What is the Lightest Infant Car Seat?

What's the lightest infant car seat?

As many parents know, a heavy car seat can be a terrible item to have.  We have all seen those parents (or been one ourselves)  struggling to maneuver or lift a car seat with their little one inside it. When car seat shopping, some car seats may not feel heavy in the store, but you wish you had a lighter one once you get home and use it for a few days/week/months. We are here to help solve that problem! Looking for the lightest weighing infant car seat?  Look no further!

 

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Lightest Infant Car Seat | 2 Options!

There are two options when it comes to the lightest infant car seat – both are 5.3 pounds and made by the same brand – Nuna:

  1. Nuna Pipa Lite
  2. Nuna Pipa Lite R
The Nuna Pipa Lite and Nuna Pipa Lite R are the lightest infant car seats on the market in the United States.  The 5.3 pounds does not include the weight of the canopy or infant insert.
 
The Nuna Pipa Lite LX follows close behind at a weight of only 5.7 pounds.

Nuna Pipa Lite vs. Lite R

So what’s the difference between the Nuna Pipa Lite and the Lite R?

The MAJOR difference between the Nuna Pipa Lite and the Nuna Pipa Lite R is the base it comes with.  The Lite comes with the original Pipa base, while the Nuna Lite R comes with the Relx base.

More on the Relx base, from the Nuna website: The Relx base features an “adjustable stability leg to fit in center seating positions and a wider range of vehicles. It also features a strong steel-reinforced rigid latch that has four lockable positions to achieve a closer fit of the base against your vehicle seat.  Colored indicators take the guesswork out of installation, and the bubble-free, numbered, on-the-go recline means you can change positions as your baby grows without having to uninstall the base. The lockoff with easy-access belt path makes it simple to install with the vehicle belt. The smooth platform won’t take a toll on your vehicle seats, and the low profile allows for easier loading of any Nuna PIPA series infant car seat.

We consider the Relx base to be an upgrade from the original Pipa base that comes with the Nuna Pipa Lite.  However, with this upgrade comes a higher price tag.  The Nuna Pipa Lite retails for $349.95 while the Nuna Pipa Lite R retails for $399.95, so a $50 price difference.

There are also some MINOR differences between the Nuna Pipa Lite and the Nuna Pipa Lite R.  First, the Lite comes in 3 colors: The Nuna Pipa Lite comes in 3 colors:  Caviar (Black), Aspen (Blue-ish Gray), and Granite (Grey):

The Nuna Pipa Lite R only comes in 2 colors:  Caviar (Black) and Granite (Grey):

Nuna Pipa Lite R vs Nuna Lite
Nuna Pipa Lite R vs Nuna Lite

The second minor difference between the Pipa Lite and Pipa Lite R is the insert fabric.  The Pipa Lite comes with a polyester infant insert as well as a second insert (harness covers & crotch cover) made of GOTS™ certified organic cotton fabric & dye.  The Pipa Lite R comes with an infant insert made of organic jersey.  The Pipa Lite R does not come with a second insert.

Similarities between the Pipa Lite and Pipa Lite R:

  • Both are compatible with either the original Pipa base or the Relx base.
  • Both are flame-retardant free! Woo hoo!
  • Both are made of Aeroflex foam
  • Both need a base for installation – there are no seatbelt guides in the seat (this may be a deal-breaker for those who plan to frequently use the car seat in taxis and airplanes)
  • Both have a removable, full coverage UPF 50+ canopy with flip out eyeshade – Neither have the “dream drape” which is found on the Pipa, Pipa RX and Pipa Lite LX

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The lightest car seat
What's the lightest infant car seat?

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