Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that a weekend break in Europe with 3mo would be manageable without a buggy?

71 replies

indieakka · 04/11/2013 16:12

(sorry accidentally posted in wrong place so reposting here) Am potentially going to be visiting people in Sweden before Xmas but am not certain that taking our buggy on the plane will be manageable - I will be doing the journey alone with my DD who will be 3 months old, and when there we'll be staying in a hotel. We have a Baby Björn which she likes going in - am I mad to even think of doing the journey and trip with just the Baby Björn and no buggy??? (and whilst we're at it, would you mind me asking 'Am I mad to even consider such a trip at all?!' and 'Are pop-up travel cots any good in your experience?') Thanks :-)

OP posts:
AlexaChelsea · 04/11/2013 16:14

I don't see a massive issue either way.

Why wouldn't the buggy be manageable on the plane? You basically push it right up to the

AlexaChelsea · 04/11/2013 16:15

Plane and then the crew put it in the hold.

It's waiting for you when you get off.

(Posted too early, sorry!)

MortifiedAnyFuckerAdams · 04/11/2013 16:16

Three month olds are exceedingly portable so.nope,.not mad at all.

Pop up travel cots are a nightmare so if you have a lieflat pushchair/pram.id take it rwgardless for.nighttime sleeps

Whilst the most avid sling users dont own a pushchair, I found mine a godsend and when away could put dd down in it to sleep and then wheel.her out for the evening in.it.

Am.certain a pushchair is allowed right up.until you board and is then slung.in the hold and avaliable to you as soon as you disembark.

iliketea · 04/11/2013 16:16

I flew when dd was that small, alone.
I would take the buggy, check it i rather than taking it through the airport. The sling is fab for carrying a baby through the airport, but at the other end, I think it's quite hard going to constantly carry your dd if you're out and about all day.

NewtRipley · 04/11/2013 16:16

I would take a really really cheap light buggy. It's not that big a faff.

NewtRipley · 04/11/2013 16:17

Ask whoever you are visiting to buy/borrow/rent a cot for you

noblegiraffe · 04/11/2013 16:18

The issue with no pram is that if you go out for lunch or anything, you don't have anywhere to put the baby and so have to juggle it and your lunch.

TheIggorcist · 04/11/2013 16:19

I think since it's a baby bjorn rather than a sling you are a wee bit mad, either that or have a back made of steel.
I have travelled with 3 month old (shorter flight though) had travel system with infant car seat on it, took right up to plane steps, they took away, and got it back as I got off the plane (now you need to remember to ask for this bit on the plane, it's not automatic). I just would want my arms free sometime.

LittleBairn · 04/11/2013 16:19

By 3 months you will detest the Bjorn. I would invest in a better long lasting one like an Ergo. It's perfectly possible to go buggy free.

TheIggorcist · 04/11/2013 16:21

For sleep, I would get people you are staying with to get hold of a travel cot for you (they are fairly easy to borrow) and I would buy a travel cot mattress out of mothercare (it's more like a padded topper so could go in case) then I would have a new sleep surface (important at that age) but no cot to carry.

riksti · 04/11/2013 16:25

Sweden before Christmas may be quite cold. Have you got a warm coat that you can pull over the sling? Pushchair would also need a good footmuff and possibly rain cover to keep the snow off. Downside of pushchairs - it's a pain to get and transport one that is any good in snow. A popular model in Estonia (similarish climate to Sweden) is Emmaljunga, not a popular design in the UK but four big wheels are really helpful if there's actually thick snow on the ground. Although it's possible that the streets of Sweden are better maintained than Estonian streets and therefore you won't have to push through snow that comes up to your knees at times.

theyoniwayisnorthwards · 04/11/2013 16:25

Hard to take a cheap light buggy for 3 month old who isn't sitting yet though. The Maclaren Volo reclines flat and is portable enough. You should be fine with just a sling but it's nice to have something to out baby down in when you're out. If your usual buggy has a carrycot I'd say its worth bringing for sleeping in, you CAN bring it to the plane but then you have to fold it down or disassemble at the gate, not always easy to do while holding a baby. You could also check it in at the desk and just use sling for customs and the flight.

Lweji · 04/11/2013 16:27

Still take the buggy so that you can carry our handbags around.

Faithless12 · 04/11/2013 16:28

I'd look at getting another carrier, I've travelled before with DS with nothing but a carrier. It's tougher now that he is 2 but still just about doable.

honeybunny14 · 04/11/2013 16:30

Id take a buggy

MrsTerryPratchett · 04/11/2013 17:05

I went much further than that for much longer when DD was 3 months. Buggy was good for the bags even when DD was on me. I also love my Ergo for travelling (thanks MN for that suggestion).

Take less stuff than you think you need. If you are BFing, you need boobs, nappies and ask the hotel for a cot (DD just went in with me).

SparklyFucker · 04/11/2013 17:10

You'll need a proper carrier not a Baby Bjorn if you're planning on your DD spending all day in it - BB's are very bad for their hips. You need a proper soft structured carrier like a Mei Tai type, Connecta, Ergo etc. If you get one of those then you'll be fine I'm sure.

WooWooSister · 04/11/2013 17:13

My ds was a little older when I took him abroad but it was easy to take a buggy. I was able to wheel him right up to check in and get it as soon as I disembarked. It will be cold and probably wet so for that reason I'd take a pram with a rain cover.
Ask the hotel for a cot and just pack a sheet to cover it (I found it helped ds to settle because it made the cot smell like home!). I love Sweden - you'll have a wonderful time.

PerpendicularVincentPrice · 04/11/2013 17:14

YANBU to go without a buggy but YABU to rely on a baby bjorn as they have no lower back support.

I would buy a cheap, portable buggy and a decent sling.

digerd · 04/11/2013 17:20

Sweden could be very,very cold at Xmas. It is Scandinavia.

NewtRipley · 04/11/2013 17:23

"Sweden could be very,very cold at Xmas. It is Scandinavia"

Sorry, that made me laugh Grin

OMFGShockHorror · 04/11/2013 17:25

You need a decent sling. Baby bjorns are not supposed to be used for much more than 45 minutes or so. Bad support for baby's legs not to mention your back will be killing you. Stretchy/moby.

oscarwilde · 04/11/2013 17:33

A hotel will supply a travel cot but probably not sheets and bedding (gro bag probably most simple solution)
Definitely need a pram imo as it will be too cold to explose a 3 month old to the elements (leaving aside considerations as to the brand of sling) for long period strapped to you. They won't be walking so will get cold faster than you will. Can you rent or borrow one while you are there ? If not, bring the one you have and some decent blankets.

kelda · 04/11/2013 17:34

YANBU. But you need a really good sling.

You and the baby will keep each other warm in cold, cold ScandinaviaSmile

DoctorRobert · 04/11/2013 17:35

I would get a proper carrier (loved the connecta), if you do that then yanbu!