Travelling - take my Stokke or buy a small buggy?

[mamjo]

That's it really. We have 4 trips on planes booked this year with DD who is currently 5 months.

So my question is do I take the big Stokke that she loves. We have a travel bag for it to go in the hold. Or, buy a small buggy? If so, which one?

Thanks

Xxx

[shmoz]

I had the same dilemma, ended up buying a small buggy as was then able to take it to the steps of the plane. Even though you've got a travel bag, luggage handlers still throw stuff around.

I saw one poor guy at Rzeszow airport having to take the wheels off his large pushchair as it wouldn't go through the scanner!!

I bought a Hauck from Asda for £25, really light, easy to collapse and has variable recline positions. Funky colours too. The only snag is that its forward facing only, I would have preferred rear as my DD only 9 weeks when we travelled outbound.

Happy travelling! xx

[Lollypolly]

What are you going to put her in as you go through the airport? Or are you going to use the Stokke and carry the bag through the airport and pack it at the door of the plane?

I bought a maclaren (cheapest one that reclines) from ebay for holidays and used it on holidays and when kids grew up as it folded much smaller than the Jane / Bugaboo I also had. I've since sold the two big buggies and kept the maclaren for emergencies (youngest is 2.5 and walks a lot). It's taken a huge huge beating on and off flights (20+) and still going strong. Both kids have slept in it during dinner on holidays too. Would recommend a cheapy umbrella fold buggy that reclines and is suitable for your DD's age.

[mamjo]

Thanks lolly, we were just gonna use the baby bjorn at the airport? But I think that you are probably right. I will start looking for a buggy.

[upyourdiva]

I think you can take Ptite Star Zia and Quinny Zapp onboard with you.

(Some)Baggage handlers are just not very gentle people so personally I'd rather take it on with me and make sure it got there in one piece as it would put a bit of a downer on the rest of the holiday if it got lost/broken.

[SweetApril]

Only just seen this, mamajo, but we had same dilemma too some years ago. By coincidence I happened to speak to someone at the Stokke repair centre when I was just about to buy a travel bag and risk taking the Xplory. He said they had a huge amount of Xplorys returned for repair after being damaged by baggage handlers, including those in the travel bags. So we decided against it. Eventually ended up with a BJCM (after trying and hating a Maclaren). Really love it. Recommend taking back wheels off and putting a luggage strap round it for going in the hold.