Bugaboo Stardust vs. Nuna SENA Playard Comparison

Whether you call it a playard, travel crib, playpen or pack-and-play, most families want a portable place for babies and toddlers to sleep when you're on the road (or maybe just on the opposite end of your house.)

A playard should be easy to set up and even faster to fold—and it wouldn't hurt if it looked nice in your home, too.

Nuna and Bugaboo both offer stylish, high-quality travel cribs that fold compactly and can be used as a bassinet for a newborn or as a playard for toddlers to sleep and play.

The long-standing Nuna SENA offers more with multiple colors and optional accessories, like a changing table that can be added to the top of the SENA Aire.

New to the market in 2020, the Bugaboo Stardust also has its advantages: It's lighter than Nuna playards, and unlike the SENA, you won't need to remove the mattress before folding the crib.

We'll compare the fold, features, dimensions and more in this Bugaboo Stardust vs. Nuna SENA Aire comparison.

Bugaboo Stardust

After reinventing the luxury stroller 20 years ago, Bugaboo in 2020 introduced the Stardust, a compact playard that sets up and folds in a flash.

Thanks to its patented aerospace folding technology, the Bugaboo Stardust can be assembled in only one second and folded back together in just three seconds. The Stardust mattress folds with the playard, and a zip-in bassinet for newborns makes it easy to lift your newborn without bending over. The Stardust includes a velcro-closing storage bag that protects the playard during travel.

Nuna SENA Aire

Nuna's full-sized playard, the SENA Aire, offers plenty of room for toddlers to grow.

With its mesh sides, mesh floor and mesh mattress allowing air flow from every angle, the Nuna SENA Aire allow your child to sleep and play comfortably. Use the ventilated mattress on the upper position for a newborn bassinet before transitioning the mattress to the bottom of the playard for a toddler. 

With its one-handed fold, the SENA Aire stows away easily for travel and storage (and folds with the bassinet attached). A travel bag is included with your purchase, as is an organic sheet. 

Nuna's line of travel cribs also includes the Nuna COVE Aire. The COVE Aire has a reduced width of 6 inches compared with the SENA, helping it fit in tight spaces or next to your bedside. Read our Nuna SENA Aire vs. COVE Aire comparison to learn more.

Bugaboo Stardust vs. Nuna SENA Price

The Bugaboo Stardust is similarly priced to the Nuna SENA Series.

Both playards include a mattress that can be used either at a higher bassinet level for a newborn or on the bottom of the playard for a toddler, as well as a carry bag that protects the product from damage and debris.

One cotton sheet is included with purchase of the SENA Aire, while sheets are sold separately for the Stardust.

• For current pricing of the Stardust, click here. 
• For current pricing of the SENA Aire, click here. 

Bugaboo Stardust vs. Nuna SENA Weight and Dimensions

The Bugaboo Stardust is the lighter one, weighing about 7 pounds less than the full-sized Nuna SENA Aire.

The Nuna SENA is longer and wider, yet shorter than the Stardust, as much as 5 inches wider and 4.5 inches shorter. Yet the Stardust has a reduced length by up to 3 inches compared with the Nuna SENA.

When folded, these playards are compact enough to store in an included carry bag. Each of the products helps you save space for traveling or storage, but in different ways.

The Stardust is much more flat when folded, folding to a width that's half that of the SENA, while the Nuna SENA is about 14 inches shorter than the Bugaboo.

Product Weight

• Stardust: 14.8 pounds
• SENA Aire: 22 pounds

Dimensions

• Stardust: 38.8"L x 25"W x 33.5"H
• SENA Aire: 41.3"L x 30"W x 29"H

Folded Dimensions

• Stardust: 25.6"L x 5.5"W x 33.5"H
• SENA Aire: 11"L x 13"W x 31.5"H

Bugaboo Stardust vs. Nuna SENA Recommended Use

Both products can initially be used as a newborn bassinet, with the mattress attached in a higher position that provides easier access to the baby.

Once your baby is around 6 months, you'll relocate the mattress to the bottom of the playard, where your child can sleep and play for many months to come.

The Bugaboo Stardust and Nuna SENA Aire have similar usage recommendations up to 35" in height or 30-33 pounds, which most toddlers reach between ages 2 and 3.

Bassinet Use

• Stardust: Birth to 19.8 pounds
• SENA Aire: Birth to 15 pounds

Playard Use

• Stardust: Up to 33 pounds or 35" in height (2-3 years)
• SENA Aire: Up to 30 pounds or 35" in height (2-3 years)

Bugaboo Stardust vs. Nuna SENA How to Fold

Both the Bugaboo and Nuna playards assemble quickly and fold compactly, allowing you to stow away the crib when you're heading on vacation or over to Grandma's house.

Here's a look at how to fold the Bugaboo Stardust and Nuna SENA Aire.

Bugaboo Stardust

To fold the Stardust, press the white buttons on each side to fold the playard walls inward, then press up with your foot to fold the bottom of the crib. You won't need to bend over to fold the Stardust, as you will with playards by Nuna and other brands.

The mattress folds with the Stardust when configured as a playard. You'll need to remove the mattress when using the Stardust in bassinet mode, but the mattress can slide into the folded crib when inside the travel bag.

To unfold the Stardust, release the snaps on each side and pull the crib apart—it pops open in just one second. See this video for a look at folding and stowing the Stardust.

Nuna SENA Aire

The Nuna SENA Aire folds with a one-handed motion: Pull up on a tab at the bottom of the crib, and the playard will begin to collapse. Push on the sides of the playard to complete the fold.

You'll need to remove the mattress from either the bassinet or playard position when folding the SENA, but the mattress can be wrapped around the playard when stored in its travel bag.

To unfold the SENA, pull the short sides of the playard outward and push down on the bottom until the crib is fully opened.

 

Bugaboo Stardust vs. Nuna SENA Features and Accessories

Additional cotton sheets can be purchased for the Bugaboo Stardust and Nuna SENA Aire to help parents with laundry duty. (One sheet is included with purchase of a Nuna playard.)

Nuna also makes a few accessories for the SENA Aire that add features and convenience.

A changer (seen in the photo below) can be added to the top of the Nuna SENA Aire to convert your playard into a changing station. 

Bugaboo Stardust vs. Nuna SENA Colors and Fabrics

These playards promote maximum airflow to keep your baby comfortable, thanks to mesh panels on each side. Included with each playard is a padded mattress made of multiple layers for added breathability.

For current colors of the Bugaboo Stardust, click here.

For current colors of the Nuna SENA, click here. 

Questions?

Strolleria is an authorized retailer of Nuna products dedicated to making the baby gear buying experience less overwhelming for parents. If you have more questions about the Bugaboo Stardust or Nuna SENA Aire, feel free to contact us by starting a live chat or e-mailing customercare@strolleria.com.