How to Travel with a Stroller : Nine Best Lightweight Strollers (for Children with Special Needs)

It’s school break and maybe some of you have travel plans in mind. Our kids are growing fast and before they go on their own or have friends of their own, we as parents would like to travel with them while they are young so they will have beautiful memories to remember. For travel with the whole family including your special child, you will have this question in your mind,” How are we able to travel with a stroller? “

No worries, there are lightweight strollers out there which are not so expensive, in case yours is not lightweight, so travel is much easier.

I’m sure there will be lots of excitement when you mention your plans to your kids.

Which kid would not like to see Mickey Mouse in Disney World? Or the Legoland? Or enjoy those fantastic roller coaster rides or those awesome animal shows in some famous theme parks ? Or the merry-go-round for the younger ones or your special kid?

For sure your child with special needs would be delighted to see awesome places and cartoon characters with their siblings and cousins.

Of course, we all know that some children with special needs have mobility issues because they develop late.

Related post: Special needs stroller: choosing the best for need and comfort

They learn how to walk and to run much later than kids their age.

But these should not stop you from letting them explore their environment, much more traveling even to places far from home, like where you ride an airplane.

This is where your lightweight strollers will be handy and helpful. Of course you want to go places with your special kid’s comfort in mind as much as possible.

Because he or she cannot walk long distances and gets tired easily or maybe still non-ambulatory, thus a stroller will be your best friend during your escapade.

I have looked at the nine best lightweight strollers out there for your children with special needs.

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1. Bily BCS330HG Compact Easy-Fold Stroller

• Product Dimension: 80 x 47 x 104.1 cm
• Item weight: 14.3 lbs
• Maximum weight to carry: 40 kg
• Good for newborns up to 36 months old
• With 5 point harnesses, adjustable foot rest
• Available in sophisticated heathered gray or funky graffiti pattern
• Click the image or here to see the price

Pros:

• Multiple position seat recline and pivoting arm bar for safety and comfort
• Ultra light-weight
• Quick and easy one hand fold
• More leg room for taller babies

Cons:

• The brake pad which is in the middle of the bar gets kicked randomly and makes the stroller stop all of a sudden making the baby uncomfortable and might fall
• It is not good for windy days
• The wheels are small, thus, not very good for grassy areas and bumpy sidewalks
• Cannot is small and cannot shield baby much from rain or sun
• Toddler can topple back when lying flat because the back of the seat reaches only the baby’s shoulders, with no head support
• No shoulder strap or luggage handle
• No cup holder or tray

2. Kolcraft Cloud Plus Lightweight Stroller

• Product dimension: 31.2 x 18 x 39 inches
• Item weight: 11.8 lbs
• Maximum weight to carry: 50 lbs
• Comes with a three-tier, extended canopy to protect your baby from UV rays
• 2 colors: fire red and slate
• The seat reclines and offers 5-point safety restraint system
• With a large storage basket for baby’s necessities
• Comes with removable child tray to hold a cup and a juice and a parent tray with 2 drink holders
• With one -year manufacturer warranty
• Click the image or here to see the price

Pros:

• With a peek-a-boo window to keep a watchful eye on your kid every time
• Very lightweight, thus perfect for traveling and day trips
• All- terrain wheels and front suspension offers a smooth ride
• One-hand and self-standing fold which makes it convenient for travel

Cons:

• Cannot recline completely flat.
• Folding is not one-handed and a little tricky

3. Summer Infant 3D Lite Convenience Stroller

• Product dimension: 41 x 8.75 x 10 in
• Item weight: 15.87 lbs
• Maximum weight to carry: 50 lbs
• With stylish aluminum frame and large seating area
• Comes with easy to fold frame and carry strap
• 4 position recline with 5 point safety harness
• Anti-shock front wheels and lockable rear wheels
• Available in 9 colors
• Comes with extra large storage basket, rear storage pocket and parent cup holder
• Adjustable and removable canopy with flip-out sun visor
• Click the image or here to see the price 

