The five at a glance
| Stroller | Weight | Folded size | Child | Stand-out |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doona X | 19.6 lb (8.9 kg) | 17.3 × 28.5 × 18 in (44 × 72.3 × 45.6 cm) | Infant car seat: up to 30 lb and 17–32 in | Car seat and stroller in one |
| Stokke YOYO³ (6+) | 13.7 lb (6.2 kg) | 20.5 × 17.3 × 7.1 in (52 × 44 × 18 cm) | From 6 months to 48.5 lb (newborn pack sold separately) | Smallest fold here |
| UPPAbaby Minu V3 | 16.7 lb (7.6 kg) | 21.5 × 18 × 10 in | From birth to 50 lb | Big basket, all-wheel suspension |
| Nuna TRVL lx | 14.6 lb without canopy and armbar (about 17 lb with them) | 27 × 21 × 14.25 in | From birth to 50 lb | Near-flat recline |
| Mockingbird Travel Stroller | 17.7 lb | 21.5 × 18 × 10 in | From birth (infant nest mode or car seat adapter, both included) to 50 lb | Car seat adapter included |
Weights and sizes from each maker's website (Babylist for the YOYO's weight), checked 22 October 2026. For comparison, the usual US carry-on limit is 22 × 14 × 9 in.
Which one for which family
Stokke YOYO³: best for flying and trains
13.7 lb; folds to 52 × 44 × 18 cm (20.5 × 17.3 × 7.1 in); from 6 months to 48.5 lb with the 6+ seat.
The smallest fold here, small enough that Stokke says most airlines accept it as cabin luggage. It tucks into a train luggage rack or under a café table. The trade-off is small wheels, so it's happiest on smooth pavements. (YOYO was made by Babyzen, now part of Stokke.)
UPPAbaby Minu V3: best all-rounder for cobbles
16.7 lb; folds to 21.5 × 18 × 10 in; from birth to 50 lb; basket holds up to 20 lb.
All-wheel suspension makes it one of the smoothest here on rough streets, and the basket swallows a day's snacks and layers. It folds one-handed and stands on its own, but the fold is bigger than the YOYO's. (The Mockingbird Travel Stroller below also has all-wheel suspension and the same folded size.)
Nuna TRVL lx: best for naps on the go
14.6 lb without canopy and armbar; folds to 27 × 21 × 14.25 in; from birth to 50 lb.
The near-flat recline is great for a baby who naps out and about. It clicks straight onto a Nuna PIPA infant car seat with no adapters. The fold is long, so plan to gate-check it.
Doona X: best for babies and taxis
19.6 lb; folds to 17.3 × 28.5 × 18 in; infant car seat for babies up to 30 lb and 17–32 in.
The wheels fold away and it becomes the car seat, which is brilliant for airport transfers, taxis and rental cars. It's the heaviest here, the basket is tiny, and your baby will outgrow it, so it's a first-year buy.
Mockingbird Travel Stroller: best value from birth
17.7 lb; folds to 21.5 × 18 × 10 in; from birth to 50 lb; $399 when we checked, with the car seat adapter, cup holder and carry bag included.
New for fall 2026 (it started shipping in mid-October), from the brand behind the popular Single-to-Double. It has a one-hand auto-fold, all-wheel suspension, a near lie-flat recline and a big basket, and it works from birth without buying extras: an infant nest mode plus an adapter for 50+ infant car seats come in the box. Mockingbird says the fold is IATA-compliant and fits the overhead bin on nearly all flights. The folded size matches the Minu V3, so it's not as tiny as the YOYO, and it's too new for long-term reviews yet.
Got a Mockingbird Single-to-Double at home?
Lots of families already own (or love) the Mockingbird Single-to-Double Stroller 3.0. It's a great everyday stroller, but it's a full-size one: Mockingbird lists it at 28 lb as a single (36 lb with the second seat) and 34 × 26 × 18 in folded, $549 when we checked. That's a gate-check stroller, heavy on station stairs and wide for narrow old-town pavements. It does make sense on a road trip, where it lives in the trunk, and its all-wheel suspension and never-flat tires handle rough paths well. For flights, trains and cobbled city centers, pair it with a travel stroller; Mockingbird itself suggests the Single-to-Double as the home-base stroller and the Travel Stroller for trips.
When a carrier beats a stroller
Castles, steep closes, ferry gangways and lots of stairs are easier with a carrier. For toddlers on walks and hills, a framed hiking carrier does the job:
Osprey Poco Child Carrier
7.69 lb (3.48 kg); 24 L of storage; maximum total load 48.5 lb (22 kg) including child and gear.
A proper framed hiking carrier with 24 L of storage for the day's layers and snacks. Too big to be your everyday city option, but perfect for Arthur's Seat, the Lake District or the Cliffs of Moher paths.
Tips for strollers on European trains, ferries and planes
- Practise the fold at home until you can do it one-handed while holding a baby. You'll do it at every train door and security line.
- Trains: fold the stroller and use the luggage racks at the ends of the carriage if the train is busy. Older stations may have stairs and no lift, so a light stroller wins.
- Ferries: you'll usually leave the car on the car deck and walk up stairs to the lounges, so take the carrier for the crossing and leave the stroller in the car.
- Planes: on Ryanair, infants get two items of baby equipment free (for example a stroller and a car seat) plus a 5 kg baby bag. Other airlines have their own rules, so check before you fly.
- Cobbles: tip the stroller back onto its rear wheels on rough stretches. It's much smoother.
- Get a stroller travel bag if you'll gate-check it; baggage handling is rough on frames.
