Travelling with a baby used to be a nightmare of exceeded baggage allowances and ghastly inelegance, thanks to cumbersome 11kg 'port-a-cots' and equally heavy - or worse yet, flimsy - strollers. And that's before you even boarded the plane. Times have changed and a small number of quality travel items for babies have appeared on the market. But log on to any number of parents' web forums and one name keeps popping up.
New Zealand company Phil and Teds has provided a lifeline for frazzled travelling parents with a range of streamlined designs that are not only light and practical, but cool too. At 5.5kg, the two-wheeled SmartBuggy (HK$1,140; available in red or charcoal) weighs slightly more than the lightest strollers on the market. But its space-saving design means it can go anywhere, making
it MTR- and London Underground-friendly. Its collapse mechanism allows it to be folded without taking baby out of the seat while its front legs can be tucked in so it can be dragged or pushed. It is also sturdy and comfortable, with two seating positions and a sunshade, five-point harness, extendable handle and parcel tray.
If weight and size are of paramount importance, you can't beat the 2.5kg T2 pop-up travel cot (HK$1,490). Available in red, blue and charcoal, it is easy to assemble and comes with a mattress, tent pegs for outdoor use, UV shade cover and storage pocket. It folds down to 18cm x 18cm x 55cm and comes in a carrying bag. You may like to throw in a MeToo high chair (below; HK$350), which weighs less than 1kg and clamps safely to most tables.
All three are available from Bumps To Babes (5/F, Pedder Building, Central, tel: 2522 7112). They may even help coin a slogan: have child, can travel.