Babyzen YOYO Stroller Review – Worth It or Overhyped?
I didn’t fall in love with the Babyzen YOYO after one trip. I fell in love with it after years of gliding through airports at midnight, pushing it over cobblestones, sliding it into overhead bins, and relying on it when my kids were tired, jet-lagged, or absolutely done. We bought our YOYO in 2018 after baby number two, and eight years later, all three of our kids have used it across dozens of countries and hundreds of flights.
If you’re researching travel strollers because your current setup feels bulky or impractical to manage while traveling with a baby or toddler, I’ve been there. Or if you’re researching what travel baby gear to add to your registry. Also been there.
This is not a first-impression review or a sponsored hype piece. It’s an honest look at what the YOYO does exceptionally well, where it falls short, and why it’s still the stroller we pack every time we travel. If you’re wondering whether the YOYO is actually worth the price, fits real-life family travel, or can hold up long-term, keep reading for my impartial Babyzen Yoyo stroller review.
Jump to: What is the YOYO, Pros, Cons, Worth it?, Limits, Tips, Accessories, Other Options, Comparing, FAQs
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Why We Didn’t Buy the YOYO for Our First Baby
When we had our first baby, we didn’t know what we didn’t know. We used what was marketed as a “travel stroller,” even though it was bulky, heavy, awkward to push, and absolutely not something you’d ever carry onto a plane. It folded, technically, but only into a long, clunky shape that still needed to be gate checked and required two hands to steer. And not even that smoothly.
At the time, it felt normal. We only had one baby, we weren’t traveling as intensively, and there simply weren’t as many truly travel-specific baby products on the market yet. But once we added a second child and started traveling more and more, the cracks in our setup became impossible to ignore.
Suddenly, we needed more hands, not fewer. For navigating security, juggling carry-ons, baby carriers, and a toddler who didn’t want to walk another step. And that’s when we realized our stroller wasn’t helping us travel. It was slowing us down.
That shift from traveling with baby gear to needing baby gear that actually worked for travel is what eventually led us to the YOYO.
The Trip That Forced Us to Upgrade Our Stroller Setup
The moment we finally bought the Babyzen YOYO wasn’t random. We were about to leave on a two-month, round-the-world trip with a six to eight month old baby and a two and a half year old toddler. Multiple countries. Multiple continents. Long flights. Layovers. Cities, beaches, cobblestones, trains, and airports at every hour of the day and night.
We needed a stroller we could rely on to actually help us make it easier.
Our setup for that trip was simple and very intentional. One of us carried the baby in an Ergobaby 360, because he was lighter and wanted to be close. The stroller was for the toddler. He loved riding. He napped in it. He happily stayed put while we moved quickly through airports or wandered cities all day.
That trip made something very clear. When you travel with young kids, especially more than one, your stroller is not just a convenience. It is a tool. And if that tool is bulky, awkward, or unreliable, everything feels harder than it needs to be.
I started researching travel strollers with very specific needs in mind. It had to be compact enough for international travel, ride and push as smoothly as butter, and be durable enough for real terrain and to last for years and multiple kids. That search is what led me to the YOYO.
What the Babyzen YOYO Is and Why It Was Designed This Way
The YOYO was originally created in France by BabyZen, long before compact travel strollers were everywhere. It was designed for families who actually move through cities. Think small apartments, narrow sidewalks, public transportation, stairs, and daily life that does not revolve around a car trunk big enough to hold a full-size stroller.
In many European cities, families still need a stroller, but they do not have the space or lifestyle to accommodate something bulky. The YOYO was built to solve that exact problem. It stays compact without feeling flimsy, it maneuvers smoothly through tight spaces, and it folds small enough to make travel realistic instead of stressful.
Since we bought ours in 2018, BabyZen has been acquired by Stokke (end of 2021), and the YOYO is now sold under the Stokke name. Ours is the YOYO+ from that earlier era, which matters because we have put it through eight years of real use, not gentle testing or short trips. Since then, they have only worked to further improve subsequent versions. Stokke is a reliable baby brand known for high-quality products, like the Tripp Trapp High Chair.
