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Original poster

Would you take a buggy on holiday with a 4 year old?

30 replies

HappyPerson258 · 17/06/2025 11:15

That's it really!

She doesn't need it for anything currently but I was wondering it might be useful around some of the cities we're going to if she gets tired and starts to protest. I just wonder if she's too old for a buggy? She's just turned 4 also (in case this matters?!!)

OP posts:
YourSpryWriter · 17/06/2025 11:16

I took one for my five year old. I only used it a couple of times but it was very useful.

Namechangeforthis88 · 17/06/2025 11:17

No. Unless special needs/health condition or child otherwise known to get tired/be difficult.

HuskyNew · 17/06/2025 11:18

To Florida / Disney type holiday yes.

to a beach based / small town no.

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Original poster
HappyPerson258 · 17/06/2025 11:23

So for extra context, it's got beaches but we are doing a big day trip to a city like Barcelona.

OP posts:
GinnyandGeorgia · 17/06/2025 11:27

Always did.

My kids are excellent walkers, when they get used to it from the time they start walking, it's a non-issue.

Buggy still amazing for the airport, especially when you have a night flight. Much easier to plonk the child in the buggy when you are queuing somewhere, give them some entertainment and everybody is happy.

Even a very good walker at 4 is still only a little 4 years old with small legs. If you walk miles on a city break, they can have a rest.

People have no issue leaving their kids in a car seat all day - and they dare frowning at buggies. Who cares, I know my children, I always took one. I missed my buggy now, I could put everything in them, instead of carrying a massive mummy rucksack 😂

MojitosAllRound · 17/06/2025 11:28

I wouldn't. Didn't use a buggy for either of mine after about 2.

Presumably if she is 4, she is starting school in September so will need to start being able to build some stamina.

cheezncrackers · 17/06/2025 11:29

It depends on the kind of holiday you plan to do. If it's one with lots of long days of walking around, then yes, unless you are prepared to carry her.

WorkingRoyalOrTwerkingRoyal · 17/06/2025 11:29

Yes because she can build stamina at home every other day, and I'd want to be able to just chill sometimes and let her nap if she needs to or rest when she's tired.

Sarah9494 · 17/06/2025 11:31

No unless they are disabled.

BagelTheSheep · 17/06/2025 11:31

No, neither of my kids would get into a pram after 3. They both had very strong opinions on being grown up. Grin

GinnyandGeorgia · 17/06/2025 11:31

See it as a good swap too: you walk for hours in city and various monuments and they go in the buggy sometimes. Barcelona gets hot at midday, sitting in buggy with shade doesn't hurt at that age.

You stop at playgrounds, you sit down with a drink and they go running around and entertaining themselves while you chill for a minute.

WannabeMathematician · 17/06/2025 11:31

Yes. I’ve had judgy comments as well but after 6+ hours of walking my boy was tired ( and there were attractions on to of that where he wasn’t in the pram). I’m not taking a scooter to a city I don’t, he’s not got great road sense in a familiar environment so a place where cars are on the opposite side of the road was going to be too dangerous.

The pram is a life saver for city days.

Olika · 17/06/2025 12:04

You say you will be doing a day trip to Barcelona so can you imagine her walking all day? If she is able to do that then not.

MissAmbrosia · 17/06/2025 12:11

I think we did at 4 (or at least 3.5) and were glad of it - especially in the evenings.

Hdpr · 17/06/2025 12:14

100% yes. And it’s great for when they’re tired in the evenings. Ignore any judgy comments

Yerroblemom1923 · 17/06/2025 12:17

I got good at piggy-backing my daughter around at age 3/4 but wished we'd taken her buggy to her first festival when she was 3 as we did an awful lot of walking and late nights.
My dd also went to a nursery 2 miles away so would take a buggy to pick her up even at 3 it was too far for her to walk. She's a fit and active 16 year old now so doesn't appear to have suffered!

HappierTimesAhead · 17/06/2025 12:19

Yes! I am planning to do so next week when we go to a beach resort. The main reason is the heat which will make her tire more quickly than usual. Plus it is a ready made seat and shade.

Pyjamatimenow · 17/06/2025 12:19

Mine definitely needs a seat for that sort of thing. Just check it can bear the weight though. We took ours which was barely used with us recently on a holiday with lots of walking involved and the wheel came off day 1. I saw lots of people with those cart type affairs with the big canopies over with kids older than 4 being pulled along. Can put all the bags in too

Alongthetowpath · 17/06/2025 12:22

I wouldn’t because I find them more of a pain than a help - struggling along narrow pavements and trying not to clip the back of anyone’s ankles, while my child dawdles along and refuses to sit in it.

My children would have flat out refused at 4, as would my nephews and nieces, so I would have just been dragging a bulky thing around everywhere for nothing.

We would just have to walk a bit slower and have a few drink and ice cream breaks. Which tbh I appreciate myself as much older than 4.

But if I did find pushchairs helpful, and my child didn’t mind, then I wouldn’t be swayed by any notions of needing my child to build up stamina. If it makes life easier, bring it!

Roselilly36 · 17/06/2025 12:22

Yep, airports are huge, lots of walking, it will take some of the potential stress away. We took ours when my DS2 was around that age, we were pleased to have it, US trip.

Geranium1984 · 17/06/2025 12:22

Depends where you're going, if lots of walking through cities etc.

We havent used a buggy since age 2 but took one recently for our four year old as we were flying the the other side of the world involving transit through airports and lots of queuing etc. If there were delays they could potentially sleep in it.
It was very handy for keeping them contained in long airport queues for immigration, baggage claim etc.

We didn't take it out whilst at our destination.

Livpool · 17/06/2025 12:23

I would - helpful if you’re going to be out all day. If they get tired they nap on it

SoeurFayre · 17/06/2025 12:23

Yes and I ended up buying one on holiday because I didn't bring one.

Handy when she got tired of walking, for carrying shopping and jackets, etc and for her to nap in if we were out later than her bedtime.

SoeurFayre · 17/06/2025 12:25

Ours was a very neat and compact Maclaren one so not an issue in crowded areas as mentioned above

Ketzele · 17/06/2025 12:25

If you're planning on doing lots walking out there I would. Can never quite believe the bionic toddlers of MN lore who are walking the Great Bridge of China at 18 months - and mine were raised in London with no car so they got lots of walking in.

A buggy also gives you somewhere for a nap (kids not you, sadly), sun protection, somewhere to put all your shit so you're not carrying it all day, somewhere to pull out splinters/ soothe wasp stings, and makes you easier to spot in a crowd. Hell, I'd take a buggy even if I wasn't taking children.

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