Planning a trip with a new baby is exciting, but the logistics can be daunting. You have the diapers, the clothes, and the car seat, but one item causes the most confusion: the stroller. If you are used to a heavy, full-size stroller at home, the thought of dragging it through an airport is exhausting. You likely need a travel stroller—specifically, the best travel stroller for newborns passenger.
Choosing a stroller for travel is different than picking one for a toddler. A newborn cannot sit up, so standard umbrella stroller options won’t work. You need a stroller that offers specific safety features like a lie-flat seat or car seat compatibility. In this stroller review, we will help you find the best travel stroller that balances safety, weight, and ease of use.
Why Newborn Travel Strollers are Different
When buying a travel stroller, you might assume any small stroller will do. However, infant strollers must provide crucial neck and spine support.
The Safety Factor
A standard lightweight stroller often lacks a full recline. If a newborn is placed in a seat that doesn’t lie flat, their head can slump, blocking their airway. The best travel stroller for newborn babies must either recline completely flat or work as a travel system with an infant car seat.
Travel Systems vs. Lie-Flat Seats
You have two main choices when looking for a stroller:
- Lie-Flat Seat: The stroller seat reclines 180 degrees, allowing the baby to sleep naturally.
- Travel System: You use car seat adapters to click your infant car seat into the stroller frame.
If you want a travel system, it offers convenience for moving from car to stroller without waking the baby. However, for long days of walking, a lie-flat stroller is often better for the baby’s development.
What to Look for in the Best Travel Stroller for Toddlers
We analyzed the strollers on the market based on these criteria to find the best travel strollers for newborns.
1. Overhead Bin Compatibility ( Strollers that fit in overhead bin of airplane )
For air travel, the holy grail is a stroller that fits in the overhead bin. Many strollers that fit in overhead compartments allow you to skip baggage claim and have your gear ready the moment you land.
2. Weight and Fold
You want a compact and lightweight option. The best lightweight models weigh under 17 lbs. You need to be able to fold the stroller quickly, often with one hand, while holding your baby.
3. Comfort and Suspension
A quality stroller will have suspension to handle bumps. You don’t want a flimsy stroller that rattles on cobblestones.
4. Versatility
Are you looking for a stroller for my older son later on? Some strollers for babies and toddlers grow with your child, making them a better long-term investment.
Top 7 Best Travel Strollers for Newborns (Detailed Reviews)
Here are the best travel strollers for babies for 2025.
1. The All-Rounder: Joolz Aer+
This is a fantastic compact stroller for travel. While the main seat is suitable for 6 months and above, Joolz offers a unique cot that allows the stroller to fold with it attached. It is incredibly smooth and fits easily in the overhead bins of airplane cabins.
Weight: 13.2 lbs (stroller) / ~17 lbs (with cot)
Fold: One-handed (even with the cot attached!)
Why we love it: The Joolz Aer+ has taken the travel world by storm. While the seat itself is suitable from 6 months, Joolz offers a revolutionary “foldable cot.” Unlike other strollers where you have to remove the bassinet to fold the stroller, the Aer+ folds down with the cot attached. It is incredibly smooth to push, features a high seat back for when your baby grows, and fits in many overhead bins (though check with your airline when the cot is attached). The 10-year transferable warranty also makes it a great investmen
2. The Iconic Choice: Stokke YOYO3
Formerly the Babyzen, this is perhaps the most famous travel stroller. You can choose between a newborn pack or a bassinet. The newborn pack allows it to remain a compact travel stroller that fits anywhere. It is often compared to a yoyo or other Cybex strollers for its premium feel.
Weight: 13.6 lbs
Fold: Ultra-compact
Why we love it: You cannot write a list about travel strollers without mentioning the YOYO. Recently acquired by Stokke, the YOYO3 maintains the famous design that practically invented the “overhead bin stroller” category. For a newborn, you have two choices: the Newborn Pack (a soft, fabric lie-flat hammock that folds with the stroller) or the Bassinet (a hard-shell cot that must be removed before folding). The Newborn Pack is the winner for travel. It allows the stroller to remain tiny and shoulder-slung. It is agile, durable, and parts are available worldwide if something breaks.
3. The One-Piece Wonder: Ergobaby Metro+ Deluxe
If you want a stroller for newborns that requires no extra parts, this is it. It has a “newborn nest” mode where the seat lies flat. It is a stroller that fully reclines, offering huge padding for comfort. It is a great everyday stroller substitute for travel.
Weight: 16.9 lbs
Fold: Compact book-fold
Why we love it: If you want the best travel stroller for newborn use that requires zero extra purchases, this is it. The Ergobaby Metro+ Deluxe has a seat that converts into a newborn “nest” with hidden flaps to close off the footwell. It reclines 180 degrees completely flat. It is famously known as one of the most comfortable padded seats on the market. While it is slightly heavier than the YOYO or Joolz, the fact that you don’t need to carry separate adapters or bassinets makes it a favorite for parents who value simp
4. The Luxury Ride: Bugaboo Butterfly
This stroller has a one-second fold. To use this stroller for a newborn, it must be compatible with infant car seats. It works perfectly with the Bugaboo Turtle Air or Nuna PIPA. It is a sturdy stroller with a high seat back, though it does not lie flat on its own.
