General questions
Is the Doona™ safe?
Doona™ is the only product to pass both ECE R44/04 Car seats and BSEN1888:2012 Pushchair stroller tests. Simple Parenting’s Engineering, Safety and Medical experts spent eight years developing Doona™. Their key focus was ensuring that a baby is safe and comfortable both inside and outside the car. The Doona is a safe alternative to your existing infant 0+ car seat only. In addition Doona has been safety tested by ADAC scoring the same safety standards and grades as the leading car seat brand in the marketplace. Furthermore free with every Doona is the Newborn insert that has been developed to provide a near flat ergonomic position for your baby and ensures the neck and spine are aligned in an ergonomic position. Doona makes everyday simple parenting safer:
- Safer at the petrol station to pop in and pay
- Safer to use on stairs or escalators, at home, in your flat or at the tube station
- Safer to use in a taxi, friends car, on the bus, tram, train or plane when your pram and cot are in the boot or stowage.
- Ease of use for the school run or popping to the shop.
Like all infant car seats, Doona™ is not intended for the baby to be in all day. Similar to a lie back new born stroller, the angle of the Doona’s™ orthopaedic back rest and padding, coupled with the shape of the shell provides maximum comfort and safety for your infant, with a previously unattended level of convenience and flexibility.
Safety was and is our #1 concern and will continue to be so. The Doona is here to help make parents day to day life more safe and simple.
Safety Information
What is the Newborn Infant Insert and what is its purpose?
Free with every Doona™ is the Newborn insert that has been developed to provide a near flat ergonomic position for your baby and ensures the neck and spine are aligned in an ergonomic position. The Insert has been designed to be used from birth onwards and can be removed from around 11lbs (5KG) onwards to ensure comfortable growth.
How much does the Doona™ weigh?
The Doona™ weighs 6.5 kg, which is lighter than the current heaviest car seat. Uniquely, the Doona™ only requires to be lifted it in and out of the car as the integrated wheels can be unfolded and convers the Doona™ into a push-along stroller.
Are the wheels integrated?
The Doona’s wheels are fully integrated and at the touch of the button, the wheels will unfold converting the car seat into a stroller and can be simply folded away again within seconds.
What age range is the Doona™ designed for?
Doona is not limited by age, but by weight and height. All Doona Car Seat & Stroller models are suitable for infants up to 13 kg, or 85 cm in height.
What car seat Group is the Doona™?
The Doona™ is a group 0+ rear-facing car seat.
Is the Doona™ rearward or forward facing?
The Doona™ is a rearward facing car seat. It is recommended that you should keep your baby in a group 0+ rear-facing car seat for as long as possible as this is the safest way of transporting your baby in the car. You should only move them onto the next car seat once they have reached the weight limit of that seat, or the crown of their head is level with the top of the car seat.
Can parts be replaced?
In the unlikely event that you may need to replace any part of your Doona™ then please contact CuddleCo’s customer service where we have a full range of replacements available: customerservice@cuddleco.co.uk.
Can I still use my Doona™ if it is broken?
We recommend that you should not use your Doona™ if any components are broken or missing.
When should I use the brake?
The Doona™ brake should be used when outside the car, always use the parking brake when placing and removing the child from the Doona™ car seat, or when standing still.
How can I contact Doona UK?
Our Customer Services are open from 09:00 – 17:00, Monday – Friday. You can contact us via email using customerservice@cuddleco.co.uk or via phone on +44 (0) 161 702 5063.
Safety features of the Doona
Can I fold / unfold the Doona with the baby inside?
Yes. It is safe to fold / unfold the Doona with the baby inside. Snugly adjust the harness of the Doona Car Seat around your child before folding / unfolding the Doona.
Can I keep using my Doona after a car crash?
In the unfortunate case of a car accident, an infant car-seat might be subject to powerful forces. These forces might compromise the car seat’s integrity and reduce its effectiveness in protecting an infant in the car. Since we have no way of precisely assessing how an accident might have affected the car-seat, and since the damage might not be visible, we cannot determine if any meaningful damage to the Doona occurred. Therefore, you should not use the Doona after it has been involved in a car accident.
Is it safe to use a second-hand Doona car seat?
NEVER put your child in a used infant car seat unless you know its history. A seat may be damaged or have been in a severe crash and have damage that is difficult to see.
Why Simple Parenting chose a 5 point harness?
Simple parenting believes that a 5 point harness better protects a child in case of an accident.
In case of an accident, forces are transferred to the car seat and to the child. The child’s rigid body parts (shoulders and hips/pelvis bone) can withstand the high load forces of a crash better than the soft body parts (lower abdomen). With a 5-point harness the child’s abdomen area is better protected and do not have to endure high loads.
The shoulder straps can be easily adjusted to the correct shoulders height, which ensures that the forces applied in an accident are best transferred to the car seat shell and the rigid shoulder bones of the child.
