The Babyzen YoYo 0+ is the long awaited from birth option to the standard Babyzen YoYo. It converts from a parent facing newborn nest for 0-6 months to an outward facing stroller for 6 months+. With a micro fold option that is small enough to travel as hand luggage – yes hand luggage – we have been checking it out to see if it matches expectation.
Quick Summary: There are a few little niggles – the suspension isn't great and the wheels don't handle rough ground well, but as this is definitely designed as an urban option, I don't think it would cause too much of an issue. The handlebar is not adjustable which could be a problem if you are exceptionally tall or small, but for most people it will be absolutely fine. All in all, an amazing adaptation to the original Babyzen YoYo, which makes it suitable from newborn, the Babyzen YoYo 0+ is the perfect option for a fast paced jet setting lifestyle.
Whats good?
- Super tiny fold
- Easy to use
- IATA approved
- Looks modern and funky
Whats not so good?
- No adjustable handlebar
- Expensive to buy
Chasis
The Babyzen YoYo 0+ comes in a choice of black or white frame – we have been reviewing the white frame option. It is smooth, sleek and feels sturdy – made from a combination of metal parts and high density plastic. The plastic gives it the super lightweight feel, while the metal accents make it strong. I would just note that the frame does flex slightly, mainly when tipping back to go up a kerb or step. It is nothing to worry about, and is actually a good design feature which helps to give a smoother ride on rough ground – but it does feel a bit odd to start with!
The handlebar is covered in soft foam, but is non adjustable, which is a shame. The rounded bar shape makes it very easy to hold and push, even one handed. The 4 wheels are set for balance, with the 2 rear wheels set under the chassis and the 2 front wheels set slightly wider out in front. This gives a real feeling of sturdiness and you don’t feel as if the pushchair will tip – with a child in the seat it feels well balanced as the weight is set over all 4 wheels.
The wheels themselves are made from solid foam and should last well without too much damage. The only downside to these hard wheels is that you do feel a lot of the jolts and bumps when pushing – the suspension doesn’t absorb much. The swivel wheels cannot be locked so this is really more of an urban pushchair than one for heading off road with. The wheels are super modern with a white finish – this is great for style, but maybe not so great if you are heading somewhere a bit mucky!
Moving on down to the basket, and I was pleasantly surprised. I did expect a very small basket due to the size of the stroller, but it is bigger than expected. It is plenty big enough for all your daily bits and bobs, and access to the basket from the rear of the frame is easy too. It is a tad shallow, so take care not to overload it, or you may find things sliding out. In addition to the shopping basket, there is also a small pocket on the rear of the seat which would be ideal for the small items you need to keep to hand such as keys and phone.
At the rear we have the brakes – operated by a single foot pedal in the centre. Just push down to pop the brakes on, and flip up to move off. It is small and unobtrusive, and not likely to get in the way of any other operations – but a word of warning – it is small and firm and definitely not one for attempting in flip flops!
Seat Unit
The seat unit on the Babyzen YoYo 0+ is suitable from 6 months, and is forward facing. It has a slight triangular shape to it, which actually gives a nice deep seat, and the high sides make it sheltered and protective when in recline mode.
There is an adjustable 5 point harness which can be altered with the use of a slider which alters the length of the shoulder and waist straps together – super fast and easy although not a huge range of adjustment available. The height of the shoulder straps is decided by threading through one of the 3 holes in the seat back.
The fabrics are wipe clean and have a slight sheen to them – lightweight and rip stop, they give the impression of being well made and long lasting. They can be removed and machine washed – a huge bonus with sticky little fingers on board. The coloured seat liner attaches to the seat fabrics with strong Velcro, and there is no slipping or movement. The seat liner wraps around and under the end of the seat making it comfortable for small legs to rest on, and longer legs should be able to sit comfortably on the footplate below.
The recline is a slider type on the rear of the seat – not my favourite recline method but by no means the worst either. With one hand lift the seat back, and use the other hand to pull the long end of the strap to sit the seat upright. To drop it back down, just lift the slider and the weight of the child will drop the seat down flat. It has endless position options, as you just stop the slider at the angle you require.
Hoods can vary so much on different pushchairs, and the Babyzen YoYo 0+ hood is unusual, in that it sits so high above the seat. This gives a great amount of head room. It folds back flat against the frame when not in use, and opens upwards and out to give a decent amount of shade, and can be locked in a fully open position, although you can use it unlocked if you want slightly less coverage or a different angle. There is a viewing window which is ideal for keeping an eye on what your little one is up to.
The raincover is made from a very clever wrinkle free material – which makes a huge difference when you are trying to pull it on in a hurry!
The baby nest comes into its own for the smallest babies. Suitable from newborn, it transforms the Babyzen YoYo 0+ into a parent facing pramette style option. The babynest simply slides onto the seat back in the same way as the seat fabrics, and features a snug headrest and flat place for babies to lie. There is also a foot cover to keep babies protected from the elements and the pop up canopy hood has 3 positions to keep small eyes shaded. I am not sure I would want to use this as my main pushchair for a newborn, as I much prefer a full carrycot – however this is personal preference, and the Babyzen YoYo 0+ offers an ideal way to travel with your newborn.
Fold
Folding this pushchair is a breeze. I half expected it to require engineering knowledge, as anything that folds small enough to fit in an overhead locker suggests a certain degree of fiddling about. However, I was pleasantly surprised. To fold, you simply press in the red buttons below the handlebar and fold the handle right down flat. Underneath the lower part of the chassis, you will find a shiny metal bar and a latch – simply give that latch a tug and pull the metal bar upwards sharply. The whole frame collapses in on itself and will autolock in the folded position.
And it really is tiny. I have handbags bigger than the folded YoYo. Pick it up with the carry strap, sling it over your shoulder (easy to do as it is SO light) and off you go! It will even freestand while folded – although take care where you stand it. The freestanding section is the edge of the seat unit, where the legs would rest, so if you place it somewhere wet, your little one might get damp legs the next time they hop in.
To open the Babyzen YoYo 0+ again, you simply unhook the auto lock, and grabbing the handle, just flick it upwards, and it will open with a snap. It takes seconds – so if you are travelling by plane, you can be ready to load your tired toddler the moment you get off the plane.
Conclusion
I will be honest – I wasn’t taken with the Babyzen YoYo 0+ when I first saw the pictures. I thought it looked a bit uncomfortable and an odd shape. I have completely revised my opinion. It is modern and fresh looking, with a well balanced chassis and a comfortable, adaptable seat unit. Designed for the busy lifestyle we lead these days, the fold is second to none – it really is teeny tiny and can be managed in seconds. It is IATA approved for cabin hand luggage – if you are a regular traveller by air, I don’t think there is a more sensible choice than this pushchair.
There are a few little niggles – the suspension isn’t great and the wheels don’t handle rough ground well, but as this is definitely designed as an urban option, I don’t think it would cause too much of an issue. The handlebar is not adjustable which could be a problem if you are exceptionally tall or small, but for most people it will be absolutely fine.
For me, the benefits far outweigh the negatives. The addition of a baby nest make it suitable for even the smallest passenger, and although the price is higher than your average stroller, you are getting far more than average. There are a lot of features here that you don’t find on many strollers – a decent basket, a recline with endless positions, a very good hood and the amazing fold.
All in all, an amazing adaptation to the original Babyzen YoYo, which makes it suitable from newborn, the Babyzen YoYo 0+ is the perfect option for a fast paced jet setting lifestyle.