At the time we bought it, the YOYO felt expensive and a little intimidating. It was not something we added to our baby registry or impulse-purchased. It was a deliberate choice, I spent many hours researching, after realizing that our current stroller setup simply could not support the way we traveled.
And while I could not have known it then, that decision is the reason we never felt the need to replace our travel stroller, even after adding a third child.
Is the Babyzen YOYO Worth the Price?
I will be honest. When I first saw the price of the YOYO, I paused for months. At the time, it felt expensive for a stroller that looked smaller and simpler than what we were used to seeing. Plus, we already had 3 strollers. Yet, things still didn’t feel as smooth as I thought they should be. I went back and forth, read reviews late at night, and questioned whether it was really worth spending that much on a “travel stroller.”
What pushed us over the edge was not the promise of convenience. It was the reality of how much we were about to travel and how little margin for error we had. We needed something that worked every day, in different countries, across different types of transportation, without adding more work or breaking halfway through the trip.
Looking back now, eight years later, the value is obvious. That initial cost covered one stroller used by three kids, across hundreds of flights and countless destinations, without needing to be replaced. We never bought a second travel stroller. It simply kept working. And it is still going strong for us today.
If you are comparing strollers based only on upfront price, the YOYO can feel like a stretch. But if you are looking at cost over time, durability, and how much smoother it makes real travel with kids, that price starts to make a lot more sense.
And that is before even getting into what it does well in daily use.
The Real Reason We Still Travel With the YOYO
If I had to narrow it down to one reason we still travel with the YOYO after all these years, it would be this. It fits in most airplane overhead bins.
That single feature has changed how we travel with kids more than almost anything else we own. Being able to bring the stroller on board means we are not gate checking it, not waiting on the jet bridge, and not worrying about it getting tossed around with luggage. We land, open the stroller, and go. When you are traveling with tired kids, tight connections, or a baby who fell asleep on the plane, that matters more than it sounds.
It is not airline-specific. It depends on the plane. Smaller aircraft with two seats per side can be tighter, while standard planes and jumbo jets with standard or oversized overhead bins always work. Over the years, we have flown on all kinds of airlines and plane sizes, and the YOYO has made it into the overhead bin the vast majority of the time. The handful of times it did not fit are the exception, not the rule.
We’ve even made it down the aisle with the stroller open a few times. It doesn’t glide perfectly as it just barely fits and can easily catch an armrest and get stuck. But in a pinch, when we had too many bags, multiple sleeping children and not enough hands, we managed to get everything down the aisle pushing someone in the stroller.
Keeping the stroller with us also protects it long-term. Anyone who has traveled with baby gear knows how rough baggage handling can be. Car seats, strollers, and even gate-checked items take a beating and are sometimes even broken. Bringing the YOYO on board has absolutely contributed to how well it has held up over eight years of use.
There is also a flow advantage. When you have the stroller with you, you are not juggling a sleepy child while waiting for staff to bring it back. You are not standing around with bags and kids trying to reorganize your life at the gate. You are simply moving forward. For us, that ease is not a luxury. It is the difference between a smooth travel day and a stressful one.
That overhead-bin compatibility is what turned the YOYO from a nice travel stroller into an essential part of our packing list.
Where the YOYO Really Shines
After eight years of real travel, these are the reasons the Babyzen YOYO has earned its permanent place in our luggage.
It fits in most overhead bins.
This is the biggest one. Being able to bring the stroller on board keeps it protected, saves time, and makes arrivals smoother. We land, snap it open, and move. No waiting. No gate-check stress. No scrambling with tired kids.
It is light and compact without feeling flimsy.
The YOYO is easy to lift, carry up stairs, and maneuver through tight spaces. It never feels like it is fighting you, even when you are juggling bags and kids at the same time.
The ride is incredibly smooth.
For a compact travel stroller, it glides. Cobblestones, uneven sidewalks, airport floors, train stations. Obviously, it is not magic, but it is noticeably smoother than other strollers we have pushed.
You can push it with one hand.
This matters more than people realize. One hand on the stroller means the other hand can hold a coffee, a phone, a passport, or a toddler’s hand. It makes moving through busy places far easier.
It opens quickly and easily.
While the fold requires two hands, opening the stroller is fast and simple. You can do it one-handed, which makes a big difference when you are getting off a plane or stepping out of a taxi.
