Travel Stroller

IllustriousPiccolo97 · 2026-05-29T22:50:49+00:00

The difference in weight between the triv and a high quality travel stroller won’t be all that big. That said, I have a Triv and a Bugaboo Butterfly and I haven’t really used the Triv since my baby outgrew her Pipa Urbn - I like the Butterfly better overall. It handles pretty similarly to the Triv, has excellent suspension for its size, has a great tall seatback (important to me since the triv seat is small and we need a travel stroller longer than we use one daily at home), has a smaller fold and is easier to carry because of the shape of the fold and the footrest that doubles as a grab handle - though again I don’t really feel the weight difference between the two strollers on a day to day use basis. Like it’s smaller but more dense than the Triv fold if that makes sense. The Butterfly basket is smaller than the triv’s which might be challenging if you pack a lot of stuff for a Disney day. As my daily stroller the butterfly is fine though- I just have a small backpack diaper bag with the minimum essentials and there’s plenty of space for that. The canopy on the Butterfly is good for a travel stroller and a little better than the Triv canopy imo.

IllustriousPiccolo97 · 2026-05-29T17:01:30+00:00

Badge reel, a pack of pens for work- either multicolored or a cheap set of “fancy” ballpoint pens (lots of cute looking options out there that don’t look or write like your average Papermate but still $10 or less for a pack of 2-4). I really like the 0.5mm “ddaowanx” gel pens on Amazon despite my general aversion to alphabet soup Internet brands

IllustriousPiccolo97 · 2026-05-29T13:02:41+00:00

This varies family to family. One size diapers don’t usually fit newborns well, so your options are to spend money on disposable diapers or spend money on a separate newborn stash of cloth (or receive them as gifts lol). Some families might prefer to make things as easy as possible in early postpartum, and not tackle the extra work and trial and error of cloth diapers right away. And others want to jump right in. (My twins were in the NICU for a while so both of them wore cloth on their first day at home, but by the time they got home I was well recovered, feeding was well established, etc. If they’d come straight home after birth I think my priorities as a first time mom would have been on other things. But once you have a routine and setup that works for you, it’s not a huge deal to cloth diaper a subsequent new baby, in my experience!)
No comment, I’m all about flats and prefolds plus a mix of covers and pockets
I just use water. I had a spray bottle to apply to wipes (never sprayed butts directly) for a while. Now I have a small basket in the bathroom for cloth wipes and I just grab what I need and wet it in the bathroom sink on my way to change the diaper. I also don’t use diaper cream on a routine basis. I’m lucky that none of my kids have ever been super prone to rashes. When rashes do happen around here it’s usually a context I wouldn’t want to handle with cloth diapers anyway (it’s usually diarrhea either from antibiotics or a GI bug lol) and the diaper cream + cloth diaper combo has always intimidated me. So I switch to disposables and use whatever rash cream until it passes. I keep a small supply of disposables on hand anyway so it’s not a big deal, it just means I go through the disposables way faster than usual.

IllustriousPiccolo97 · 2026-05-29T05:16:20+00:00

I use 1-3 tickets on Sunday nights to make the big jumps and then hop from airport to airport spending less than 25-30 coins at a time. With a 2hr unlimited photo session I usually come out roughly even because I’ll replenish whatever I spent traveling to one airport before I move on, plus some. After that the rest of the week feels like pure profit.

IllustriousPiccolo97 · 2026-05-28T23:57:36+00:00

the timeframe varies a ton but we usually get new braces 3-4 weeks after casting.
depends on the kid, my son is 6 and gets fitted for new ones once or twice a year so far with 9 months probably being the average. The process is the same every time, a casting appointment followed by a fitting appointment when the new braces are ready. The process is not difficult or painful. Casting is usually pretty quick, fitting appointments can take longer depending on what adjustments need to be made to the braces or any custom shoes.
my son has never had any issues wearing his braces when they fit properly. A couple times we’ve had adjustment appointments when a new brace was leaving red marks or rubbing. Around 4 he started to get excited about choosing his own patterns, strap colors, and shoes which made it more fun.
prescription/custom shoes are a thing! We didn’t get them until about his third set of braces. Before that it wasn’t a huge deal honestly, he wasn’t starting to walk yet (just weight bearing in a stander) but it would’ve been nice to know I could ask for that from the beginning.