Pros:

• Easy compact fold with carry strap
• Can recline all the way back
• Tall enough that a 6’3 person can push it without hunching over
• Made of lead-free aluminum material which makes it very lightweight and durable
• With additional padding for more comfort

Cons:

• Cannot be cleaned with abrasive cleaners, solvents and bleach
• The canopy sun visor is too high and cannot cover the kids’ eyes
• The handle bars are quite tall for a short parent, thus uncomfortable for long walks

4. MacLaren Mark II Stroller

• Product dimension: 78.3 x 48.3 x 105.5 cm
• Item weight: 4.43 kgMaximum weight to carry: 24.9 kg
• Comes in 2 colors: black and marina
• ” The lightest full – size reclining buggy in the world “
• With 2-position recline seat
• Fits children from 6 months until 25 kg ( 55 lbs )
• Four wheel suspension with replaceable wheels
• Made of strong ultralight fabrics
• With a removable, washable coordinating seat liner
• Click the image or here to see the price

Pros:

• Features state of the art designed chassis, air craft grade aluminum hexagonal tubing for greater strength and durability
• With lifetime warranty- must register stroller with MacLaren within 60 days of purchase
• Comes with extendable waterproof/UPF 50+ sun canopy and built-in sun visor
• The breathable mesh center and panel inserts protect the baby
• The handles are anti-microbial
• With buggy ID tag and wind resistant rain cover that comes in handy when needed
• Easy to fold

Cons:

• On the pricey side
• Cannot stand on its own when folded
• Difficult to maneuver on bumpy streets or terrains

5. Summer Infant 3D Flip Convenience Stroller

• Product dimension: 78.7 x 64.8 x 100.3 cm
• Item weight: 8 kg
• Maximum weight to carry: 22.7 kgWith 2 seat options of rear-facing ( up to 30 lbs ) or forward-facing ( up to 50 lbs )
• Anti-shock front wheels
• UV rays can be blocked with the large canopy peek-a-boo window
• Easy to fold lightweight aluminum frame, with auto lock and strap
• With easily accessible basket for baby’s needs and parents’ storage pocket and cup holder
• Click the image or here to see the price

Pros:

• The reversible design allows use for younger babies ( rear-facing ) to when they grow up and become more curious ( forward-facing )
• With infant head support for the rear-facing option and 5-point safety harness
• Comes with 6-position recline ( 3 in rear-facing and 3 in forward-facing ) that can be one-hand operated
• The height of the canopy can be adjusted to suit taller or shorter babies
• The canopy is long and can be extended to fully cover the baby against the sun
• Easy to maneuver because the wheels glide smoothly
• Perfect for any terrain with easy to lock rear wheels and front swivel wheels
• The handles are comfortable for taller parents

Cons:

• The cup holder is flimsy
• With very small storage compartment which is hard to access when baby is sitting in the stroller
• Strap is a bit awkward to carry stroller
• Opening and closing is a bit tricky
• The seats are very low to the ground, so parents have to bend way down to help the baby when needed

6. Cosatto Woosh Stroller

• Product dimension: 74 x 48 x 104 cm
• Item weight: 6.0 kg
• Maximum weight to carry: 25 kg
• With 5-point harness
• Lockable front swivel wheels and all-round suspension
• Click the image or here to see the price

Pros:

• Comes in lovely colors and design
• Very easy to assemble
• With study chassis for longer use
• One-hand folding
• Roomy seat, decent-sized basket and adjustable calf support for baby’s legs
• Comes with a rain cover
• With double length hood and visor for full sun cover
• With cushioned chest pads
• 4-year warranty

Cons:

• Some say the wheels break after a few months
• Tricky folding and unfolding mechanism for some customers
• The rain hood can be easily kicked by the baby
• The wheels get stuck on uneven surfaces
• The handle doesn’t move up and down to suit a taller parent
• Comes with a bell that could be annoying to some

