When it comes to summer holidays, the size and weight of your baby or toddler’s stroller can be an issue, particularly if you’re travelling abroad. The thought of managing in an airport if you’ve had to check a big stroller into the hold can be stressful, so finding an alternative that can be stowed in the cabin could be a real game-changer. I checked out the Imi compact travel stroller from Bababing, which seems to have all the answers.
What’s Hot:
+ Excellent one-hand foldability
+ Suitable from birth
+ Seems sturdy and durable
What’s Not:
– Peek-a-boo window to view the baby is in an awkward place
– No foot muff accessory for winter use
What is Bababing and what makes it unique?
The baby industry is packed with big brand names that either have decades-long legacies or are backed by big corporations with deep pockets. The Yorkshire-based, family-run company Bababing is cut from a different cloth. It has been slowly carving out a niche in the parenting industry for just over 20 years, quietly building a portfolio of products that it believes will enrich the lives of parents and children, without fuss or fanfare.
What sets Bababing apart from many rivals is that all of the products are designed and built in the UK. While some brands might see that as a hurdle and opt for cheaper manufacturing abroad, Bababing sees it as a strength, ensuring the products are of the highest quality at every step of the production process. And it still manages to sell everything it produces at a competitive price point.
Bababing Imi travel stroller: What is it?
The Imi compact travel stroller is lightweight and easily foldable, making it an ideal option for travel, holidays, or public transport. It’s available in two understated colourways which give it a smart, premium look.
Like many travel strollers, Imi has an impressively small footprint once folded, with dimensions of 50 x 45 x 28cm, meaning that it falls well inside the IATA cabin guidelines and can fit into many airline overhead lockers (but these vary, so check with your carrier before travelling). Weighing in at just 6.5kg, it’s easy to handle and carry while folded, so lifting it in and out of car boots, or on and off trains and planes, poses few problems.
The well-padded seat can be adjusted from upright to fully reclined, making it suitable from birth to 4 years old (or 22kg). With no bulky sides to block the view and a bumper bar to hold on to, curious toddlers get an unobstructed view of their surroundings. When fully reclined, the fabric sides and extendable sunshade create a cosy cocoon for younger babies to nap in shaded comfort.
To keep tiny tots and toddlers safe, there is plenty of strap adjustability, and making those adjustments is remarkably easy. There’s no need to push tabs through tight holes to change the height of the shoulder straps. Instead, the straps slide to the right height, similar to adjusting a bag strap. The waist straps tighten the same way, both taking no time at all to get into position.
The storage basket is often a serious shortcoming in a travel stroller. This one is surprisingly practical, housing a large changing bag well, but leaving little space for much else. If you do find it’s a little tight, the pushchair is very stable, so adding a little extra storage with a pushchair organiser
won’t unbalance things.
Bababing Imi compact travel stroller: What’s it like to use?
The buckle is one of the two outstanding features of the Imi Travel Stroller, and if you’ve ever tried to strap a wriggling toddler into a pushchair, it’s one you’ll appreciate, too. Rather than having to get all the parts of the straps neatly aligned and ready to push together, the fastening on Imi has fairly strong magnets built in. As long as you get everything just about in line and close enough, it clasps together in one easy movement, closing the buckle and holding the squirming occupant securely in place.
The other distinguishing feature is the one-hand fold. I’ve tested pushchairs in the past that claim to be one-hand folding, but have needed to employ a knee to finish the fold; with Imi, one hand really is all you need.
Folding it couldn’t be simpler. At the centre of the handle, there are two buttons, or triggers. Press both and push forward and down, and the stroller folds elegantly and clicks together. Unfolding is almost as easy. Using the same buttons, press and pull the handle upwards, and with a flick, the stroller should click back into the upright position. Unfolding it in one fluid movement does take a little practice, though.
Are there any downsides?
The Imi travel stroller has almost everything well sorted, but a couple of little things would make it pretty much perfect.
When the seat is reclined for either napping or supporting a newborn, it reveals a mesh window with a flap that lets you keep an eye on the little one. Its position, facing directly outwards below the handle, makes it a little difficult to use. For parents of newborns, being unable to keep a close eye on a sleeping baby while on the move could be unnerving. Moving it up into the hood would make it more practical and reassuring.
Imi is perfect for warmer weather, but as we head towards winter, a little more protection would be needed. A rain cover is included with the initial purchase, but having a matching foot muff available to buy for the winter months or for a winter holiday would be a worthwhile option for many.
Bababing Imi Compact travel stroller: The verdict
A good travel system is already a significant investment, so buying a separate travel stroller can feel like an unnecessary extra. The Imi makes a stronger case than some because it’s capable enough to double as an everyday pushchair.
Despite its compact size, the stroller offers a comfortable, generous space for little ones from birth, and its sturdy frame feels tough enough to withstand years of constant use.
If you are considering a travel stroller, Imi is an excellent choice. Few travel strollers manage to combine such a compact fold with genuinely easy everyday usability. The Imi feels equally at home navigating airports, city breaks or simply replacing your everyday buggy, making it excellent value for a highly capable all-rounder.
Tested: Bababing Imi compact travel stroller
Price: £250
Average Joes Rating: ★★★★☆
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