To take a beach trolley around London with kids in it?

[thesurreymum]

Planning a day out at the science museum on my own with DC in half term. They are 5 and 4 and we do not have a pushchair. Every time we go to London they get so tired walking around/tubes etc. can I take my beach buggy and when they've had enough I can push them around in it? It folds down and is on wheels so I can carry it when going on tubes etc. not sure if a it looks really silly and will be more faff than it's worth. Wwyd?

The are a hassle. There is a reason they are not permitted at Disney World.

Congrats OP, there has to be some kind of prize for “thread most unlikely to end up a cesspool of snark” ! I think some people just need something to feel superior about.

My thought was that in crowded areas this would be a bit of a pain, they’re not as easily controllable as a pushchair.

My kids get far more tired on a day out in the city because it’s not what they’re used to. Give them a park and they’ll run for hours. But big city, lots of people, traffic, pavements, they get tired much more quickly. And frankly so do I now I’m a country bumpkin! I’d think about making it a shorter day and planning your routes in advance - there are routes I’d normally walk that with small kids I’d take buses instead.

Quite agree.

I think what gets me is that I asked for advice and have been called ridiculous multiple times. In real life if people ask you advice on a situation do you openly call them ridiculous for asking something.

First time OP?

You asked a question, you’ve had it answered. Some people may have been rather blunt but it wasn’t a very sensible idea.

Initially I thought it would be ok until someone pointed out the crowds. I think it would be a struggle.
Borrowing a buggy with a buggy board is probably your best option.

I haven't read all the replies in the thread. These are actually really common in Denmark and it is common to see parents using these on days out. Although it's great for amusement parks and the zoo etc. I'm not sure it would work in London for the intended purpose. There are just a lot more people around. It wouldnt work on the underground either. Also I took my 6 and 3 year old to the national history museum in London. It was really difficult even with a normal buggy. There were so many steps and flights of stairs.

My recommendation would be just to pick one main activity per day. And just accept that young children won't have the same stamina as you.

Don't take it too hard. Mumsnet is a cruel place. I think if you don't have kids or your kids are older it is easy to forget that they just don't have the stamina/capacity to walk for miles on end without tiring. I don't think your idea was ridiculous. Like I said in my previous post, they are very common here in Denmark. London is probably just too crowded for it to work.

Just no. I would be so pissed off if someone was trying to drag this through the science museum while I was there

How about some long country walks to get their strength up? Do they have disabilities?

ballsdeep · Today 00:22MrsSkylerWhite · Yesterday 22:37
“Quite a few 4/5yr olds get tired walking around big cities like London, NY, it's not that uncommon to see.”

It ought to be. No wonder so many five year olds are fat.

“How lovely you are 🤔”

So I’m wrong? No healthy, able bodied 5 year old needs a buggy. If they do, their parents have let them down. Do you disagree that there are far too many overweight children in the UK?

bagofdogshit · Today 04:08What the fuck does an educational psychologist have to do with anything? 😂😂😂 Of all the batshit things I've read on here this is up there 😂”

In response to another poster stating they were an “early years practitioner”. Clearly, not a very good one if they believe an healthy 5 year old needs a buggy.

@@Lovelyveg80·

Precisely why 5 year olds shouldn’t be in buggies. It’s very hard to loose weight if you were an overweight child. I hate to see able bodied kids being pushed around, squeezed into buggies that are too small, because their parents won’t take the time to walk with them. And yes, they usually are overweight. Anyone doing this at that age risks storing up health problems for the future.

There is a grey area between 'needing a buggy' or being disabled and considering taking a buggy or similar on a one off big tiring day out to make things easier all round for a 4 or 5 year old.

Why for some mumsnetters must it only be acceptable for children to either have additional needs or be perfect at all things, with anything in between seen as evidence of some huge parental failing ....?

Please don't let the comments about fat children / lack of consideration / disabilities get you down OP. Whilst I don't think the buggy is a good idea this time, it wasn't a ridiculous thing to just think about and most parents of 4 year olds would say they still get tired on big days out I'm sure! People just like to feel superior.

If your considering that I would get a cheap double push chair
We did a buggy for my 4yr old ( even though she wasn't using one ) when we did Disney land and bought one from Asda for £25 and then sold it on facebay

At 4 mine didn't nap but got very tired walking around so if I was you I'd do that

Agree that walking around London is bloody knackering for an adult let alone a small young child

Facebay or second hand sites if you don't wanna buy new

This

Download Citymapper and get the bus everywhere if you are worried about tiredness. You can bus your way everywhere if necessary!

One of my favourite museums when my 4DC were all younger.

Possibly THE favourite, followed by Pollocks Toy Museum (and their lovely little gift shop)

Regards the OP though

No, I would not take that for use in Central London.

Noway! Everything in central london is easily accessible by public transport. The tube would an absolute nightmare with this as you'd have to carry it and manage 2 kids.
The museum is a short walk from the tube.

If you're looking after that thing you won't have enough hands free for your children while they're walking. You'll put your back out and get them tripped over constantly. Also you probably won't be able to take it into places. I would take a lightweight umbrella stroller and explain beforehand that it's for sharing and they have to take it in turns with the youngest getting more time.

Nah, most Londoners get annoyed having to dodge tourists (me included for many years) when trying to get to work etc....that would cause some stress!

I think some people think public transport is like teleporting directly to your destination. Even when trying to minimise walking for our young children a typical day out to the science museum is 10,000 steps for me easily. For a 4 year old, that's more like 20,000. They don't have to have a disability to find that tiring

Public transport in London is better than any other UK city and the walks to major attractions and museums are minimal from tube stations.
A 4-5 year old should definitely manage this, mind use to spend all day on a weekend or half term wandering round London at that age. We just had regular sit downs and snack breaks etc.