It’s no secret that the Nuna PIPA is a popular infant car seat! In fact, it’s one of the most popular infant car seats on the market due to its elegant design and incredible safety features. Since the PIPA was first released, Nuna has come out with 6 additional versions of this incredible car seat to ensure that you get just the right fit for your family. For first-time and experienced moms alike, this can be a bit overwhelming! With just minor differences between each Nuna PIPA model, it can be hard to figure out which one to pick! So to make life easier for you, we’ve done the research so that you can feel confident with your car seat purchase! Let’s take a look at some of the biggest similarities and differences between the original Nuna PIPA, the PIPA Lite, the PIPA RX, the PIPA Lite R, the PIPA Lite LX, PIPA Lite RX, and the PIPA Urbn!
Why pick Nuna?
If you’re familiar with baby gear, you’ve most likely heard of Nuna! Nuna is a global brand, designing and innovating baby gear that’s built to last a lifetime while providing parents with convenient features that make life easier each step of the way. They focus on providing all of this while ensuring the products are made with organic, natural and chemical-free materials. Many of their products are also GOTS™ certified, meaning they are sustainably produced from start to finish! And if you’ve seen ANY of Nuna’s gear, from their car seats and strollers to their playards, you know just how beautiful and timeless the craftsmanship in design. When you’re buying Nuna, you know you’re getting the best the baby gear world has to offer!
How do I pick a Nuna PIPA car seat?
The Nuna PIPA car seat was first released in 2016! In the years since, Nuna has made slight changes in fabrics, accessory additions, and even added another car seat base option! This allows you to get a car seat with exactly the features you’re looking for! So when deciding which Nuna PIPA to pick, the first step is to decide what features you’re looking for!
Here are some questions you can ask yourself to gauge what things are most important to you:
Do I need something as lightweight as possible for easier in and out?
Do I need to be able to install my car seat without the car seat base so that I can safely use it in an Uber, taxi, or grandma’s car?
Do I want bonus features, such as the Sky Drape™ or a peekaboo window in the canopy?
Do I want a unique color or luxury fabric?
Do I want a deluxe base with an anti-rebound board and additional recline positions?
Or do I have a tight budget I need to stick to?
Figure out what your priorities are, then you can easily narrow down your choices based on which Nuna PIPA model checks off all your boxes!
To help you do this, let's break down each model one-by-one, starting with the original Nuna PIPA!
Nuna PIPA
The original Nuna PIPA still remains one of the most popular car seats. With the lowest price tag of any PIPA, it still packs a punch with its beautiful design, its ease of installation, its incredible safety features, and its light weight compared to other car seat brands. The PIPA also comes with a Sky Drape™ (formerly known as the Dream Drape) and mesh peekaboo window, which some of the newer models do not come with. It can be safely installed without a car seat base, but comes with the standard base for everyday use.
Price: $250
Color Options (at the Baby Cubby): Caviar
Fabric: Premium micro-knit fabric; woven polyester insert
Shell: EPS foam
Weight: 7.9 lbs without canopy/base/inserts
Weight/Height Capacity: 4 - 32 lbs; up to 32" tall
Base: Original base
Installation w/out Base: Yes
Additional Features/Accessories: Sky Drape™, one standard infant insert, mesh peek-a-boo window in canopy, flip out eyeshade, seat belt guides, and European belt path (No second set of infant inserts)
Nuna Pipa Infant Car Seat in Caviar
Nuna PIPA Lite
One of the most common complaints about infant car seats is how heavy they are to carry around. By simply removing the European belt path for those of us that only want to install our car seats WITH a base, the Nuna PIPA Lite was born, becoming the world’s lightest infant car seat without sacrificing any safety features. The shell is built with Trademark Aeroflex Foam technology to keep your infant safe and secure in the event of a crash. The PIPA Lite also features buckle holders that keep the harness out of the way when placing your baby into the seat, an incredible convenience feature that was not found in the original Nuna PIPA!
