The travel pram so good I ditched my everyday stroller for it

Before having a baby, I figured all prams were pretty much the same: just plop your kid in and off you go. 

But now I know better.

Everything from the comfort of the seat and the wheel suspension to the handlebars and cupholder must be keenly considered when shopping for the perfect pram. 

So when it came time to invest in a travel pram for an upcoming holiday with my 18-month-old toddler, I knew I’d need to log some research hours. 

For previous trips, we used a second-hand travel pram that I bought off Marketplace for $50. While it did the job, the wheels didn’t stand up to the cracked streets of Bangkok as we wheeled around, and I could tell my son wasn’t super comfortable in the seat. 

The overwhelming majority of reviews I read praised the durability of the Bugaboo Butterfly 2 stroller, despite it being light and small. Our main pram is a Bugaboo, too, so I was already very much a fan of the brand and was keen to give their travel version a go. 

The Bugaboo Butterfly 2 at glance...

Was $729, now $583

The main features:

• One-handed folding mechanism (perfect for the airport)
• IATA-compatible, fits in overhead bins on airplanes
• Reclining seat, ideal for naps on the go
• Bigger wheels for a smoother ride
• Large storage basket underneath
• Suitable from birth, but even my 14.5kg toddler had plenty of room

First impressions

I’m still haunted by memories of assembling our bassinet pram while eight months pregnant, so instantly, my favourite thing about the Bugaboo Butterfly 2 is how easy it is to assemble.  

It’s also very simple to fold and unfold, which I can do with one hand – a much-needed feature especially when you’re on the go, heading through airport security, or packing everything back into the car. 

I used the pram while taking my son to New Zealand on a solo trip to visit family. I dreaded navigating the airport and plane on my own, but having such an easy pram definitely took some of the stress out of it. Being able to just zip it into its backpack carrier and shove it in an overhead locker made life a lot easer than having to gate check a pram. 

The reclining seat is great, too. There have been a few times when we’ve stayed out during my son’s regular nap time – after reclining to the lowest position and walking around the block a few times, he conked out and stayed asleep. He’s not normally a pram napper (would rather die than miss out on anything interesting going on), so we counted that as a huge win. 

We took it on a trip to Singapore and Indonesia, and it was all smooth sailing, even over bumpy city streets, up busy escalators, and on public transport. 

More than just a travel pram

Though this pram was initially supposed to just be our travel pram, it’s become my everyday go-to, even two months after coming home from holiday. 

I have a very small car, so being able to fit the pram in the boot, or even in the back seat, slotted behind his baby seat, is a huge win for me. (When I pack my regular pram in the car I can only carry one other passenger at a time.)

The lining of the pram is machine washable, which, when you have a kid who loves to snack as much as mine does, is an absolute necessity. The seat cover slips on and off easily, no fiddly bits to contend with. 

Is a Bugaboo Butterfly 2 travel pram worth it?

Though these prams are definitely at the more expensive end of the spectrum, I’d say they’re very much worth it.

I’m typically hesitant to spend a lot – especially if it’s just for travel – but for this, I’d make an exception. 

It’s hard to find a travel pram that is both compact and still comfortable enough for your little one, especially if you’re planning to keep them in there for a few hours or more while exploring a new city. 

And anything that encourages my son to nap is a win in my books.