It’s been over eight years since the debut of the Doona, the single invention that has been the biggest game changer for moms. Is the Evenflo Shyft finally a competitor?
It’s been so long since the Doona debut, that there’s even a new generation that doesn’t even know of the in-and-out of car struggles that moms had before this era. And while we’ve covered some Doona-related topics over the years, like How to Turn Your Doona into a Double Stroller, or The Right 7 A.M. to Keep Your Baby Warm in the Doona (i.e. the Cocoon) or The Best Toddler Seats for after it’s time to retire the Doona, we’ve never seen anything that is comparable over the years.
Until now when we noticed this Evenflo Shyft arrive on the market. It’s not lower-priced than the Doona, so price wouldn’t really be much of a reason to buy one vs. the other. But are there features which would make it more attractive for some?
To find out, we asked our readers for their experiences using the Evenflo. The responses are below, but we summed up over here.
Based on responses below, we learned that the Evenflo might be a good choice, if:
– If you or your husband are very tall, as the handle bar comes up higher. Also, if you are tall and it’s likely that your baby will be a tall one too, it might last you longer as the seat is adjustable as your baby grows, so it can accommodate a taller/bigger baby.
– If the ability to add under stroller storage is important to you (i.e. you walk and shop in your neighborhood and need to be able to throw things under the stroller or don’t want the extra bulk of a diaper bag). Note that the under stroller carry-all bag needs to be removed before folding in the car.
– If the ability to use the infant seat without wheels (i.e. you want the seat to be lighter when you bring the baby into the house, or you want to put the infant seat in the supermarket wagon) is important to you.
– If the safety features that work with the APP, like the sensors which will tell you if you left the baby in the car, or if the baby is too hot or too cold, is important to you.
Stick with the Doona if:
– The above items are not so important.
– You use the infant seat as a stroller on Shabbos, as the sensor clip may be an issue.
Here’s some feedback from our readers:
“I just love it. I’m from Toronto and we can’t legally get the Doona here, so this was my only option. I do have a friend who bought the Doona in the U.S. and she tried mine and thinks it pushes a little smoother. I love that the base protects the car (so the dirty wheels don’t touch the car). I also think that the bar to push goes a bit higher (better for my tall husband). I’ve received a lot of compliments on it, it may even look a bit sleeker than the Doona.
It also has a cool feature that connects to an app and tells you the temperature of the carseat, to let you know if the baby is too hot or too cold. It also lets you know if your phone is too far away from the carseat (to prevent you leaving your baby in the car), if the baby has been buckled for more than two hours, or if the buckle comes undone while the baby is in there. I’ve personally never taken the wheels off and I’ve had it for 3ish months.
To be honest, I feel that the Doona is such a “thing” that if I had that as an option I would have probably gotten it, but I’m so happy with the Evenflo – I really love it!” –Avigayil K
“I have it! I received it as a gift. It’s more chic than the Doona and the handle bar is higher. I like quality of the material/fabric better. The quality is similar to the Doona. The wheels go the other way when folding. It took a day to get used to that. It also has a safety sensor on the straps that can link to an app.” –Rachel S
“It’s lighter than the Doona, the wheels come off, the handle bar is slightly higher, and all accessories come included. I like the quality. My friends have the Doona and tried my Evenflo. They were very impressed with how it rolls! It’s also less bulky.
I just moved to Israel so I don’t take the wheels off often but in America I would when coming into the house (over here, I go into an elevator, so it’s not worth the schlep).