7. GB Pockit Air Lightweight Stroller

• World’s smallest folding stroller ( 2014 Guinness World Record’s most compact stroller )
• Product dimension: 22.8 x 16.5 x 39.8 inchesItem weight: 9.5 lbs
• Maximum weight to carry: 55 lbs
• Storage basket can hold up to 11 lbs
• With secure safety belt and protective comfort pads that can be adjusted when your child grows
• Lightweight but durable aluminum frame
• Easy one-hand pushing and steering
• Back panel that slides with adjustable torso lengthComes in 7 colorsComfortable shoulder and crotch pads, with adjustable 5-point safety harness system
• Click on the image or here to see the price

Pros:

• Wheels rotate 360 degrees, thus easily maneuvered when unlocked and locks for stability on uneven surfaces
• Very tiny when folded so fits in an airplane bin very well, or can also fit in a carry on bag

Cons:

• Very wobbly on uneven pavement- careful your kid might topple off
• Handles cannot be extended, thus not comfortable for a tall parent
• Very challenging to fold
• Strap not included
• Overhead canopy is not very useful
• Small storage below, cannot fit lots of stuff

8. ZOE XL1 BEST v2 Lightweight Travel & Everyday Umbrella Stroller System

• Product dimension: 10 x 10 x 10 inches
• Item weight: 11 pounds
• Maximum weight to carry: 50 lbs
• With a large basket underneath and a cup holder
• Comes in 7 colors: Aqua, black, eloise plum, london navy, noah grey, red, lime greenWith a twin model ( for 2 babies )
• Click the image or here to see the price

Pros:

• With a little window on top of the canopy to peek at your baby
• The handle is good for tall parents

Cons:

• No shoulder strap
• Does not recline as much
• Doesn’t stand upright when closed
• Difficult to maneuver for some

9.Evenflo Aero Ultra-Lightweight Stroller

• Product dimension: 29 x 22.25 x 40 in
• Item weight: 15.4 pounds
• Maximum weight to carry: 50 pounds
• With easily accessible extra seat back storage pocket
• Comes with a spacious storage basket, 2-mesh in seat pocket, and a parent cup holder
• Comes in 2 colors: lark and dove
• Click the image or here to see the price

Pros:

• The easily one-hand folded stroller can stand on its own
• Made of functional and long-lasting, high quality materials-imported polyester, metal and durable plastic
• With large canopy and a flip-out visor
• Allows easy and safe putting and removal of your child because of the rounded foam handlebar and rear wheels that lock
• Includes ParentLink customer service perks like real-time chat and free live video installation support

Cons:

• No rain cover or weather shield
• The front wheels are single wheels ( not double ) and goes in opposite directions, that you have to manually straighten them
• Sometimes tricky to navigate polished floors and pavements because of the plastic wheels
• Flimsy cup holder
• The storage basket has no front mesh and stuff inside can fall out, especially when folded
• Reclines up to 120 degrees only, thus uncomfortable for some kids to sleep on
• No strap to carry

My top two choices:

For me, considering the type of stroller, how small and light it is but durable and useful but not so pricey, I recommend these two strollers:

The Kolcraft Cloud Plus Lightweight Stroller

and the Summer Infant 3D Flip Convenience Stroller.

Enjoy your holiday!

I hope I have given you ideas on what’s out there on the market if you are planning to buy a lightweight travel stroller for your child with special needs that you can use anytime when you plan to travel anywhere local or abroad.

After all, the comfort of your special child is your best interest as well as the light load that you have to carry and keep either in your car or the airplane bin.

Happy shopping!

Don’t forget to bring your camera or phone ( with camera ) and capture those precious moments, the laughter and wide smiles of your kids.

Their happiness is very contagious and will rub off on you as, well.

Enjoy your holiday!

 

Are you ready to buy the lightest and most comfortable travel stroller for your special child? Or your old one is already worn out and you need a new one?

Choose from any stroller above to suit your special child’s needs.

Where do you plan to visit on your holiday? Share your plans with us.