Price: $280
Color Options (at the Baby Cubby): Caviar, Granite, Lagoon
Fabric: Micro-knit fabric; Tailor Tech™ memory foam inserts (one GOTS™ organic cotton and one woven polyester infant insert)
Shell: Aeroflex foam
Weight: 5.3 lbs without canopy/inserts/base
Weight/Height Capacity: 4 - 32 lbs; up to 32" tall
Base Included: Original base
Installation w/out Base: No
Additional features/accessories: Buckle holders, an extra set of infant inserts, and flip out eyeshade (No Sky Drape™ or peek-a-boo window in the canopy)
Nuna PIPA Lite LX
The PIPA Lite LX was released soon after the PIPA Lite but with some slight upgrades. The Merino wool TENCEL Lyocell fiber blend used in the seat is naturally moisture wicking, keeping your baby more comfortable on hot or humid afternoons! It's also anti-microbial, which is a must have when dealing with baby gear! The Lite LX also comes with the Sky Drape™, which the original Lite model did not include.
Price: $320
Color Options (at the Baby Cubby): Caviar, Granite, Frost
Fabric: Merino wool TENCEL Lyocell fiber blend; Tailor Tech™ memory foam inserts (one GOTS™ organic cotton and one Merino wool TENCEL infant insert)
Shell: Aeroflex foam
Weight: 5.7 lbs without canopy/inserts/base
Weight/Height Capacity: 4 - 32 lbs; up to 32" tall
Base: Original base
Installation w/out Base: No
Additional Features/Accessories: Sky Drape™, buckle holders, an extra set of infant inserts, and a flip out eyeshade (No peek-a-boo window)
Nuna PIPA RX
The Nuna PIPA RX is the most similar model to the original PIPA. However, it was the first to come with the upgraded RELX car seat base that includes an anti-rebound panel and 4 different recline positions, allowing you to get a more customized fit for your vehicle. The PIPA RX also comes with a luxurious organic jersey insert to keep baby more comfortable and is slightly lighter than the original PIPA while still allowing you to install it without a base when needed.
Price: $400
Color Options (at the Baby Cubby): Caviar, Granite, Birch, Lagoon, Camel, Hazelwood
Fabric: Organic jersey cotton
Shell: EPS foam
Weight: 7.6 lbs without canopy/inserts/base
Weight/Height Capacity: 4 - 32 lbs; up to 32" tall
Base: Upgraded RELX base
Installation w/out Base: Yes
Additional Features/Accessories: Sky Drape™, mesh peek-a-boo window in canopy, buckle holders, flip out eyeshade, seat belt guides, European belt path and upgraded RELX base (No second set of infant inserts)
Nuna PIPA Lite R
The PIPA Lite R came as another option similar to the two previous Lite editions (the PIPA Lite and the PIPA Lite LX), but this time with the brand new RELX base! With many of the same features as the previous Lite models, you also get even greater customization and safety with the anti-rebound panel, a wider range of load leg heights, and more recline positions that the RELX base provides.
Price: $300
Color Options (at the Baby Cubby): Caviar, Granite
Fabric: Organic jersey cotton, Tailor Tech™ memory foam jersey cotton inserts
Shell: Aeroflex foam
Weight: 5.3 lbs without canopy/inserts/base
Weight/Height Capacity: 4 - 32 lbs; up to 32" tall
Base: Upgraded RELX base
Installation w/out Base: No
Additional Features/Accessories: Buckle holders, flip out eyeshade, and upgraded RELX base (No Sky Drape™, peek-a-boo window in the canopy, or additional infant insert)
Nuna PIPA Lite RX
If you're looking for the most deluxe version of the PIPA, you're going to love the PIPA Lite RX! With all the best features from previous models, from a lightweight car seat shell that still enables you to install without a base to the luxury fabrics and the upgraded RELX base, it's no surprise that the PIPA Lite RX is a popular choice! It's also the first to offer a no-rethread harness of all the PIPA models, making it much easier to adjust the harness position as your baby grows! And with the wide array of colors to choose from, you can find just the right seat to fit your style.
