Stroller for 8 yr. old? Which one?

[sheilanne]

I hope you do that laughing and snickering to yourself, and not where the child can hear you. That "snowflake" may have some health problem you can't see, and you insistence on passing judgment without facts, could be very detrimental to that child's self esteem. Basically, that behavior equates to an adult bullying a child.

Unbelievable, that an adult would laugh at a child and encourage their child to do the same!!!!

 

[Missy13d69]

I think we just can’t decide what kind of parent a person is based on one decision they make as to how they will tour a theme park.

But I could be biased. I have had my parenting attacked on here because I use a harness on my toddler. It is the one with the puppy on the back. According to some, I am a lazy parent. According to others, I am permanently damaging his self-image. As I watched him snuggling with the puppy last night, I thought about those comments.

I am raising my children by myself. Their father died 2.5 years ago. I am constantly bombarded with messages of how children turn out or can turn out when they have no father in the home. He isn’t just out of the home, he’s gone never to return and on his birthday we went to the cemetery, not out to dinner. I didn’t kick him out, he died and yet my children have this to deal with and overcome, practically born into it as he died when they were 6 and 2 months old.

My daughter is also Dyslexic. Tests upon tests to get there then meetings on top of meetings to get her comfortable in school, then appointments on top of other appointments to get her the help she needs. I juggle supervising him and his development while doing homework with a child who may need 5 minutes to sound out a word in her homework. Then there’s my job. Then there's the time loving them and building them up.

I bust my behind every day and night, but I harness my son, so I’m a lazy parent. There’s something wrong there. We don't know anyone's big picture.

Exactly!

I'm very sorry for your loss. I can't even begin to imagine what you're going through.

 

[lucifie]

I hope you do that laughing and snickering to yourself, and not where the child can hear you. That "snowflake" may have some health problem you can't see, and you insistence on passing judgment without facts, could be very detrimental to that child's self esteem. Basically, that behavior equates to an adult bullying a child.

I agree. My disabled 9 year old doesn't look disabled and that would be a huge slap in the face to ME (she probably wouldn't understand and laugh along with him ). DD can walk and normally doesn't use a stroller but we're going to get her one for WDW so the whole family can enjoy the trip. She just doesn't have the endurance. She might make it through one day in the parks OK, but not 5. I don't plan to use it all the time, but it will be nice to have it when she runs out of steam.

 

[Marionnette]

I think we just can’t decide what kind of parent a person is based on one decision they make as to how they will tour a theme park.

But I could be biased. I have had my parenting attacked on here because I use a harness on my toddler. It is the one with the puppy on the back. According to some, I am a lazy parent. According to others, I am permanently damaging his self-image. As I watched him snuggling with the puppy last night, I thought about those comments.

I am raising my children by myself. Their father died 2.5 years ago. I am constantly bombarded with messages of how children turn out or can turn out when they have no father in the home. He isn’t just out of the home, he’s gone never to return and on his birthday we went to the cemetery, not out to dinner. I didn’t kick him out, he died and yet my children have this to deal with and overcome, practically born into it as he died when they were 6 and 2 months old.

My daughter is also Dyslexic. Tests upon tests to get there then meetings on top of meetings to get her comfortable in school, then appointments on top of other appointments to get her the help she needs. I juggle supervising him and his development while doing homework with a child who may need 5 minutes to sound out a word in her homework. Then there’s my job. Then there's the time loving them and building them up.

I bust my behind every day and night, but I harness my son, so I’m a lazy parent. There’s something wrong there. We don't know anyone's big picture.

First of all, I'm sorry for your loss. It must be terribly difficult and I cannot begin to fathom your grief.

And if you need to put a harness on your child to keep him safe, then I have no objection and do not judge you because of your choice.

However, there is a big difference between harnessing a small child that is difficult to keep track of and placing an 8-year-old in a stroller because you find it easier to push them through the parks like a baby than to listen to them whine about their tired feet. We're not talking about children with hidden disabilities here. We're discussing perfectly healthy 8-year-old kids.

Now here's a question for those parents who have older kids that are considering a stroller for their 3rd or 4th grade child: What would your kid do if you wanted to take a picture of them in the stroller? Would they hop right in and grin for the camera or would they run away like the dickens? My guess is that no self-respecting 8-year-old wants photographic evidence like that out there. And for good reason. It's because strollers are for babies and 8-YEAR-OLDS ARE NOT BABIES!!!!!!

 

[luvmy2babies]

I wouldn’t be pushing a healthy 8 year-old either and I’m looking forward to the day I no longer need the harness.

I am just saying, I don't feel it is fair to determine what kind of parent a person is or what kind of adult the child will be by their decision to do that.