It’s also important to note for those who also use this as an infant stroller–the clip can’t be used on Shabbos because it lights up. But, for during the week, we love the app and how it reminds us if the baby was left in the car and the temperature of the seat. We’ve had it for almost 5 months.” –Julie T
My sister in law has it and loves it – this is what she says:
“I wanted a car seat that has more storage underneath since I walk a lot. I also wanted the option of taking it out without the wheels when I grocery shop. I didn’t want to push around a stroller and a wagon. I was also able to get it discounted–it was 20% off when I bought it on Amazon, plus I put it on my registry, so I received another 15% off. I use the under storage bag as a diaper bag, so it’s nice not to have too much to shlep. I don’t take it apart from the wheels as much as I thought I would, but that has more to do with the fact that I go shopping with my 4 year old and she loves to push him around while I shop. –Sarah G
Can it be installed without the base like the doona? How does that feature compare?
Yes it can.
I just wanted to add a few more important things to consider that weren’t mentioned above. As of right now, the company does not sell the base separately, so if you have more than one car that can make things a little more difficult. In terms of the sensorsafe safety clip that lights up and connects to an app- there is a way to remove the battery so you can use it on shabbos, but it may be annoying to keep taking it in and out. We opted to just keep the battery out and not benefit from the app/safety features. One other important thing to mention is that in order to remove the wheels from the carrier/carseat it MUST be attached to the base. So if the base is in the car on shabbos and for whatever reason you want to take the wheels off (like if you are schlepping a sleeping baby up flights of stairs) you’re pretty much stuck schelpping it up with the wheels (which is pretty heavy). That being said, it’s still a really great option for those looking for something similar to the doona but with the option to remove the wheels. My husband and I are really happy with it so far.
Just a reminder to all that neither one should be used in lieu of a stroller, with baby remaining in it for long periods of time or sleeping in it when not in the car or out and about. The position any infant car seat puts baby in can put a strain on the spine if baby is left in too long, and the positioning could potentially affect the airways of newborns. I’ve also heard anecdotal evidence that connects the Doona to torticollis. Manufacturers recommend babies spend no more than 2 hours total per 24 hours in an infant car seat, which these are. Use it in the car, and for temporary situations, don’t use it all day, have baby sleep in it at a babysitter, put baby in it at home etc! Just want to add a disclaimer-I’m not discussing babies with reflux who need to be kept upright after feedings, although I would imagine a bouncer or swing tilted up would be better for babies spine anyway.
according to a few people we spoke to before buying the evenflo and it seems like the babies are more comfortable in the evenflo, we olso heard that its such a bad position for the baby like the doona because it lays flatter and that it has two positions for in the car.
Is there any reason to get the Doona still?
Donna was created in Israel, so that’s a reason.
In simple words this is better than the Doona?
This is fun! I did a lot of research on this recently. On black Friday the “second tier” shyft with the leather handle went on sale to $412 I believe which is much cheaper than the doona @ $550. The main cons of the shyft were that it’s about 3 pounds heavier than the doona and the push and fold mechanism are slightly jankier. We ended up not doing it because of the sensor making problems for Shabbos. Pros I think the article covered them all!
I actually have the Doona (got it for free from a relative, it’s still unexpired!) but I have a friend who is very safety conscious and she told me the Evenflo rated better in crash testing. I didn’t check it out but just putting that out there.
You can also consider a basic Graco car seat with a snap n go for wheels. This article makes it sound like a Doona type stroller is a must, but many babies have been transported without one.
This article was addressing the two very similar strollers against each other. Perhaps in a future article they can address the snap n go vs. Doona.
Another factor to keep in mind, the doona brand although jewish owned, openly supports toeiva marriage, as you may have seen if you’re signed up for their emails. This is a terrible chillul Hashem and I wonder if we should all be supporting them.
I’m based in Israel where I’ve seen another brand called relax or something like that. Very similar to the doona, slightly cheaper. The relax lies down and adjustable height for seat. But I still see the doona everywhere.
I have the Evenflo after using the doona for my last child and absolutely love it! It looks so this, I actually find it feels lighter to put in and out of the car and I find it much more comfortable for my baby as a car seat. My baby was also small and this one can be used for a baby from 3 lbs. The only con I have is that if ur using it in a car without the base it can be a little harder to buckle. But I am so happy I decided to be “different“ and go with it!