It is comfortable enough for real naps.
All three of our kids have napped in this stroller, on the go, in cities all over the world. The recline is not fully flat, but it has been more than sufficient for our tired babies, toddlers, and preschoolers.
It is shockingly durable.
This stroller has been dragged across continents, loaded into overhead bins hundreds of times, pushed on questionable terrain, and used by three kids over nearly a decade. It still works. That reliability is hard to overstate.
The seat pad is easy to remove and wash.
Travel gets messy. Kids get messy. Being able to throw the seat pad in the washing machine without a complicated process is a small feature that becomes a big one over time.
The shoulder strap makes quick moves easier.
When you need to carry it up stairs, through train stations, or into tight spaces, the connected strap is useful. This stroller was designed for real movement.
Taken together, these features are why the YOYO has worked not just as a travel stroller, but as a dependable part of how we move as a family.
The Cons and Trade-Offs to Know About
As much as I love this stroller, it is not perfect. No travel stroller is. These are the downsides you should understand before buying the YOYO, especially if certain features are high priority for your family.
It requires two hands to fold.
This is the biggest drawback for some parents. To fold the YOYO, you need both hands to engage the buttons near the handlebar at the same time. Once you do that, the rest of the fold is quick, but that initial step means you cannot truly fold it one-handed while holding a baby. For us, it has been manageable. For others, especially solo travelers with infants, this can be a dealbreaker.
The wheels can occasionally get stuck during folding.
Because the wheels swivel so freely, sometimes one ends up in the wrong position and prevents the stroller from fully collapsing. When this happens, it takes about one second to rotate the wheel and finish the fold. It is more of a small annoyance than a real problem, and it may not even be an issue on newer versions, but it is worth mentioning.
The recline does not go fully flat.
The YOYO is not designed to be used on its own for newborns without an attachment. There is a bassinet option they call a “newborn pack” that creates a flat surface, but we did not use it. For older babies and toddlers, the recline has been sufficient for naps, but if a fully flat seat is non-negotiable for you, this matters.
The seat is on the shorter side.
For taller toddlers and preschoolers, their legs will hang off more than they would in a full-size stroller. Ours have never complained and have still napped comfortably, but comfort preferences vary by child.
The under-seat storage is small.
This is true of all travel strollers. The YOYO’s basket is better than some ultra-compact options, but it does not come close to full-size strollers. You can fit small backpacks, jackets, and a surprising amount if your items are squishable, but it is limited.
None of these cons have been dealbreakers for us. They are simply the trade-offs that come with having a stroller that is compact, lightweight, and easy to travel with. Whether they matter depends entirely on how you travel and what you value most.
Weight and Height Limits – How the YOYO Holds Up in Real Life
On paper, the YOYO has clear weight and height limits, and those matter. Officially, the seat is designed for kids up to around 48.5 pounds, depending on the exact version. In practice, that guideline has felt conservative in a good way.
All three of our kids have used this stroller well past the baby stage. Toddlers, preschoolers, and early elementary years. They have climbed in and out of it endlessly, taken naps, leaned sideways, lounged, and generally treated it like a well-loved piece of family gear. Shhh, I have even sat in it without issue! Structurally, it has never felt unstable or fragile.
That durability has been one of the biggest surprises. We have pushed older kids who were technically nearing the upper limits without any sense that the stroller was struggling. We have also, in very real-life moments, put two toddlers in it at once to get through a terminal faster. It handled that just fine.
Even once, while waiting far too long at a car repair shop, all three kids piled into it and spun themselves silly. Not recommended, obviously, but it says a lot that the stroller did not flinch.
I am not sharing that to suggest ignoring limits. I am sharing it to explain why the YOYO has earned our trust. It feels solid in use, even as kids grow bigger and heavier. For families who travel often and want a stroller that will last through multiple stages, that matters.
Since travel strollers are lighter, if you hang items on the back, they can tip over when your kid gets up. For our YOYO, we’ve successfully straped various backpacks to it without it tipping over. We use backpacks that have stroller straps, and as long as it’s further down closer to the seat versus high up on the handlebar, then it can manage.
If you are expecting a travel stroller to feel flimsy or disposable, this one does not. It has behaved more like a long-term tool than a short-term baby product.