In addition, in case of an accident a child might be injected from the car seat, the 5-point harness ensures that the child is well secured and keeps the child in the safest position within the protective seat shell.
How does the Doona Side Impact Protection work?
Doona’s unique double wall structure, which enables the folding of its wheels into the Doona™ body, deliver an additional significant safety benefit. The two layers of durable, impact-absorbing plastic, along with additional layers of EPS, foam and textiles provide enhanced side- impact protection which better protects the baby in case of an accident.
How to use the breaks of the Doona?
The rear wheels are fitted with a breaking system which allows you to use just one pedal to control both the rear wheels. To apply the brakes, press the red brake lock pedal located next to the right wheel. To release the brakes, press the green brake release pedal located next to the left wheel. The brake must always be on when putting the child in or taking him out. Always use the parking brake when placing and removing the child, or when standing still even for a few moments! Always check that the brake is fully engaged.
The wheels of my Doona won't move! What is wrong?
Press the green brake release pedal located next to the left wheel to release the breaks. Please note – The brake must always be on when putting the child in or taking them out. Always use the parking brake when placing and removing the child, or when standing still even for a few moments! Always check that the brake is fully engaged.
How does the Energy-Absorbing Foam work?
Energy-absorbing foam absorbs some of the impact forces that occurs during a crash, keeping your child from absorbing them therefore preventing or minimizing an injury.
The foam also acts as a barrier between your child and the seat shell and any other rigid objects such as the vehicle door or window.
How does the Doona Anti-rebound Protection feature work?
Unlike typical car seats, Doona’s unique structure enables positioning the handle against the back of the seat of the car, thus providing the baby with exceptional Anti-Rebound protection. In case of a collision, the Anti-Rebound handle will absorb the impact and prevent the Doona™ from rotating quickly towards the back of the seat, thus dramatically reducing rebound injuries.
Can I use an inflatable seat belt to install my Doona car seat?
Inflatable seat belts are now found in the back seats of some Ford & Lincoln vehicles (starting in 2011) as well as some Mercedes vehicles.
Based on an analysis of vehicle seat belt system testing results, the current Ford Motor Company (Ford & Lincoln vehicles) Inflatable seat belt system is approved for use with Doona car seat using a “Lap shoulder belt standard installation”.
How safe are the materials Doona is made of?
All materials used by Simple Parenting are carefully tested and approved under the most strict American and European standards and the REACH regulation, including SVHC (Substances of Very High Concern).
Not only are the materials used free of any hazardous chemicals, they are also tested for their durability and quality to assure the safe and continuous use of the products.
Where is the Energy-Absorbing Foam located on the Doona car seat?
There are different kinds of absorbing foams located where it is mostly neccesary, inside of the shell and at the head support.
Installation of the Doona
How do I install my Doona in the car?
You may find detailed instructions on How To install the Doona here:
In the user guide located at its designated slot at the back of the Doona or on our website. Europe: page 35. US: page 45.
For more information watch the How To Use videos.
Can I install the Doona car seat in a forward facing position?
No. The Doona car seat intended for rearward facing only.
When using Doona in the car, how should the Doona handle be positioned?
When installing the Doona in the car, with or without a base, tilt the handle toward the vehicle seat in an anti-rebound position.
Can I install the Doona Car Seat in the front seat of my car?
You may install the Doona car seat in the car as long as you:
NEVER use the Doona Car Seat on a passenger seat with an active frontal airbag!
NEVER install the Doona Car Seat on a rear-facing vehicle seat or on a side-facing vehicle seat.
How do I install the Doona in the car without the base?
For correct installation of Doona in the car please refer to the User Guide:
User Guides
Europe: page 35.
US: page 45.
How do I know if the shoulder straps are not too tight for my baby?
A snug strap should not allow any slack. It lies in a relatively straight line without sagging. It does not press on the child’s flesh or push the child’s body into an unnatural position.
How to adjust the shoulder straps height?
Disconnect the shoulder straps from the metal harness plate located at the back of the car seat.
What is the correct height of the shoulder straps for my baby?
Ensure the shoulder straps are inserted through the shoulder strap slots at or just below the child’s shoulders.
My baby is only a few months old and the harness straps feel too tight, what should I do?
Make sure that the harness straps, at the back of the Doona, are threaded between the Doona body and the metal bar.
Check if the baby has outgrown the Infant Insert and remove it.
Make sure the shoulder straps are not twisted.
Verify that the shoulder straps are threaded in the correct height for the baby’s shoulders.
The handle does not extend what should I do?
The Doona handle is designed to prevent misuse, therefore it can be extended only when the handle is in rear facing stroller position.
To rotate the handle into a stroller mode, press both white buttons simultaneously (located on both sides of the handles) and then rotate the handle to rear facing stroller position.
