How old is too old for a stroller?

[Chrislyn11]

I will admit it - I rented a stroller last year for my 7 year old. I couldn't deal with the whining. I considered it again for a brief moment for my now 8 year old for our upcoming trip. Am I crazy?

 

[PWammy]

I wouldn't say you are "crazy" but pushing around a 7 or 8 year old ain't on my list of things to do. My daughter didn't want a stroller when she was 4, but if you will be hot and at the parks all day, go for it. We usually go in October and break the day of with TS lunch. She hasn't napped since she was two, so the long days didn't affect her and she wasn't conked out at the parks.

 

[disneymom443]

My son at 3 didn't want one. He stopped taking naps and, he would take a break when we would stop and eat. Sometimes he would want me to hold him when we were in line. Most of the time it was go go go.

 

[bbak3030]

I plan to rent a double for my four and eight year olds. I'm sure it won't be easy to push, but we will deal with it.

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[Disneylover99]

I will admit it - I rented a stroller last year for my 7 year old. I couldn't deal with the whining. I considered it again for a brief moment for my now 8 year old for our upcoming trip. Am I crazy?

You're not crazy for considering it....but don't do it!

Have a chat with your 8 year old now about expectations. Take them for long walks (but make it fun) and tell them you are all in training for Disney. Chat about your trip as you walk to pass the time. This is what we did with our whiny seven year old and it worked great. When he turned eight and we went to Disney, he did great with all the walking and he never complained once (even in humid August heat)!

Good luck!

 

[ML_LovesDisney]

I will admit it - I rented a stroller last year for my 7 year old. I couldn't deal with the whining. I considered it again for a brief moment for my now 8 year old for our upcoming trip. Am I crazy?

No, we have a double stroller that our 4 and 7 year old sit in. They will be 5 and 8 this summer and will definitely be riding in the stroller for our July trip.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I will admit it - I rented a stroller last year for my 7 year old. I couldn't deal with the whining. I considered it again for a brief moment for my now 8 year old for our upcoming trip. Am I crazy?

You asked the question. Yes, you are crazy unless your child is differently abled and cannot walk. If your child is a normal kid who likes to get his or her way, time for him or her to learn the hard facts of life.

Instead of using a stroller, walk at home to build up endurance. Take breaks at WDW. Go early before the crowds get awful and take a break around lunchtime and hit the pool. Sit down and watch the people go by while munching on an ice cream or other cool treat. Walk slower. Wear comfortable shoes.

If the whining begins, head to the hotel and take a rest.

 

[angelmom27]

I do what I need to do for my kids so we can have a fun trip and enjoy our vacation. For us we stay at the parks from open til close and mid day breaks are not an option. They can nap in the stroller. Also we have other conditions to factor in.

You do what you feel is best for you and your family.

 

[Lisa71]

Do what you need to. Some smaller kids cannot handle all the walking and some do fine. It is your child and I cringe when I hear "rules" about it. Since our DS has CP we will always have a chair and if he is walking and big sister wants to rest (lasts about 10 minutes) why not? She is small and walks all day. I would take a break too if I could!

 

[Coconuts]

No, we have a double stroller that our 4 and 7 year old sit in. They will be 5 and 8 this summer and will definitely be riding in the stroller for our July trip.

We did this too. No I don't think you are crazy. Like PP said, do what you have to do for your family to enjoy your WDW vacation.

 

[Dizisfun]

I was just saying to my DH that the Dis boards is always having a stroller debate. I have grandchildren from ages 14 down to 10 months old (19 of them). And if renting a stroller made enjoying WDW easier for me I would do it without blinking an eye.

 

[laliwalden]

DD is 5, almost 6. We took the stroller last year but I noticed she didn't use it as much. I think this year. Will take it, but just as an "in case". I think she would rather walk. Im thinking to leave it in the room our first day and see how she does.

 

[maxiesmom]

You do what you feel is best for you and your family.

Right on!!!!

OP--you may want to ask for this thread to get closed, before it turns very ugly! And when this subject is brought up, it usually gets ugly pretty quickly! Some will say they push their 12 year olds around in strollers, and some will say you are a horrible parent if a child over 3 is in one. Do what you think is best for your family.

 

[Momma2PrinceNPrinces]

DD will be 6 and DS 3 when we go in June. I rented a double stroller. I would rather be safe than sorry. DH and I don't want to have to carry 2 kids in 90+ degree weather!

