Stroller in European Cities

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your Child can’t handle a European vacation without being in a stroller, you really should stay home.

I’m glad I didn’t have you giving me advice when my kids were little. Thanks to my umbrella stroller we went all over Europe, Asia and Latin America without any issues!

Because Americans believe it is all about them and have no care how they are seen in other countries.

Also, what if it were a child with special needs that were not visible to others? Would you fret about how it looks to Europeans? Hopefully not. So it shouldn't matter either way.

Yet the OP has not mentioned “special needs” at all. So why do you and others. I swear some people use statements to justify their position.

Why not just move slower and not see as much and live like a local instead of a tourist. What is the hurry? It is not like Europe won’t be there in the future.

Yes having a stroller is truly me centric instead of being cognizant of how others in the visited area act and treat their five year old able bodied child!

Eye roll.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is filled with parents of onlies or who have two kids close together, or people who don't travel a lot with kids in the 4/5/6 range. Just weird lack of understanding about what is even being asked.

Bring the stroller.

this is a 5 year old - too damn old to be in a stroller. I think you have forgotten what 5 looks like! They aren't two.

Agreed. None of my kids would ever need a stroller at age 5. Five year olds can walk a lot. My kids have walked at least a mile each way to/from school since age 3.
You aren’t walking a 10k, it’s walk a bit, stop for an activity or food, walk some more. My family with 3 kids who are spread across 5 years. When my youngest was 4 we spent a month in Europe without a stroller and he was totally fine. We averaged about 10,000 steps a day in cities and just made our itinerary appropriate including using public transportation and lots and lots of snacks. This past summer when youngest was 7 we spent 2.5 weeks in Italy and walked a lot more. When he was 6 we hiked all over several of the national parks in Utah including a 13-mile hike in the Needles of Canyonlands and guess what, he loved it!
Just get your kids walking a bit every day and they will be fine. Leave the car and walk places in your neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is filled with parents of onlies or who have two kids close together, or people who don't travel a lot with kids in the 4/5/6 range. Just weird lack of understanding about what is even being asked.

Bring the stroller.

this is a 5 year old - too damn old to be in a stroller. I think you have forgotten what 5 looks like! They aren't two.

I'm the PP and I literally have a 5 yr old. Who hasn't used a stroller in a long time. But if we were going to Disney tomorrow, I'd bring a stroller without shame because while she has good endurance, the odds of her complaining about there legs hurting literally every day at 3pm are extremely high and if we are on vacation, I'd rather just give myself a vacation from that experience and lug a stroller on one last vacation.

I live in a dense urban area where most people walk and I see lots of 4 yr olds riding in strollers to preschool and such, especially in inclement weather. So a 5 yr old in a stroller on a walking-heavy vacation would not phase me.

[Anonymous]

Because Disney is such like Europe!!!

Eye to the roll

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because Disney is such like Europe!!!

Eye to the roll

No one said that. But both involve walking several miles a day. Bring the stroller. Maybe all these urban 5 year olds are used to walking 8 miles a day (what we walked on our Epcot Day) but my suburban kids definitely were not. My 9 year old would have sat in the 7 year old’s stroller if we let her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because Disney is such like Europe!!!

Eye to the roll

For a 5 yr old, Disney is significantly more kid-friendly than certain parts of Europe, which actually makes a stronger argument for bringing the stroller to Europe, where you can't be guaranteed a place to sit or get food literally any second you might need one.

[Anonymous]

Do whatever will make the vacation more enjoyable for everyone and who cares what other people think either way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your Child can’t handle a European vacation without being in a stroller, you really should stay home.

I’m glad I didn’t have you giving me advice when my kids were little. Thanks to my umbrella stroller we went all over Europe, Asia and Latin America without any issues!

Because Americans believe it is all about them and have no care how they are seen in other countries.

Also, what if it were a child with special needs that were not visible to others? Would you fret about how it looks to Europeans? Hopefully not. So it shouldn't matter either way.

Yet the OP has not mentioned “special needs” at all. So why do you and others. I swear some people use statements to justify their position.

Why not just move slower and not see as much and live like a local instead of a tourist. What is the hurry? It is not like Europe won’t be there in the future.