The handle does not rotate what should I do?
To rotate the handle, press both white buttons simultaneously (located on both sides of the handles) and then rotate the handle to the desired position.
Doona i FAQ’s
What is R129/ i-Size?
R129 is a European regulation that sets safety standards for child car seats. It focuses on the child's height and age rather than weight, making it easier for parents to choose the right car seat for their child.
i-Size compliant seats also have stricter safety requirements and are tested for side-impact collisions. They typically use an ISOFIX system for installation, making them easier to install correctly. i-Size is a specific part of the R129 regulation. It is designed to improve safety and simplify the process of selecting and using car seats for children.
The R129 regulation aims to make car seats safer and more user-friendly, ensuring that children are properly restrained during car journeys.
What are the differences between Doona + and Doona i?
Doona + is R44 standard and is based on the weight of your child. Doona i is R129/i-Size and is based on height and age.
In terms of features, Doona i has an integrated harness and headrest for quick and easy adjustments. The Doona + has a rethread harness system for adjusting the harness height. The Doona i handle height extends to 102cm and is finished in faux leather for added comfort (the Doona + extends to 99cm).
For enhanced protection the Doona i includes the Doona SIP, providing additional side impact protection.
Is Doona + still safe to use?
Yes. A large part of the i-Size regulation is to switch from weight based to age and height.
Can I use my Doona i with my current Doona + ISOFIX base?
No, the Doona i has its own new compatible ISOFIX base which meets the i-Size safety regulation.
Which Doona + accessories are compatible with the Doona i?
All bags and add on accessories such as rain covers and sunshades are compatible with Doona i. If you require further information, please reach out to our product experts here.
Doona X FAQs
Is Doona X a Car Seat & Stroller too?
Yes! Doona X has all the same features of the previous generation Doona, with the addition of a recline feature when in stroller mode.
How is the Doona X certified as both car seat & Stroller
Doona X passes both certifications, R129 (for car seats) & EN1888 (for strollers).
How many recline positions does Doona X have?
Doona X has 3 recline positions: Sit, Relax, and Lay back.
What is the angle of the recline?
Doona X has a full recline up to 159°.
Can Doona be in a recline position in car seat mode?
No, the recline feature is for stroller use only and cannot be used in the car.
Can I change the recline positions while the baby is inside the Doona X?
Yes, though it is preferable to do when the harness is not tightened or when the buckle is unlocked.
What are the advantages of Doona X?
Doona X is the next generation car seat & stroller from Doona, which complies with all relevant safety standards. Doona X has the convenience of the Doona with the added benefit of the recline feature, has a completely new design, and new accessories.
What is the main difference between Doona X and Doona i?
Doona X stands as the next generation car seat and stroller by Doona. Similar to Doona + and Doona i, Doona X effortlessly transitions from a car seat to a stroller. The key distinction lies in Doona X's groundbreaking feature – three recline positions: sit, relax, and lay back. While retaining the convenience and enhanced safety features found in Doona i, Doona X adheres to the R129 regulation, incorporates an integrated harness and headrest, and is equipped with the Doona SIP (Side Impact Protection).
Can I use Doona X with my old ISOFIX base?
No, Doona X has its own new compatible ISOFIX base and cannot be used with the ISOFIX base of the Doona + or Doona i.
Is Doona X certified to be taken on an airplane?
Yes, Doona X is certified for airplanes, just like the Doona i and Doona +.
How does the Doona X anti-rebound protection feature work?
The anti-rebound feature works by reducing the movement of the Doona’s seat that can occur when involved in a front or rear impact. This can only be used when Doona X is installed in the car without the ISOFIX base.
Which Doona + and Doona i accessories are compatible with Doona X?
Doona X is compatible with the Essentials Bag, Tote Bag, Footmuff, Winter Cover, and all travel bags. Doona X has specially designed versions for each of the other accessories.
Why can’t Doona X be reclined when used in the car?
Doona X is designed as a hybrid product, functioning as both a car seat and a stroller. While in stroller mode, it offers multiple recline positions to maximize your baby’s comfort when outside the car. However, when in car seat mode, we prioritize safety above all else, which is why Doona X allows only for an upright sitting position. This position has been rigorously tested and proven to provide the best protection in the event of a collision.
In the event of a collision, a baby’s body is exposed to significant forces. While the car seat absorbs much of this impact, some of the force is inevitably transferred to the baby. In an upright position, these forces are distributed more evenly across the baby’s upper body (through the 5-point harness), reducing strain on any single area. Conversely, if the baby were in a reclined position, the force would be concentrated on the more vulnerable areas, such as the neck and shoulders, increasing the risk of spinal or neck injuries.
By keeping the baby in an upright position, the Doona car seats ensure that the baby's body is in the safest possible posture to handle the impact forces, significantly reducing the risk of serious injury.