Price: $550
Color Options (at the Baby Cubby): Caviar, Granite, Frost, Lagoon, Camel, Riveted, Hazelwood, Ocean
Fabric: Merino wool TENCEL Lyocell fiber blend with moisture-wicking properties; Tailor Tech™ memory foam inserts (one GOTS™ organic cotton and one Merino wool TENCEL infant insert)
Shell: Aeroflex foam
Weight: 6.9 lbs without canopy/inserts/base
Weight/Height Capacity: 4 - 32 lbs; up to 32" tall
Base: Upgraded RELX base
Installation w/out Base: Yes
Accessories Features/Accessories: Sky Drape™, peek-a-boo window in the canopy, flip out eyeshade, magnetic buckle holders, extra set of infant inserts, seat belt guides, European belt path, upgraded RELX base, an adjustable head support and a no-rethread harness
Nuna PIPA Urbn
The PIPA Urbn is the newest version of the Nuna PIPA. Released end of 2022, the Urbn is the first infant car seat to have the anchors built directly into the car seat shell! This prevents you from having to install a separate car seat base or struggle with the vehicle seat belt for installation! Simply click the anchors into place and you're on your way! The Urbn is the perfect choice for families that are always on the go, switching cars often, traveling, or frequenting ride shares!
The PIPA Urbn is also the first in the series to feature a full-size mesh peek-a-boo panel in the canopy, allowing for even better air flow and visibility compared to the smaller peek-a-boo windows found in previous models.
The PIPA Urbn is currently only available for purchase as a travel system with the Nuna TRVL, the Nuna TRIV Next, or the Nuna MIXX Next.
Price: W/ Nuna TRVL $900; W/ Nuna TRIV Next $1,100; W/ Nuna MIXX Next $1,200
Color Options: Caviar, Hazelwood, Lagoon (w/ TRVL); Caviar, Ocean (w/ TRIV Next); Caviar (w/ MIXX Next)
Fabric: Environmentally friendly Merino wool and TENCEL™ branded lyocell fiber blend
Shell: Aeroflex foam
Weight: 7 lbs without canopy/inserts
Weight/Height Capacity: 4 - 22 lbs; up to 29" tall
Base: None; has built in pipaFIX™ rigid latch (shown below)
Installation w/out Base: Yes (With pipaFIX™ rigid latch or European belt path)
Additional Features/Accessories: Sky Drape™, XL Peek-a-boo mesh panel in canopy, magnetic buckle holders, seat belt guides, European belt path, pipaFIX™ rigid latch
Nuna TRVL Stroller and PIPA Urbn Car Seat Travel System in Caviar
Other FAQ’s:
What do all the Nuna PIPA infant car seats have in common?
All of the Nuna PIPA infant car seats are GREENGUARD gold certified, which means the fabrics will not be emitting any harmful chemicals.
All of the fabrics are also made with FR (fire retardant) free fabrics. So instead of adding chemicals to the fabric to reach fire safety guidelines like other brands do, Nuna uses naturally flame-retardant fabrics, limiting your child's exposure to harmful chemicals!
Each car seat is also FAA aircraft certified.
In regards to design, each PIPA comes with the gorgeous luxe leatherette handlebar that is also made of aerospace aluminum.
What are the biggest differences between the Nuna PIPA infant car seats?
The biggest differences between each of the Nuna PIPA models are the cost, the base that's included, the shell, the accessories included, the weight, and the fabric material. Check out the graphic below for a quick side-by-side comparison of all the models.
What is the Nuna Sky Drape™? Do I really need it? Can it be used when you’re driving?
The Nuna Sky Drape™ is a built-in car seat cover. With mesh paneling on the sides and magnets to keep it closed, your baby can have the shade and privacy needed, keeping strangers hands away as well as harsh sun rays in the afternoon.
Everyone will differ on their car seat needs. Although you can purchase third party car seat covers, the Sky Drape™ provides an additional convenience and is built to fit your car seat perfectly. Plus it can safely be used while driving!