Kids' clothes for a UK or Ireland trip
A stroller nap in the wind gets cold fast, even in summer, so little ones need more layers than you'd think. A rain cover and a warm all-in-one do more than a pile of blankets. Counts are per child. The two-week column assumes one load of laundry halfway (most self-catering places have a washer, and quick-dry things dry on a radiator overnight).
| Clothes | Weekend | 1 week | 2 weeks | Why |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tops | 3 | 5 | 6 | T-shirts or long-sleeve tops; quick-dry or merino beats cotton |
| Trousers or leggings | 2 | 3 | 4 | leggings and joggers dry faster than jeans |
| Base layers | 1 set | 2 sets | 2 sets | thermal top and leggings, for cold days, evenings and hill walks |
| Fleece or warm mid layer | 1 | 1 | 2 | the thing they'll wear every day under the jacket |
| Waterproof jacket with a hood | 1 | 1 | 1 | a real waterproof, not a showerproof windbreaker |
| Rain trousers or a puddle suit | 1 | 1 | 1 | a puddle suit (all-in-one) for toddlers; over-trousers for older kids |
| Warm hat | 1 | 1 | 1 | plus gloves or mittens from October to April |
| Sun hat | 1 | 1 | 1 | yes, really: summer days are long, and a cool breeze hides how strong the sun is |
| Pyjamas | 1 | 2 | 2 | one warm pair: old houses and B&Bs can be chilly at night |
| Socks | 4 | 8 | 8 | wool or merino; one spare pair a day, because feet get wet |
| Underwear | 4 | 8 | 8 | a couple of extra pairs for little ones |
| Waterproof shoes or wellies | 1 pair | 1 pair | 1 pair | wellies for small kids, waterproof walking shoes for older ones |
| Comfy trainers | 1 pair | 1 pair | 1 pair | for travel days, cities and when the wellies are soaked |
| Swimwear | 1 | 1 | 2 | hotel and leisure-centre pools are a lifesaver on a wet afternoon |
| A nicer outfit | 1 | 1 | 1 | for a special dinner, afternoon tea or family photos |
| Spare outfit in the carry-on | 1 | 1 | 1 | a full change per child (two for under-3s), in case the checked bag goes missing or someone spills |
Extra for babies and toddlers
- A sleep sack (or two for a baby, in case of leaks). Rooms vary a lot, so check the tog guide on the label against the room temperature.
- Extra changes: plan on two outfits a day for a baby and one spare a day for a toddler, plus extra vests or bodysuits.
- Bibs: two or three a day, or a few wipe-clean ones you can rinse in the sink.
- A warm all-in-one or fleece suit for the stroller or carrier on cold, windy days, and a puddle suit once they're walking.
Pack each child's clothes in their own packing cube, with travel-day clothes and the spare outfit on top.
Free: kids travel packing checklist
Three printable pages: what to pack by age (baby, toddler, school-age), kids' clothes with counts for a weekend, 1 week or 2 weeks, and a plane & car bag list for travel day.
Questions
Which travel stroller is best for cobblestones?
None of the compact travel strollers love cobbles, because small wheels feel every bump. Look for suspension and the biggest wheels you can live with: the UPPAbaby Minu V3 has all-wheel suspension. On steep, cobbled old towns like Edinburgh's Royal Mile, a baby carrier is often easier than any stroller.
Will a travel stroller fit in the overhead bin?
Some will. Stokke says the YOYO's folded size (52 × 44 × 18 cm) has been accepted as cabin luggage by most airlines since 2012, but each airline decides and it may count as your cabin bag. Bigger folds, like the Nuna TRVL lx at 27 × 21 × 14.25 in, are gate-check strollers. Check your airline before you fly.
Can I take a stroller free on Ryanair?
Yes, with an infant. Ryanair's help centre says infants get a 5 kg baby bag (45 × 35 × 20 cm) and two items of baby equipment free, such as a stroller and a car seat. Rules differ by airline, so check yours.
Can I take a Mockingbird Single-to-Double stroller to Europe?
You can, but it isn't a travel stroller. Mockingbird lists it at 28 lb as a single and 34 × 26 × 18 in folded, so it's a gate-check or checked-bag stroller and a lot to carry up station stairs. It's great for a road trip where it lives in the car. For flights, trains and cobbled old towns, Mockingbird's own Travel Stroller (17.7 lb, 21.5 × 18 × 10 in folded) is the better fit, and Mockingbird suggests many families use the two together.
Is the Doona worth it for a Europe trip?
If your baby is under about a year and you'll be using taxis or rental cars, it's very handy, because the car seat is the stroller. It's the heaviest option here at 19.6 lb and it's outgrown at 30 lb or 32 in, so it's a baby-only buy.
Do I need a stroller in Europe at all?
For toddlers, usually yes for long city days and naps. Many families bring a light stroller plus a carrier: the stroller for flat pavements and the airport, the carrier for castles, hills, ferries and steep stairs.
More packing guides
Sources
- Doona X specifications (Doona)
- YOYO folded size and cabin luggage note (Stokke)
- YOYO³ from 6 months: weight and child limit (Babylist)
- Minu V3 specifications (UPPAbaby)
- TRVL lx specifications (Nuna)
- Travel Stroller specifications, price and shipping date (Mockingbird)
- Single-to-Double Stroller 3.0 dimensions, weight and price (Mockingbird)
- Poco Child Carrier specifications (Osprey)
- Infant baggage allowance (Ryanair help centre)
Specs, prices and airline rules change. Check the maker and your airline before you buy or fly. Last checked 22 October 2026.