Buggy for 4 year old London

[austinmum1]

Hi,

Our family is headed to London this week for a very short visit. We are taking a few day trips, so our time in London will be probably no more than 2.5 days. We'll have a 13 year old, 10 year old, and 4 year old with us.

Normally, our 4 year old walks everywhere. He can get a bit whiny, especially if he's not feeling well or nearing nap time (he doesn't take one, but he still gets very tired midday.) Still, we have him walk and we take frequent breaks.

Because our time in London is so limited and we honestly don't expect we'll be back in the UK any time again in the next 5 years (we are a US family living in Scotland temporarily through Dec.) we really want to make sure we make the trip worthwhile, as it is almost certainly our only visit to London as a family.

I have a Maclaren Volo and I'm very tempted to take it. Our youngest is such a slow walker, and we encourage him to pick up the pace, but if we are walking the entire visit, then we will end up seeing probably a museum and a park and that's about it. :)

That said, I've been reading a great deal about this subject and I'm so anxious about the idea of people thinking we're outrageous for having our youngest in a stroller. I'm generally one to do as I please and not worry myself with the opinions of others, but this issue really has me stumped. We want our older two to get as much as possible out of this trip (but not necessarily at a manic pace. I know London is huge and there is no way we can even really scratch the surface in 2.5 days, but we want to do the best we can.)

How outrageous/embarrassing would it be to have a 4 year old (a tall one at that) in a buggy in London?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

It'll be fine, I wouldn't worry about it. DS still used the buggy at just over the age of 4 (very tall also!) as we don't have a car, so for longer day trips we'd take it with us. I don't know how he would have napped without it - on a bench!?

I haven't lived in London since DS was 2, but I know my sister, also London-living a non-driver, used hers for here DD just after the age of 4. It's not unusual, and really, people aren't going to notice. So useful to stash things under as well.

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trike with parent handle might help?

Take the buggy , people won't think of anything unless your child looks 5/6 y old. I used mine with ds when he was 4 before going to school when out shopping or for an outing for a long time if for nothing else then to cart around all the stuff . Also when we went to Orlando for a week and it was 35 degrees everyday we ended up borrowing one in the parks there's no way he would have walked around all day in that heat ! It's nicer for everyone if the youngest is comfortable and not tired and whining half the time . You are just been practical . They don't have to use it when happy to walk ...

Thanks. He does look 5, unfortunately. He's quite tall! I think I will take it, although I'm probably going to be self-conscious about it anyway. (Julia, that trike looks like a great option, but unfortunately, we have no car and leave tomorrow, so no time to order one.)

I just really feel for my older kids and want them to get something out of this trip beyond watching their brother play on playgrounds in yet another city. :) Poor things have been to Edinburgh countless times now, but have never been beyond 5000m of the train station because we go at the 4yo's pace.

Just go for it, it's nobody else's business and if it means you all have a good time, that's all that matters.

if you are worried about people staring hire a wheelchair not buggy

You often see quite large children in pushchairs in c. London. Presumably for the reasons you've given.

Just do what suits you and don't worry about it.

If it were me I must say I would split up assuming there are two of you because the push chair will be a pain in the arse on the tube and in many other places, but it's your call of course.

I agree that you often see older children in pushchairs in London. Most people are just getting on with their own lives and I would imagine not going to give you more than a passing glance. I have pushed my older children home in a younger child's buggy as they liked to go in it for a laugh - people might have glanced at us -but so what?

Don't worry about it - one tip as a londoner with a buggy is take a bicycle chain so that places where he prefers to walk like museums etc you can chain up buggy (some have buggy parks not all) and not spend time dragging it around - obviously without any valuables attached.

Take it. People generally are too busy working in London to go around judging.

If you think it will make your life easier, definitely take it.

Bear in mind it may be a complete pain on buses/the tube/narrow or uneven pavements, anywhere involving steps etc. Of course your child can get out and walk at that point, but you might still end up having to carry a buggy up loads of flights of steps or escalators or whatever.

Nothing could induce me to take a buggy to London myself I find them more restrictive than they are worth.

DD rides on my or DH shoulders if she is tired on a long day out.

We're off to london with dd (4.2) at the start of sept for 2 days and I had been wondering the same about using a buggy.

Very relieved to see that it's acceptable to use the buggy. Was starting to worry how we would get her round, as she has outgrown her sling

Something foldable and light. Public transport is a nightmare with prams.

I see quite a few older kids in buggies. One neighbours maid pushed the kid about and he is around 6 (nothing wron with him/his legs) as hih mum doesn't want him to get tired. In the park he plays with his ride-on electric race car!

Its very hot 'n horrible here so a buggy is great for a hot and botheres child (and you can use it to carry your bags too.

Enjoy your trip! I wouldn't do the bus tours though. Just get a oyster card. We took a visitor on a tour bus and it was so deathly slow we ended up getting off after an hour (about 20 mins walk) and they refused to get back on later!

I have a volo too, used it round and about in London including the underground,had no problems at all just took the little one out and slung it over my shoulder if really busy . Just be aware of other commuters in a rush! Would rather have a well rested dc than a grumpy devil sight seeing!

Take it. One great thing about London is that people judge less than in other places. No one will bat an eyelid

We live in SE London and took DD out frequently. I always found the buggy a pain in the backside.

Lots of people to avoid, narrow escalators, flight of steps, full busses and tube. We only took it when we knew we could walk everywhere.

You see people with buggies and older children and I think it is everybody's personal view on it but if you use public transport to go from one attraction to the other your son should be fine.

people seriously will not look at you in london. if you are doing museums etc there are fairly long walks involved if using tube. i would take one.