Taking my 5yo and my parents to visit Canada and USA, do you think it's necessary to bring a stroller for my 5 yo? We are visiting Vancouver, Toronto, NYC, Philadelphia and Washington DC. We may stay out late for some of the nights. I don't want to take one initially because it's one more thing to bring (we have a mountain buggy nano which is quite compact but still…), but now I am reconsidering. What's everyone's experience and recommendation?
Thanks.
I've got 2 kids under 6, been to the US with them 3 times
and they didn't whinge at having to walk a lot?
My 4 year has been trained to get off his more than a year ago. We even managed to get him did over an hour forrest walking track last summer.
Agree. Unless the child has a disability it should be capable of ambulation.
Nothing wrong with a stroller on holidays. You want to make the most of your break and will definitely walk more than normal. From my experience it was definitely worth taking just in case and I did use more than I thought but maybe that was be we where on holidays.
should I bring a stroller for my 5yo
Can they walk? Will they walk.
If Yes and Yes, then no
If no or no, then yes.
thanks, it's a yes and semi no, so i guess stroller it is
Being practical, a 5yo is going to get tired if you are out and about a lot. You could structure your day around them having rest breaks, but I think a child that size might be too big for a stroller?
he's a small built so he will fit in a stroller comfortably.
Depends on what you'll be doing there as you need to be prepared to carry them around as they get tired quite easily or make regular stops so they can rest
I can't carry him for more than 5 mins… it breaks my arm and my back and probably will need a wheelchair for myself if I have to carry him all day lol
Yeh, but can you find him a discount code? This is OzBargain :p
I travelled to Florida recently with a 5yr old and 2yr old
Brought my pram and so glad I did.
With the time difference kids could get tired anytime so great to have the pram for them to sit and rest.
Can check additionall items with the airline for free when travelling with kids.
Thanks I will bring one :)
Second this. Great for every day use to.
thanks, I 've got them since day one, so handy.
We travelled to the US with a 5 year old a few years ago, and knew he would need a stroller. We just bought one from Walmart/Target when we got there, with the intention of leaving/donating it once we were leaving (although it turned out we didn't do as much shopping as we thought and could bring it back for free packed in a box, so we did that).
As to whether you should, I don't think anyone on here is going to know the answer. Really just depends on the child and how much they will walk before whinging, etc. No point ruining parts of the holiday if bringing a stroller could have largely solved the issue. In my experience having a stroller at a lot of places was great, both for the child as well as the storage of other crap you need or acquire throughout the day.
I love that storage idea and it's actually so true! I will bring one with me, thank you!
Take a cheap Kmart one that you don't have to worry about if your lose it. You can use it to move around your stuff, out and about when the child isn't using it. If they get tired and you don't have a stroller there's nothing worse then having to carry them Kms. Get one that folds up compact.
Get a cheap push stroller. They are light and easy to carry.
I've travelled a lot with my 2 kids and at that age you won't get too far without a stroller.
Have you considered buying a super cheap strollerover there and then ditching it? Otherwise it will count as a piece of luggage. Also what about a car seat? Well you be taking that as well?
When I have travelled - albeit within Australia - items classified for children are free and do not count to luggage.
i.e. strollers, prams, porta cots, child restraints, even boost seats.
This has been with Qantas, Virgin and their associated carriers.
We went a few years ago to QLZD for a wedding and
our son was a few months old, we took, baby capsule, porta cot and stroller no problem.
Just last year we went to Cairns and had to take 2 child restraints, again no worries and free
neither time did they count as luggage
would be wise to check for international and the O/S domestic carriers.
Yes I think you dfo need a stroller. But you don't need to get one from Oz and lug it around the airport.
If you have friends over the other side, they might be able to help to get one for you either brand new, second hand, free or borrow.
Enjoy your holidays!
dfo… discount factory outlet?
Dfo->deffo->definitely
Australian, (fill in word from movie quote here), do you speak it??
I think the quote began with "English"
But I like your version better.
If he’s 5 and has no physical or medical conditions why would he be in a pram? Maybe a scooter or something similar might be more suitable for his age.
My son just turned two and is capable of walking most places or on the odd occasion being in a baby carrier or pram.
Can he walk for many kilometres at a time?
Yes, he’s quiet capable of 2kms at a time. Is it easy or fast, no, but he can do it.
Young children are quiet capable of doing many things, if you let them. I’m sure if you let a child take the convienent option every time they will. I have nothing against people who actually need to use a pram for their child, but at 5yrs the child is of school age and I don’t see schools using prams.
Schools don't generally make kids walk all day
Took my 4 year old to Disneyland and bought a cheap stroller at Macy’s once I arrived. Easier than lugging it from Australia.
You could have hired a stroller from Disneyland for $15/day.
Of course, that doesn't help with all the other times you probably used the one you bought.
Lol I paid $20 for it. This is back when there was parity. Used in Hawaii and Vegas.
Took the kids to Singapore a little while back. 4YO at the time was getting a little too used to being in the stroller.
Missus wanted to take it with us but I didn't want the extra thing to carry.
There were times when it might have been easy to fall back on but everyone managed ok without it.
The plus side was didn't want to use the stroller anymore when we got back.
I'd leave it behind, can always buy a cheap one there if you really need it.
Why not just buy a cheap one over there?
Why is OP even asking us?
We dont know anything about OP nor thier 5 yo.
You would think OP would be able to work that one out for themselves. Surely its a no-brainer
If OP cant make up their mind about the need for a stroller its obvious the trip is doomed to be a disaster waiting to happen.
Just dont go.
Remember you will either have to take it as a carry-on (if it is of an allowable size) or it will count towards your 2- piece check-in allowance that most airlines have to North America.
We took a cheap one from Kmart (for a 2 year old) and left it behind as we had less luggage going, but a lot coming back.
We spent 3 1/2 weeks travelling through Canada and NYC with our 5 and 9 year old a couple of years back. This included hiring cars in 4 cities in Canada (Victoria, Vancouver>Calgary, Quebec and Halifax). By law we needed a car seat for the 5 year old. I bought online and picked up in store (Crocodile Baby, Vancouver) a Mifold foldable car seat. These were about $70CAD at the time and worked out cheaper than loaning one from the car rental company and easier than bringing one from Aus (the ones here are bulky). We also used it on a trip to Singapore where it happens to be the car seat of choice for many.
We also took a Maclaren stroller, lightweight and folds up like am umbrella. Roughly 6kg, you can carry it on your shoulder and has a handy basket under the seat to store stuff. We did a HEAP of walking and were out past our youngest's bedtime on a few nights. It was a savour for her, no whinging or complaining. No problems taking it as baggage on any of our flights either (mind you we travelled Cathay Pacific and they are pretty generous). Best to check baggage limits and fees with the airlines you intend to travel on however. As others have mentioned consider purchasing a cheap one upon arrival for the trip if you don't have a suitable one.
Good luck!
Thank you for your input. that Mifold Car seat sounds like a great idea, we won't hire a car but instead we will uber everywhere. How difficult it is to install and remove?
Check the road laws. When we were there in 2013 boosters cushions were legal. Bought one from Walmart for $20.
My 6 year old can walk 15/km day easy.
My 4 year old did 9km/day on a hiking trip.
Each to its own, but I wouldn't.
Childfree here and reading about strollers. Maybe this is why I'm not moving forward in life.
Why /how is your school-aged child still using a pram? 😲 We can barely get our toddler to use his.
no.. a 5 year old shouldn't be in a stroller!