 

[a11ie]

If someone is busting their butt and paying GOOD money to be on this vacation with their family WHO ARE YOU to tell them how they should and should not be comfortable. If that will keep her 8 year old from complaining all day, every day then why not? The Disney experience can be a lot for anyone, at any age. And should be enjoyed however possible. It's a vacation, let her be lazy!

I would gladly push my 15 year old in a stroller before I would let them think its ok to LAUGH at another child.

 

[mjkacmom]

But I could be biased. I have had my parenting attacked on here because I use a harness on my toddler. It is the one with the puppy on the back. According to some, I am a lazy parent. According to others, I am permanently damaging his self-image. As I watched him snuggling with the puppy last night, I thought about those comments.
.

But that harness was marketed towards a toddler, the same way strollers are marketed for little kids. On this thread, it appears that most people feel that an 8 year old (non-special needs) doesn't need a stroller. Lots of these comments were from people who have had 8 year olds themselves.

 

[quandrea]

No one is offering proactive advice. the bob strollers and chariot strollers will be your best bet with an eight year old. However, we have an eight year old and three year old twins. we just got back from Alaska and it was our first trip without a stroller for anyone. It was great. No hauling the big double stroller around. For your eight year old--try going without. If you need it you can rent in the park as required. My guess is that if you don't go at commando speed you'll be fine. You may even have a better time. Try some walks at home. My eight year old is the fittest in our house. she can swim and walk for miles. You'll be amazed at walk they can handle.

 

[luvmy2babies]

But that harness was marketed towards a toddler, the same way strollers are marketed for little kids. On this thread, it appears that most people feel that an 8 year old (non-special needs) doesn't need a stroller. Lots of these comments were from people who have had 8 year olds themselves.

And yet, I have still been called a lazy parent for using that harness.

Again, I don't agree with pushing a healthy 8 year-old in a stroller, but the OP had made that decision so I offered the best suggestion I could think of including adjusting the schedule so she may not need it. Some people though in their comments have determined what kind of parent makes that decision and what kind of adult the child will be. My point was and still is, that I don’t feel this one decision determines what kind of parent the person is or what kind of adult the child will be. I haven’t pushed an 8 year-old so I used my decision to harness as an example because it was attacked on here both of those ways.

 

[Nayan]

However, there is a big difference between harnessing a small child that is difficult to keep track of and placing an 8-year-old in a stroller because you find it easier to push them through the parks like a baby than to listen to them whine about their tired feet. We're not talking about children with hidden disabilities here. We're discussing perfectly healthy 8-year-old kids.

Now here's a question for those parents who have older kids that are considering a stroller for their 3rd or 4th grade child: What would your kid do if you wanted to take a picture of them in the stroller? Would they hop right in and grin for the camera or would they run away like the dickens? My guess is that no self-respecting 8-year-old wants photographic evidence like that out there. And for good reason. It's because strollers are for babies and 8-YEAR-OLDS ARE NOT BABIES!!!!!!

Exactly my point. A healthy 8 year old is very capable of walking around the parks fine. Using a stroller for a disabled child I have no issue with but using one for a healthy one who "might" whine and complain? Really?

 

[okeydokey]

I agree. We are going in November and I have the same concerns about my DGD. She just turned 6 and has a 4 m/o little sister. She is very active and in wonderful shape but I'm concerned about dragging a 48 pound child 5-8 miles each day over a seven day period. We are staying at BLT but we will be on the go from 7 until probably around 10 each night. I don't want her to ride all day in a stroller but be able to rest when she needs to. We took a stroller when she was four and very proud we had it!!!! I saw too many kids crying because they were tired and parents so intent on their schedule they obviously forgot what their child was physically capable of doing. My plan is to use the stroller for the baby and when older DGD gets tired baby can be put into the Ergo so sister can rest if needed. Everyone's kids are different but I think this will work for our family.

My Mother thought the same thing about my then 4 year old son. He did just fine, just as I expected he would. She agreed once she saw that it did work out that he did not did need a stroller after all. It is often about what we expect from our children. Mine rose to my expectations just as I knew he would. It was a great trip.

 

[Missy13d69]

People need to just stick to answering the question if they have any insight, and moving on to another thread if all you are going to do is belittle and harshly judge the decisions someone else is making for their family. Honestly, I do not think a healthy 8 year old should be put in a stroller. I'm of the "suck it up cupcake" school of thought, but that's how I handle MY children. I would never dream of imposing my parenting onto anyone else, no more than I would want someone to do it to me. As the PP said, you can't ascertain a persons parenting or how their kids are going to turn out by one thing you consider to be "bad" parenting. You are no better. You better believe there is someone judging you in the same way. We're all making mistakes according to somebody else. We're all ruining our kids according to somebody else. So, you screw up yours your way, I'll screw up mine my way, and let's all be happy letting each other do it in peace and harmony.

