Compact pushchairs for trips

Five compact pushchairs, ranked by weight, lightest first. Weight decides this one, because you'll carry a folded pushchair up plane steps and station stairs with a child on your other arm. Figures and prices come from each maker's UK page on 3 November 2026. We haven't tested any of them.

Ranked by weight

If your child is over 6 months and sitting, all five are open to you. Under that, the NHS test applies: "Pushchairs, also known as strollers and buggies, are only suitable for young babies if they have fully reclining seats so your baby can lie flat. Wait until your baby can sit by themselves before using another type of pushchair."

That leaves two. Cybex says the Coya reclines to a lie-flat position, and Bugaboo says the Butterfly 2 has a fully flat recline. Babymore rates the Yara from birth but calls its recline near lie-flat, so we keep it for sitting babies. Stokke sells a separate Newborn Pack for the YOYO5. We didn't read a flat claim for it, so ask Stokke.

Our list of pushchairs that work from birth covers the newborn stage in more depth.

Prices, lowest first

• Babymore Yara: £179
• Cybex Libelle: £269.95
• Stokke YOYO5: £429
• Bugaboo Butterfly 2: £435
• Cybex Coya: £499.95

Those are regular prices for the pushchair alone. The YOYO5 is Stokke's "from" price. Of these five, the Yara is the cheapest, and it's also the heaviest. You pay in kilos. That's a fair trade if your baby can sit and you mostly drive, or fly once a year.

Airlines still decide

Two makers here hedge on this, and that's useful. Cybex says hand-luggage size varies by airline, while claiming the Libelle fits on 99% of them. Babymore says acceptance stays at the airline's discretion. It adds that the Yara only meets its cabin-size claim with the bumper bar off, since the fold grows to 72.5cm long with it on.

Bugaboo says the Butterfly 2 is IATA-compatible. IATA's sizes aren't a promise from the crew at your gate. Check your own airline's limit before you pack, and have a plan for the hold.

Where each one earns its place

The Libelle fits the trip where you walk a lot and carry a lot. At 6 kg it's the one you'd lift most easily into a locker. Its basket holds 5kg, by Cybex's figure, against 8kg on the Butterfly 2.

The Coya and the Butterfly 2 weigh the same. Cybex charges £499.95 for the Coya and Bugaboo £435 for the Butterfly 2, so the Butterfly 2 is cheaper by that comparison. Cybex's case rests on an optional foldable cot, which it says folds to hand-luggage size. Our Yara and Butterfly 2 comparison runs through the Bugaboo in more detail.

The YOYO5 weighs 6.6 kg and has a one-hand fold. You might see older recall notices when you search for it. The older YOYO 3 was recalled in 2024 and 2025 over its parking brake. Those notices name that model, not this one.

A second pushchair for trips

One route is an everyday pushchair plus a cheap second one for holidays. Second-hand makes sense here, because it might only come out once a year. Which? says a third of the parents in its 2024 baby survey own a second-hand pushchair, and 89% were satisfied with it. Which? suggests checking for recalls, brakes that work and a smooth fold. The NHS flat test applies to a used one too.

It's also fine to skip a travel pushchair and take the one you own.

Sleep away from home

Trips throw routines out. The advice doesn't change. The AAP says a baby asleep in a stroller should move to a firm sleep surface, on their back, as soon as you can. The NHS advice for every sleep is on the back, on a firm, flat mattress, in a clear cot, and in the same room as you for at least the first 6 months. If you're unsure what that means somewhere new, speak to your doctor or health visitor.

Recall checks

We found no current recall for any of these five models on 3 November 2026. Each has its own check on its page in our pushchair catalog.