Yes having a stroller is truly me centric instead of being cognizant of how others in the visited area act and treat their five year old able bodied child!

Because I don’t want to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is filled with parents of onlies or who have two kids close together, or people who don't travel a lot with kids in the 4/5/6 range. Just weird lack of understanding about what is even being asked.

Bring the stroller.

this is a 5 year old - too damn old to be in a stroller. I think you have forgotten what 5 looks like! They aren't two.

Agreed. None of my kids would ever need a stroller at age 5. Five year olds can walk a lot. My kids have walked at least a mile each way to/from school since age 3.
You aren’t walking a 10k, it’s walk a bit, stop for an activity or food, walk some more. My family with 3 kids who are spread across 5 years. When my youngest was 4 we spent a month in Europe without a stroller and he was totally fine. We averaged about 10,000 steps a day in cities and just made our itinerary appropriate including using public transportation and lots and lots of snacks. This past summer when youngest was 7 we spent 2.5 weeks in Italy and walked a lot more. When he was 6 we hiked all over several of the national parks in Utah including a 13-mile hike in the Needles of Canyonlands and guess what, he loved it!
Just get your kids walking a bit every day and they will be fine. Leave the car and walk places in your neighborhood.

But was it uphill, both ways?

[Anonymous]

I would not do a vacation with heavy walking with a 5yo. They will get bored sitting in a stroller. What are you going to do then, stick an iPad in their hands?

Figure out a vacation plan that will be fun for your child too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many of you are missing that OP has older kids. Thus they cannot tailor the entire vacation just around the 5 yr old's needs -- they also want their older kids to do things that are ages appropriate for them.

To everyone saying it's terrible to put the 5 yr old in a stroller so they can do a long day of sightseeing, would you be fine with cutting short excursions that were interesting and engaging for a 10 yr old because the 5 yr old is complaining about walking? Earlier in the thread someone suggested just staying near some playgrounds and not sightseeing. So I guess your older elementary kids don't get to take advantage of this rare opportunity to wander around Paris or Rome because you think it's sacrilege to let a 5 yr old spend an hour in a stroller so that you can go walk the check out the Louvre or the Tuileries on your last day in the city.

It’s not like the older children magically have limitless stamina either. I took my twins to Europe at age 7, 8, 10 and 11. They still needed breaks and were jet lagged. Cousin came along as a 3 year old on one trip and a 6 year old on the other. Her mom brought the stroller at 3 but the cousin refused to go in it! Was generally up for anything until she WASNT and then no stroller would have helped. One parent needed to take her back to the room or the hotel pool if there was one. The meals are late and long in some of these countries. Families need to set expectations appropriately and just be flexible. Being a parent to a 5 year old sometimes means you miss certain parts of a trip if a kid has had it.

Wow, the contentiousness around a parent bringing a travel stroller for a 5 yr old is insane. I shared before that I brought a travel stroller for my (almost) 5 yr old and it made the trip! I was pretty anti-stroller before, but there are situations where the parent and child's needs are better met with a stroller. My kid LOVED LOVED sightseeing but also LOVED riding in his stroller. My 7.5 yr old honestly did 100% fine walking, even LONG days AND got to be a helper ---he was proud of himself for helping. My kid is extremely petite (39 inches/33 lbs as of last week at his 5 yr old check-up) but NO ONE gave us dirty looks at all. NO one was ugly, rude, and if anything, were extra helpful seeing a mom solo with 2 young children including one in a stroller. If this is what is best for you and your families needs OP - don't worry about it!

PS check on your local buy nothing group for a used GB pockit stroller (They really are the best and you can bring them in the cabin as they fold up to the size of a small carry-on and are very easy to open/close). Also call your local used "once upon a child" stores to see if they have one or check facebook marketplace or a local parenting group.....they are super popular so you might snag an awesome deal (no need to buy a brand new one if it can be avoided)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is filled with parents of onlies or who have two kids close together, or people who don't travel a lot with kids in the 4/5/6 range. Just weird lack of understanding about what is even being asked.

Bring the stroller.

this is a 5 year old - too damn old to be in a stroller. I think you have forgotten what 5 looks like! They aren't two.

