diff --git a/ionic/components/nav/nav-base.js b/ionic/components/nav/nav-base.js
index 65c820e954..12e71f38b3 100644
--- a/ionic/components/nav/nav-base.js
+++ b/ionic/components/nav/nav-base.js
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import {NavPane, NavBarSection} from './nav-pane';
 import {Transition, ClickBlock} from 'ionic/ionic';
 import * as util from 'ionic/util';
 
+let itemsIds = -1;
 
 export class NavBase {
 
@@ -39,6 +40,9 @@ export class NavBase {
     this.sbTransition = null;
     this.sbActive = false;
     this.panes = {};
+
+    this.id = ++itemsIds;
+    this.childIds = -1;
   }
 
   initial(initial) {
@@ -109,8 +113,8 @@ export class NavBase {
     }
   }
 
-  push(Component, params = {}, opts = {}) {
-    if (!Component || this.isTransitioning()) {
+  push(ComponentClass, params = {}, opts = {}) {
+    if (!ComponentClass || this.isTransitioning()) {
       return Promise.reject();
     }
 
@@ -136,13 +140,13 @@ export class NavBase {
     leavingItem.willCache();
 
     // create a new NavStackItem
-    let enteringItem = new NavItem(this, Component, params);
+    let enteringItem = new NavItem(this, ComponentClass, params);
 
     // set that this item is staged (it's not ready to be animated in yet)
     enteringItem.state = STAGED_STATE;
 
     // add the item to the stack
-    this.items.push(enteringItem);
+    this.add(enteringItem);
 
     // start the transition
     this.transition(enteringItem, leavingItem, opts, () => {
@@ -193,7 +197,25 @@ export class NavBase {
     return promise;
   }
 
+  switchActive(enteringItem, opts = {}) {
+    opts.animation = 'none';
+
+    let leavingItem = this.getActive() || new NavItem();
+    leavingItem.shouldDestroy = false;
+    leavingItem.shouldCache = true;
+    leavingItem.willCache();
+
+    this.transition(enteringItem, leavingItem, opts, () => {
+      // transition completed, destroy the leaving item
+      console.log('switchActive comlete')
+    });
+  }
+
   transition(enteringItem, leavingItem, opts, callback) {
+    if (!enteringItem || enteringItem === leavingItem) {
+      return callback();
+    }
+
     opts.isAnimated = (opts.animation !== 'none');
 
     this.transitionStart(opts);
@@ -409,16 +431,6 @@ export class NavBase {
     return false;
   }
 
-  clear() {
-    let pops = [];
-    for(let item of this.items) {
-      pops.push(this.pop({
-        animate: false
-      }));
-    }
-    return Promise.all(pops);
-  }
-
   getActive() {
     for (let i = 0, ii = this.items.length; i < ii; i++) {
       if (this.items[i].state === ACTIVE_STATE) {
@@ -428,6 +440,15 @@ export class NavBase {
     return null;
   }
 
+  findByInstance(instance) {
+    for (let i = 0, ii = this.items.length; i < ii; i++) {
+      if (this.items[i].instance === instance) {
+        return this.items[i];
+      }
+    }
+    return null;
+  }
+
   getPrevious(item) {
     if (item) {
       return this.items[ this.items.indexOf(item) - 1 ];
@@ -457,10 +478,43 @@ export class NavBase {
     return this.domElement;
   }
 
+  add(item) {
+    item.id = this.id + '' + (++this.childIds);
+    this.items.push(item);
+  }
+
   remove(itemOrIndex) {
     util.array.remove(this.items, itemOrIndex);
   }
 
+  length() {
+    return this.items.length;
+  }
+
+  isActive(item) {
+    return (item && item.stage === ACTIVE_STATE);
+  }
+
+  clear() {
+    let pops = [];
+    for (let item of this.items) {
+      pops.push(this.pop({
+        animate: false
+      }));
+    }
+    return Promise.all(pops);
+  }
+
+  instances() {
+    let instances = [];
+    for (let item of this.items) {
+      if (item.instance) {
+        instances.push(item.instance);
+      }
+    }
+    return instances
+  }
+
   width() {
     return this.domElement.offsetWidth;
   }
diff --git a/ionic/components/nav/nav-item.js b/ionic/components/nav/nav-item.js
index f24d30e4b4..14aaf1140a 100644
--- a/ionic/components/nav/nav-item.js
+++ b/ionic/components/nav/nav-item.js
@@ -11,11 +11,12 @@ import {TabPane, NavPane, NavPaneSection} from './nav';
 
 export class NavItem {
 
-  constructor(navBase, Component, params = {}) {
+  constructor(navBase, ComponentClass, params = {}) {
     this.navBase = navBase;
-    this.Component = Component;
+    this.ComponentClass = ComponentClass;
     this.params = params;
-    this.id = util.nextUid();
+    this.instance = null;
+
     this._titleEle = undefined;
     this._backBtn = undefined;
     this.disposals = [];
@@ -40,7 +41,7 @@ export class NavItem {
     }
 
     // compile the Component
-    this.navBase.compiler.compileInHost(this.Component).then(componentProtoViewRef => {
+    this.navBase.compiler.compileInHost(this.ComponentClass).then(componentProtoViewRef => {
 
