Review: UppaBaby Mesa Infant Car Seat

10/05/2013 at 02:00 PM ET
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UppaBaby Mesa Infant Car Seat ReviewCourtesy UppaBaby

Before I had a baby, tooling around New York City without a car was no big deal. With no shortage of subways, buses and sidewalks, there’s always an easy way to get from point A to point B.

But add a brand new, 7-pound passenger into the mix and things suddenly get a lot more complicated.

From the moment we left the hospital, I needed to get my daughter home, to the pediatrician, and to my doctor’s office in taxi cabs — not an easy task for a new mom.

Our little girl took her very first car ride home in the Uppababy Mesa ($280), the popular stroller company’s first infant car seat, and she’s been riding in it ever since.

Without a car of my own, I haven’t had use for the base yet, but the Mesa is very easy to install in a cab or a friend’s car using just the seatbelt, as those of us city dwellers are often forced to do.

As for installing the actual baby into the seat itself, that’s just as simple. When I was pregnant I had no idea just how much I’d value the little pockets on the sides where you can stick the buckles while getting your squirmy little one situated properly in the seat.

It’s extras like these — including the luxe material, larger than average sun canopy, a no-rethread harness, fun colors and stylish design — that you really appreciate while hauling an infant car seat around.

All in all, the Mesa really is new parent-proof. Its easy-to-follow instructions made me feel like I wasn’t going to screw things up (a feeling first time moms know all too well). More importantly, I feel confident that my little one is safe in her car seat.

According to UppaBaby, Mesa exceeds all of the government safety standards, not to mention the fact that it feels exceptionally solid and secure. It is a bit heavier than other infant car seats (the seat itself weighs in at 11.3 lbs, while other brands weigh in a pound or two lighter), but for me, the benefits outweighed the extra bulk.

It’s compatible with Uppababy Vista and Cruz strollers (it comes with adaptors for older models) and it’s suitable for babies 4-35 lbs and up to 32″ in height, so it will last for a little while.

— Rennie Dyball

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Showing 6 comments

common$en$e on October 6th, 2013

$280 for a car sest? Thats a little pricey. The one I used was maybe $100, it looked nice and did its job. I don’t live in New York City though, couldn’t imagine taking taxis everywhere.

lifeasahouse on October 6th, 2013

This is $$$ and trust me, the extra poundage of this will take a toll!

Thoughtful on October 7th, 2013

I’m not a parent but I thought you always put a car seat on a base no matter which car you are in. Every time I pick up my friend, she uses her son’s car seat base. I thought you had to use it all the time.

I can understand the OP not wanting to lug it around, I just thought you HAD to use the base.

Shelby on October 7th, 2013

Most infant car seats do not require you to use a base. Most bases are merely for convenience.

Amanda M on October 8th, 2013

I have the Mesa and LOVE it. I bought it out of necessity: at 7 months my son was within an inch of too tall for his Chicco Keyfit 30! The only seats that I could find with higher height requirements were either convertible seats (which I didn’t want) or 2 others – one Graco and I don’t remember what the 3rd was. I needed one that was compatible with my stroller base, which is why I don’t remember the 3rd one – it wasn’t. The Graco had a slightly higher height even than the Mesa, but according to Consumer Reports it wasn’t very good. Since we have loved our other UppaBaby products (and they have great customer service!) we decided to go with the Mesa. AND IT IS AWESOME! We always loved the Chicco and really didn’t ever plan to buy a different seat, but both my husband and I at random moments over the past month have said how much we like it and how glad we are that we bought it! Yes, it was pricey, but we love it and it was worth it to meet our needs. Oh, and the extra 1 pound that it weighs over the Chicco has not made any difference at all! 😉

Anonymous on October 10th, 2013

All of my infants car seats came with required bases. They were required to be installed before I could leave with my child. There are few infant ones that don’t need a base. Look at Babies R Us. this is where we got all of ours from and have bout some as gifts. everyone one i have seen….has a base….and thats most of them. We bought the same car seats for all the cars, so the bases were in all the cars.

For what this is, I think it’s a great price. We paid almost 200 for each of ours.

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