What is the best travel buggy to take on family holidays?
With the Easter holidays fast approaching, a popular topic of conversation amongst travelling families is always ; “Shall I bother taking the pushchair?”
As a holiday nanny, I have had the experience of travelling with a lot of families and can give you an honest answer. “Yes, absolutely!” Even if it only gets used at the airport, I would always recommend taking a travel buggy away with you, especially now with so many ‘z’ folding travel buggies available on the market.
Why should I take a travel buggy away with me?
- It makes travelling with small children less stressful
- No run away children!
- Some adapt to car seats.
- It will take up less room in your boot
- Your child can nap anywhere
- It will free up your hands when travelling
- Cooler than having them in a carrier/sling
- Some fit in the overhead locker
- You can take longer walks when exploring a new city
- Gives you the option of taking them out for a later dinner
- Avoids your day-to-day buggy getting full of sand!
- It can double up as a shopping trolley for much needed beverages!
Top tip:
If you are travelling to a ski resort, also pack a sling, or ask your chalet if they can arrange for an ‘all terrain’ buggy or child carrier to be hired or borrowed for the week. Travel pushchairs are a nightmare in a snowy ski resort! In resorts such as Avoriaz, ski shops also rent sledge buggies, making it easier (and fun) in the deep snow.
Travel buggy Review:
When choosing a travel buggy, budget, purpose and durability are some of the key factors to be considered. From personal use and research, I have compiled my top 4 travel buggies. If you have had the experience of using any of these, or have other recommendations, then I would love to hear from you.
Red Kite Push me cube stroller
- Light weight
- Easy to steer with a compact ‘z’ folding design
- Can be stored overhead on a plane and easily in the boot
- Great value for money, includes accessories such as a raincover, umbrella and carry bag
- Suitable from birth as it lies flat, allowing baby to sleep safely. *May need some extra padding
- Doesn't have an adapter for a car seat or rear facing option
- Fabric and sun shade aren’t machine washable
- Fabric doesn’t have accredited sun protection
For a second buggy I would recommend the Red Kite, for value for money. If you travel a lot, have a house with limited storage, or enjoy city breaks then I would definitely recommend this pushchair. The Babyzen might be the ‘super yacht’ of travel buggies, but it does come with a price tag!
- Fantastic for high flying globetrotters!
- Easy ‘z’ fold design
- Fits down the plane aisle and stores in overhead locker
- Unfolds one-handed, as well as steers
- Washable fabric and SPF protected hood
- Can be used from birth, but at the added cost of adding the newborn pack
- Highly recommended by anyone who can afford the price!
- Very streamline, small wheels and shopping basket
Mountain Buggy Nano
- A well known durable brand
- Lightweight ‘Z’ fold design
- Great basket for shopping
- Durable foam tyres
- Compatible with most car seats, but you have to purchase the adapter kit
- Suitable from birth, when adapted
- Double check with airline if this buggy is allowed as hand luggage
- The mountain buggy has an innovative range of accessories, including winter ski adapters!
- Cheaper than the Babyzen, but expensive accessories.
Silver Cross Zest Pushchair
- Classic travel buggy folding system, if you don’t want to take the buggy on board.
- Suitable from birth with full lie back option
- Roomy seat
- Lightweight and compact
- Extendable hood with UPF50 sun protection
- Inclusive rain cover
- Long standing pushchair manufacturer!
Top tips to help you prepare your kids for ski school
It’s almost half term and the pre ski holiday panic has set in. What do the kids need for ski school?
Ski school with kids can be stressful. From dressing them to finding them after, the key is making sure you have done your research and the kids are dressed appropriately.
Top tips to help you and your kids prepare for ski school.
- It’s all about layers.
Make sure your children are wearing good thermal layers. I would recommend a vest, long sleeve thermal top and thermal trousers all tucked in; so they don’t get chilly and a fleece as a mid layer. Rugby skins make a great thermal layer, or Mountain Warehouse have a good quality and affordable range.
- Accessorise!
All kids have to wear helmets, so rather than a wooly hat I would recommend a long snood or balaclava when it’s cold. Buff have a great range. These can be nicely layered under the helmet and tuck down into their collar, keeping their neck and chin nice and warm. There’s nothing worse then chin freeze! Waterproof gloves are a must. If you have money to spend, Barts do a great range of novelty gloves.. This could be a good way of making sure they stay on! In very cold weather gloves liners will help keep their hands warm.
- Looking good on the slopes!
Dinoski wear are bringing another level of cute to the mountain this season with their ‘roarsome’ winter wear for kids. These all-in-one suits are perfect as there is no chance of any snow getting down the waistline. Keeping your kids toasty warm on the mountain all day long. The ears and bright colours will also make them easy to spot at ski school collection, which is super helpful at half term!
- Ski boots!
I’m not going to lie, ski boots and children can be a nightmare! Here’s a top top tip: Start with good quality ski socks pulled up so it’s nice and smooth, thermal layer bottoms pulled up; so it’s not inside the ski boot. Ski boots can be hard to get on, I find it’s easiest to un fasten all the clips (so the boot is nice and loose) pull the tongue up (to widen the top) and ask your child to slide their foot into the boot, whilst you hold onto the tongue, and stamp. As easy as that?!
- Don’t forget a snack!
Skiing is hungry work, so I would recommend popping a little sweet snack in your child’s pocket for their snack break. It’s also a good idea to have one on hand for the ski school pick up, when they are tired and in need of a quick sugar fix!
- Tissues and a lip balm in their pocket
It can get really cold on the hill and a runny nose isn’t very nice. I would put a small pack of tissues and lip balm in their pocket, so they don’t get a sore nose and chapped lips.
- Childcare emergency.
In the unlikely event your child gets lost, or ski school need to phone you in an emergency. I would recommend putting a contact card in their pocket; with your number and your chalet and any childcare details.
- Ski School
Depending on which resort you choose to visit, there are many English speaking schools to choose from. In Morzine there’s a large range including Billski and Avoriaz Alpine Ski school. Both run by Brits and excellent with children. Most larger chains also have English speaking ski instructors, so it’s always worth researching which will be the most suitable for your child.
Think you might need a nanny to help you? Please contact Charlotte