Baby on Board: Tips for Travelling Safely in a Small Car
The idea of traveling with a baby can induce anxiety in any parent, especially when dealing with a small car and a mountain of essentials to pack. From feeding supplies to sleeping gear, toys, clothes, strollers, carriers, diapers, and changing supplies, the checklist seems never-ending.
In this blog post, we'll discuss some top travel tips for navigating journeys with a baby or toddler in a compact car with limited space. We've curated space-saving solutions ranging from compact strollers to travel cots and car seats, aimed at helping you travel smarter and with less stress.
Space-Saving Travel Tips:
Compact Strollers:
A stroller is indispensable but can devour significant boot space. For families with small cars, opting for a compact stroller that folds neatly is essential. Look for models compatible with a full travel system, allowing you to use a carrycot and car seat on a single chassis. Below are a few of our favourite compact strollers to save you both time and space:
The Joolz Aer+ Pushchair is incredibly compact, and engineered to simplify travel with its lightweight design. Weighing just 6kg and equipped with a convenient shoulder strap, the Joolz Aer+ enables hands-free mobility while ensuring your baby's comfort. This stroller is airline-approved and effortlessly fits into overhead compartments, ensuring you're always ready to go at a moment's notice. Suitable from birth with its secure lie-flat function, the Joolz Aer+ also seamlessly integrates with the Joolz Aer+ carrycot.
For the ultimate in versatility and compactness, the BABYZEN YOYO2 6+ Stroller reigns supreme. This lightweight and robust pushchair can be folded, unfolded, and manoeuvred with a single hand, offering the convenience of hands-free carrying. Approved as carry-on baggage size by IATA, the YOYO2 effortlessly fits in the footwell of small cars, serving as the ideal travel companion. Additionally, when paired with a carrycot, it accommodates newborns and is compatible with various car seats.
Lastly, the Thule Spring City Complete Pushchair caters to urban-dwelling parents with its stylish design and adeptness in city environments. Its large wheels and puncture-proof tires, coupled with a compact form factor, ensure smooth family strolls through urban landscapes. Lightweight and featuring a straightforward one-hand fold mechanism, the Thule Spring is easily portable. When folded, its self-standing capability facilitates convenient storage in confined spaces.
If you're in search of space-saving strollers, the Joolz Aer+ Pushchair, BABYZEN YOYO2, and Thule Spring stand out as excellent choices. These compact strollers are fully compatible with car seats and adapters, forming complete travel systems, and can be folded small enough to fit snugly into your car's footwells.
Car Seats:
Car seats are indispensable when travelling with a baby, and prioritizing safety and comfort is crucial. While space-saving is a priority, compromising on these factors should never be an option. Here are a couple of safe and top-quality car seat options, ideal for smaller cars and families frequently on the move.
The Nuna Pippa URBN offers both style and space-saving convenience for on-the-go moms. This travel car seat doesn't require an ISOFIX base, as it comes with ISOFIX connectors attached to the seat itself. This feature proves invaluable when traveling in taxis or other transportation during holidays or family outings, ensuring both safety and space-saving in smaller vehicles.
The CYBEX Cloud G is another car seat we’d recommend to families with a smaller car, or those who travel often. This lightweight and comfortable car seat has an innovative 180° rotation and a one-click rotate and release system so getting your little one safely in and out of your car is stress free. This car seat can also be used with a seatbelt instead of a base for space saving and ease.
The CYBEX Cloud G can be purchased as part of the CYBEX EOS Luxury Bundle which includes the EOS Lux 2 in 1 pushchair, the Cloud G car seat and base with an optional footmuff. This bundle answers all your travel needs from your baby’s first day until their first steps.
Some other fantastic options for compact car seats are the Maxi Cosi Pebble 360 Pro, and the UPPAbaby MESA. The great news is, all of the car seats mentioned above are also all TUV approved for use in aircrafts – the ideal car seat travel companions from road to sky.
Travel Cots
If you’re in need of a space-saving and safe sleep solution for your little one, we have a range of travel cots that can easily be folded up and packed neatly in your car. A travel cot gives you the peace of mind that wherever you may go, you’ll always have a trusted and safe space for your baby from nap to nighttime.
The Bugaboo Stardust is a fantastic travel cot option. The lightweight, easy fold and compact design is perfect for fitting in your boot or footwell, and it also comes with a carry case making it convenient for travelling. A great feature of the Bugaboo Stardust is that it always stays in one piece, even with the mattress inside, so wherever you are, it requires no assembly or hassle – just simply pop it open and it’s ready for naptime or playtime.
We are pleased to announce the launch of a brand-new colour of the Bugaboo Stardust - a stunning Desert Taupe!
The Nuna SENA Aire is another great travel cot perfect for families who are often travelling and staying over at relatives or friends’ houses. The clever zigzag leg design pops open easily into a soft and secure dreamland for your little one, it then folds down with just one hand ready to get going again in the morning. To make it the ultimate packing solution, the Nuna SENA Aire comes with a handy strap and travel bag included.
Pack smarter, not lighter
The key to travelling with a baby in a small car, is to travel smarter, not lighter. With an organised travel bag, you won’t need to restrict the amount you are packing.
The KAOS Ransel Weekend Bag is a comfy, convenient and spacious bag that carries like a backpack so you can keep your hands free. The smaller compartments make organisation simple, and there’s plenty of room to pack everything you need for a day out, or weekend stay. The KAOS Ransel is made from recycled PET bottles with details in vegan leather – making it the perfect eco-conscious travel choice. This bag is also cabin size and stylish.
Check out our full weekend bag collection.
Travelling with your family is an exciting (but stressful) time. There’s plenty to remember and too much to bring but once you’re all packed up, safe and on your way with everything you need, the stress will melt away and you can focus on making lasting memories. We hope this blog helps you find some space-saving solutions if you’re planning to travel with your little one in a small car.
If you are looking for a checklist of travel essentials, check out this blog post to find out the must-have essentials for your baby’s first summer holiday.
