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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:
Pachacuti · 04/11/2013 17:47

With a good carrier, fine, have done it myself. Am less convinced that the Bjorn is a good carrier, but if it works for you...

Get a big down jacket that will do up over both of you.

APartridgeAmongThePigeons · 04/11/2013 17:55

You push it to the airplane then they take it off of you. Also it makes sens if your pram has an attachment for your car seat as you may want that too

waterrat · 04/11/2013 18:11

I did some trips without buggy at this age and tbh I regretted it - nowhere to put baby down an if you have a buggy you can go out for dinner at night as a little baby will easily sleep in a noisy restaurant -
If you only have a sling you will wake the baby every time you sit down - well my experience was that sitting often woke the baby .....

So you won't be able to relax at all while baby sleeps and you will be stuck in the evening

It's so easy to take a buggy - the airline will take it from you at th steps of te plane and return it as you land - Dont go without it !!

sonu678 · 04/11/2013 18:16

I took a 6 week old on a weekend trip to paris. didnt bother with a cot as the buggy did double time as a place for him to sleep. and be changed in. It was used to carry all the crap that gets taken with us to disneyland. etc etc. Of all the things to leave behind, I would consider the buggy to be the one useful thing.

WestieMamma · 04/11/2013 18:16

Depends where abouts in Sweden you're going. You get to travel free if you have a pram with you with some bus companies, but not all.

Oriunda · 04/11/2013 18:21

You're effectively talking about having your daughter in the bjorn all day, other than night time? That's a long time to be in that type of sling. Uncomfortable when you want to eat etc. It's easy to take buggy through airport, leave at steps and collect when you arrive. Take the sling though for getting up and down airline steps safely.

misspontypine · 04/11/2013 18:26

It will be easier for you to use a sling in Sweden in the winter. There is very likely going to be lots of snow, people have special snow tyres for the prams here (or huge big snow friendly prams) or "pulkas" which are little sledge things.

Even if you bring your pushchair you would need an åkpåse (a heavy duty cosy toes) to keep your baby warm.

If you use a sling you will need a slightly too big proper winter coat, that will go over both you and your baby.

A baby björn isn't ideal, I have only used one once but it was extreemly uncomfortable after only a short time.

glorious · 04/11/2013 18:27

I've just spent two weeks in Japan without a pushchair and didn't miss it once. However DD is older so can sit in highchairs etc. If you're visiting people at home I reckon you'd be fine but you might miss it out and about. On the other hand luggage is much easier to manage without a pushchair as well.

We have a phil and teds travel cot which packs up really small.
And do try some other carriers when the baby bjorn gets uncomfortable, there are much more comfortable ones out there.

mezza123 · 04/11/2013 18:28

Much easier going through security, immigrantion etc etc with a buggy too.

GreatSoprendo · 04/11/2013 18:32

You will probably manage ok without a buggy if you must, but I definitely would take a decent sling that is more comfy than a BB for both baby and you - an Ergo or Manduca or a wrap sling of some kind.

YANBU to take the trip tho - I'd do it.

HalleLouja · 04/11/2013 18:36

As the others said ditch the baby bjorn and get yourself to a sling library where you can try a few out and see what is best for you. I loved the connecta but different strokes for different folks. Buggy not too much bother to take on plane. You could put it in hold straight away and put baby in sling.

EauRouge · 04/11/2013 18:41

We went away for 2 weeks when DD2 was 10 weeks old with no buggy or pram- but I did have a wrap and a ring sling (for when the wrap got puked on), not a Baby Bjorn. You back will be killing you after an hour with a Baby Bjorn, they are rubbish, and not very good for babies' hips if they're in there for a long time.

Also the plus side of a sling/wrap rather than a buggy is that you won't need to worry so much about her getting cold (you'll need a big coat or blanket to go around you both).

We had no problems going through security or immigration. I found it easier having one less thing to worry about in the airport and we were able to get around more easily. I was able to sit down (and go to the loo!) without waking her.

Have a fab time, love Sweden in the winter.

