As infant car seats, Nuna PIPA series car seats are designed to be used until your child is approximately age 1.

If you plan to keep this infant car seat for other children as well, PIPA car seats will last 7 years before reaching its expiration.

How long can baby use the Nuna PIPA?

Nuna makes six versions of the PIPA series: the PIPA, PIPA RX, PIPA Lite, PIPA Lite R, PIPA Lite LX and PIPA Lite RX—all of which can be used for approximately one year.

Your child will almost always reach the 32-inch height limit before hitting the 35-pound weight limit on the car seat. When there's less than an inch between the top of your child's head and the top of the car seat, it's time for a convertible car seat like the Nuna RAVA.

All Nuna infant car seats can be used with babies as small as 4 pounds. Each includes a low-birth weight pillow within the infant insert, which is designed to support your little one up to 11 pounds (at which time it should be removed).

You can keep the head and body inserts in place as long as your child needs them, but they should be removed when the harness becomes too snug for your child's comfort. Here is what Nuna recommends for proper harness tightness for your car seat:

A snug harness cannot be pinched, and should not allow any slack. Make sure the harness is snug around the child and lays flat. It lies in a relatively straight line without sagging. It does not press on the child’s flesh or push the child’s body in an unnatural position.

A snug but comfortable harness is important for good crash protection. Slack in the harness at the time of a crash could result in serious injury or death. The harness is tight enough if after placing the harness at the proper height (AT or JUST BELOW the shoulder height for rear facing) you cannot pinch a fold in the strap.

When does the Nuna PIPA expire?

Infant car seat expiration dates help ensure that you are using a car seat that is functioning as designed to protect your child on the go. If you have a growing family, it may be helpful—and cost effective—to use the infant car seat from your first child for baby two and beyond.

In general, infant car seats expire 6-7 years after purchase, and the expiration date or useful life of a PIPA car seat is 7 years after original purchase. You can find the expiration date of your car seat printed on the bottom of the seat shell and of the car seat base. You will want to plan on replacing the car seat around that date indicated for a number of reasons.

Most importantly, materials used to build all car seats (from foam to metal to plastic parts) will be affected overtime by daily use, exposure to the elements such as humidity, and extreme temperature variation in your vehicle.

Car seats at or beyond their expiration date will not have the structural integrity needed in event of an accident. With a safety item like an infant car seat, you want to ensure it is functioning exactly as designed to protect your precious cargo.

Shop the Nuna PIPA collection below!