It’s a common question. When travelling with kids, is it better to travel with a pram or a carrier?
If your children are still little and they’re easily tired, it’s important to plan how you‘ll get around your dream holiday spot.
Pram? Carrier? On your shoulders?
There’s a lot of options and everyone’s got an opinion.
In this post I’ll share my honest experiences with both so you’re better set to make the right decision for your family.
If you’re planning a road trip with your family, you might be interested in my A – Z guide here.
What’s a carrier?
A quick google will show you all kinds of baby, toddler and child carrying options. In this post, I’m referring to “carriers” to include any of the following:
- cloth baby wraps,
- structured carriers like the Ergo Baby or similar, and
- Carrier backpacks, such as this one from Deuter.
Full disclosure: I’m a proud baby wearer. I love the contact with my little one. The freedom to use my hands is also a bonus!
But I’d be lying if I said carriers have always been the best option for me while travelling.
Should I travel with a carrier or a pram?
When planning out a holiday with my kids, I always consider the following:
- How much will we be walking?
- Does my baby or toddler normally enjoy being carried? Or am I willing to carry them on holiday?
- Can I take my pram with me?
- Are we exploring cities, the countryside or getting wild in nature?
The answers to these questions will help you decide if travelling with a pram or a carrier will be best for you and your family’s trip.
A pram is a better option when . . .
. . . your child can walk, but not far.
When your toddler has found their feet, it’s impossible to stop them from walking.
With a little person who’s determined to walk no matter what the cost, having a pram with you is a good option. You’ll have the flexibility of letting your little explorer out to stretch their legs, but also to sit right back down to rest and/ or snack and/ or nap on the go.
For example, when we explored Latvia, my eldest was just 2 years old. We spent the majority of our time in the capital Riga, exploring this beautiful almost entirely on foot. Our little firecracker could run easily, but it didn’t take long before she needed a rest (and yes, I said she could run! She had and still has only two speeds: fast or completely still).
On this trip, we were able to take our Thule with us. This gave her the opportunity to say “STOOOOOP!” when she was ready to hop out and explore, while at the same time allowing here to easily flop back in when she was worn out.
. . . walking long distances is a must on your travels
If you’re a resort kind of family, then walking long distances on your holiday may seem unlikely! But for us, one of the great pleasures of travelling is exploring cities on foot.
Take Dubrovnik. Exploring the old city could only be done on foot.
So we had to decide: Do we visit or do we skip it?
For any family, it’s important to weigh up the sites of the destination with the needs of your kids and yourselves. It’s not an easy juggle.
Always think about how much walking is required on your trip, how much your children can handle and how much patience you as parents have with the inevitable slower-than-average pace.
. . . you have Late-night plans
Sometimes, try as we might, we just can’t keep that bedtime routine up while we’re travelling.
Maybe you’ve planned a night out or your city tour has just taken longer than expected. Either way, your little one has probably started to show some tell tale signs of needing a serious rest.
On these occasions, a pram is a life saver. Your little one can curl up, lay back and have a well-deserved sleep.
Again, the Thule in Latvia was a lifesaver. The wedding we went to ran very late into the night. Being able to pop our little one in there with a blanket as the celebrations carried on into the evening meant that we could enjoy the less kid-friendly end of the day, including speeches and dancing into the wee hours.
exploring old cities with prams
The best way to explore cities is on foot (in my opinion!). You can get up close and personal with the locals, take in the architecture, and just feel the vibe of the place.
We’ve meandered through every town and city that we’ve visited on foot.
But. And there is a big but here.
Be mindful, especially in Europe, that many of the old cities are covered in cobblestones.
Do they look beautiful? YES! That’s why we visit old cities.
Buuut they make for a very bumpy ride for your little one and they wreak havoc on the wheels of your pram.
So, if you’re planning to explore the beautiful old cities of Europe on foot, keep this in mind.
a carrier is a better option when . . .
. . . Baby is used to being carried
When travelling, try not to introduce new routines for your little ones. There’s already enough new stuff to take in.
If your family typically carries your little bundle of joy, then it makes sense to continue that on the road.
Carefully consider your itinerary throughout your journey and think about your own needs as well. Your family need you to stay well and you deserve to enjoy your time away!
Travelling brings changes to your family’s routines and can cause some children to become more fussy or clingy.
Take your time and enjoy the adventure!
If your little one is more fussy than usual, they may be homesick. Read my tips for supporting them here.
. . . You’re exploring nature
We’ve talked a lot about exploring cities, but what if you’re planning to get out into nature?
Needless to say, a carrier is a better option!
When you’re carrying your baby or small child in nature, there’s almost an infinite selection of carriers available.
Still an itty, bitty baby? Continue using your usual cloth wrap or structured carrier. Whichever you’re most comfortable using.
When travelling with a toddler or small child, why not use a carrier backpack? Our carrier backpack has been in constant use throughout Australia, New Zealand and Europe for over five years now.
They’re comfortable to carry (as long as you’re strong enough!). Your little person is sheltered from sun, wind and rain and the seat is normally cozy enough for them to sleep in.
. . . Your toddler is a runner
Ok. Confession time. Our eldest was a runner.
What do I mean?
I mean, that between the ages of 2 and 3, she would run like the wind anytime she became tired or overwhelmed or something interesting caught her eye.
And boy could that kid could run!
I vividly remember her running down the main strip of the old city in Warsaw, Poland. Straight. Across. A. Road! My heart was in my mouth. I was chasing her so fast I lost my sandal!
Thank god nothing happened (other than me scuffing my foot).
But from then on, we agreed that she needed to be contained as soon as we noticed some of those telltale signs that she was getting tired.
For us, the pram often didn’t help. Given the easy access nature of the Thule, she could easily get herself out if she really wanted to.
That’s why the carrier backpack became our go-to mode of transport, not only for out in nature but in the city, too.
Sometimes this was actually more convenient. Not only was it easier to move through crowds, but we could easily enter attractions or stop for a meal without having to disturb if she’d dozed off.
Is a Pram or CArrier better at the Airport?
If your journey includes time at an airport, consider the following when deciding if you’ll travel with a pram or a carrier:
- Prams need to be checked-in with your baggage, so you won’t have access to it until you reach your destination. Investigate if your airline or departure airport offer free stroller rental.
- Carriers (both cloth and structured) need to be removed when moving through security checks. Frustrating as hell if baby has fallen asleep!
- Airlines will often check-in one piece of child-specific luggage free of charge. In my experience, this has been applied to prams, car seats and even a carrier backpack.
Travel Time
While both prams and carriers are useful tools for on the go, ultimately what’s ‘best’ will be determined by you and your family.
Consider the kind of holiday you’re planning, your needs and of course, those of your little one. It’s always a balancing act but you’ve got this.
Hit to road and have a wonderful time.
Have you travelled with your kids? Did you travel with a pram or a carrier? Let me know in the comments!