 

[Caseheidi]

It really depends on the child. For our DD 4 I would get one. And more then just the walking around all day aspect. Our DD gets overwhelmed with the sights and the people, and her stroller is a safe haven to her. She can close the rain/sun guard, and we put a blanket over the top. She hides away and gets out of the sensory overload. We went last year, and plan to go again when she is 5. I am assuming she will need one again, however, we will try a couple days without taking it to the park and see how it goes. We also find that toward the end of the trip, she needs it more then the first day or two. We went one day without last time, and it worked most the day.

 

[NHKristy76]

You asked the question. Yes, you are crazy unless your child is differently abled and cannot walk. If your child is a normal kid who likes to get his or her way, time for him or her to learn the hard facts of life.

Instead of using a stroller, walk at home to build up endurance. Take breaks at WDW. Go early before the crowds get awful and take a break around lunchtime and hit the pool. Sit down and watch the people go by while munching on an ice cream or other cool treat. Walk slower. Wear comfortable shoes.

If the whining begins, head to the hotel and take a rest.

THIS!!

Perfect advice...

 

[1dorseer]

Don't worry about what others think. This is the first year we may not have a stroller. my children are 8 and 6 and I am wondering how we are going to survive with out it. One, it is a portable locker so we don't have to carry everything around. We can leave treats, ponchos, etc... in it. I love that and dont like having to wear a back pack in the heat and it is wonderful for those times when we are running across the park and can just throw the kids in and get there twice as fast. Also if they can even take a few breaks from walkiing, all the better, even I am tired at the end of the day. We had a a great double stroller (the sit and stand) and I would even take breaks sitting in the back. You should have seen the stares we got when the kids were pushing Mom in the stroller!

 

[Freesia123]

My friend took a stroller for her eight year old. Whatever will make your vacation the most enjoyable is the best decision. You're paying bucks to go. Don't ruin it with bickering or whining over a stroller!

 

[sherilaine]

Last year my kids were 9 and 8, they had zero problem. I think an 8 year old has no place in a stroller, my DS would have been mortified had I suggested he use one. We have not had a stroller since they were 4 I think though, so to them they equate strollers with babies. That is just us though, you have to do what you want.

 

[brymolmom]

One more vote for yes to the crazy question.

I totally get how that can be your gut reaction though. I have a whiny 9 year old (now) myself, and I thought many times that it would be so much easier for me to let her ride in a stroller at Disney until she's 12! But then I remembered that parenting isn't about making the choices that are easier on me...It's about making the best choices for my children. And allowing her to whine so much that it would negatively impact our vacation just because she wasn't going to be carted around like a princess...Well, that just wasn't OK with me and I needed to teach her that this wasn't OK.

So, early on in our Disney vacationing careers...I made a rule that there were no strollers allowed after age 5. Honestly they were so young when I made this rule that I knew it was mostly for ME, so that I wouldn't give in to the crutch and continue to use one past the time that it is truly not better for my child. The first trip after ds turned 6 and dd was still 5, we only had a single. DS was OK ALMOST the whole time because he knew the rule and that he wasn't allowed a stroller any longer. (we did have to have one discussion and rest time but that wasn't bad on a whole week long trip). The first trip after dd turned 6 yes she was a bit whiny (which was expected - I know my dd) - but as discussed she knew that if she wanted to enjoy the fun she had to do the work with her own legs to get there. It was ALWAYS and option for her to rest in a restaurant with one of the parents OR go back to the room for a rest. Only once the whole trip did she take us up on it - she wanted to go back to the room instead of watching Illuminations because she was so beat. A very smart decision on her part. After that first trip - it has been no problem. Has she gotten tired? YES! We ALL do. But she knows that a rest on a bench or going to see one of the shows to rest a bit are the only options she has.

Believe me - After you set your mind to it - you will see it will work out. I know how scary it is the first time with a whine-prone child. But setting expectations upfront and establishing rules (for example - if you IMPLY that if she whines that there's a possibility of getting a stroller - then whining will likely occur...If you imply that whining will bring about returnign to the room....then it might not).

Dinnertimes would also always be so much easier on ME if I ordered pizza every night...But that too isn't best for my dd so I don't take the easy road on that one either.

Best of luck with your decision and your trip.