 

[Nayan]

When you post something on an open forum expect all kinds of responses. Some will be full of unicorns and rainbows and some won't.

 

[maxiesmom]

We're all making mistakes according to somebody else. We're all ruining our kids according to somebody else. So, you screw up yours your way, I'll screw up mine my way, and let's all be happy letting each other do it in peace and harmony.

I agree with you 100%. This is one of those issues where people have very strong opinions, and are not typically swayed from them.

I agree too that you get all sorts of answers to asking questions on a public forum. But the OP did not ask for opinions on getting a stroller or not, she was looking for a recommendation for a stroller type. I don't really think telling her the kids should walk is helpful in any way.

Me, I believe you do what you want with your kids. My nose isn't so long that it is up in your business. I'm too focused on my family and what we are doing to care if you have a 8yr old in a stroller.

 

[Hannathy]

When it doesn't affect me go right ahead and parent any way you want but when it affects me don't expect me to not say anything, There are way too many strollers in Disney as it is and if you start putting all the middle elementary kids in them it will be complete grid lock. So yes when I can't move cause of the strollers or get on a bus, or a monorail, or get hit with them everywhere then yes I do have a right to compliant.


I agree with the poster about the picture. If it is fine then put the picture of the 8 yr old in the stroller front and center on their star of the month poster or their what I did on vacation poster and have them show their friends at school.

 

[maxiesmom]

When it doesn't affect me go right ahead and parent any way you want but when it affects me don't expect me to not say anything, There are way too many strollers in Disney as it is and if you start putting all the middle elementary kids in them it will be complete grid lock. So yes when I can't move cause of the strollers or get on a bus, or a monorail, or get hit with them everywhere then yes I do have a right to compliant.

I've been to WDW over some of the most busy times of the year, and I have never ever not been able to move because of strollers. The parks are full yes, but not only because of stroller usage.

You are entitled to your opinion that the parks are too full because of them. However your opinion is not helpful to the OP, so I'm not sure what good comes out of sharing it. Other than to vent. And then why not start your own post on how there are too many strollers at WDW? Why vent all over someone else's post? What purpose does it serve?

If the OP had asked for opinions on stroller usage, then it would all be good. But they didn't.

 

[Hannathy]

It is a discussion board. No question gets answered with 1 post and is closed.

90% of the things could be answered by the 1rst poster or with a yes or no answer but then it wouldn't be a DISCUSSION board.

If you don't want to read the discussion then don't open it.


And if you had read my response I said it was crowded now BUT if we start putting all the 3rd and 4th graders in strollers we wouldn't be able to move.

And yes it was much nicer when only toddlers were in strollers, there is no getting around that. Less strollers makes less congestion.

 

[surfgirl]

a mildly amusing side note:

(well at least I find it amusing).

I see more and more threads about how younger kids are getting cell phones - and yes, even 8yo. Then we see the threads where people defend 8yo's riding in strollers. I just look at it like you can't have it both ways... we give responsibility (ie. cell phones) to kids younger and younger, but yet we still treat them like babies (strollers).


As to the poster with a DGD who is 6yo going from 7am-10pm daily who wants a stroller for a tired parent/GP. Probably too much. Stop... take a break... get them to bed so they can enjoy the next day.

I think people fall into 2 categories:
1) we are going to do it all and go all day and need a way to deal with tired kids (ie. NEED a stroller).

2) we stop and rest and leave the parks when adults AND kids are tired. Kids are too old for strollers and maybe being tired is your bodies' way to say, 'enough'.

I"m sure you can guess what category I fall into.

 

[maxiesmom]

It is a discussion board. No question gets answered with 1 post and is closed.

90% of the things could be answered by the 1rst poster or with a yes or no answer but then it wouldn't be a DISCUSSION board.

If you don't want to read the discussion then don't open it.

Some of the "discussion" isn't sounding a whole lot like "discussion". It sounds like badgering.

One could also say that if a person has nothing constructive to add to a "discussion" they shouldn't add anything.

I'm honestly not sure why this subject always gets so heated. But the whole attitude of "I know what is best for my children, and yours too!" bothers me. Would I use a stroller for an average 8yr old? Probably not. But I will defend others and their right to make that choice for their own family without being badgered and made to feel as if they are an inferior parent for using one.

 

[disneyfan2kids]

... My DDs are 8yr (59 lbs and 52" tall) and 5yr (40lbs and 42" tall) I am considering renting from Kingdom Strollers ...!