Rolling Suitcase for 3.5 year old DD?

[erv917]

We travel by plane pretty frequently (about 4 times a year), and I am considering getting 3.5 year old DD her own rolling suitcase (probably for Christmas when she'll be about 3.75). Does anyone have any suggestions? I am tempted by the cute ones from PBK or Land of Nod, but I want them to be durable enough for plane travel. What would be a good size for a child this age to be able to handle herself (no doubt she would be unwilling/unable to drag it the entire way through the airport, but YKIM), but would not be so small that it wouldn't last her for several more years. Ideally it would hold like 5 days-1 weeks worth of her clothes, with a little room left over for a few books/small toys. Am I asking way too much from one bag? Or is her own suitcase a bad idea altogether? I am just thinking that in this day and age with airlines charging big $ to check bags, it makes sense for DD, DH, and I to each have our own reasonably sized rollerboard suitcase for most trips, but I am open to suggestions of what works for other families. Thanks! :)

[lhafer]

I would probably go with something like this for your daughter:
http://www.disneystore.com/personalized-disney-princess-luggage-set-for-girls-3-pc/mp/1260537/1000366/?Nr=pPublished:1&D=luggage&Ntk=All_Shopping&Nu=pProductID&Ntt=luggage&Dr=pPublished:1&Ntx=mode matchallpartial&Dx=

The main suicase can hold clothes, and the duffle bag can be a carry on and hold toys/books to keep her occupied during the trip. And if you have a portable DVD player, or something like that, there is a CD case for that too.

[connor_mommy]

We tried to do this with our two boys last Christmas. They were 3.5 and 5.75 at the time. They kept saying that they would pull their own suitcases and even did it around the house the morning we left. Once we got to the airport, they started to complain that they were tired and it was heavy. My Dh and I had our two bags and carseats and we were pulling their bags also.

So, you may want to do a trial run around the house and also to put some of her stuff in with yours and your DH.

[peanut520]

this is what we are planning to get dd next year when she will be closer to 3, but i am not sure if it will meet you week's worth of clothes requirement.
http://www.trunki.com/

[bubbaray]

My girls have the Heys kids rolling suitcases, but they only hold enough clothes for a weekend, not a week. IME, any suitcase big enough to hold clothes for a week (at least for my fashionistas) would need to be adult-sized.

[mrspeachykeen]

this is what we are planning to get dd next year when she will be closer to 3, but i am not sure if it will meet you week's worth of clothes requirement.
http://www.trunki.com/

I saw one of these at the airport. We were kind of envious of the kid getting to ride along. I actually said that I didn't mind that kind of kid luggage. I typically can't stand kids with rolling luggage, especially little kids. I used to travel a lot!! I can't count the number of little luggage that I almost tripped over mainly because it is hard to see since they are so low and constantly dropped, etc.

I would consider something like this though

http://www.landsend.com/pp/StylePage-394813_AE.html?amp;CM_MERCH=REC-_-FPPP-_-GGT-_-1-_-394813-_-394816

At least then if the kids stop wanting to carry it, it will be easy enough for you to pick up and carry if you have luggage as well. I don't know how much it holds though.

[bubbaray]

I think most travellers dislike child travellers period, whether or not they have rolling luggage. JMHO. My children have been stepped on, kicked, and hit in the head (with luggage) and otherwise treated extremely poorly by other travellers -- and not once have they gotten apologies. It had nothing to do with their luggage, because we check theirs. We always buy seats for our kids when we fly, so its not like my kids are getting "free" seats either. For some reason, a lot of travelling adults seem to think its OK to treat children like inanimate objects.

Anyway, OP, here is the link to the Heys luggage we have: http://shop.heys.ca/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=Disney%5FPrincess%5 FKids%5FLuggage Its super cute, lightweight and very well made. We don't fly with it, its more for weekend trips to Grandma's, but it definitely COULD be checked. Heys makes really nice luggage. I like that the handles are ergonomic and sized for kids. The wheels roll really smoothly, just like decent adult luggage.

GL!