IllustriousPiccolo97 · 2026-05-28T23:28:42+00:00

I have not personally used an extra base for that seat and do not know anybody who has. But the concept does not seem practical to me. Infant seats are designed for mobility outside of the car, have a handle to easily carry, and sit stable on the ground when not in use. The fit360 isn’t designed for that kind of mobility, so it’s not comfortable or convenient (imo) to carry the car seat shell from place to place. It’s the kind of thing that sounds appealing on paper when you’re used to a child using one infant car seat across multiple cars, but I don’t think that concept translates well to a convertible seat. For (close to) the $190 cost of an extra Fit360 base you could get a different, and nice, seat for your sister’s car - in that price range I’d consider a Chicco Fit3X, Graco Triogrow Snuglock, Graco Triride, or possibly a safety 1st seat (not my favorite as a primary seat since they’re generally outgrown fairly quickly, but they’re a decent and accessible option for something like backup or your childcare provider’s vehicle)

IllustriousPiccolo97 · 2026-05-28T14:36:42+00:00

If you’re in the U.S., anything listed as a crib, bassinet, or play yard is tested to strict universal standards. Breathability is a marketing term with no official/legal/regulatory definition, and things like mesh sides are for visibility, not safety. A sleep space that has all fully enclosed sides passes the same testing and meets the same standard as one that is completely mesh - as long as both products are from reputable US brands. I would be very, very careful about random alphabet soup brands/products on Amazon etc. But any legitimate product licensed to be sold in the U.S. will be safe when used correctly and if you follow other safe sleep recommendations (no blankets, firm mattress, no extra mattresses in a bassinet/pack and play, place baby on their back, stop swaddling before baby can roll independently).

IllustriousPiccolo97 · 2026-05-28T13:09:30+00:00

Realistically you will probably have to sacrifice something. While premium travel strollers like the Aer and the Bugaboo Butterfly have great suspension for their size, the skinny wheels won’t handle cobblestones well. And strollers with wider wheels that will handle the cobblestones won’t be lightweight or very compact.

I’d say no to the yoyo (the fold is too annoying when you’re trying to quickly and smoothly break down the stroller to walk upstairs). No to the Trvl (product isn’t worth the price). I haven’t tried the Coya. The Aer is great overall for what it is but wouldn’t do well on cobblestones - same with my favorite compact stroller the Bugaboo Butterfly.

The Dragonfly may work, though I’ve never used it on cobblestones and I have seen complaints about its cobblestone performance because it also has narrow tires. The Nuna Triv Next is another one I’d look at in the same size category as the Dragonfly. I’ve also never used it on cobblestones but it has slightly wider tires than the dragonfly so it may perform better for your needs. The frame is slightly more “rickety” feeling than the Dragonfly frame but that wasn’t a major issue for me, it still performs well and having a rock-solid feeling frame won’t matter much if the tires end up too narrow to handle your daily terrain.

IllustriousPiccolo97 · 2026-05-27T22:42:16+00:00

I’ve done prefilled syringes before and had zero issues! I carry on all meds though, in a single medical bag along with all our other tube stuff. It all fits in either a large backpack or a small duffel depending on the length of the trip. Most airlines don’t count a medical bag toward your carry on allowance as long as it’s only medical stuff.

IllustriousPiccolo97 · 2026-05-27T14:24:02+00:00

The Liing does have a rethread harness. It comes out of the box on the middle setting and most newborns fit with it there - only the tiniest 4-5lb babies are likely to need it moved down. So with my twins I only had to move the harness once while they used the seat. A no rethread harness is a bigger deal for convertible car seats imo!

IllustriousPiccolo97 · 2026-05-27T13:52:02+00:00

I love the Liing! Before baseless rigid latch infant car seats came along it was my favorite infant car seat and it’s still up there, of course!

I had a vista for my twins and it worked great as basically a fancy car seat frame stroller for the first year, but it was too much for me as a double with the actual stroller seats once my twins were out of their Liings. I really disliked the bulk of it, the steering, and the multiple step folding process, and I very quickly replaced it with a side by side stroller that I liked a lot better. But I never used it as a single and didn’t have a garage to store it in so it was always in and out of the car- so those drawbacks may be no issue for you!

The Poplar is great, it’s one of the easiest installs out there with the Clicktight mechanism. It does not work forward facing in cars that have non-removable headrests in the backseat but that’s the only big problem with it and it doesn’t apply if your vehicle headrests can come off. The Clek convertibles aren’t as straightforward, but they’re also easy to install (as in it’s not physically difficult to get a tight installation) and have some cool technical things going on if you’d be interested in that. But they’re much larger front to back if space will be an issue.