Weight: 16.1 lbs
Fold: 1-second fold
Why we love it: The Bugaboo Butterfly is arguably the easiest stroller to fold and unfold on this list. It offers a massive sun canopy and a very tall seat back. Note: The Butterfly seat itself does not lie flat for newborns. To use this with a newborn, you must use it with a compatible infant car seat (like the Bugaboo Turtle Air or Nuna PIPA). It is an excellent choice if you plan to keep your baby in the car seat for short bursts or transit, but less ideal for long naps unless you are okay with the car seat angle.
5. The Car Seat Hybrid: Doona Infant Car Seat & Stroller
This is a unique piece of baby gear. It is an infant car seat with integrated wheels. You do not need a separate stroller frame. It is ideal for budget travel where you want to save on checking bags, as it is just one item. However, once the baby outgrows the infant car seat, you will need to buy another stroller.
Weight: 16.5 lbs
Fold: Wheels tuck into the seat
Why we love it: The Doona is a category of its own. It is a car seat with integrated wheels that pop out. For air travel and hopping in and out of Ubers, it is unbeatable. You never need to check a stroller or wait at the gate; you just roll onto the plane, fold the wheels, and strap it into the airplane seat (if you bought a ticket for baby).
The downside: It has no storage basket, and it is heavy to lift when the baby is inside. Also, once your baby outgrows the car seat (usually around 12-15 months or 32 inches), you can no longer use it as a stroller. It is a short-term but life-changing investment for frequent flyers.
6. The Premium Compact: UPPAbaby Minu V3
If you want a stroller like the Vista but smaller, the Minu is great. It can take a bassinet or a car seat. It is slightly larger than others, so check if it will fit in the overhead bin. It has a large basket—no annoying bar behind the stroller basket to block access.
Weight: 16.9 lbs
Fold: One-handed trifold
Why we love it: If you love the quality of the UPPAbaby Vista or Cruz but hate the bulk, the Minu V3 is your answer. It feels like a full-size stroller, with a genuine leather handlebar and a large basket. For newborns, you can use the UPPAbaby Bassinet accessory (which is approved for overnight sleep!) or car seat adapters. It is slightly larger when folded than the YOYO or Joolz, so it may not fit in smaller overhead bins, but it is much sturdier for all-day walking.
7. The Ultra-Compact: Silver Cross Jet 5
This stroller folds down like a small suitcase. It is a stroller that fits into the tightest spaces. Unlike many compact stroller models, it is suitable from birth without extra kits.
- Weight: 13.6 lbs
- Fold: Unique suitcase-style pull
- Why we love it: The Silver Cross Jet 5 is a marvel of engineering. It folds down so small that it looks like a piece of carry-on luggage—and it even has a handle so you can wheel it like a suitcase when folded. Unlike the Butterfly or YOYO seat, the Jet 5 seat is newborn-ready out of the box with a full lie-flat recline. It is an elegant, British-designed stroller that looks sophisticated and fits almost anywhere.
Other Notable Mentions
Nuna TRVL: A localized favorite that self-folds, though usually needs a car seat for newborns.
Baby Jogger City: The Baby Jogger City Tour 2 is a great budget travel option.
Summer Infant 3D: If you need a very basic umbrella stroller style (though check age ratings, as the Summer Infant 3D Mini is often for older babies).
How to Fly with a Newborn and a Stroller
Flying is stressful, but the right stroller helps.
Getting Through Security
When you bring a stroller through security, you must remove the baby.
- Take the baby out.
- Collapse the stroller and put it on the belt.
- Walk through with the baby.
Gate Check vs. Overhead Bin
If you have strollers that fit in overhead bins (like the YOYO or Jet), you can bring them on the plane. If you have a larger stroller, you must gate check it. Always use a travel bag to protect your stroller from grease and damage.
On the Plane
If you bought a seat for your baby, you can use an approved car seat in the airplane seat. If not, the baby sits on your lap, and the stroller goes in the overhead compartment.
Safety First: Using Your Stroller Correctly
Even the best travel stroller for newborn use has rules.
Harness System: Always strap the baby in.
Brakes: Engage them whenever you stop.
Weight Limits: Don’t overload the handles. Lightweight stroller frames can tip easily.
Car Seat Safety: Don’t leave a baby in a car seat for more than 2 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Do I really need a stroller for travel? A: Some parents just babywear. But for long trips, you will likely need a stroller. It gives you a place to put the baby down and carry the diaper bag. You might think your baby doesn’t need a stroller, but your back will thank you.
Q: What is the best double stroller for travel? A: If you have twins or a toddler and a baby, look for the best double strollers like the Mountain Buggy Nano Duo. It is a compact and lightweight stroller that takes two kids. Finding the best double that fits in an overhead bin is harder, but the Nano Duo is very compact.
Q: Can I use a jogging stroller? A: Generally, no. Most strollers, which are jogging strollers, are too big for travel. They are full-size stroller models that must be checked as luggage.
Q: Does the best travel stroller for newborn babies come with a rain cover? A: Some strollers offer it included, others sell it separately. Always check the box.
Q: What if I need a secondary stroller for my older child? A: If you need a secondary stroller for my older child (a toddler), a simple umbrella stroller or the Baby Jogger City Tour is perfect.
Conclusion
Choosing the best travel stroller for newborn babies comes down to your lifestyle. If you want the smallest fold, look at strollers that fit in overhead bins like the Silver Cross Jet. If you want a travel system, the Doona or Bugaboo Butterfly with car seat adapter is excellent.
Whether you choose a budget travel option or a luxury stroller, ensure it has a lie-flat mode or a car seat-compatible design. With the right stroller, family travel becomes a joy, not a chore. We love this stroller selection and hope it helps you make travel easier.