The Newly Revamped Bugaboo Butterfly 2 Stroller Promises Easy Travel—I Took It Abroad to See If That’s True

I’ll admit, I was fortunate to have the perfect opportunity this summer: A two-week trip to Europe, which had me toting my then-8-month-old from London to Paris to Copenhagen. (The aforementioned fourth country was a day trip to Sweden—the stroller came with and we used it often, so I’m counting it!)

I stashed it in the overhead on the plane, I used it for countless stroller naps, I even let my 7-year-old ride it in as I sped around the airport trying to find our gate following a flight delay on our return trip to Brooklyn. Let’s just say I put the Butterfly 2 through its paces and then some.

The original Butterfly stroller first launched in 2022 so the Butterfly 2 marks its first upgrade in nearly three years. The major highlights of the recently re-designed stroller? I’ll admit that the size and “one-second fold” are total stand-outs. On our British Airways flight, I was able to push it down the aisle of the plane, which was a total win. Then to be able to fold it with the single push of a button while also holding my baby and corralling my seven-year-old to not bump into other passengers as he took his seat? It just felt so effortless.

Of course there’s more: Like all Bugaboo strollers, the Butterfly 2 doesn’t just move, it glides. I found this to be impressive while traversing locations like Battersea Park (even off-roading there), but also navigating around people at the airport at a faster clip. This is a stroller that takes every corner, every turn with ease. (This is likely due to the full suspension that comes paired with its wheels, which are slightly bigger—5.5 inches for the front two wheels, 6 inches for the back—with this new design.)

The under-carriage storage felt sturdy, the seat was easy to wipe down. I also deeply appreciated the five-point harness for comfort, but also safety. (Please let’s not revisit the moment I thought the step down from the airport shuttle in Copenhagen was less steep and my baby tipped almost fully forward, but was held completely safe and secure thanks to the strap design.)

Finally, the recline! The revised version tips fully flat, so that baby can easily snooze on the go. (There’s also a comfy footrest that adjusts as your child grows.) Whether we were at the Eiffel Tower or Tivoli Gardens, this was such a lifesaver and meant that my 7-year-old could continue racing around while my son still enjoyed a quality nap. (The pics of him happily dozing by epic hydrangeas are ones I will treasure.)

The Butterfly 2 Stroller weighs about 16 pounds and is designed to accommodate babies from birth to four years or 50 pounds. (For reference, my 7-year-old weighs just under the weight limit.) As I mentioned, it comes with an adjustable five-point harness for safety, but still the beauty is in the ultra-compact fold. When fully folded, it is just about 22 inches tall and 18 inches wide. This makes it IATA-compatible, which means it meets the dimensions for a folded carry-on item. (Note: You can purchase a travel bag for added protection, but we did not, and it turned out fine.)

I do wish the stroller had a bit more under-carriage storage, but that’s a limitation found with all compact strollers. Additionally, about that off-roading in Battersea Park. I’m guessing that’s the spot where we may have chipped a tiny part of the back wheel where it attaches. It didn’t affect stroller performance in the slightest and was an easy fix under the warranty (Bugaboo simply sent a back wheel replacement, which I swapped out in under two minutes time—a credit to the modular design). It more served as a reminder that while this stroller is exceptionally durable, maybe be a bit more gentle depending on the terrain.