Toddler holiday transfer conundrum

[wildflower93]

We have had a truly horrid year as a family. We have spent thousands on a house sale that fell through, my partner nearly died of a burst appendix (and has been unwell constantly since), and we are having to move out of our home for the sale of our house to continue.

My mother in law has said she’ll pay for me and my son to go on holiday. I’m a teacher so have a lot of time off- my partner doesn’t have the holidays and isn’t well enough to travel- so we are doing it solo!

We will be taking one large case, a buggy and hand luggage. Practically it is impossible to carry a car seat in there for private transfer leaving me with the options of

1. Book a private transfer and use one of their car seats (Honey Baby).

2. Coach transfer

Is there anything I can take on the coach to make it safer?

I am ready to not book the holiday just over the stress of the transfer. I’m hyper vigilant all the time about his safety but recognise that there will be times I have to compromise and weigh up the risk, for example school trips. I cannot For reference, my son is 4 in August.

Another buggy lover here don’t worry! Mine are just turned 5 and 3 and just took the double pram on holiday, absolutely god send in that heat and when also carrying buckets spades parasols etc. Wouldn’t even say we got any funny looks? Also use for big days out in England, makes us so much more free. Otherwise would be worried to go too far in case they started whinging about walking back.

car seat wise we’re also into ERF and very safety conscious but read up that coaches are much safer than cars, so we do coach transfers and just decide that the risk is worth it for the holiday

Buggies on holiday are a totally different beast than buggies at home too. DD2 hasn’t used one at home since she was 2, but when we did two days at Disneyland when she was 3.5, the buggy was a godsend. Even the adults were exhausted! She fell asleep in it, it stored all the bags, even my 6yo hitched a ride in it at and of the day

Ours only comes out for busy holidays. Like OP, we are a walking family and our kids are well used to walking a lot, more than most kids from what I see around us, but holidays are meant to be enjoyable so having the stroller means that if DD2 gets tired or hot and bothered, she can go in there while we carry on with where we are going rather than trying to cajole or carry a grumpy preschooler.

Make life easy for yourself where you can, that’s my motto!

Agree with this. Always pick the private transfer over coach
Op ignore all these ridiculous comments about the buggy. A holiday is absolutely the time and place for a buggy, little legs get tired in the heat and everyone gets a break whilst said child is strapped in!

Check what the holiday company says about seats on transfers. There is a fair chance a 3 year old will be on your knee on a coach transfer.

If your son is on the larger size for his age, you could try a travel booster - trunki and bubblegum are the ones that were around when we needed carseats in unusual places.

We are taking trunki boosterpac car seats for our (just turned) 4 year old twins when we go away. They can either carry them on their backs themselves or it will slide onto the suitcase handle to carry. We then check it in with the suitcase, so no need to carry it through the airport. But I would reconsider taking a buggy, do you really need it as it's another thing to manoeuvre. We haven't used a buggy with our girls for over an year.

I think mainly because most people wouldn't consider a 4 year old to be a toddler.
But if it is essential for you and you use it of course you should take it. It just makes taking luggage more difficult

Under what definition is an almost four year old a toddler?

I’m pedantic about car seat safety and also married into a culture where car seats are just not a thing. We have to travel long haul to visit family and practically speaking it would not be possible to bring a car seat.

I found this product which is legal in Singapore (which has a strong culture of public transport over personal cars) and seems to be a popular option for people on the go and using taxis. I’m comfortable enough with this being a primary car seat equivalent while travelling, for my primary age children. Depending on where you’re going, this might be an option?

(It’s also legal in the US, if that’s relevant to where you’re going…)

I can vouch for it being very easy to use and sturdy. It was so convenient to be able to take this with us on day trips and be able to take a taxi when needed.

https://shop.saferide4kids.com/products/ridesafer-travel-vest