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

[Lauren9912]

Would you take a stroller abroad for a just turned 5 year old? We don’t use one at home, but she does usually nap on abroad holidays still from being non stop.

We did, yes. Meant we could go for a decent walk along the coast, and made it easier to go out in the evening. Plus it was dead useful to pile our bags on to. We hadn’t used it at home for a couple of years but found it very useful on holiday and DS didn’t object. He was only one term in school by that time.

My son wouldn't go in one from 18 months, so no.

couldn't agree more. this is one of the more batshit threads I've seen in a while. And all over a 5 year old being in a buggy on holiday. Some posters seem positively affronted at the idea.

Quite apart from the convenience of the buggy, some posters have also highlighted the safety aspect, which shouldn't be underestimated especially in new and unfamiliar surroundings.

I’m guessing times have changed then as 20 years ago I most certainly wasn’t the only one taking the buggy for my 5 year old.

What is weird to me is how many people martyr themselves on holiday instead of doing something to make it easier for the whole family .

Not at age 5, no. They loved the excitement of being out and about in the dark with so many people around so would never have napped.

I wouldn't because I think the faff of taking it would outweigh the benefits of having it.

If it's different for you though and the benefits outweigh the faff then take it. Just do whatever is going to make your holiday as easy and pleasant as possible. There is no one right answer.

I have a 3.5 year old who would use her buggy for creche or trips into the city etc. usually when we are at home. However for the last two holidays we barely used the buggy. It's handy for carrying things through the airport and for giving her a break if we have long walks through to terminals, but generally - she would do fine with out it. So if in doubt, leave it and just see how you get on. And there's often places where you can rent buggies once you are out there. And some airports actually have some solutions if you need one and ask. But I think you will be fine without!

No

If I had a child who was only just 5 and I thought he'd go in it, then yes. For a holiday, why not? If it'll enable parents to go out in the evening, if the child is ok with it, if they have additional needs? Nobody from home is going to know! It's a huge difference to toting your school-age child around in one all the time at home. Holidays can be hot and very tiring. I almost got a MacLaren Major (eg specifically for older children with SEN) to pop my very autistic child into on holidays because the bugger WOULD keep bolting off (he still does). But they're £££s even second hand and I wasn't sure he'd stay in it. He could, and can, undo pretty much any restraint.

I would if you have one anyway. We went to Spain when our children were 2 and 5, didn't bring a pushchair as knew the hotel hired them. Hired one for 2 year old but 5 year old wanted in it too so ended up hiring 2. She had stopped using one at home a long time before that but i think it's different when it's so hot and they're on the go all day. Was great for evenings too, we could go for nice walks and the kids were quite happy sitting in the pushchair when they got tired

Thanks for this. She’s a very active child, swims unaided which tires her out as unlike most older kids she usually can touch the floor, she runs 3/4K with her older sibling every few days, she trains hard with the sports she does like 6/7 hours a week. So these comments about lazy kids and my child can do this and that is wild. She weighs 18KG so weight isn’t an issue either. She was 5 last week, but she is sooooo active hence why sometimes she crashes my 6:30/7pm. Not going to force her to sleep we are usually out and about abroad until 10/11pm some nights with friends and if she’s awake and full of beans of course I wouldn’t put her in it. But also if she’s knackered and wants to sleep I can’t physically carry her round towns and on my lap all evening etc. thank you for your comment though appreciate xx

agree The beat and constant swimming and etc does tire them out. Last year we was in a restaurant and I know a year younger fell asleep on me and trying to shift chairs round etc for her to lie on wasn’t ideal 🙈

5 - no.

You know your child. You also know what you want from your holiday. If taking your buggy to let your child rest lets you have a meal out or a trip to a busy town where the roads could be unsafe then take it. Better to have it than not.

OMG I now have recollections of crying “daddy carry me” when I was five years old. My father took me and my 7 year old sister on hikes back in the 1960s. He resolved it by leaving us beside the (country) road and running ahead to get the car. Other people knew and it was not considered a strange thing to do. He is no longer around for me to call him out. He would have probably said “well you survived”.

I did a specific holiday a few years ago after a friend did the same one. Our children were both 4 turning 5 at the time. She said to me, “you MUST take the stroller. It will change the holiday and make it much more enjoyable for all.” I, like so many MNs on here, was massively judgey (too old, ridiculous, they can walk etc). But at the last min I thought “what the hell, we don’t need to use it.” So I brought it.

OP, it was so so helpful. We were walking 30k steps a day some days. Youngest DC just would not have managed it but as we had the stroller we all ended up doing all the things we wanted and fun was had by all!!

Sent a big thank you to friend and made a mental note not to be as judgy as some of the folks on here!

Take the stroller. Have a great trip!

You're welcome. Surprised you didn't know!

I took one for my then daughter when she was 4 years and 9 months old when we went to China but that was because she was extremely small for her age and we would be doing a lot of walking. It also gave her some space in amount the crowds of central Shanghai but I wouldn’t had if we were going on a sunny hotel type holiday.

No. Took my 5yo to Disney and did 25k+ steps a day and didn’t even consider needing one or taking one? And I consider my child to be on the lazier side.
Unless there are medical reasons I just wouldn’t, the same as I wouldn’t use a mobility scooter unless I had a medical reason. If your legs work fine, at 5 you should be using them.

Yes I do and my sister does we like to get our steps in and the kids can’t walk that far in the heat plus if they need a nap they can jump in the buggy it works for us