbeans.com. We’re always happy to talk shop! You can also contact our Baby Gear Gurus via phone (866-600-BEAN) during business hours (M-F, 9 am-5 pm EST), by utilizing the Product Expert Chat on our website, or by scheduling a video consultation. Finally, get all the advice you need by visiting our YouTube channel!