I’ve found that the Doona doesn’t work past a few months for a bigger baby. How does the size of this one compare?
The evenflo has an adjustable headrest that adjusts to 8 positions meant to grow with your child
Thanks for this article! Having been going back and forth for a few months…still can’t decide about this!
Another big point that wasn’t raised that seems to be a deciding factor- the angle in the Evenflo is much better for the baby, it’s not the awkward angle that so many people have a hard time with in the Doona.
Does anyone have experience with this?
I have the evenflo and love love love it. everyone who tried it says they want to sell their doona and buy this! you didn’t mention the sun Canopy is about 4 xs the length of the doona- and also the carseat is rounded, a proper carseat not the straight narrow angle of the doona. ppl saying the sensor clip shabbos issue- why is a baby in a carseat on shabbos?!?@? its a carseat- in the home baby can be in bassinet or swing.
Seems to be $399 at Walmart now unless it’s missing something?
Curious why the article says to stick with the Doona if the Evenflo’s additional features are not so important to us – Is the Doona better, safer, or stronger overall? What edge does the Doona have over the Evenflo?
I don’t think the Doona is better I think people are just having time switching from what became the norm :). The Evenflo seems to have a lot of benefits over the Doona…I think it’s going to start becoming popular.
Curious if the double doona hack can be used here as well? For someone with twins.
Curious about this as well if anyone has insight on it…
Thanks for this post! The Evenflo came out a month before my baby was born. I was really interested in it but there weren’t enough reviews yet. My old one expires when my baby will be 14 months… so I just kept with it.
Good to know people are liking it! Looks like it overcomes some of the drawbacks of the Doona (for me, being able to remove the wheels so it can fit in a shopping cart and having the option of storage underneath).
Seems like it’s 2 lb heavier than the Doona which probably makes it harder to lift into the car…19 vs 17
evenflo is a cheaper brand and build, thats one of the reason why the local jewish stpores are not stocking the evenflow. i called all the stores before i purchased my doona, as i saw th evenflow on the market.
do you actually take the wheels off every time you go shopping so the car seat can fiit in the cart? the doona goes in the front of the wagon and you dont have to push two thing at once, the evenflow doesnt
The Evenflo is on sale today for $440 from Amazon
We opened the buckle and removed the battery and sensor piece- just took the little piece out. So the buckle does not seem to be a problem at all for Shabbos!
You won’t be able to use the doona on a flight to/from Canada as they actually check for the “transport Canada” approved sticker before boarding, so if you are Canadian and traveling here and there by plane the Shyft maybe a better choice
I never comment on these posts, but this is one I must chime in to.
We just purchased the evenflo a few weeks ago and absolutly LOVE it! Anyone who has seen or pushed it says they will be buying it for their next stroller. Main pros for me are that the handlebar comes higher than the doonas, the sun shade goes lower, the car seat is much more comfortable for baby, and the wheels come off.
I have a few stairs going into my house so I just carry it in without the wheels. also a great feature for when going shopping so I can put the baby in the shopping cart.
It has been going on sale very often recently, to as low as $350- so thats a huge plus as well if you can buy it during the sale.
Thanks for sharing! This information is so helpful for our readers.
Same here! I debated between the doona and evenflo and in the six weeks I’m using it i am so happy and have no complaints!
Everyone keeps stopping me to ask about it since it’s not the typical doona look but they say it’s so much sleeker
tall parents from israel here. i never understood what people saw in the doona- bad car seat and bad stroller. especially for all the people i see with them who don’t even own cars! it is much too hot here in the summer to keep a baby in so much padding. it’s heavy, short, and has no basket. i have no problem with a $60 lightweight graco carseat and a borrowed snap n go with a huge basket (except that it’s terrible on stairs), or even car seat clips for a city mini. and i do have a car. i think it just became some kind of status symbol, as expensive baby items tend to.