We gave our 4 yo a small rolling suitcase that she could easily handle. She’s used it extensively for 5 years, and it’s just about time to get her a bigger one.

It was a great idea for us. She enjoys packing her own suitcase, it’s one less thing for me to juggle, and it’s a great carry on size. Between her own suitcase and a backpack, she carries all her own stuff.

I bought a cute little robot suitcase on wheels when my kid was 3. I had no expectation that it would serve as anything other than an additional carryon at that age. 5 years later, it is still in regular use as a carryon. It depends on the destination and duration as to whether I pack him his own separate suitcase or put his stuff in with mine. But that also applies to combined vs separate suitcases with my husband.

My 2.5 year old is getting her own kid size luggage for Christmas this year but she has sleepovers at Grandma’s a lot and we do road trips to see family or spend a few nights at the beach probably 4-5x a year so I’m mostly thinking it would be great for those trips. We do travel by plane at least once a year but I’d probably be more inclined to use an adult suitcase for those trips.

I just pack their stuff in my suitcases. They are 5 and 8. Possibly the 8 yo could do her own, but what I envision happening is that at first they love the suitcase and want to pull it, then they get tired of doing that or we're going up and down stairs or hills and they struggle. It's much harder for me to pull 2-3 small suitcases than one larger one, so better if it's all just in mine.

My only is almost 5 and I don't want to give him a suitcase bc I don't want to deal if he starts whining that he's too tired to pull it. He carries a tiny back pack with his toys. My step son had full responsibility for his own bag at six. Child of divorce, so lots of plane rides - he was a pro. I think six is a good age.

My kids starting pulling luggage after age 5. We have 3 kids. We travel light - normally 3 carry on suitcases and everyone carries a backpack. We take an umbrella stroller for the toddler, elementary kids pull a suitcase each and DH pulls the last suitcase and the car seat if we need to take one.

The only time we take big suitcase if we are traveling to Asia or somewhere for like 2+ weeks.

Anonymous wrote:Why is it a horrible idea and waste of money? What do you do with their stuff now when you travel? My husband and I already share the big suitcase we have when we go somewhere, I use a carry on size for the kids. I guess it's not specifically a "kids" suitcase, if that's what you mean.

OP here - I just put their clothes in my/my husband's suitcase and check it. We don't fly very often (1-2 times a year) and we've always had luggage, the stroller, the car seats, etc to corral I just feel like each kid having their own wheelie luggage would be something I'd get stuck with keeping track of. They never travel without me/DH so I was leaning toward waste of money...

4 , it was a present from Santa. Small adult size suitcase on wheels. We go to England to see family every year and she is in charge of her own stuff, has been since she was 5. Much easier for traveling than sharing our space

DD got her first set of luggage at 3. She loved it and it was helpful to have another carryon (or free bag on SW) since she also had her own seat.

We fly frequently to Europe and have found that kid suitcases/bags, while very cute, are a hassle. When the kids were little, we would just put their stuff in our large suitcases or packs, and now they can carry their own, we each use hiking backpacks to carry as much onboard as possible. Most of our recent trips we haven't even had to check a suitcase, which cuts down on time spent waiting for the suitcase that might never come.

The exception is of course when your child travels without you. Some friends send their kids overseas during the summer to stay with relatives. We bought our middle schooler his first suitcase for a Model UN trip.

Maybe 5-6. Get adult style and not cartoon so it will last longer. They make pretty small adult ones. We have a kids one but I got it super cheap on clearance.

We all bring our own backpack as luggage. 4yo carries a small backpack with iPad, kindle, headphones, etc. 11yo carries a backpack with her clothes. I carry mine and 4yo’s in a backpack suitcase. DH carries his. We have a trunkie that never gets used. I like it but it’s just not practical.

Why is it a horrible idea and waste of money? What do you do with their stuff now when you travel? My husband and I already share the big suitcase we have when we go somewhere, I use a carry on size for the kids. I guess it's not specifically a "kids" suitcase, if that's what you mean.

Yup

Debating getting my 3 and 4YO their own suitcases for Christmas but know deep down it's a horrible idea. It's a horrible idea and waste of money, right?