What is the difference between the original base and the upgraded RELX base? Which car seats come with the upgraded RELX base?
Both bases have True Lock™ installation and a rigid LATCH system, which allows you to install your base tightly within seconds. Both bases also include a stability leg, which provides added safety in the event of a crash. Although the bases are similar in a variety of ways, there are some key differences that bring the RELX base to a whole new level!
Original Base: (shown below)
Weight: 14 lbs
Load leg: 2-piece stability leg allows for 12 height positions
Recline: One flip foot, which allows for one additional recline position (but has to be uninstalled to make this adjustment).
LATCH: Rigid latches that rotate, but can not be lengthened for a more customized fit.
Weight: 18 lbs
Load leg: 3-piece stability leg allows for 17 height positions. (This allows for greater customization to different vehicles and may allow you to place the car seat more easily in a center seat position.)
Recline: Bubble-free, numbered recline makes it easy to adjust the car seat to 4 separate recline positions as your baby grows (without having to uninstall your car seat to make adjustments).
LATCH: Rigid latches rotate and have 4 extension positions, allowing it to fit in a wider range of cars.
Additional features: Anti-rebound board for additional safety and advanced seat belt guide for an easier installation when using the seat belt instead of the latch system.
Both bases can be purchased separately, and all bases can be used with any of the Nuna PIPA models. However, the bases that come included with each Nuna PIPA car seat model will vary. Simply put, the RELX base comes with the models with the letter "R" in their name: the PIPA RX, the PIPA Lite R, and the PIPA Lite RX.
What are the differences between the PIPA shell, PIPA Lite shell, and the newer shells used in the Nuna PIPA Lite RX and the PIPA Urbn?
The original PIPA and the PIPA RX are made from a heavy duty shell with incorporated seat belt guides for base-less installation, causing it to be the heaviest of the PIPA models. The PIPA also features EPS foam.
The PIPA Lite shell is made from Trademark Aeroflex foam. This is a very strong, shock-absorbing foam. The PIPA Lite, PIPA Lite R, and PIPA Lite LX feature this shell, and do NOT feature the seat belt guides/European belt-path for base-less installation.
The car seat shell found in the Nuna PIPA Lite RX also has the Trademark Aeroflex foam found in the Lite models, but has the incorporated European belt path and seat belt guides to allow it to be installed without the base.
The newest PIPA car seat shell, found in the Nuna PIPA Urbn, is similar to the Lite RX and features the same Aeroflex foam. However, it has the latch system which is built directly into the shell that makes it slightly different.
Are all of the Nuna PIPA Car Seats compatible with the Nuna strollers?
Yes, all the Nuna PIPA car seats are compatible with the car seat-compatible Nuna strollers.
Are the Nuna PIPA infant car seats compatible with any other stroller brands?
Yes, the Nuna PIPA car seats are compatible with a wide range of other stroller brands such as BOB, Bugaboo, Bumbleride, Cybex, Silver Cross, Thule, UPPAbaby, and Veer with car seat adapters (sold separately). You can see a complete list of compatible strollers here.
Can the Nuna PIPA infant car seats be installed without a base?
The PIPA, PIPA RX, PIPA Lite RX, and the PIPA Urbn can be installed without a base because they have seat belt guides and a European belt path. The PIPA Urbn also has another method of install without the base with the pipaFIX™ rigid latch.
Can the Nuna PIPA fabrics be machine washed?
The Nuna PIPA fabrics can be machine washed on a cold gentle cycle. Hang to dry.
The Nuna PIPA line is truly incredible. With a wide range of accessories, fabrics, colors, and car seat bases, you are sure to find just the right PIPA for you and your baby!
Still not sure which Nuna PIPA to pick? Check out our video comparison of all 7 PIPA models on our YouTube channel, chat with us online at babycubby.com or come talk with one of our certified Cubby Moms in store! We are here to answer ALL your baby gear questions!