YesterdayI · 04/11/2013 18:51

I would take a super light umbrella pushchair with none of the paraphernalia (no rain cover etc) Something like this

dyslexicdespot · 04/11/2013 18:53

As others have said a baby bjorn is not ideal. They are horrible for your back and bad for the babies hips.

If you bring a buggy you will have to bring a proper one, that can be used in snow and ice, so any standard British one would not do. Umbrella pushchairs would not work at all.

This is especially true if you are going to the middle or the north of Sweden.

I would invest is a decent sling like and Ergo AND some very good snow boots for you to wear, that have ice- grips in the soles. It can get very, slippery especially if you are in the country side.

Also, make sure you have proper winter clothes, if you go up North. British winters at their worst are like a Swedish summer day (slight exaggeration)!

redexpat · 04/11/2013 18:55

3 months should be fine in a baby bjorn. And you'll look very swedish too Grin

sleeplessbunny · 04/11/2013 18:57

I think taking a buggy would be easier, it's no hassle on the plane as you push it right to the steps and then a baggage handler takes it from you. It is given back to you as you leave the aircraft. I found a buggy invaluable at the airport for coats, bags, drinks etc. Just the thought of a weekend with a 3mo in a baby bjorn is giving me backache!

sleeplessbunny · 04/11/2013 19:01

Just read other posts about snow, hadn't thought of that. I know from experience that pushing a maclaren in the snow is a bad joke.

StuckOnARollercoaster · 04/11/2013 19:03

I had this conundrum for a trip tomorrow and have bought a hauck umbrella fold pushchair that I can use in addition to my wrap sling.

Sleepwhenidie · 04/11/2013 19:04

My worry about travelling without a buggy was always what if there is a serious delay at the airport? Not very relaxing being unable to put baby down for hours...also I agree about being able to go out to eat when you can put baby in a buggy and hopefully let him/her sleep Smile. It's also not just about carrying the baby, bag with changing stuff etc is additional weight to manage.

whatareyoueventalkingabout · 04/11/2013 19:09

the samsonite pop up travel cot is AMAZING. really really light and really easy to put up. if you desperately didn't want to take a pushchair then you could whip if out at people's houses and put the baby down in it to sleep.

I wouldn't have considered doing your trip without a pushchair but my little one weighed about fifteen pounds by three months so carrying around started to take its toll on me and made me really hot.

A lot of people swear by slings but as people have said, it's brilliant just to be able to leave them to sleep in a pushchair whilst you are eating and you can jiggle it with one hand rather than trying to eat over the top of a baby's head.

(I spilled wasabi and soy on my little one's head when asleep in a baby bjorn so please learn from my mistakes.)

Could you borrow a pushchair over there?

Original poster
indieakka · 04/11/2013 19:10

Thanks so much everyone, some really useful stuff here for me to think about in preparation, especially re. Baby Björn and also the temperature / baby getting cold in a sling. I think I had just assumed I couldn't check in our buggy as it is in two parts (MothercareMy4 with big chunky wheels which might (might!) be good enough in the snow) but I will look into what BA allow. Thanks again!

OP posts:
misspontypine · 04/11/2013 19:14

I checked in my 2 part bugaboo at the gate when I flew ba.

Another thing to bare in mind is you may well be expected to leave the buggy (and baby if it's asleep) outside cafes/restaraunts. Most places in Stockholm don't allow you to take the pushchair right up to the table (parents get 18 months parental leave so there are LOTS of pushchairs to accomodate)

misspontypine · 04/11/2013 19:16

Oh one last thing, at Stockhol Arlanda airport they have free to use buggies at the plane's entrance and at checkin.

midori1999 · 04/11/2013 20:34

I would just take a sling, although a decent one, not a baby bjorn. Although I say that having had prams for my first 3 DC, a pram and a sling (or three... ) for my last DC and no pram, just slings for my newborn. Once you get used to the differences, no pram is just so much easier. I actually think slings are warmer too, especially if you have a big cost to go around you both.

Stretchy or woven wraps can be very warm and a stretchy wrap can be worn and you can just pop baby in and out without having to undo anything or take it off. An Ergo with the insert cushion is warm too, although obviously if its snowing you'd need a good snowsuit too.