Pop Pushchair

Our silver cross pop stroller is great. It’s an umbrella fold but it has a long back and the handles are high. The rain wear for it is also fantastic. There’s older and newer models and the newer ones have definitely got a stronger back and seat.

Joie litetrax - great all rounder. Used to work in a pram shop so have tried many out. We've got an umbrella fold silver cross pop too but it doesn't seem as comfy and appreciate the bigger amount of storage under the seat

Silver Cross Pop. Umbrella fold, lightweight, lays flat so suitable from tiny, but rated to 25kg. We last used it on holiday when daughter was 4.5 and she still fit in it well enough. It's also got a massive hood so is good for naps We gate checked it at the airport a couple of times and it made it through fine.

I took a regular stroller (Silvercross Pop). Used it right up to the plane door, at which point it was handed over to airline staff and packed in the hold. The downside is you then don’t get it back until baggage claim - so I’d recommend taking a carrier on the plane with you (though a 6 month old isn’t too bad). You can get travel prams that fit in the overhead locker but tbh I don’t see the point. I went with a stroller that I would use long term and become my main pram once moved away from the travel system. I’ve only flown once with my son who’s now 4, so a cabin stroller would have been wasted. My sister however has a Joie Pact, and has travelled abroad 4 or 5 times in my nibling’s first year so it’s worth it for her. Also car seats - as long as you pack yours safely I’d take your main (though don’t bother with isofix bases). Purchase a car seat bag from Amazon (one with backpack straps was a lifesaver for me) - it’s not padded so I also purchased a role of bubble wrap. Wrapped it in bubble wrap, then put it in the car seat bag along with our towels and nappies and baby bedding. It saved room in the suitcase and provided extra padding & protection to the car seat!

I also have a Kia picanto and I got a silver cross dune. I can fit the chassis and the nappy bag in the boot and then I have to put the bassinet or seat on the front seat and my boyfriend sits in the back with our daughter. It has small wheels so it is able to fit in the boot but it means it isn't great on rough terrain. When she was 9 months I got a silver cross pop which fits in the boot with the nappy bag as well. I use it in the summer or just for quick trips or rougher ground. My daughter is 21 months and we're still using the dune. I could see us getting a good bit more use out of it but I'm not due baby 2 in March so I have no idea what we're doing but I do know that I need a bigger car before then! 😅

I would also highly highly recommend the pop. My son is a tall 3.5 year old and still fits in it well, he loves his pushchair and I can't see him giving it up any time soon. We've been using it since he was 3 months old (originally brought as a holiday/travel pram). The seat sits properly upright, but also lies completely flat. My son naps in it very comfortably. The hood on it is also fantastic and covers the whole thing, great for naps on holidays / in the sun as it provides UV50 shade coverage. We use ours daily and it's really robust. It's an umbrella fold so long when folded but doesn't take up anywhere near as much space as our travel system did. It is a decent height.

Have you considered a stroller that's suitable from birth? When I had my oldest, we bought a silver cross pop that is apparently suitable from birth (we didn't buy it till our girl was 6 months old). It's very light, maneuvers easily and it lays flat for very young babies or for when they're sleeping. I chose that stroller because it's light and you can fold it one handed. I needed that one handed fold because my girl was young and couldn't stand when I had to get her out. Edit: Just googled it and it's 200. It costs extra for the seat cover/cushion thingy and the muffler but it's worth it for their warmth and comfort :)