       // figure out the sturcture of this Component
       // does it have a navbar? Is it tabs? Should it not have a navbar or any toolbars?
diff --git a/ionic/components/tabs/tab.js b/ionic/components/tabs/tab.js
index 03a27e5879..ef697d7897 100644
--- a/ionic/components/tabs/tab.js
+++ b/ionic/components/tabs/tab.js
@@ -50,18 +50,24 @@ export class Tab {
       injector: Injector,
       viewContainerRef: ViewContainerRef
     ) {
+
     this.navBase = new NavBase(parentNavBase, compiler, elementRef, loader, injector);
+    this.parentNavBase = parentNavBase;
+
+    this.tabItem = new NavItem(parentNavBase);
+    this.tabItem.instance = this
+    tabs.addTab(this.tabItem);
+
+    this.panelId = 'tab-panel-' + this.tabItem.id;
+    this.labeledBy = 'tab-button-' + this.tabItem.id;
+
+    this.elementRef = elementRef;
 
     this.viewContainerRef = viewContainerRef;
 
     this.sections = parentNavBase.panes['_n'].sections;
     this.navBase.panes['_n'] = this;
 
-    this.isSelected = false;
-
-    tabs.addTab(this);
-    this.panelId = 'tab-panel-' + this.id;
-    this.labeledBy = 'tab-button-' + this.id;
 
     this.domElement = elementRef.domElement;
     this.config = Nav.config.invoke(this);
@@ -69,19 +75,8 @@ export class Tab {
     console.log('Tab constructor', this.id, ' parentNavBase:', parentNavBase);
   }
 
-  onInit() {
-    this.navBase.initial(this.initial);
-  }
-
-  select(shouldSelect) {
-    if (shouldSelect && !this.isSelected) {
-      console.log('Select tab', this.id);
-
-    } else if (!shouldSelect && this.isSelected) {
-      console.log('Deselect tab', this.id);
-    }
-
-    this.isSelected = shouldSelect;
+  get isSelected() {
+    return this.parentNavBase.isActive(this);
   }
 
 }
diff --git a/ionic/components/tabs/tabs.js b/ionic/components/tabs/tabs.js
index 14f5ff1615..52fe2b38cc 100644
--- a/ionic/components/tabs/tabs.js
+++ b/ionic/components/tabs/tabs.js
@@ -1,8 +1,9 @@
 import {Ancestor, Parent} from 'angular2/src/core/annotations_impl/visibility';
 import {Optional} from 'angular2/src/di/annotations_impl'
-import {Directive, Component, onInit} from 'angular2/src/core/annotations_impl/annotations';
+import {Directive, Component} from 'angular2/src/core/annotations_impl/annotations';
 import {View} from 'angular2/src/core/annotations_impl/view';
 import {ElementRef} from 'angular2/src/core/compiler/element_ref';
+import {Compiler} from 'angular2/angular2';
 import {DynamicComponentLoader} from 'angular2/src/core/compiler/dynamic_component_loader';
 import {Injector} from 'angular2/di';
 import {NgFor} from 'angular2/angular2';
@@ -14,17 +15,15 @@ import {TabButton} from './tab-button';
 import {Icon} from '../icon/icon';
 import {Nav, NavPane} from '../nav/nav';
 import {NavItem} from '../nav/nav-item';
+import {NavBase} from '../nav/nav-base';
 
 
-let tabsId = -1;
-
 @Component({
   selector: 'ion-tabs',
   properties: [
     'tabBarPlacement',
     'tabBarIcons'
-  ],
-  lifecycle: [onInit]
+  ]
 })
 @View({
   template: `
@@ -43,46 +42,35 @@ let tabsId = -1;
   directives: [NgFor, TabButton, Icon]
 })
 export class Tabs {
-  constructor(elementRef: ElementRef) {
-    this.id = ++tabsId;
-    this.tabIds = 0;
-    this.tabs = [];
-    this._selected = null;
+  constructor(
+    @Optional() parentNavBase: NavBase,
+      compiler: Compiler,
+      elementRef: ElementRef,
+      loader: DynamicComponentLoader,
+      injector: Injector
+  ) {
+    this.navBase = new NavBase(parentNavBase, compiler, elementRef, loader, injector);
 
     this.domElement = elementRef.domElement;
     this.config = Tabs.config.invoke(this);
-
-    console.log('Tabs constructor', this.id);
   }
 
-  onInit() {
-    if (this.tabs.length > 0) {
-      this.selectTab(this.tabs[0]);
+  addTab(tabItem) {
+    this.navBase.add(tabItem);
+
+    if (this.navBase.length() === 1) {
+      this.selectTab(tabItem.instance);
     }
   }
 
-  addTab(tab) {
-    tab.id = this.id + '' + (++this.tabIds);
-    this.tabs.push(tab);
+  get tabs() {
+    return this.navBase.instances();
   }
 
-  selectTab(tabToSelect) {
-    if (typeof tabToSelect === 'number') {
-      let index = tabToSelect;
-      tabToSelect = null;
-      if (index < this.tabs.length) {
-        tabToSelect = this.tabs[index];
-      }
-    }
-    if (!tabToSelect || this._selected === tabToSelect) return;
+  selectTab(tabInstance) {
+    let enteringItem = this.navBase.findByInstance(tabInstance);
 
-    let tabToDeselect = this._selected;
-
-    this.tabs.forEach(tab => {
-      tab.select( (tab === tabToSelect) );
-    });
-
-    this._selected = tabToSelect;
+    this.navBase.switchActive(enteringItem);
   }
 
 }