UPPAbaby MESA Review

The UPPAbaby MESA Car Seat is one of the best infant car seats available on the market today.

The MESA fits infants from 4-35 lbs and up to 32″ tall. The UPPAbaby MESA is quite pricey but has some impressive features.

Our UPPAbaby MESA car seat review will help you decide if this is the car seat for your baby.

UPPAbaby Mesa Infant Car Seat

The Mesa is a premium car seat and is a favorite amongst parents.

The UPPAbaby MESA includes advanced side impact protection and integrated, adjustable headrest made of EPP foam-constructed wings. This helps to distribute forces and minimizes head trauma during a collision.

The MESA is also easy to install, making it a parent’s dream car seat. It features its SMART Secure system, which installs in seconds. Installing car seats can be painful and stressful if you can’t figure out how to do it correctly.

UPPAbaby Mesa Measurements

Below are the UPPAbaby measurements and limits:

  • UPPAbaby dimensions: 17”W x 25.75”L x 23”H
  • UPPAbaby dimensions with base: 17”W x 28”L x 25”H
  • UPPAbaby weight limit: 4-35 lbs
  • UPPAbaby height limit: Up to 32″ tall.
  • UPPAbaby seat weight: 10 lbs

The UPPAbaby MESA width is about 17″ wide and weighs about 19 lbs altogether with the base.

UPPAbaby Mesa Safety

UPPAbaby is a well known American and trustworthy company, with child safety as top priority.

The company’s products include an infant car seat and a variety of strollers, including full-size, lightweight, and double strollers.

Like all car seats on the market, the UPPAbaby MESA is crash tested and meets federal crash-test safety requirements.

The MESA’s is reinforced with EPP foam, giving your child added protection. The integrated design keeps your child’s head stationary during a side impact collision.

UPPAbaby MESA Stroller

The MESA is compatible with UPPAbaby VISTA and UPPAbaby CRUZ strollers.

When the seat is paired with either stroller, their baby travel system is called the Performance Travel System.

What we love is that the MESA can be positioned to face you or reversed. This is great if you want to switch between keeping an eye on your baby or giving your little one a view of the outside world.

It also features one-handed release from the stroller. The top of the carrier has a button that you just press to release the car seat from the stroller.

The UPPAbaby VISTA bundle even comes with a bassinet. We love this stroller because you can also add an extra seat. If you have two kids or thinking about having 2 kids, this stroller works great as a double stroller!

You can see all the configurations of the VISTA stroller below. For example, you can set up the stroller with 2 car seats, 2 bassinets, or 1 car seat and toddler seat (facing forward or rear).

The MESA is also compatible with the UPPAbaby MINU stroller if you use an adapter.

UPPAbaby Mesa Base

Can you use UPPAbaby MESA without base? The answer is yes!

Although is easy to install without the base, if you frequently change between cars, consider purchasing an extra UPPAbaby MESA Base.

UPPAbaby MESA Base

By purchasing a second UPPAbaby base, you do not have to uninstall and install the whole car seat every time you change cars.

The base features a smooth, finished bottom that won’t damage vehicle seats. There are level indicators on both sides of the base and multiple foot positions for easy leveling.

UPPAbaby Mesa Installation

What’s unique about the MESA is that it is the only infant car seat with a unique technology utilizing a tightness indicator and self-retracting LATCH connectors for fast and accurate installation. This is known as their SMART Secure system, which installs in seconds.

When the tightness indicator turns green, it provides visual confirmation that the seat is installed correctly whether using LATCH or belt.

When you’re not using the LATCH connectors, they can be safely stored into the base.

If you need to install the MESA without the base, it is also very straightforward. This easy installation makes the seat one of the best infant car seats for taxi or if they need to ride in a grandparent’s vehicle.

Some parents get frustrated when the car seat is too hard to install but you don’t need to worry with the MESA.

UPPAbaby MESA Specs

Below are the UPPAbaby Mesa specifications and features:

  • UPPAbaby MESA Weight Limit: This UPPAbaby car seat fits children from 4-35lbs
  • UPPAbaby MESA Height Limit: Up to 32″ tall
  • Headrest is reinforced with EPP foam
  • Includes infant insert
  • No rethread harness
  • Push-on, self-retracting LATCH connectors
  • SmartSecure system with a tightness indicator
  • Adjustable headrest
  • Compatible with VISTA and CRUZ strollers without an adapter
  • Integrated, extendable SPF canopy
  • 5-point harness adjusts with the headrest
  • 2-year warranty (if registered on UPPAbaby.com within 3 months of purchase, warranty extends to 3 years!)

After reading this UPPAbaby MESA infant car seat review, hopefully you have an idea of whether this infant car seat is right for your baby.

