PIPA next

I would say that it depends on the case. In general, it is better for newborn babies to lie flat, so if you are planning on using your stroller for longer walks, it is better not to use the car seat for that. But if you will be using it primarily to go from your car to the store, that should be fine. But it is also worth checking if the convertible seat is really fully secure for newborns. Yes, they are rated for such and have inserts, but how tightly does it fit newborns and what angle is the baby positioned at? At least here in Germany, the typical advice is that infant carriers are safer than convertible seats for newborns. (But seats vary a lot by region, so this may not apply outside of Europe). As for me, I am in a different position this time (it's my fourth pregnancy), as we now live in a major city and don't own a car. I ended up getting the Nuna Pipa Next infant seat as it is very lightweight and therefore easy to move into a taxi, car-sharing car, or rental car on the rare occasions that we use them. We don't intend to use it with a stroller except perhaps on vacation. I did consider just starting with a convertible seat to save money, but decided against it.

Yeah, I live in a big city and also don't own a car, so I will likely barely use the seat. I bought a Nuna Pipa on sale from Babywalz for €135. I chose it because it has a relatively high weight range and my older kids were big when they were born. It is also doesn't weigh much so it is easy to use for car sharing. It was a model that was already discounted due to the color, I had a €10 gift card, and they were having a 15% off Nuna sale for one weekend only. According to their website, the exact same seat costs €220 at Zwergperten, but the German-speaking parenting internet would still view the decision to purchase the exact seat (**in advance, not after renting a seat first!**) for €85 cheaper as being terribly irresponsible. I mean, clearly the seats become magically less safe when purchased from an unapproved vendor. The proof that this happens is that the Fachhändler say so! And the Fachhändler couldn't possible be motivated by the profit that they make from convincing worried parents that they should buy their seats at inflated prices. They are purely performing a public service! And if it would actually common for infant seats not to fit full-term, normal-sized newborns, no seat on the market would be suitable, as a baby that is shorter/taller/slimmer/chubbier at birth could easily not be so after a couple of months, and then they could need a different seat a month later.

Hey, I am basically you, but a year down the road. I live on the second floor (no elevator) and don't drive. I have (and recommend) the Nuna Triv Next with the regular Pipa car seat, which has the longest life of the Pipa line. You might be able to find an adaptor on Etsy for another car seat.  I used the carseat in the stroller until my baby was about eight months and could sit up independently in the regular stroller seat. No base is required to be installed in the stroller or in the car.  The bassinet attachment option isn't approved for use in my country, and I was fine with the car seat in its stead.  The stroller itself folds up with an easy pull and lift of the handle. This can be done with one hand. It's light to carry up and down the stairs, and when folded takes up hardly any room.  Upside: The stroller seat and car seat can be set to parent-facing or world-facing. The Minu does not have this functionality. (Don't know about the other one you mentioned.) Parent-facing is great because you can look at them, talk to them, keep an eye on them, and see what they're looking at. Studies have shown that young babies in world-facing mode experience a lot of anxiety. They also can have delayed language development. Many benefits to facing your child!! Plus they are cute af and you'll want to look at them.  Downside: The basket has only a 10 lb weight limit. The mesh is not nearly as sturdy as those I've seen on the Uppababy line.  Let me know if you have any questions! 

Do not feel guilty for indulging in something you will use all the time! You will be the one using it, buy it!! And don’t be quick to say “well it’s the cheaper one of the nunas” it’s a great travel system, it will be great for baby, you wanted it, end of story!

We loved our joie mint latch!! We traveled a lot the first year and it was so convenient. And it has higher weight and height limits than the pipa urbn as far as I know

I will say we didn't use it as our daily infant seat (but i kinda wish we had not spent the money for the nuna pipa + bases). we did 20+ plane trips and rental car weeks/weekends the first year and it was so easy to install and take out, especially once you know what you're doing. I'd say it takes \~5 seconds longer than popping a standard infant carseat into its base. you literally click it on to the latch hook things in the car and it has little indicators that turn green when it's in on both sides I miss it so so much for traveling now that we have the clunky convertible seats :(

I have a Nuna Rava forward facing behind the driver seat, and a Nuna Pipa rear facing behind the passenger. Both front seats need to move forward from where we'd normally have them to accommodate the car seats behind. I'm 6'2" and when I drive, I do need to move the seat forward a good amount from my normally position because my 4 year old would other wise have only a couple inches for her feet. There is not room to comfortably fit a third person in the middle seat of the second row I'd say. And no easy way to get to the third row with two car seats installed.

I have a nuna car seat and uppababy stroller that we fit together with an adapter piece! It was gifted to us by my MIL, if we were spending our own money I probably would have gone with a mockingbird or something a little cheaper. That being said I like that the nuna is lightweight and has great safety ratings and the stroller is super nice and can be adapted for two kids. I go on walks almost daily (it’s a guaranteed nap for my 4 months old who hates napping lol) so it definitely gets its use! I will say there are some baby items we tried to get cheaper (bassinet and rocking chair for example) and I wish we would have just splurged on nicer items because we’ve had issues with the quality/function. If it makes sense in your budget I wouldn’t let the opinions of others sway you!

I have a Nina pipa and a 360 seat in my husbands car and I Love the 360 so much more. The Nuna is technically “nicer” but it’s so much more work.