2022 Nuna COVE Aire Go vs. Nuna SENA Aire Playard Comparison

What's the ideal first bedroom for your baby? The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests it just might be your own!

The association recommends that parents share a bedroom (though not a sleep surface!) with their baby for at least the first six months—a move that can reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS, by as much as 50 percent.

Nuna's newest travel crib is designed specifically for this purpose. The COVE Aire GO has a slim profile that gives it a comfortable fit at your bedside, whether you're using it as your newborn's first bed or staying in a hotel room. 

The COVE Aire Go also shares similarities with Nuna's original travel crib, the full-size SENA Aire.

For 2022, the SENA Aire is getting a convenient upgrade to the bassinet attachment plus a lighter weight frame that makes it over one pound lighter than the COVE Aire GO.

Both playards can serve either as your bedside crib or as a portable option for vacations and visits to grandparents' house. Each model is fully ventilated throughout the crib and mattress, folds easily, and manages to look as nice as the rest of your home decor.

In this publication from June, 2022, the American Academy of Pediatrics advises that:

"Placing the crib close to the parents’ bed so that the infant is within view and within arms’ reach can facilitate feeding, comforting, and monitoring of the infant to give parents peace of mind about their infant’s safety."

Nuna's two playard options appear quite similar at first, but a few differences on each model sets them apart and will help you determine which best fits your needs. While the COVE Aire Go is a narrow full-size crib with higher bassinet positioning, the full-size SENA Aire offers a changing station accessory and larger, lighter-weight frame.

Note that Nuna previously offered a full-size COVE Aire with a "topper" attachment, which was discontinued in 2020 and replaced in 2021 with the current COVE Aire Go. Additionally, Nuna discontinued a more compact SENA Aire Mini model in early 2022.

In this comparison, we'll look at the differences between the COVE Aire and SENA Aire playards.

Nuna COVE Aire vs. Nuna SENA Aire Specifications

Nuna's two full-sized travel cribs are similar in length, height and weight, but the COVE Aire Go provides an easier fit at your bedside compared with the SENA Aire, which is nearly 6 inches wider.

The discontinued SENA Aire Mini was as narrow as the COVE but weighed just over 4 pounds less, which meant that it could not support a toddler for as long as the full-sized SENA Aire and COVE Aire GO models.

Both playards can be used from birth into toddlerhood, with the zip-off bassinet suitable for newborns up to 15 pounds.

Product Weight

• COVE Aire Go: 22 pounds
• SENA Aire: 20.8 pounds

Product Dimensions

• COVE Aire Go: 40"L x 24.5"W x 30"H
• SENA Aire: 41.3"L x 30"W x 29"H

Folded Dimensions

• COVE Aire Go: 14.5"L x 10"W x 34.5"H
• SENA Aire: 11"L x 13"W x 31.5"H

Recommended Use

• Bassinet: Birth to 15 pounds (approximately 5 months)
• Playard: Birth to 30 pounds or 35" (approximately 3 years)

Nuna COVE Aire vs. Nuna SENA Aire Accessories

The Nuna SENA Aire also offers a unique accessory that gives the product an additional purpose beyond the bassinet and playard.

A changer that attaches to the top of the SENA Aire to create a convenient diaper station. Due to its width, the changer fits only the SENA Aire, not the COVE Aire GO.

New for 2022, a SENA Aire and Changer bundle offers special pricing when purchasing the SENA Aire and Changer together in Granite.

Both the SENA Aire and COVE Aire come with an organic cotton sheet, and extra sheets can be purchased separately.

Changer Compatibility

• COVE Aire Go: No
• SENA Aire: Yes

Nuna COVE Aire vs. Nuna SENA Aire Bassinet

Nuna includes a bassinet positioned midway inside the crib with both playards, which is used until the baby is 15 pounds.

Both the SENA and COVE Aire bassinets now have a zip off bassinet, which is faster and easier for parents to assemble or remove. Previous SENA Aire models included a series of eight snaps - one at each side and one at each corner - to secure the bassinet materials over the frame, which were time consuming to set up.

For parents looking for a bassinet that is positioned higher up for easy access, the COVE Aire bassinet is placed a few inches higher.

Once your baby has reached the weight capacity of the bassinet - or sooner if your infant can push up on their hands and knees or roll over before reaching 15 pounds - you'll remove the bassinet and relocate the mattress to the bottom of the playard.

Nuna COVE Aire vs. Nuna SENA Aire Colors

Each playard in the Nuna line comes in neutral yet chic colors that complement your decor (and maybe even match your Nuna stroller or car seat). Here are the colors available for each model.

COVE Aire Go

• Camel brown
• Caviar black
• Frost grey

SENA Aire

• Caviar black
• Granite grey (as bundle with Changer)
• Hazelwood tan

Questions?

Strolleria is an authorized Nuna retailer dedicated to making the baby gear buying experience less overwhelming for parents. If you have more questions about the Nuna COVE Go, the Nuna SENA Aire or the Nuna SENA Aire Mini, feel free to contact us at 480-442-9433 or customercare@strolleria.com.

Shop all playards at Strolleria below!