I’ll admit, I’m not the kind of parent who uses her maternity leave to travel the world — on some days, leaving the house was challenging enough with a baby in tow. That said, nothing prepares you for your first holiday with a baby — the days of hand-luggage only are well and truly behind you, and remembering how to fold your stroller (while carrying a baby and a car seat) at the gate is a test of mental and physical endurance.
If you are shopping for a travel stroller, however, you might have been considering buying the Bugaboo Butterfly, and I’d nod along in approval. It’s the stroller I use every single day for my 15-month-old son, thanks to its lightweight design and one-handed fold. Yet today, Bugaboo has announced the Butterfly 2, which is available to pre-order now. Should you grab the older stroller now, it’s on sale, or wait for the Butterfly 2? Let’s dive into the differences.
Not for you? Check out my best strollers round-up here, as well as my review of the Bugaboo Fox 5.
Bugaboo Butterfly vs Bugaboo Butterfly 2 — What’s changed?
Both strollers are compact and lightweight, designed to fit into the overhead locker on the plane. Both have a large canopy, designed to protect your little one from the weather, and a carry strap for carting the pram around without your toddler inside a little bit easier. Here’s a breakdown of the key specifications:
| Row 0 - Cell 0 | Butterfly | Butterfly 2 |
Unfolded size | 40.31 inches x 36.42 inches | 40.31 inches x 36.42 inches |
Folded size | 21.26 inches x 17.72 inches | 21.26 inches x 17.72 inches |
Weight | 16.09 lbs | 16 lbs |
Age range | 6 months - 4 years | 0 - 4 years |
As you can see, the new stroller and its predecessor are the same size and weight, the only real difference is that you can use the Butterfly 2 from birth. This is because the seat lies completely flat, which it doesn’t on the original stroller. In the UK, you’ll be able to purchase a bassinet that fixes into the seat, available in September 2025.
The front wheels are also slightly bigger on the Butterfly 2 — 5.5 inches, versus the 4.7 inches on the original pram. Again, this doesn’t sound like a huge difference, but Bugaboo says it’s a smoother ride, with full suspension to protect your tot from city bumps.
The canopy has also been redesigned — a huge bug bear of mine on the original Butterfly is the large mesh panel on the canopy. While it allows my son to get plenty of air in the warmer months, it allows a lot of light to flood in, especially when I’m trying to get him down for a nap. The Butterfly 2 has a peekaboo window instead, for better sun protection, while still letting you peek and check if your tot is still snoozing.
Finally, another huge upgrade that all parents will appreciate — the Butterfly 2 has a pocket on the back of the seat for your phone, sunglasses, and the nappy change pouch. It’s one of the things that put me off the Bugaboo when I was deciding between the Butterfly and the Stokke Yoyo, so I’m thrilled to see this small but handy design change.
Bugaboo Butterfly vs Bugaboo Butterfly 2 — Which should you buy?
This is a tough question to answer, especially as I’ve yet to test the Butterfly 2 (I’ll be updating this page with my full review in the next month or so). I’d say if you’re on a budget and your child is older than six months, the original Butterfly is a fantastic, lightweight pram, and it’s likely to be on sale now that the Butterfly 2 has been announced.
If you’re currently pregnant and stroller shopping or you have a newborn, it’s worth waiting for the Butterfly 2, as you’ll get more use out of it. The original butterfly does not recline to a lie-flat position, so it isn’t suitable for newborns.
If you’re trying to decide between the Butterfly and the Yoyo, it’s worth holding on for the Butterfly 2, as these design changes make the two prams much more similar. Both can now be used from birth, and both have a handy back pocket. When deciding for myself, I preferred the fold on the Bugaboo Butterfly, which truly can be done with one hand, while holding your wriggling toddler.
The Bugaboo Butterfly 2 will cost $599/£435 and is available to buy now.
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