buggy troubles

[nykkieberry]

Honest opinion....I am in a dillema about my newly five year old's redundant buggy...he hasn't been in it for a year but I think it might be helpful on our holiday at night for coming back from the bars and for the horrendous flight times there and back as a portable bed...what do you think? Do you think he/we would look daft? My partner is reluctant but I am wondering whether we will regret when we are carrying three stone of sleeping child back from the bars at midnight!

[smudge]

If it's a light weight buggy & doesn't take up too much space, then I would suggest taking it on holiday with you - that's if he doesn't mind sitting in it of course... I don't think it will look daft when he's laying comfortably & soundly asleep in it. He knows it's only going to be used short term. 

I remember back to when our eldest Granddaughter was nearly 5 & we took her on holiday for 2 weeks. It was a boon - especially when she got tired & fell asleep before the end of the evening. Otherwise my husband would have had to have carried her back to the hotel & we'd have missed out on the rest of the entertainment! She's 15 now & it didn't do her any harm. Have fun!

[Haj]

Take it!!

I had this same dilema last year before our holiday. I actually borrowed a mates stroller and it was a god send!! Especially in a hot country, its not just night time he'll want it but they all tend to have a siesta when its really hot! Also, I felt more secure knowing where he was all the time when at the shops etc. It was a month before his 5th birthday and he loved it - lazy so and so!!

[silly moo]

Coming back from the bars at midnight with a 5 year old?

[smudge]

No - not coming back from the bars at midnight silly moo!

Like hundreds of other holiday makers with childeren, we would go out to eat at 7:30pm & if there was some  light entertainment on in the Tavernas or Restaurants,  we would sit & watch it. If the little one was tired, she would fall asleep in the comfy pushchair, in the warm evening air, until we were ready to walk home!

[delilahcat]

Smudge, silly moo meant the original posting from nykkieberry about coming back from the bars at midnight with a 5 year old.

Silly moo, the days seem to be long gone when parents put their children's needs before their own. Nowadays it seems to be the norm that the children don't get in the way of their parents' pleasure.

[acw]

I hope they're all non-smoking bars - or outdoor ones. 

[patriciather]

take the buggy!enjoy your holiday,youve most likely saved up for it and little one will be glad to have comfy sit down

[nykkieberry]

How judgemental! I always put my child first. On previous holidays, we have stayed out at night with our son, usually at a lovely sea front bar, and usually with the local children, seeing as foreign countries have a much more liberal and inclusive attitude towards children (!) He's usually very happy to join in the conversation, enjoy the novelty of staying up on a warm night with his family, eating a big icecream sundae and falling asleep happily on the way home. We weren't planning on taking him raving for gods sake!! Our son is extremely contented little boy and I am not happy about any implication that we are selfish and irresponsible. It's his holiday as much as ours...and we enjoy it as a family. I assume the comments come from people without kids...or those who with the archaic British belief that children should be seen and not heard and be not part of any adult social life. If British kids were more accepted in bars and restaurants in the UK, and socialising was more family oriented, maybe we wouldn't have the uniquely UK culture of hammered teenagers abusing each other in our bars!

Thanks for all the supportive and USEFUL comments regards his buggy. If he is happy to use it, we will take it with us. I also didn't consider the possibility that it may come in handy in the day in the exhausting heat so thanks.

[woofgang]

a practical question. if it is a year since he has used it, could he have outgrown it?

[nykkieberry]

You have a point!  He may also be too heavy to push...!Will dig it out this weekend and see if he's still comfortable in it and happy to sit in it. He may take one look at it and say 'no way! are you having a laugh!' ; )

[smudge]

nykkieberry - Whatever you decide to do - have a great family holiday together!

[nykkieberry]

Thanks Smudge ;)

[libertie]

Take the buggy, have a great holiday and ignore any smug patronising posts!!

[nykkieberry]

Don't worry..we will ; ) Thanks :0)

[EssJay1]

Have great holiday!
I wouldn't take the buggy. He can spread out on the seats at the airport. He can stay up and socialise at the tavernas. He can partake of a siesta next day, if tired and grumpy.
If your partner is reluctant, make him carry the sleeping boy. But I think your happy sounding chappy will stay awake, socialising!
I think I stopped taking buggies on holiday when mine were about 2!!

[FP]

On the continent most of the little ones have sleeps during the day whilst it is hot and go out with their parents at night until very late.  It is normal practice and nice to see the children out with the parents and grandparents enjoying themselves.  It's what families are all about.  I think 5 is a too old for a buggy and agree entirely with EssJ1.  My son refused to go in a buggy at 2 and insisted on walking everywhere! 

Have a really lovely holiday.

[pamnez]

I think you should be going on a childrens holiday and not an adults one.  Little ones of 5 should not be kept up til midnight if it can be helped.

[FP]

Have to agree to differ with you pamnez.  The continentals do not think like the Brits and children are very much treated as one of the family and expected to join in with family activities.  As a result, the children are generally better behaved the British kids.  A long siesta is the norm in the middle of the day because of the heat and the children are taken out in the cool of the evening to restaurants etc. and it's lovely to see them enjoying themselves and laughing with their extended families and friends.  Better than leaving them in the care of baby sitters.

A children's holiday would be my idea of a nightmare!

[smudge]

pamnez - I have to agree with FP! On hoilday, we always had a nice sleep in the afternoons, therefore our granddaughter was usually wide awake until at least 10:30pm. Back home with her parents, it was 7:30pm bedtime as usual.

Further to my previous post - I must confess that our granddaughter wasn't nearly 5 when we took her on that particular holiday, but nearly 4. She hadn't been in a buggy since the age of 2.5, but I wanted to take one with us - just in case! Both our daughters were out of their buggies by the the time they were 2.5 too.

[pamnez]

Smudge.  I can see where you are coming from.  It's just that every time we go abroad, we see little ones having tantrums and whining during the mornings.  Then parents get angry and shout at the them to shut up and all hell breaks loose.  I thought that perhaps it was because they had been kept up a lot later than their usual bedtimes and they were tired.  And you must admit that a lot of kiddies of 4 and over probably will not be encouraged to have a sleep during the day.  So I will agree that staying up 'til midnight is fine for some kiddies and not for others.