Agreed. None of my kids would ever need a stroller at age 5. Five year olds can walk a lot. My kids have walked at least a mile each way to/from school since age 3.
You aren’t walking a 10k, it’s walk a bit, stop for an activity or food, walk some more. My family with 3 kids who are spread across 5 years. When my youngest was 4 we spent a month in Europe without a stroller and he was totally fine. We averaged about 10,000 steps a day in cities and just made our itinerary appropriate including using public transportation and lots and lots of snacks. This past summer when youngest was 7 we spent 2.5 weeks in Italy and walked a lot more. When he was 6 we hiked all over several of the national parks in Utah including a 13-mile hike in the Needles of Canyonlands and guess what, he loved it!
Just get your kids walking a bit every day and they will be fine. Leave the car and walk places in your neighborhood.

But was it uphill, both ways?

No, just the way there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in NYC and would not bring a stroller for my 5-almost 6 year old. We don't have a car and walk and take trains everywhere and he does fine. I would not want to be lugging around a stroller all day "just in case". If you have a specific activity planned that might require it, then maybe.

Instead I would just plan on doing things at a slower pace and building in breaks and fun activities. Doesn't mean spending all your time at a playground but maybe save the Vatican and macchu picchu for when the kids aren't there or a little older. Worse comes to worse and they don't want to walk anymore just take an Uber.

Since this is DCUM I should clarify that I realize macchu picchu is not in Europe, it was sarcasm/tongue in cheek.

I'm taking my kid to Machu Picchu (they are a bit older) but we ditched the stroller at 2 and never looked back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many of you are missing that OP has older kids. Thus they cannot tailor the entire vacation just around the 5 yr old's needs -- they also want their older kids to do things that are ages appropriate for them.

To everyone saying it's terrible to put the 5 yr old in a stroller so they can do a long day of sightseeing, would you be fine with cutting short excursions that were interesting and engaging for a 10 yr old because the 5 yr old is complaining about walking? Earlier in the thread someone suggested just staying near some playgrounds and not sightseeing. So I guess your older elementary kids don't get to take advantage of this rare opportunity to wander around Paris or Rome because you think it's sacrilege to let a 5 yr old spend an hour in a stroller so that you can go walk the check out the Louvre or the Tuileries on your last day in the city.

It’s not like the older children magically have limitless stamina either. I took my twins to Europe at age 7, 8, 10 and 11. They still needed breaks and were jet lagged. Cousin came along as a 3 year old on one trip and a 6 year old on the other. Her mom brought the stroller at 3 but the cousin refused to go in it! Was generally up for anything until she WASNT and then no stroller would have helped. One parent needed to take her back to the room or the hotel pool if there was one. The meals are late and long in some of these countries. Families need to set expectations appropriately and just be flexible. Being a parent to a 5 year old sometimes means you miss certain parts of a trip if a kid has had it.

Wow, the contentiousness around a parent bringing a travel stroller for a 5 yr old is insane. I shared before that I brought a travel stroller for my (almost) 5 yr old and it made the trip! I was pretty anti-stroller before, but there are situations where the parent and child's needs are better met with a stroller. My kid LOVED LOVED sightseeing but also LOVED riding in his stroller. My 7.5 yr old honestly did 100% fine walking, even LONG days AND got to be a helper ---he was proud of himself for helping. My kid is extremely petite (39 inches/33 lbs as of last week at his 5 yr old check-up) but NO ONE gave us dirty looks at all. NO one was ugly, rude, and if anything, were extra helpful seeing a mom solo with 2 young children including one in a stroller. If this is what is best for you and your families needs OP - don't worry about it!

PS check on your local buy nothing group for a used GB pockit stroller (They really are the best and you can bring them in the cabin as they fold up to the size of a small carry-on and are very easy to open/close). Also call your local used "once upon a child" stores to see if they have one or check facebook marketplace or a local parenting group.....they are super popular so you might snag an awesome deal (no need to buy a brand new one if it can be avoided)

+1000, thank you for being reasonable instead of insane and needlessly judgmental

[Anonymous]

I think it's a typical American way of see 80 cities in 3 days! GO GO GO! And pushing to walk 50 miles to see ALL THE THINGS.

Try the European way. Slow down, see 1 or 2 things and spend time slowly walking around with your kid. When they are tired, stop and get a drink or a meal.

Americans make me tired.