New York with a 4 year old…ridiculous?

Because he went, most don’t have the opportunity. It’s unfortunate he doesn’t remember it but as I said - we had the opportunity to go then, not now. If he said he was annoyed we’d gone then, as I said, I’d think him extremely ungrateful.

Why would you think he was ungrateful for saying he is annoyed he went because he was too young to remember it? Surely you would want to remember these things. I would.

We took our kids to Borneo when our youngest was 2 - largely because lifestyle and finances allowed it at that time. I’d think him hugely fucking ungrateful if he told me when he reached adulthood that he was annoyed we’d taken him then.

Odd to be annoyed about being taken on holiday.

Why can’t the parents do it just because they want to do it? The child will have a nice time, surely that is sufficient…?

The journey and jet lag would put me off but we would have enjoyed the city break with any of our DC at 4.You do different activities but it is still fun.

When dd was 4 (and 3 months, to be exact!) we got a used stroller on Craigslist when we arrived in the US, and we were so grateful because a 4yo is HEAVY to carry in that heat, but there was no way she could have done all that walking. A nice surprise was that she reverted to toddler napping, so she slept half the time, which meant we could have nice long lunches in restaurants and even a peaceful glass of wine while she snored beside us in the stroller.

We had loads of fun, but it was ages ago, so my info is out of date. Parks, cafes, wandering around the Village, the High Line, Washington Square, Natural History Museum, some galleries and other museums - we just pooched around mostly because we'd been there loads before, so there was no urgency to tick things off a list.

I took dc age 3 to NYC just because we had the opportunity for a more or less free holiday
It was great! So child friendly.
Bought a v cheap buggy over there, sometimes it was just somewhere to keep our bags! But dc used it when tired, it was really easy.
We were staying near friends and didn't do too much touristy stuff. But park, museum, subway, toy shops etc all huge hits!

We did New York with our daughter when she was 3, she loved it! We did the zoo in Central Park, 9/11 museum, empire state, big toy shop and lots more. We took her pushchair which we wouldn't have been able to cope without!

I think dc can work fine in big cities but I wouldn't go long haul to show dc one, I would take them with me if I really wanted to go.
With so many amazing places to go in Europe traveling that far seems a little unnecessary.

Exactly. The holiday was for you, not for her.

I would be pretty annoyed if my parents had taken me to NY and I was too young to remember it. Seems a bit silly but each to their own.

We took our four year old to NY and had a great time.

• Massive toys shops
• Central Park
• Brooklyn Park
• Walked the Highline
• Playground the other side of the Brooklyn Bridge (great views of Manhattan)
• Nose round a real Brooklyn fire station that happened to be open when we walked past
• Battery Park
• Transport museum (lots to climb on)

We did another couple of US cities too though so not just a long weekend.

We love city breaks but NY would not be my first choice when the kids were younger. We loved Venice with small children. No cars, and magical bridges and gondolas. It was like a huge outdoor theme park for kids!

I think it's the wrong age- too big for a buggy, too small to walk long distances or appreciate museums or galleries and in all fairness I don't think it's like London either- I think there is far more child friendly stuff in London and lots more centralish parks and greenery to run around in- I love NY but wouldn't personally take a child under 8 . I dont find it that child friendly for eating/drinking out either

Almost 11 years ago, we took our just turned 2 year old, I was pregnant as well. I'd never been (and haven't been since), my husband had been before, we'd come over from Australia to the UK to see family and I decided to book our flights as a round the world trip, so it was basically a tag on to the end of our family visit. We didn't do the Met or the Guggenheim, but we did visit the 9/11 memorial, world trade center, statue of liberty, walk over the Brooklyn bridge, go to a Mets game and some other stuff too. It was a nice trip, we enjoyed ourselves, of course it wasn't really for the benefit of our 2 year old, but she was fine with it and I got a taste of New York.

It would be a no from me. I’d save your money, go to London and maybe in 3 years take them when he’ll remember it at least.

I do love NY and it’s not that I think it wouldn’t be good as there are things to do but it’s the sheer expense. If you’re loaded then hell why not!

I am sure he would like it but I personally wouldn't want to spend the money. Citybreaks are great for kids but I would go in Europe, save NY for when he is 10.

Why?

It will be very cold and could well snow. Contrary to popular belief the UK is not the only country that doesn't handle snow well. The year we went to NYC in March and it snowed everything shut down.

I guess the obvious question, if you've been before is, why? It's not the first destination I'd think of to take a 4-year-old. Of course, there are parks and playgrounds, a great zoo and a fabulous Natural History Museum, but you can find all of that in London or Paris, which would be much easier to visit.

Also, March in NYC can be bitterly cold. I used to live there and I don't go back in winter, if I can help it. As a visitor you tend to be outside a lot, which really can be very miserable when an Arctic wind is scouring the city, funnelled between the skyscrapers and cold enough to take your breath away.

The ferris wheel in toys r us I have a great photo of me and dc on it but sadly it's gone now 😢 .

We took ours at 6 and 8 and they loved it. They'd probably have enjoyed it a couple of years younger but they were exceptionally good walkers (benefits of not driving!). Personally, I'm glad we left it until they were old enough to remember everything.

We left those kind of holidays until the kids were older. It’s a long way to fly and a lot of money when he just won’t appreciate it.

I did this with my almost 4 year old years ago , lots of walking we ended up buying a cheap stroller to get around, dc loved it at the time saw all the sights 2 glorious weeks and I loved it sadly dc doesn't remember any of it anymore but I do .

Absolutely 😂

I don’t think it’s the worst idea in the world but if it’s really for you and your dp I’d try to leave him behind with grandparents instead. Or wait until he’s 6/7.
at 4 he won’t remember. He might enjoy, or not.

We took our twins when they were 5.

They loved it.

Completely doable.

(We also took them to China for which many people thought we were insane but they loved that as well).