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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To let 4 year old use a stroller on holiday?

39 replies

lavendernights · 21/08/2023 11:23

4 year old hasn't used a buggy in over a year but uses a buggy board on his baby siblings buggy. We aren't bringing the big buggy on holiday and are just hiring a stroller from our resort for our infant, so we can't use the buggy board. I want to hire a second stroller so that if 4 year old inevitably doesn't want to walk everywhere, gets too hot, is tired, wants a nap etc without us having to go back to the room has somewhere to sit down and have a nap or a bit of quiet time? I pick the easiest path for us all to have a nice time

My husband however seems horrified by the idea - 4yo is too old, needs to walk more, doesn't nap at home so won't need on holidays etc. I said if he doesn't fancy being back in our room by 7pm every night then he will want him to nap but apparently he'll manage fine as he does at home.

Just after opinions really - who is right here? Surely a 4 year old using a stroller sometimes for 10 days on holiday to make our lives easier is no big deal? AIBU?

OP posts:
Batatahara · 21/08/2023 11:25

It depends what sort of holiday really - we just came back from a trip with a lot of city sightseeing etc, walking 12-15000 steps every day, our 4 year old was in a buggy. If we went to a resort, no, doesn't seem necessary

SockQueen · 21/08/2023 11:26

YANBU. The 4 year old may need to learn to walk more, but on holiday when already got and tired and overstimulated is not the time to learn. I also have a similar DS and would seriously consider a stroller for similar circumstances.

Only other suggestion - if he doesn't want to hire two strollers, could you carry the baby in a sling and push the bigger one when needed?

InAnyOtherLife · 21/08/2023 11:26

Do whatever makes your life easier - it's your holiday too, and if a stroller is the answer, go for it. We put our 4 yr old in a buggy when we were away earlier this year - it was hours of walking every day and she only got in when she had had enough. Bonus was that she dozed in it which gave us more of an evening.

SockQueen · 21/08/2023 11:26

*hot and tired

AppaTheSixLeggedFlyingBison · 21/08/2023 11:28

Is there an option to hire a double buggy? When your 4 year old doesn't need to be in you can use it for bags, etc

WhateverMate · 21/08/2023 11:28

If you're likely to be doing a lot of hiking then it's a good idea.

If it's just an average holiday where most people walk more than normal, I'd say don't bother as he probably needs to get used to doing more walking anyway.

Buggy boards weren't a thing when my kids were young (unfortunately as they look great), so they just learned to get on with walking longer distances from a younger age.

Crunchymum · 21/08/2023 11:30

I'd hire it if only for the 4yo to sleep in if you want to stay out later in the evenings.

He doesn't need to use it in the day?

Original poster
lavendernights · 21/08/2023 11:31

He does need to get used to walking longer distances but on our holiday I can't really be bothered to pick that battle. He'll just nag my husband to go on his shoulders, there'll be tantrums when he says no, he'll sit on the floor and have a stand off where he refuses to move. He does it often enough at home if I leave the buggy board off! I want to enjoy my holiday and not deal with any more tantrums than necessary, and yes being able to stay out longer is a bonus

OP posts:
Iwantmyoldnameback · 21/08/2023 11:34

Definitely take a buggy, just think if a certain family had done this they could still have gone out at night and not left their children.

Original poster
lavendernights · 21/08/2023 11:54

We wouldn't dream of leaving him in the room, but also cba being back for 7pm every night so stroller seemed sensible option. Not sure why husband is so dead against it

OP posts:
Original poster
lavendernights · 21/08/2023 11:54

Good idea about double buggy.. though are they a pain to get around?

OP posts:
Rob3bob · 21/08/2023 11:58

I dropped my 4yo off at summer camp this morning in a stroller. She was tired and I didn’t want a battle getting her there. I don’t see the point in making life harder than it needs to be

Lollypop701 · 21/08/2023 12:31

4yo might go to sleep in a buggy and give you more chill time. After swimming and running around all day mine were shattered by 7pm . As they got older we’d ‘all ‘ go for a shower and Kip at 5pm then go out at 7 and they’d be fine till 10ish

Original poster
lavendernights · 22/08/2023 08:08

Thanks! Exactly my point about why make life harder than necessary.

OP posts:
HamishTheCamel · 22/08/2023 08:10

YANBU, you can have the stroller as an option, you don't need to bring it every time you go out.

Fizbosshoes · 22/08/2023 08:22

I would say YANBU. I know DD used a buggy when she was 4, sometimes because there wasn't time to walk at 4 year old pace to get somewhere! But yes also if they get tired in the evening, and even warmer weather, more activity, unfamiliar sleeping surroundings might mean they do have a nap?
I'm glad other people agree, often there are lots of people saying use a sling for a baby and their child walked 10 miles a day when they were 2!

gogomoto · 22/08/2023 08:26

I used a double until dd1 was 5 anyway, obviously it reduced a lot (I had a single as well but sometimes dd2 sat in dd1's lap in that!) I always took my own except at Disney when we hired a double, they were even older then. My eldest is autistic and my youngest was downright lazy, I didn't want to carry them!

For holidays I lived the fact they would sleep in the buggy until whenever we wanted, often we stayed out very late. They are fully functioning adults and far DD's autism no issues with laziness now!

Oldhag5 · 22/08/2023 08:33

Hire the buggy. I took a buggy on holiday for my six year old once to make MY life easier. He is now 15 and voluntarily goes on at least a 5k run most days, no damage done!

AnotherCountryMummy · 22/08/2023 08:34

It's your holiday, so make it as easy as possible for all involved. I'd definitely go for the double buggy if there's one available. You can also fit all the bags in it 😀

RedHelenB · 22/08/2023 08:36

Iwantmyoldnameback · 21/08/2023 11:34

Definitely take a buggy, just think if a certain family had done this they could still have gone out at night and not left their children.

Having a buggy wouldn't have changed that situation.

Zanatdy · 22/08/2023 08:37

Yes why not. We used the stroller at the villa when DD was 6 and didn’t want to walk all day at Disney. It was handy for bags etc too, and most kids of that age were using strollers too. Even if not a big walking holiday it’s handy at night if you want to stay out later and child can go to sleep

Witchbitch20 · 22/08/2023 08:39

lavendernights · 21/08/2023 11:54

We wouldn't dream of leaving him in the room, but also cba being back for 7pm every night so stroller seemed sensible option. Not sure why husband is so dead against it

Presumably because he’ll need to push one.

Book the buggy once it’s done it’s done.

Mariposista · 22/08/2023 08:50

I am totally anti-buggy, pro legs at home but on holiday I want an easy life and do what it takes to get it! YANBU

TropicalTrama · 22/08/2023 08:57

I wouldn’t. DD wouldn’t sleep in a stroller past 3, especially a cheap one with limited recline because there just isn’t space for her to get comfy. I’d rather she stay up at dinner and not wake us up early the following morning. Also, if she knew it was an option and we had it she would strop about walking anywhere. But I wouldn’t judge anyone that did use one, I just don’t think it would make things easier for us.

takealettermsjones · 22/08/2023 09:03

Really depends on the type of holiday as PPs said.

I'm going soon with preschooler and small baby, and I'm only taking the one stroller, but I've made sure both stroller and carrier are both suitable from newborn up to age 4, so that we can chop and change as needed.

I'd be interested in an update on how it went! Have a great holiday ☺️

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