Using the YOYO as a Primary Stroller
For us, the YOYO became our primary stroller later, not during the baby stage. With each kid, it started to take over around age 3, when they were walking more day to day, and we mostly needed a stroller for travel, long outings, and those times when a tired kid suddenly forgets how legs work.
The YOYO’s quick fold and small footprint made life feel lighter. Less bulky baby gear, less wrestling with a giant stroller, less stuff taking over the trunk. It was a welcome transition that made parenting feel slightly more streamlined.
Could the YOYO work as a primary stroller for a younger baby or toddler, too? Yes, it can, but whether it works well enough depends on your lifestyle. If you live in a city, have limited storage, deal with tight sidewalks and doorways, or rely on public transportation, the YOYO’s compact design can make daily life smoother.
The biggest drawback to using it as your main stroller in the early years is storage. When my babies were little, we packed our stroller like it was a mini moving living room. The YOYO has some space underneath, but not enough for the way many parents haul diapers, snacks, jackets, and everything else that somehow becomes necessary the second you leave the house.
YOYO vs Other Travel Strollers We’ve Used or Seriously Considered
Before the YOYO entered our lives, we went through a few phases that I think a lot of parents will recognize.
Our first “travel stroller” was an umbrella stroller that barely deserves the travel label. It folded, technically, but was challenging to initiate the fold and ended up as a long, awkward shape that still needed to be gate checked. It was heavy for what it was, required two hands to push, and never felt smooth or intuitive. At the time, we accepted it because we didn’t know there were better options. Looking back, it made travel harder than it needed to be.
Later, before we bought the YOYO, we also used the GB Pockit. And to be fair, the Pockit is impressive. It is unbelievably compact. We brought it to Japan on a trip with one child, and the fact that it fit into a regular backpack felt almost magical. For tight urban exploring, temples, train stations, and situations where you want the smallest possible footprint, it shines.
But for us, the trade-offs were real. It required two hands to push. The sunshade could barely be called that, and the fold was challenging to get just right. The ride was rougher, storage was almost nonexistent, and it did not feel like a stroller we could rely on day after day or child after child. It worked for a phase, but it never felt like a long-term solution.
The YOYO ended up being the middle ground we were looking for. Still compact enough for overhead bins and international travel, but far more comfortable, durable, and usable over time.
There are also several excellent travel strollers on the market now that did not exist or were not widely available when we bought our YOYO. These are the ones parents most often compare.
Smooth ride, one-hand fold, and a more premium feel. It is a little bit heavier and bulkier than the YOYO, but many parents love it for ease of folding and everyday use.
Nuna TRVL
Very easy one-hand fold and sleek design. Great for quick errands and travel. The main watch-out is size. It is compact, but larger than the Yoyo and Butterfly, and therefore not always overhead-bin friendly.
A solid, no-frills option with good maneuverability. It folds relatively small and handles uneven terrain better than some. It does not feel as refined or as compact as the YOYO, but it is a practical choice for many families.
Comfortable, sturdy, and familiar for families already using UPPAbaby gear. It is heavier and larger than true ultra-compact travel strollers and typically not overhead-bin friendly, but it feels very capable for daily use.
Stylish, thoughtfully designed, and often praised for its smooth push and included accessories. It is easy to use and parent-friendly, but it is bulkier when folded and not consistently overhead-bin compatible, which may be a drawback for frequent flyers.
Still the most compact option out there. Ideal if size is your absolute top priority. Less comfortable for longer days and limited in storage and durability compared to the YOYO.
The Doona comes up often in baby travel conversations, but it’s important to understand what it actually is. The Doona is an infant car seat that converts into a stroller, not a traditional travel stroller. For newborns and young infants, especially during the first year, it can be incredibly convenient for flights, taxis, and quick transitions without needing to install a separate car seat or stroller.
That said, its usefulness is shorter-lived. Kids outgrow it quickly, storage is extremely limited, and it’s heavier than most compact strollers once your baby is inside. It is FAA-approved and should be able to be installed in most airplane seats to use for your child onboard. There are mixed reviews about whether it fits in overhead bins, as these vary by exact airplane.