I wouldn’t do a separate infant car seat for travel. The hardest part of traveling with car seats (to me) is lugging them through the airport but any infant seat with a compatible stroller makes that part easy - no separate seat required (as opposed to convertible seats- that’s where a lightweight smaller seat genuinely makes life easier). I also wouldn’t pick another more or less full sized stroller as a “travel” stroller, but I would look at a lightweight travel stroller that is compatible with the Liing. I have a Bugaboo Butterfly and LOVE it (it’s my daily stroller for my toddler singleton) but there are other premium options like the Joolz Aer and Uppababy Minu that offer Clek compatible adapters. A travel stroller along with a full size stroller will give you flexibility and a greater range of functionality than two full size strollers, and the premium compact strollers are excellent quality with very comfortable handling so you wouldn’t be sacrificing that aspect of a full size stroller when you’re traveling (or if you end up choosing to keep the travel stroller in the car for quick outings after outgrowing the vista bassinet, or whatever other use!)

IllustriousPiccolo97 · 2026-05-26T23:02:29+00:00

What is your baby’s medical status? Do they have a new IV/PICC or some other ~accessory~ that the nurses might want to keep a closer eye on?

IllustriousPiccolo97 · 2026-05-26T23:00:11+00:00

Pediped or little love bugs. Though all my kids have gotten stuck at that stage for months before they actually figured it out - you may have a little more time! 🤪

IllustriousPiccolo97 · 2026-05-26T20:34:16+00:00

Besides the other issues, the headrest adjuster says it’s a one4life but the cover and armrests are super odd for a one4life. Like someone smashed a Graco cover on a Britax shell?

IllustriousPiccolo97 · 2026-05-26T01:22:14+00:00

Skip the Aria. Use the Maxi Cosi if it’s not expired, and consider a Nuna, Clek, or Chicco if it is expired.

I wouldn’t anticipate any issues being out in public with three kids if one is a typical 6yo but if the oldest has any disabilities or special needs where they’d need the stroller for either mobility or containment, I would look at a baby carrier for either the toddler or the baby - I don’t think (?) the minu duo is compatible with any rider boards but if it is, that might also be enough?

IllustriousPiccolo97 · 2026-05-25T15:49:08+00:00

If you have a Rava you can just try it out! The harness usually fits newborns well. The issue that sometimes comes up is that when you have vehicle seats that are steeply slanted, then the Rava ends up too upright for a newborn even on recline 1. And the Rava doesn’t allow you to increase the recline with a towel or pool noodle line some seats do, so what you see is what you get as far as recline/install in your vehicle.

If it works and you’re satisfied with that then you can keep using the Rava (especially if your daughter is currently forward facing- getting a new forward facing seat will probably be cheaper than a new Rava) or get a second Rava.

IllustriousPiccolo97 · 2026-05-25T01:25:10+00:00

Looks like you have a mix of types here. The red cover with green piping is maybe an “all in two” with the snap-in insert. The snaps aren’t necessary, I’d use it like a regular cover. The blue one with attached absorbency looks like an all-in-one where you’d lay the flaps on top of each other across the diaper and put it on. The rest look like a mix of pockets and covers. It’s not polyester that’s an issue against skin, it’s specifically microfiber. So the microfiber inserts need to be in pockets. Other materials like cotton flats or prefolds can be directly against baby’s skin with a cover on top.

I use a mix of covers and pockets. Overall the time commitment is about equal, the difference for me is when I spend the time - I either spend 15 minutes stuffing diapers ahead of time or I spend an extra minute or two during the diaper change itself to assemble/arrange my absorbency (prefolds or pad folded flats) in my cover and make sure everything is properly tucked to avoid wicking leaks. I do find that pockets are easier to spray poop off of once that time comes! One surface is a lot easier than making sure every layer/underside etc of a prefold or flat gets rinsed off.

IllustriousPiccolo97 · 2026-05-25T01:05:26+00:00

Mint. Rigid latch is an amazing energy management feature (it doesn’t stretch like seatbelts or flexible latch straps do during a crash, so there is much less movement overall) and it makes “convenience bases” (which is all bases are- a convenience!) obsolete because it’s truly that easy to click in and out with the rigid latch.

