UPPAbaby MESA Infant Car Seat Review

A thorough review of the UPPAbaby MESA infant car seat.

by Jess Wartinger
Mar 24, 2019

As you prepare for baby’s arrival, a new car seat is a must-have item. In fact, every state in the country requires you to have a rear-facing car seat for your newborn.

Choosing the right type of car seat for your growing family can become overwhelming. Before purchasing a car seat, you’ll need to decide which type best fits your needs. Types of rear-facing car seats include: infant car seats, convertible car seats, or a 3-in-1 car seats.

Many parents find that the benefits of having an easily transportable infant car seat far outweigh the drawbacks of the seats not lasting until their babies are grown.

With so many infant car seats on the market, it’s hard to know which might be a good fit for your growing family. We may be able to help ease this process with a stylish infant car seat that has the highest safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: the UPPAbaby MESA infant car seat.

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Here’s a review of the UPPAbaby MESA infant car seat so you can decide if this seat is a good option for your new arrival.

UPPAbaby MESA Infant Car Seat Review

For this UPPAbaby MESA Car Seat Review, we’ll look at the following:

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Child’s Age and Size Recommendations
Safety Features
Additional Features
Installation Information
Installation Videos
Specifications
Additional Accessories
Available Designs
User Reviews
Shipping Size & Cost
Overall Review

Child’s Age and Size Recommendations for the UPPAbaby MESA

The UPPAbaby MESA infant seat is recommended for babies weighing 4-35 pounds. The included insert is used for the littlest babies 4-8 pounds to ensure a proper fit.

Safety Features of the UPPAbaby MESA Infant Seat

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), three out of four car seats are installed incorrectly. UPPAbaby hopes to reduce this problem.

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The MESA infant seat includes a SMART SECURE system, which uses a tightness indicator and self-retracting LATCH connectors. This system installs in seconds and eliminates any guesswork. Just watch the indicator window switch from red to green and rest assured that the seat base is installed correctly.

The UPPAbaby MESA includes advanced side impact protection for you little baby. It includes an integrated, adjustable, headrest made of EPP foam-constructed wings. In the event of a crash, these distribute forces to minimize head trauma and whiplash.

In order to fit the smallest of babies, 4 pounds and up, the UPPAbaby MESA has a low harness position and adjusable croch strap setting. The included infant insert (for babies 4-8 pounds) has a built-in wedge for safer riding for small newborns.

The new UPPAbaby MESA (in Henry and Jordan styles) are the first seats of it’s kind to use naturally fire resistant merino wool. This seat meets federal flammability requirements without the addition of chemical flame retardants.

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The NHTSA gives the UPPAbaby MESA 5 out of 5 stars for ease of installation, securing the child, instructions, and included labels.

Additional Features of the UPPAbaby MESA Infant Seat

The UPPAbaby MESA was built with the consumer in mind. It comes with several features to make life on the go simple with baby.

The UPPAbaby MESA includes an adjustable headrest and a no-rethread harness. As baby grows, you’ll be able to convert his seat without taking it apart and rethreading the harness, saving you time and energy.

Perhaps one of the handiest features of the UPPAbaby MESA are the buckle storage pockets. After unbuckling baby, simple put the buckles in these pockets and lift baby out. When you rebuckle baby, there’s no fishing around for stuck straps. These buckle storage pocket also keep the buckles cool on hot days.

The canopy of the UPPAbaby MESA provides UPF 25+ and is designed to hide away when not in use.

Both the fabric and canopy of the UPPAbaby MESA are removable and machine-washable. Removal of these parts won’t disrupt the seat harness, saving you time as you keep baby’s seat clean. In addition, these fabrics are soft, breathable, and moisture-wicking to keep baby as cool as possible.

Installation Information for the UPPAbaby MESA

With the SMART SECURE system, installation of the UPPAbaby MESA is a breeze. Installation of the car seat base can be completed with the vehicle LATCH system or with a seat belt.

The UPPAbaby MESA can also be installed directly into a vehicle (without the base) using a vehicle seat belt.

All installations of the UPPAbaby MESA car seat base utilize an indicator window, which changes from red to green to signal correct installation.

Installation Videos for the UPPAbaby MESA Infant Seat

Are you interested in seeing how the UPPAbaby MESA installs into your vehicle or how to best secure your baby into the seat? Check out the following videos:

How to Install the UPPAbaby MESA Using LATCH:

How to Install the UPPAbaby MESA Using the Vehicle Seat Belt:

How to Secure Infant in the UPPAbaby MESA

Specifications for the UPPAbaby MESA

The UPPAbaby MESA Infant Seat has the following dimensions:

Car Seat Dimensions: 25.8”L x 17”W x 23”H

Base Dimensions: 28”L x 17”W x 25”H

Carrier Weight: 9.9 lbs

Base Weight: 9 lbs

Car Seat Capacity: 4-35 lbs

Additional Accessories for the UPPAbaby MESA Infant Seat

The UPPAbaby MESA pairs seamlessly with both the UPPAbaby VISTA and UPPAbaby CRUZ strollers without the purchase of additional adaptors.

