Bugaboo Butterfly 2 Plus Review

Bugaboo built the Butterfly 2 Plus on the Butterfly 2, and it has now retired the Butterfly 2: its US product page lists the Butterfly 2 as no longer available and points shoppers to the Plus. Both weigh 16 lbs, fold in one second and fold to the same 21.8 x 17.6 x 9.6 inches. The Plus adds a seat that reclines fully flat for use from birth, a padded headrest extension, a built-in newborn foot cover, a footrest you can adjust with one hand, and what Bugaboo calls a sturdier, more robust chassis. If your child is already past the newborn months, the day-to-day travel experience is very similar.

In the US, a collapsible stroller is a free extra item, not your carry-on bag. American and Frontier allow it in the cabin if it fits in the overhead bin, and Delta doesn't count it toward your bag allowance. Folded, the Butterfly 2 Plus is small enough to lie flat in the overhead bin on most full-size jets. Bin space varies by plane, smaller regional jets often can't take it, and the crew has the final say, so have a gate-check bag ready. Some international airlines are stricter: Qantas and Lufthansa count a stroller as part of your carry-on with tighter size limits, and KLM brings it into the cabin only if space allows. See Velivolo's overhead bin size guide. Bugaboo describes the compact fold as IATA-compatible.* *The manufacturer says this stroller meets IATA cabin bag guidelines. IATA's size is a voluntary industry recommendation, not an airline rule or a guarantee. Your airline's own carry-on limit, and the gate agent, decide whether it can come on board.

Yes. Bugaboo says the Butterfly 2 Plus is suitable from birth when the seat is reclined to its fully flat position, and the built-in newborn foot cover creates a cozy, protective space in the early months, then tucks away under the seat. Bugaboo still recommends a car seat for newborn comfort, and with Bugaboo car seat adapters (sold separately) you can click in a compatible infant car seat. The seat holds children up to 50 lbs, which Bugaboo puts at about 48 months.

Bugaboo says the Butterfly 2 Plus works with many infant car seats, including the Bugaboo Turtle Air Shield by Nuna, using Bugaboo car seat adapters that are sold separately. Bugaboo keeps the full list of compatible seats on its Butterfly 2 Plus car seat adapters page, so check your exact car seat there before you buy.

For families who fly often and want one stroller from the newborn months to the preschool years, it's a strong choice. You get Bugaboo's one-second fold, a folded size small enough for the overhead bin on most full-size jets, a lay-flat seat from birth, a 50 lb seat limit, a 17.6 lb basket, and a 4-year warranty when you buy from bugaboo.com. If the thinnest fold matters most, the Stokke YOYO3 folds slimmer at 7.1 inches thick, and the Joolz Aer2 is a little lighter at 14.3 lbs.

Bugaboo designed the Butterfly 2 Plus to fold in about one second into an ultra-compact package of 21.8 x 17.6 x 9.6 inches. The Bugaboo user guide walks through each fold and unfold step. Practice a few times at home before your first flight, so the fold feels easy at a busy gate with a little one on your hip.

On Bugaboo's US site, the Butterfly 2 Plus core collection comes in Desert Taupe, Forest Green, Deep Indigo, Dusty Pink and Heritage Black, all on a black base. Bugaboo also sells a Bugaboo x Stella McCartney special edition. Colors rotate by season, so check bugaboo.com for what's in stock.