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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Buggy for 5 year old?

167 replies

IShitGlitter · 22/08/2019 17:42

We have just booked our first abroad holiday with the kids to lanazrote. Weve been aboard loads but weve not taken the plunge with the kids yet......anyway

AIBU to want a double buggy to take for my DD3 DS5 (ages when we go) am thinking at the end of the day he will be shatterd after pool fun evening entertainment ect. Just to be clear he is a fantastic walker and walks everywhere normally.

so AIBU putting my 5 year old in a buggy

OP posts:
TeaForDad · 23/08/2019 16:25

100% do it.
We put our 3 and 5 in the double buggy sometimes and they love it

Champagne791 · 23/08/2019 16:35

We just came back from our holiday, we took our double for DD3m and DD4 -nearly five but very petite. After a day of swimming, activities and kids entertainment, DD4 would be shattered by 7:30/8. She mostly fell asleep on DH and he transferred her into the buggy, or she fell asleep on our walk back from the restaurant in the buggy. She’s a heavy sleeper so it’s easy to transfer her into her bed on the nights.

dontlikebeards · 23/08/2019 18:55

We went on holiday last year with a Dd5 and dd8 and didn't take a pushchair, after the first evening I hired one. It makes evenings easier and happier for everyone. The hardest thing was getting dd8 out of the pushchair so dd5 could get in it!!!

It is certainly not lazy parenting, it is making the holiday easier for all.

whattodo2019 · 23/08/2019 19:03

Put your children's needs first... eat early and go back to your self catered accommodation before they melt down and refuse to walk home. No 3 and 5 year old will cope on holiday going to be past 10pm every night.

Glitterfisher · 24/08/2019 10:09

What a load of nonsense, of course 3 & 5 yos manage later on holidays, you see loads of young kids dancing away most of the evening then crashing on chairs at 10pm. Doesn't have to be every night anyway. We have been to a few Holiday Village resorts and the kids entertainment goes up till late and the kids are all there dancing to the songs they are the kind of themes of the Holiday Villages and they have a great time. After a couple of nights the kids start waking up a bit later. My youngest is autistic and obv routine is important to him but as long as we manage it properly he is still ok.

It is not lazy parenting at all, obviously if your kids are really struggling then I am sure you would take them back early but you should enjoy your holiday too. There are too many martyrs on here, I know very few people like that in RL. Have some fun, doesn't mean you are not putting your children first, in fact the families I know who never slip from their normal routine have the children who can't cope with any sort of changes ever in the routine and are the most clingy least independent kids generally.

bigKiteFlying · 24/08/2019 10:20

We had a second-hand side by side - can't remember the make- my DD1 at 4 at end of school would occasionally jump in - I have to younger kids but middle child would often be out of pushchair so she could hop in. She fit and it was pushable.

None of mine at 5 wanted pushchairs and they coped with late nights on holiday and 10 -15 minutes walks back to accommodation.

I don’t think it’s a terrible idea if you are hiring one – just in case.

katesalwayslate · 24/08/2019 11:02

I think YABU! Five is far too old for a buggy. When I go on holiday with my children they sleep later, stay up later, etc. A five year old definitely doesn't need a buggy.

katesalwayslate · 24/08/2019 11:04

I never get why English parents are so unflexible about bedtime. I've lived all over the world and never seen anything like it. 7pm bedtime on holiday is also ridiculous! How is going to bed later when they can wake up later going to hurt them? Strict English routines are so unnecessary and only make life difficult for everyone.

demureandgraceful · 24/08/2019 11:12

It really depends on the holiday. Are you out all day so for example off and out by 7:30 and not back till 8 or later? then yes I would recommend one. If it's a later start or you plan to go back for a rest etc then maybe it is not needed but it really depends on the child.

First time I went to disney I was surprised at the age of some of the kids in the strollers but staying from park opening to park closing with no break at all is hard on adults never mind kids 😂 by 4pm after being there since 8 I considered injuring my leg to get one of those scooters and picked rides where I knew there was aircon and I could sit in the shade just for a little.

littleduckeggblue · 24/08/2019 11:17

Its our holiday too why should we be cooped up in a room of a night while they sleep

Errrrm because you are their parents and have parental responsibility for them op! Confused

demureandgraceful · 24/08/2019 11:32

@littleduckeggblue but the buggy would solve the issue. Kids get to rest when tired and parents can enjoy the evening

Cornettoninja · 24/08/2019 11:36

I don’t understand why people are so outraged at the suggestion of a buggy? On holiday?!

You’re all bonkers, this is a good parent trying to plan for their child enjoying their holiday as much everyone and make life a little bit easier.

lljkk · 24/08/2019 11:44

yabu to ask on MN. Trust your child & to know how you need to manage your situation, OP. You don't need to ask for approval from anyone here.

SinkGirl · 24/08/2019 13:32

How is going to bed later when they can wake up later going to hurt them?

You’re working under the misapprehension that children who go to bed later will sleep later. Not all will.

Yesterday my son missed his usual nap because of a therapy appointment- he cried all afternoon, dropped off for 20 minutes at 4pm, couldn’t go to sleep on time and was awake for two hours in the middle of the night. And was still up by 6am. Some kids can’t handle sleep changes well.

HolidayStartsMonday · 24/08/2019 13:39

This is the first year we are not taking the double buggy - DS1 is now 7 and DS2 is 5!! It was a lifesaver for all family holidays up til the last!! (There comes a tipping point where it gets in the way more than being helpful! and I'm looking forward to being without it this year!! But children are also old enough to cope with late nights and tiredness a lot better than previous years!)

Mainly it's helpful for late night flights when the children can sleep and be wheeled to and from the plane, rather than having to walk miles in departures and arrivals etc.. but was also helpful for wheeling hot and tired children up and down hills from the beach, walking to off site food stores in the heat etc...

For what it's worth, both my children are very happy, fit and extremely active kids, so I don't see this as lazyness for them in anyway, just something to make life easier for all involved, and why not!!! You're in holiday!!

I'd go for it if I was you!! And see if you are allowed to take it right up to the departures lounge - super helpful!!! :)

PupsAndKittens · 24/08/2019 13:46

I’d rather take a buggy and be judged for it, than drag 2 tired, whingy preschoolers

Um, Depending on birthday, the child in question, will be entering Year 1 or 2 so not really a preschooler Hmm

Spinnaret · 24/08/2019 13:51

I couldn't get either of mine in a buggy after about 18 months, as they fought it, so they both had to learn to walk. I certainly would not be going out and buying/ hiring one for a week's holiday.

Can't you give them a piggy back for part of the distance if they can't walk the whole way some evenings?

And they can absolutely skip a 7pm bedtime on holiday. And sleep in later in the mornings. You just have to properly exhaust them by keeping them up late, doing plenty in the day and not putting them in buggies.

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