trunkis - from what age?

[pilsbury]

hi - off on hols (at last!) next week and I was wondering whether to buy my little girl a trunki (seems like a rite of passage for modern kids!) - she's not quite 2 though - is that too young to expect her to ride on it?

[Claire29]

We have found mixed response with them, my eldest was 6 when he got one and loved it, used it at the airport using his feet to push himself along at quite a speed, and he also loved the fact he could put all his junk.....sorry toys in it for the flight. Our 3 year old at the time liked the idea but wouldn't sit on it, so we had to carry and since then he still hasn't taken to it so I don't bother bringing for him anymore when we go away, as one more thing for us to end up carrying!

[ClareC]

My 3 year old loves hers, her brother (nearly 2) also loves it and is getting one for his birthday.

At that age though, expect to end up carrying it!

[Pickle]

We had one and ended up selling it, as found it a complete pain! Bulky, difficult to get things out of in flight (and that was on long haul flights to NZ where you get a bit more room than usual), and if your child doesn't want to ride on it they are a nuisance to carry (we found it was too bulky to hang on the buggy). I wouldn't rush to get one!

[Otta]

We (well the wife) got a second hand one for our older daughter. I think it is way too bulky.

[keane]

If you just want to try one I have one you could borrow as we not using it at the mo.

[Carbonara]

Awful things, in my opinion! Too bulky and too hard to get things in and out of, a rucsack is much better. If the child rides on it through the airport it uses up one of your hands, and the child gets tripped over by other passsengers. 2 year olds will get tired of pulling it along, and yes, you will end up carrying it, along with everything else.

And they are so expensive.

One of those twee ideas that is awful in practical terms, in my experience travelling with a friend whose child had one.

[shaunag]

Our two year old loves it. It's handy for the long walk to the baggage reclaim when you haven't yet got the buggy-pulling her along is far easier than trying to carry her or walk at snails pace with her. I stick nappies,spare clothes,doll and sticker books in it. Not difficult to carry-it slings over my shoulder and we never fill it to very heavy-also straps go over back of buggy no problem. I think it's great, and provides some entertainment. Was a present so cost didn't really come into it for us. Airports are so boring its good to have some distractions to hand. But the majority above dont seem to have much love for them!

[pilsbury]

thanks for all the advice. aside from shaunag its a pretty damning report of trunkis, I was surprised! I think we'll leave it for this holiday (as I think she's a little too young still to be expected to hold on the whole time), but maybe i'll roadtest one next time around! thanks again!