If you plan to travel with your baby frequently, could take advantage of the Doona outside of travel reasons, and perhaps even plan for multiple children to use it, then the Doona may be worth the investment for your family. But it is not the type of travel stroller that works longer-term for toddlers or preschoolers, so you would need to find another after your baby outgrows the Doona.
Comparing top travel strollers
| Stroller | Company | Stroller Weight | Max Child Weight | Folded Dimensions (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Babyzen YOYO | Babyzen / Stokke | ~13.5 lbs | 48.5 lbs | 20.5” × 17.3” × 7.1” |
| Bugaboo Butterfly | Bugaboo | ~16 lbs | 50 lbs | 21.3” × 17.7” × 9” |
| UPPAbaby Minu | UPPAbaby | ~16.9 lbs | 50 lbs | 21.5” × 18” x 10” |
| Mountain Buggy Nano | Mountain Buggy | ~13 lbs | 44 lbs | 20.5” × 21” x 12” |
| Colugo Compact Stroller | Colugo | ~16 lbs | 44 lbs | 24” × 18” × 10” |
| Nuna TRVL | Nuna | ~13.6 lbs | 50 lbs | 24” × 20.25” × 11” |
| GB Pockit | GB | ~9.5 lbs | 55 lbs | 20” x 12” × 7” |
| Doona Car Seat & Stroller | Doona | ~16.5 lbs (without base) | 35 lbs | 26” x 23.6” × 17.3” |
Most of these strollers were designed to fold small enough for typical IATA carry-on dimensions and often fit in overhead bins, but it can still depend on the specific plane model and bin size. Of course, the larger the stroller (check the folded dimensions in the table above) the less likely it may fit in the overhead. Always check airline policy and carry-on bin size before you fly.
The biggest takeaway from all of this is that the best travel stroller depends on how you travel. For us, the YOYO hit the sweet spot between compactness, durability, comfort, and long-term use. It was the first stroller that really worked for our travels without feeling like a compromise everywhere else.
Real-World Travel Tips From Years of Using the YOYO
After hundreds of flights and years of traveling with kids at every age, here are the practical things we’ve learned about using the YOYO in real life.
Even older kids still need a stroller when traveling.
At home, my kids walk everywhere. Travel is different. Long flights, time zone changes, late-night arrivals, and massive airports push kids past their limits fast. A stroller gives you a backup plan when legs stop working, even if you rarely use one at home or at your destination.
Airports are where the stroller matters most.
Even if we barely use the YOYO once we arrive, we almost always use it in airports. Security lines, long terminals, tight connections, and middle-of-the-night layovers are not the time to rely on stamina alone.
Some international airports offer free strollers, but don’t rely on it.
We’ve seen free strollers available to borrow in airports like Da Nang, Incheon, and Dubai. They’re incredibly helpful, but availability is not guarenteed and is limited to specific terminals or areas which may not be near your gate. If your only reason for bringing a stroller is airport navigation, it’s worth researching beforehand.
Keeping the YOYO in the overhead bin protects it long-term.
This is a big reason ours has lasted so long. Avoiding gate checking means fewer dents, fewer broken parts, and less wear over time. It also makes getting off the plane faster and calmer.
Quick fold and small footprint matter more than you think.
When you’re juggling kids, bags, and boarding passes, being able to fold the stroller quickly and tuck it out of the way makes travel smoother. The YOYO doesn’t take up much space in taxis, trains, tight restaurants, or hotel rooms.
Use the stroller strategically, not constantly.
We don’t push kids around all day just because we have a stroller. We use it when it adds value. Airports, long days, late nights, and transitions. That balance is what makes traveling with kids more sustainable.
These are the moments where the YOYO earns its keep. Not in ideal conditions, but in the messy, tired, very real parts of family travel.
YOYO Accessories We’ve Used and Considered
We’ve kept accessories pretty minimal over the years, mostly because the YOYO works well on its own. The few extras we did use earned their place through real travel, not wishful thinking.
The Yoyo bag is a nice addition to consider to better protect your stroller. It makes carrying the stroller through airports and train stations a little easier with the backpack straps. It also adds a layer of protection when we had to gate check it, which thankfully was rare.