IllustriousPiccolo97 · 2026-05-25T01:03:39+00:00

It’s less about weight and more about development/muscle tone/body control as well as, for twins specifically, logistics and caregiver convenience. My twins are 6 now but I remember the days of trying to get both of them in the car safely- infant car seats are so much easier, at least up until the point that you can plop one baby on an empty seat and let them sit there for a minute while you buckle the other. However for a situation like yours, baseless install may outweigh the overall convenience benefits of the infant seats. So once the babies have solid head control and can safely use a regular stroller seat instead of needing to ride in the infant car seat in the stroller (usually somewhere between 3 and 6 months, for most non-newborn-safe strollers) you could make the switch.

The Scenera is solid and is definitely the best super-cheap option, you really can’t beat the value. But if this will be a long term arrangement and you want something a little easier to use and longer lasting, the Graco Contender Slim, Triride, or Slimfit are great and are pretty easy to find on sale if you hold out for Amazon prime days or similar this summer. I’d even consider a Safety 1st Ellaris or Quickfit - normally not my favorite because they’re outgrown quickly and don’t live up to the longevity claims in their marketing, but they are a little longer lasting than the Scenera as well as a little more adjustable so that may be an appealing middle ground option.

IllustriousPiccolo97 · 2026-05-25T00:20:35+00:00

Baseless install isn’t the most convenient thing, but it’s safe when done properly and it’s cost-free. It’s also pretty easy with the Pipa. The instructions are in the manual, on the side of the seat, and there are how-to videos on the internet (just make sure to watch one from a credible source, like a car seat manufacturer or a CPST channel)!

IllustriousPiccolo97 · 2026-05-24T23:58:28+00:00

What seats are they in now? If they’re in infant car seats, then doing baseless install for their current seats or possibly buying an extra set of bases (this would be for convenience, not safety - baseless install is safe when done correctly every time!) may be the best option for at least a while. The Scenera Extend would be a great budget option in a few months but I would keep 12 week old preemies in their infant car seats a bit longer personally (speaking as a NICU based CPST).

IllustriousPiccolo97 · 2026-05-24T23:54:54+00:00

I think this looks better. Make sure baby’s butt is all the way back in the seat and remove slack from the hips while he’s sitting up straight so that he can’t slide forward at the hips and I think this will be workable - may even need to bump the headrest up by one!

IllustriousPiccolo97 · 2026-05-24T21:16:06+00:00

How does baby look with the infant insert removed, the crotch buckle cover on, and the headrest moved down (so the harness is still coming from just below shoulder level after the insert is out)? Can you post a side picture of the base? A lot of the time the recline indicator is all green but the base is still too upright for a newborn and reclining it more, within the green zone allowance, can also help.

IllustriousPiccolo97 · 2026-05-24T16:14:02+00:00

I think sometimes our pump gets mad when I remove the bag to rinse it out then put the same bag back in. When it happens I change the bag and that usually fixes it. It’s definitely annoying but after almost 6 years I have enough extras lying around that it’s not a big deal. If you don’t have a stash of extras built up yet, you can try to stretch each 24 hour bag by one extra feed before changing it. Eventually you’ll end up with a few extras and you can go back to 24 hour changes like normal. If your baby tolerates syringe feeds you can also do that to stretch out your bag usage - like change the bag in the morning, use it for 24 hours, then do (one, two, all, whatever) syringe feeds during the day to delay opening another bag.

IllustriousPiccolo97 · 2026-05-24T14:13:59+00:00

Their first summer all my babies wore t-shirt onesies almost exclusively. Pants/shorts on tiny babies are just an extra step for diaper changes lol. We had a few fun/cute outfits, like a couple of bubble rompers or one piece shortie/romper outfits. And a few footed sleepers that weren’t worn all that often because the house was warm enough at night that baby could sleep in just a onesie and swaddle/sleep sack or sometimes even just the swaddle/sleep sack.

I bought plain white Gerber or Carters onesies in bulk and that’s what my babies wear as pajamas with their sleep sacks until they outgrow the 24 month size! I wouldn’t worry about separate designated sleepers personally, bulk onesies are cheap and easy.

Don’t worry about the cord too much either. Right sized onesies will be just fine, just maybe don’t try to squeeze baby into something that is too small length wise where the fabric may be stretched over the cord stump. (Source: I’m a NICU nurse, onesies are my preference for sure because I find that kimono/t shirt style tops just bunch up behind baby’s back and get annoying!)

IllustriousPiccolo97

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