If you’re looking for a UPPAbaby MESA sale, you can check Amazon. You can read the UPPAbaby MESA reviews before making your final decision.

When does the UPPAbaby Mesa car seat expire?

The MESA infant car seats have an expiration of 7 years from the date of manufacture. The expiration date is listed on all of their car seats.

 

Overall, the UPPAbaby MESA is one of the best infant car seats on the market. Although its higher price may not be right for everyone, its high-quality materials along with their other features still appeal to many.

For more, check out some other best infant car seats.


How to Clean Your Car Seats

Car seats can get really dirty and hold a lot of germs. It’s important to sanitize them, especially with the recent coronavirus pandemic.

Some parents may be eager to reach for bleach-based cleaning products and other virus-killing chemicals but they should pause.

Harsher cleaning products and strong chemicals that work well on some surfaces may damage the car seat, thus leading it to not being able to fully protect a child in a crash.

How to Safely Clean Coronavirus From Your Child’s Car Seat

Parents should clean their children’s car seats following the car seat manufacturer’s instructions, such as using a mild detergent and water. Many seat pads are removable and machine washable as well.

Do not clean your car seat in any other method than what the manufacturer suggests. Read your car seat’s manual for instructions or find it online through the car seat manufacturer’s website.

For example, the manual will recommend you on how to wash the seat cover – whether you should hand wash or you can machine wash on a specific seating. Make sure to read the drying instructions as well.

How to Clean Car Seat Harnesses and LATCH Straps

Generally, harness and straps should only be spot-cleaned with a nonabrasive cloth or sponge using mild soap and water. These parts need to be air dried rather than machine dry.

How to Clean Car Seat Buckles

When cleaning buckles or push-on LATCH connectors, use only water. This is because soaps or lubricants may leave residue that can affect performance of the buckle.

The seatbelt straps should also be wiped down with a damp cloth.

If you have machine-washed your harness or damaged it in some other way, you should purchase a new car seat for safety reasons.

If you machine-washed your car seat cover when you shouldn’t have or cleaned your car seat improperly, you should reach out to your car seat manufacturer and let them know. They’ll suggest you to buy a replacement piece or get a new car seat.

Coronavirus and Protecting Your Child

Infant Car Seat Cover

If you’re using an infant car seat, you may want to considering purchasing an infant car seat cover.

When you take the car seat out of your car with your child inside, sometimes you might want to cover up his seat from the outside. This is especially helpful if your child is sleeping and you don’t want to disturb him.

There are infant car seat covers for both winter and summer. Below are a few we suggest. If you want the full list, read our best infant car seat covers.

Brica Infant Comfort Canopy Car Seat Cover

The Brica Infant Comfort can be used on the car seat as well as attached to a stroller. This is great if you want to bring your baby out for a walk and are concerned about the coronavirus.

Their retractable rain and sun cover is UPF 50+, meaning it blocks 98% of UVA and UVB radiation. The sun cover can also be used as a waterproof shield if you get caught out in the rain.

If you remove the sun cover, there is a mesh panel that allows your little one to see outside while still being protected from things such as insects. The mesh material provides ventilation, visibility, and privacy. Your baby can breathe easily and not get overheated. Both the panel and sun cover can be folded back on top so you can have sun coverage while having access to your baby.

This convenient canopy installs easily, fits all major brands and includes a zippered carrying case for easy storage.

Barnaby Belle ‘Night’ Baby Car Seat Cover

This stylish baby car seat cover protects your baby from germs, insects, and sunlight. This lightweight cover is made out of 100% muslin cotton, which makes it a breathable and cool canopy for your baby. You can easily fold up this cover and put it in your diaper bag.

The Barnaby Belle cover is an universal fit for all baby car seat models with its adjustable velcro straps.

Stroller cover

If your child does not use an infant car seat or you are not using a travel stroller system, you may just want a stroller cover instead.

These are very affordable and recommended if you are worried about your child being outside. Here is a few products we would recommend:

Baby Stroller Rain Cover

Baby Stroller Rain Cover - Provides Extra Warmth and Shields your Child from Wind and Rain. Universal Size, Mesh Material for Ventilation and Reflective Trimming for Night Visibility. (White, Quilted)

For just $10, this baby stroller rain cover may help ease your mind when taking your child out.

It is a universal fit for strollers and features a thick quilted material.

Bemece Stroller Rain Cover Universal

Bemece Stroller Rain Cover Universal, Baby Travel Weather Shield, Windproof Waterproof, Protect from Dust Snow

This universal size rain cover fits most strollers, protecting your baby from rain, wind, snow, cold and dust.


Slim Booster Seat

Car seat guide: You can find the slimmest booster seat via slim booster seat if you want to fit 3 kids in the back seat.