Though it is an additional step, you have to consider whether it’s worth it. After folding, you’ll have to slide it into the bag and zip it up. We used it more in earlier days, but as the years have gone by, we’ve tapered off use.
Rain cover
The rain cover came included when we bought our YOYO, and it’s one of those things you’re grateful to have the one time you really need it. It did exactly what it was supposed to do without being bulky or hard to pack.
There is also a roller board attachment that allows an older toddler to sit on a saddle-type seat behind the stroller. We didn’t personally use this, but for families managing a baby and an older toddler at the same time, it can be a helpful option.
Newborn pack and bassinet attachment
For families planning to use the YOYO from birth, there is a newborn pack with a bassinet option that allows the seat to lie fully flat. We bought our YOYO after that stage and didn’t need it, but it’s an important option to know about if you’re considering the YOYO as your only stroller from day one, or planning to travel a lot with a baby younger than 6 months old.
This is an accessory we love for baby travel in general, especially on long-haul flights. CoziGo creates a safe cover for your baby’s stroller or in-flight bassinet, helping block light and visual distractions so babies can actually sleep while on the go. This is one of those small items that can make a big difference during flights and naps while out and about.
Overall, we appreciated that accessories were optional rather than necessary. The stroller worked well on its own, and we only added what actually made travel easier for us.
Babyzen YOYO Stroller FAQs
Is the YOYO stroller worth it?
For our family, yes, without hesitation. We’ve used the same Babyzen YOYO for eight years, across three kids and hundreds of flights. When you look at longevity, durability, and how much easier it makes travel days, the value becomes clear. It’s a higher upfront cost, but we never replaced it or bought another travel stroller.
Is the YOYO a good travel stroller?
Yes, especially if travel is a regular part of your life. The YOYO was designed for movement. Airports, trains, cobblestones, tight sidewalks, and small spaces. It’s lightweight, easy to maneuver, fits in most overhead bins, and holds up well to frequent use. If international travel or long-haul flights are part of your plans, it’s one of the most practical options out there.
What are the pros and cons of the YOYO?
The biggest pros are its compact size, smooth ride, overhead-bin compatibility, and long-term durability. It’s easy to push with one hand and quick to open when you’re on the move. The main cons are the two-handed fold, limited storage space underneath, and the fact that the recline does not go fully flat without an attachment. Whether those cons matter depends on how you travel and your feature preferences.
What age is the YOYO stroller for?
With the newborn pack or bassinet attachment, the YOYO can be used from birth. Without attachments, it works best once babies have good head and neck control. We personally started using it later and continued well into the preschool and early elementary years for travel. It has comfortably handled toddlers and older kids when needed.
Does the YOYO fit in airplane overhead bins?
Most of the time, yes. In our experience, it fits in overhead bins on the vast majority of planes. Fit depends more on the aircraft than the airline. Smaller planes with tighter configurations can be a challenge, but those situations have been rare for us.
Can the YOYO be used as a primary stroller?
It can, depending on your lifestyle. We transitioned to using it as our primary stroller once our kids were older and using a stroller less day to day. For families living in cities, apartments, or relying on public transportation, it can work well even earlier. The biggest limitation for full-time use with younger babies is storage space.
YOYO vs GB Pockit, which is better?
If absolute compactness is your top priority, the GB Pockit wins. If you want a smoother ride, more comfort, better durability, and a stroller that can grow with your child, the YOYO is the better choice. We used both, and the YOYO ultimately became our long-term solution.
Eight Years Later, Here’s the Verdict
Eight years ago, we bought the YOYO because we needed a stroller that wouldn’t hold us back while traveling. What we didn’t expect was that it would become one of the longest-lasting, most relied-on pieces of baby gear we’ve ever owned.
It isn’t perfect. No travel stroller is. But it has shown up for us in airports at midnight, on uneven streets across the world, and through every stage of parenting from baby to big kid. It has carried tired toddlers, protected our sanity on long travel days, and held up far beyond what we ever imagined when we first hesitated over the price.
If you travel often, value durability, and want a stroller that actually fits real family travel rather than ideal conditions, the YOYO is worth serious consideration. I hope this Babyzen YOYO stroller review has helped make your decision clearer. For us, it earned its place long ago, and it’s still the stroller we pack every time.
