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Is it a good idea to take a baby buggy on a ski holiday?
Taking a baby on a ski holiday? Then you’ve probably stood in the hallway staring at your buggy, wondering whether it’ll survive the snow or end up as a very expensive coat rack in the chalet.
I’ve lived in La Plagne for 20 years and raised three snow-crazy kids here, so I’ve pushed (and dragged, and occasionally carried) a buggy through more snow than I’d like to admit. Here’s my been-there-pushed-that mum take on whether to bring one, what to look for if you’re buying, and the buggies that cope best in the mountains.
Buggy or no buggy? The pros and cons
The pros
- Getting around the villages: for the cleared paths, the shops, the supermarket run and the walk to the ski school meeting point, a buggy makes life so much easier.
- A comfy spot for naps: a warm, cosy buggy means your little one can nap while you have a coffee in the sunshine. Everyone wins.
- The storage: snacks, spare layers, nappies, a hot chocolate flask. When my kids grew out of their buggies, the basket was the thing I missed most!
The cons
- Deep or fresh snow: pushing a normal city buggy through fresh snow is a workout you didn’t sign up for. That’s why the right wheels matter (more on that below).
- Up the mountain: buggies don’t really work on the slopes. And if you’re meeting the family for lunch at a mountain restaurant, the pedestrian bubble lifts might not have space for a buggy, so a baby carrier is often easier for those trips.
What to look for in a buggy for snow
- Three wheels beat four: three-wheeled buggies are much easier to steer over bumpy, snowy paths.
- Big, chunky tyres: wide wheels with a deep tread grip far better than small city wheels. Air-filled or foam-filled tyres both work well.
- A warm, insulated seat: it’s not just about wrapping your baby in layers. I always had a cosy toes footmuff, like this Maxi-Cosi cosy toes footmuff, which keeps wet snow off and keeps little legs toasty.
- Good brakes: ski resorts are hilly and icy. Know how your brake works, put it on every time you stop, and use the wrist strap whenever you’re walking around.
- Proper suspension: tiny babies feel every bump, so good suspension makes a big difference on packed snow.
- A big hood and a rain cover: skip the little umbrella-style shades. You want a large hood, plus a rain cover for snowy days.
The best buggies for snow
Mountain buggy urban jungle
Built for off-road, so it’s brilliant on snow, countryside paths and the beach. The big, air-filled wheels cope with pretty much anything, and it takes you from newborn to toddler. I’ve never owned one, but I’ve borrowed friends’ several times, and I’d recommend it in a heartbeat.
See the Mountain Buggy Urban Jungle on Amazon
Bugaboo Donkey
This is the buggy we had for our boys, from 2016. It’s not cheap (we were very lucky that my in-laws insisted on treating us!), but it was worth every penny in the snow. Big wheels, lots of insulation and loads of storage. It also converts from a single into a side-by-side double, which we needed with two boys close in age. Today’s model is the Donkey 5.
See the Bugaboo Donkey 5 Mono on Amazon
Baby Jogger City Mini GT2
The big win for winter is the tyres: they’re foam-filled and puncture-proof, so you’ll never be pumping them up in a snowy car park. The three-wheel design keeps it slim enough for restaurants and buses, and the handbrake on the handlebar is a real help on icy slopes. I found myself hanging on to it the whole time!
See the Baby Jogger City Mini GT2 on Amazon
Maxi-Cosi Zelia 3 Luxe
Lots of mountain families I know swear by Maxi-Cosi. The Zelia has big wheels for snowy paths, and it really does fold with one hand while you hold the baby in the other. If you’re short of space in the car or the apartment, this is a good one to look at.
Planning a family ski holiday?
Get my free Ski Holiday Planning Pack: the Ski Holiday Reset Planner, the Ski Lessons & Ski Hire Guide, the Accommodation Guide and the Transfer Guide, written by a local mum of three to help you plan your La Plagne trip.
Handy extras for snow
- Ski attachments for your buggy: clip-on skis like Wheelblades XL fit under the wheels and turn your buggy into a mini sledge on fresh snow.
- A cosy toes footmuff: my non-negotiable. I’d go for something like the Maxi-Cosi cosy toes.
- A rain cover: for snowy days and wet slush. This universal rain cover from Bemece fits most buggies.
- A baby carrier: for snowy walks, bubble lifts and mountain restaurants. A front carrier like the Ergobaby Omni 360 works for little ones, and a back carrier like the LittleLife Adventurer is great once they’re bigger.
- A sledge with a backrest: once they can sit up well, a sledge with a back and a pull cord is often easier than a buggy on fresh snow.
Getting around La Plagne with a buggy
- Stick to cleared paths: the main walkways and village centres are cleared, so plan your route around them and avoid the deep stuff.
- Pedestrian villages: some villages, like Belle Plagne, are car-free, so you’ll be walking (and pushing) more. A buggy that copes with packed snow makes a big difference there.
- The free shuttle buses: most ski buses have wide double doors in the middle and a standing area with space for pushchairs. Here’s my guide to the La Plagne free shuttle bus.
- Restaurants: some restaurants just don’t have room to manoeuvre a buggy around the tables. Call ahead, mention you’ll have a buggy and ask for an accessible table. Here are my family-friendly restaurants in La Plagne.
Or rent one when you arrive
Don’t fancy lugging a buggy through the airport? You can hire one in resort. In La Plagne, I run AlleyOops La Plagne, renting baby, toddler and kids’ equipment, so you can travel light and have everything waiting for you.
That’s La Plagne & taking a buggy on your ski holiday
When my kids were tiny, I used a buggy and a baby carrier and swapped between them depending on the day. The buggy was brilliant for long days around the village, and the carrier for snowy walks and quick coffees with friends. There’s no right answer. It depends on your baby, your accommodation and how much walking you’ll do.
Planning more of your trip with little ones? Have a read of skiing with babies in La Plagne, baby food and feeding in La Plagne and my La Plagne childcare directory.
Got a buggy hack for the snow? Pop it in the comments below. I love hearing what works for other families.
See you on the slopes!
