Would you take a stroller abroad for a newly turned five year old

I can't think of anything worse than pushing a five year old in the heat, potentially on cobbles, or having to park the pram in the museum, lug it on the plane etc.

Maybe slow things down if she needs to nap.

No. We have taken a fold up scooter in the suitcase a few times! But only when we knew the location was suitable

We went on a long holiday for a month when our daughter turned 4. We made sure she had been trained prior to the holiday to be able to walk a few miles with ease as the location we were going was not suitable for buggies and we didn't want her on our shoulders all the time.

The last time she was in a pram of any sort was at 2y 8m after we had been walking in the Lake District the days before and she was tired.

Nowadays she can walk 4-5 miles at ease at 4.5y but it has to start somewhere.

Only if they are disabled. It is seriously weird otherwise.

No. But we always have a rental car so DD would nap on the way back when we did an outing (I often nap in the car as well, DH is known for having sleeping passengers).

We never did hotel holidays at that age so the "staying up late in the bar/entertainment" was never a topic. We either went out for dinner or cooked and played a game and when DD was tired she would be off to bed.

Just take it. My kid is autistic so we still use ours a bit at 4 and that’s made me realise it’s just a social norm, one that seems to be a bit more flexible in London because lots of people don’t have cars, so you do see older kids in buggies a bit more.

I remember when my baby was small judging another mum for having an older boy in a pram. I look back on it now with embarrassment!

Lots of people use those little carts now for their kids at festivals and things like that - kids can’t always be on their feet all day and do get tired.

Liberate yourself from what other people think and do what is right for your family!

What type of holiday are you planning OP?
City? Beach? Resort?

Don't worry about it being too heavy to push. If your buggy is a decent one, it is will be constructed to a high enough quality that will be fine to push with a heavier load/height.

I'm quite short and there is absolutely no way I'd carry any child over three years of age anywhere other than a chair!

We took two buggies when we went to Disneyland last year. One, the proper one, was for DS at 18 months. The other was for DD2 who was 5yrs 2m at the time. There is so much walking at Disneyland and she really struggles when she’s tired. It was also November and freakishly cold when we went so we could wrap her up warm. We knew if we only brought one, there was a risk she’d need to use the buggy and someone would have to carry DS. She never napped in it but she liked to pull the sun visor down to get away from being overwhelmed.

We’re about to start the process for investigating a neurodivergence assessment for DD2. At the same age, DD1 would have coped with walking perfectly well with only a bit of carrying at the end of the day.

No.

😬i'm afraid I cannot abide dc on scooters. Greatest menace to mankind ever!

I think this is the best answer op.

I'm not sure I'd have managed to push a five year old for very long; I remember even a three year old starting to feel like quite a load!

But if it works for you, just do it. It's your holiday. It isn't like dc will still be in the stroller at 18 if you allow it this holiday. People get a bit overly wound up about when dc should stop doing things imo.

Yes if you think it will be used.

I used one when youngest was 4 1/2 as we had an extremely long day out in hot weather and in some busier places it was easier and safer knowing they were strapped in 1 place!

It meant we didn’t need to rush back for bedtime as for a one off it was ok they slept in the pushchair early evening.

We also got from one place to another much quicker going at a faster pace.

When everything got too much and overwhelming, they could almost ‘zone out’ in the safety of the pushchair.

So long as they are comfortable in it and you think they would need it then take it.

A five year old that needs sleep after a long day needs to be in a bed, not a stroller.

Why? If mine are happy I let them go until they drop on holidays and rather enjoy having a snoozing 3/4/5 year old on me at the odd dinner or entertainment! No one is rushing up in the morning and everyone enjoys the evenings.

I remember bringing one for DC2 who was four and a half at the time. We were visiting a few different cities and it was just easier to have the buggy with us.

When we stayed near a beach, DC2 refused to sit in it but I remember feeling very embarrassed when DC1 happily and lazily sat in it until I refused to push it!

I took one on last holiday when DC1 was just turned 5 but partly because DC2 was just turned 3. Both used it but I'm not sure if I would take just for 5.

I’d be tempted if they still fit, mine definitely still struggled by evening at 5

If it makes the holiday easier sure why not. They're so handy for evening time especially if there's entertainment on. Saves having to go to bed or sit in the room at 7pm

No. You need to plan around your child’s need for rest / sleep rather than stick them in a stroller. They’re 5, not a toddler.

No. My view is if your child is that tiered take them to bed. Does it mean missing out on some night time entertainment...yes but I would rather he was sleeping soundly in bed than me watching a show.
but I suppose if you have other children then that might complicate it more if there isn't enough adults to supervise them all.

I wouldn’t take a stroller for my four year old because we don’t have one any more. However, I would and will be taking a scooter when we go on holiday. I might also take one of those kart things for when we go to the beach and I’m sure she’ll sit in there any chance she gets.

The point of a holiday is for everyone to get the most enjoyment.
If the stroller means that your child can sleep and the adults can enjoy the day/evening more then why not.
You might get some judgy looks but who cares. You'll never see these people again.

Enjoy your hols.
X

Agree with this. i regret not taking one with me for my then 4 year old dc, as would have meant a more comfortable trip all round. Dc got very tired due to all the walking and we had to keep coming back to hotel room during the day for naps. I feel we could have been more spontaneous with a buggy, as dc could have napped in there.

No but I took my dtds to New York age 5 and we walked miles so I’m guessing we parent differently. Didn’t occur to me to take a stroller. There was one day when jet lag and walking caught up with them and they slept most of the day so dh and I took turns to go out alone and shop 😆

Our eldest was out of her pushchair at 17 months and that was the end of it. Middle and third when they were 2. They didn’t like them and preferred walking.
I mean do whatever works for you all best, we took quite chill holidays when the dc were that age, a bit of wandering about during the day if we weren’t at the pool or the beach and then dinner out somewhere near enough to walk there and back from so we managed. But we are not you!