The UPPAbaby VISTA stroller can comfortably hold two MESA infant seats, can transition with two toddler seats (rear or forward facing), and can hold an additional PiggyBack. The MESA can be placed directly into the VISTA stroller and is easily removed with a one-button, one-hand release. If baby wants to stretch out, the VISTA comes standard with an attachable bassinet so it functions as a pram.

The UPPAbaby CRUZ stroller becomes a performance travel system when paired with the MESA infant seat. This option is perfect for the family who’s looking for a single stroller that can hold the MESA and transition seamlessly to a toddler seat that can be positioned either front or rear facing. As with the VISTA, the CRUZ stroller allows the MESA car seat to detach with a one-button, one-hand release.

Other accessories for the UPPAbaby MESA include:

MESA Travel Bag - Protecting your MESA during traveling or storage.

Infant Car Seat Base - Purchase an additional base for subsequent vehicles (one base is included with your MESA purchase).

Cabana - Protects your baby from all types of weather, including sun, wind, rain, and even insects.

Rain Shield - Protects your baby from rain if you need to be out and about.

Available Designs of UPPAbaby MESA

The UPPAbaby MESA Infant Seat includes several different fabrics, some of which are naturally flame resistant (without chemical additives).

UPPAbaby MESA is currently available in the following colors:

Jake (Black)
Denny (Red)
Jordan (Charcoal) - Naturally Flame Resistant
Henry (Blue Marl) - Naturally Flame Resistant
Taylor (Indigo)
Pascal (Grey)

User Reviews for the UPPAbaby MESA Infant Seat

The UPPAbaby MESA seat has lots of parents raving about its features. Here are a few of the reviews:

John says: Great seat, love the infant insert. Easy one hand manipulation with stroller. Snaps onto base super easily. Great quality, looks awesome in white. The base is easy to install in the car, instructions booklet is very clear.

Lindsey (on amazon) says: Worth the price. I wanted the most non-toxic car seat and this is it. It looks very comfortable and my son loves it. Although not as important, it is very beautiful in person. The fabric is noticeably nicer than any other car seat I've owned or seen... I was also happy to know that the weight limit is higher than many other infant car seats.

Barbara (on amazon) says: After looking at every infant car seat on the market I purchased the UPPAbaby MESA. My only hesitation of course was the price. Although when you coincident it’s one of the safest car seats on the market, then see the quality of this seat and high end fabric it’s worth every penny. Other features that make this a great car seat are the easy to install base and handle bar that rotates completely back while still able to use the sunshade. It also feels lighter then I thought it would be. It’s very easy to get in and out of the car and one button to lift out of the UPPAbaby CRUZ stroller (not every car seat has these convince features).

Some families have found that this seat doesn’t meet their needs. Below are a few of their thoughts:

Guoyun says: Everything is great about this chair. Easy to use latch system, ample adjustment for height, and not too heavy for carrying around. One con which is very annoying is: when the sunshade is down, you cannot put the handle into the down locked position without the handle hitting the sunshade. You have to force the handle past the sunshade. Then when you put the handle up it pulls the sunshade with it…

Liz (on amazon) says: It was fine in cold weather but now that it’s starting to warm up my baby is miserable in this seat. There are huge plastic multi language warning labels on both the regular cover as well as the 4-8lb insert. These labels are placed so they’re right behind the baby’s back. This means the baby quickly becomes sweaty and angry on car trips.

Shipping Size & Cost for the UPPAbaby MESA

The UPPAbaby MESA car seat and base come packaged together. With a package weight of over 25 pounds, shipping costs can add up. One thing you may forget to factor in is shipping cost.

Here at BabyEarth.com the purchase of an UPPAbaby MESA infant seat qualifies for free shipping, with no additional handling charges.

Overall Review of the UPPAbaby MESA Infant Seat

The UPPAbaby MESA infant seat is a fantastic option for the family who want to travel safely and in style with baby. With innovative features such as self-retracting LATCH connectors, a no-rethread harness, and an indicator window to ensure correct installation, the UPPAbaby MESA is one of the safest seats on the market.

The MESA has a maximum weight limit of 35 pounds, a maximum height of 32 inches, and will last from the newborn stage through your baby’s first birthday (and well beyond). It promotes extended rear-facing, which is best practice when traveling with little ones.

The UPPAbaby MESA includes everything you’ll need to stay safe while traveling. It pairs effortlessly with both the VISTA and CRUZ strollers, meaning you can seamlessly transfer baby without disturbing him.

If you’re looking for a stylish car seat that comes with the highest ratings from the NHTSA this is the seat for you.

If you’re ready to purchase the UPPAbaby MESA infant seat, it’s time to choose your favorite design.

Jess Wartinger

Jess Wartinger resides in rural New York with her husband and five children. Formerly an early elementary teacher, Jess currently spends her time loving her kids and holding down the fort at home.